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The leadership of members of the PBAT DOOR TO DOOR movement across the Southeast geopolitical zone has commended High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, for his remarkable commitment to improving security in Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

In a press statement by its Zonal Coordinator in Southeast Amb Precious Emmanuel Ine, the PBAT DOOR TO DOOR described Tompolo’s gesture as a demonstration of his firm commitment to promoting peace, security, and progress in Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria.

The group lauded Tompolo’s philanthropic efforts, which they say portrayed his dedication to the well-being and prosperity of the country.

‘The PBAT DOOR TO DOOR Movement proudly salutes you as a defender of the Renewed Hope mandate, whose uncommon act of generosity has further ignited confidence in the continuity and consolidation of the present administration. Indeed, your example will translate into strengthened public trust, deeper grassroots confidence and unwavering support that will guarantee a resounding second-term victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu come 2027.’

‘We, therefore, reaffirm our total loyalty and commitment to advancing the Renewed Hope vision taking it from door to door, from street to street and from community to community, inspired by the legacy of men like you, High Chief Tompolo, whose deeds remind Nigerians that patriotism is the highest form of service.’

Recall that Tompolo promised continued support for the Delta State Security Trust Fund after making a handsome donation at the event held at the Government House, recently.

‘The unprecedented donation and firm commitment to peace and security in the country by High Chief Tompolo are shining examples of his leadership and dedication to the development of Delta State, Niger Delta and Nigeria as a whole.

‘We commend him for his vision and generosity, and we urge others to follow his footsteps in supporting initiatives that promote peace and security in Delta State and Niger Delta region.

The Federal Government has said that English language and mathematics remain compulsory for students sitting for their ordinary level examinations.

The government therefore urged students to continue to register for the subjects in their O’level examinations.

Federal Ministry of Education made the clarification in a statement by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade on Sunday.

It reads: ‘The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that all students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations. The new policy does not exempt any candidate from these core subjects but rather introduces a more inclusive and flexible approach to tertiary admission requirements.

‘The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, explained that the reform promotes fairness and inclusiveness in tertiary education by ensuring that capable students are not denied admission due to deficiencies in non-core subjects.

‘The streamlining of O-Level admission guidelines aims to modernize Nigeria’s education system and align it with global best practices. It allows institutions to admit candidates into specific programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory, while still mandating that all students register and sit for both subjects.

‘This reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development, broadening academic pathways and recognizing diverse strengths among learners.

‘English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning. The adjustment affects only admission criteria, not the requirement to take these subjects.

‘The Ministry urges students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for verified policy updates.’

A Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Prof Ibrahim Uthman, has been appointed as the Chief Imam of the Nigeria’s premier university.

The Board of Governors of the university’s Muslim Community approved the appointment of Prof. Uthman after its meeting held on Sunday October 19,2025.

The announcement was made today, the 19th of October 2025, at the Board’s meeting held inside the conference room of the University of Ibadan Central Mosque.

A statement by the Publicity Secretary of UI Muslim Community, Dr Idris Badiru indicates that Professor Uthman will succeed the outgoing Imam, Prof Mufutau Oloyede Abdurrahman, who is retiring from the University of Ibadan October 2025.

Announcing the Shuurah Committee’s report on the appointment, the President of the community, Professor Emeritus Musiliu Onilude highlighted 12 criteria used in the selection of the renowned Islamic Studies scholar and academic.

These include knowledge of the subject matter, integrity, humility, eloquence, and deep spirituality.

Professor Uthman is the current Head of Department, Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan and serves as an Assistant Imam under the outgoing Chief Imam, Professor Mufutau Abdulrahman, who is retiring from the services of the University on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025 after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.

Prof. Uthman holds a PhD in Usul al-Din and Comparative Religion from the International Islamic University, Malaysia and his research interests are in the areas of Islamic studies, modernism, and feminism. He has published journal articles on topics such as The Shari?ah and Muslim Feminists’ Public Display of the Female Body, Feminism in Postmodern Society: An Islamic Perspective, The Institution of Jihad and the Yoruba Experience, Contribution of Islamic scholars to Sustainable human and environmental Development: Islam Hadhari and future Development of Muslim Countries, and Feminist Insiders-Outsiders: Muslim Women in Nigeria and the Contemporary Feminist Movement etc.

Prof. Ibrahim has taught at various institutions, including the International Islamic University Malaysia and Crescent University Abeokuta, where he served as the pioneering Acting Head of the Department of Islamic Religious and General Studies.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Ibadan, the new Imam honed his leadership skills as a Student Imam and later as the President of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), University of Ibadan.

Professor Uthman is happily married and blessed with wonderful children.

Trabzonspor striker Paul Onuachu and Burnley midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu were both on target for their respective clubs on Saturday evening, helping their sides to crucial league victories.

Onuachu continued his impressive run of form for Turkish side Trabzonspor, scoring the second goal in their 2-1 win over Rizespor.

The 31-year-old powered home a header from a Chris Oulai free-kick in the 19th minute, after Felipe Da Silva had opened the scoring for the visitors.

The goal takes Onuachu’s tally to six goals and one assist in eight league appearances this season.

With the victory, Trabzonspor increased the pressure on Galatasaray, climbing to second place with 20 points from nine matches.

Meanwhile, Ugochukwu, nephew of former Super Eagles defender Onyekachi Apam, netted in back-to-back Premier League games as Burnley defeated Leeds United 2-0.

The former Chelsea midfielder nodded in a fine cross from Kyle Walker to give the Clarets an early lead and capped a solid display in midfield.

Having impressed during his loan spell at Southampton last season, the 21-year-old will hope to continue his run in subsequent games

The victory lifts Burnley out of the relegation zone, taking them to seven points from eight matches.

The South South Governors Forum (SSGF) has sent a goodwill message to Cross River State Governor Bassey Out on the occasion of his 66th birthday.

In a statement on Saturday, the SSGF Chairman and Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, described Governor Otu as a visionary leader, committed to rewriting the developmental narrative of his state and the region.

According to Diri, ‘since assuming office two and a half years ago Otu has breathed fresh dynamism into governance of the state through people-centric policies and projects. Governor Otu’s servant-leadership style has given Cross River a new lease of life and inspired many even beyond the state.

‘While praising our colleague for his patriotism, the forum notes that Otu is a humble, compassionate and committed democrat that has prioritised the wellbeing of the people and the development of his state.

‘The forum assures the people of the South South region that it will continue to work together to sustain the tempo of collective regional development that their governors have committed themselves to.’

In a related development, Otu’s deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, and the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem also joined others to felicitate the governor

The Adamawa State House of Assembly has conducted a public hearing on the Adamawa State Social Protection Bill, reaffirming the need for a strong legal framework to sustain the government’s social and economic development initiatives.

The bill, which seeks to institutionalise social protection systems across the state, was developed with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU) under the Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation, and Economic Resilience in North East Nigeria (SEPIN-SUSI) programme, implemented by GIZ.

Having scaled its second reading, the bill was referred to the House Committee on Women and Social Development for further legislative work. The recent public hearing marked a key stage in the process, providing a platform for input from government agencies, civil society organisations, and development partners.

In her welcome address, Hon. Kate Mamuno, the Committee Chairperson, Majority Leader of the House, and sponsor of the bill, said the hearing was designed to enable broad stakeholder participation in fine-tuning the legislation for effective implementation.

Mamuno commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his administration’s ongoing social protection and welfare initiatives but stressed that such programmes need legal backing to guarantee sustainability, equity, and long-term impact.

The public hearing featured a delegation from Borno State which is also in the process of establishing a social protection law under the SEPIN SUSI programme.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, the Member representing Maiduguri Metropolitan Constituency, Hon. Ali Kotoko, commended Adamawa’s progress and said Borno looks forward to learning from its legislative experience in advancing similar reforms.

Also speaking, Mahamane Brimaka, Deputy Commission Manager for PETRA-DEP, one of GIZ’s flagship programmes in Northeast Nigeria, expressed appreciation to the stakeholders who contributed to the development of the bill.

The public hearing is expected to pave the way for the bill’s final consideration and passage, a move stakeholders say will help institutionalise poverty reduction and welfare interventions in Adamawa State.

Forever in Christ Evangelical and Deliverance Ministry has concluded plans to hold its 2025 Annual Convention and 15th anniversary celebration, themed, ‘Fear Thou Not, For I Am With You.’

The event, scheduled to hold on the 27th, October to 2nd, November at the church’s headquarters, Km 25, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Alapako Village, Eri City, opposite GOFAMINT Camp, Ogun State, promises to be a spiritually uplifting gathering featuring intensive prayer sessions, prophetic ministrations, and soul-stirring worship.

Speaking on the forthcoming programme, the Convener and Founder of the ministry, Prophet Israel Ajadi Eri Mbe, described the convention as a ‘life-changing encounter with God,’ where divine power will be revealed to save sinners, heal the sick, and deliver those in bondage.

He said, ‘This year’s convention is not just a celebration of 15 years of God’s faithfulness but also a prophetic season of renewal. We believe God will move mightily to transform lives and restore hope to His people.’

Among the anointed ministers expected to grace the event are the General Overseer of Christ Apostolic Church, Covenant of Mercy (Majemu Aanu), Prophet Taiwo Abel Ojo; the General Superintendent of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Nigeria and Overseas, Pastor (Dr.) J. D. Onagwa; the Founder and General Overseer of Jesus Liberation Ministries (JLM), Apostle Oladele Johnson; and the General Overseer of Weep No More Prayer Ministry, Prophetess Olubunmi Okeowo, among others.

According to Prophet Eri Mbe, the convention will also feature thanksgiving, deliverance services, and sessions of worship aimed at rekindling believers’ faith and deepening their relationship with God.

Toto, o se bi owe. Proverbially speaking (1)

We have been large, so large for too long

Time to be small and great again

A self-set blaze consumes our roof

But we have no time for little arsons

What happens when the people

Gift the throne to a king

Who makes little dolls

Out of them and their children’s children

What happens when a country

Reels from the choke

Of a tyranny foretold

From tower tops to marketplaces

What happens when a people

Walk into an open trap

Blindfolded by a farce conceived in chaos

How did this tragedy unfold in a land of vigorous laughter?

‘We have too much Science in our land’.

Croaked the King of shallow aspects

‘Yes, time for the Great Unknowing,

Beautiful and absolutely tremendous!

How can a people think they are at their tallest

When they bow in passive silence

What nation can ever grow its best

When buried in abject obedience?

From the University of Johannesburg’s Business School where a two-day Media Innovation Summit was held through the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), down to the Department of International Relations and Corporation and Nigerian Mission in South Africa, the need for Nigeria and South Africa to set aside their differences and collaborate more across sectors in order to lift the African continent resonated strongly.

For one week, 22 students of the MTN Nigeria-sponsored Media Innovation Programme (MIP) at the School of Media and Communications (SMC), Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) were in South Africa for an exchange programme that saw them visiting landmark public institutions like the University of Johannesburg (UJ); MTN Group Headquarters; the Nelson Mandela Museum, Soweto; the Apartheid Museum, Soweto; SAIIA; Department of International Relations and Corporation, and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, to help the students better understand the history of that country and to put xenophobia in context.

The conversations underscored that Nigeria and South Africa have more to gain as partners than as rivals.

From boosting intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to co-creating cultural content that reshapes global perceptions of Africa, both nations sit at a pivotal crossroads.

Reclaiming Africa’s story through media diplomacy

The summit in Johannesburg echoed another urgent need: re-shaping Africa’s narrative. At the University of Johannesburg (UJ), where the event coincided with the institution’s 20th anniversary, media diplomacy took centre stage.

Head, School of Communication, UJ, Prof. Rene Benecke, reminded delegates of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s warning on ‘the danger of a single story.’ She challenged African journalists to reject portrayals of the continent as a place defined solely by war, corruption, and poverty.

‘Our role is to tell the fuller, richer stories of Africa,’ introducing participants to the ‘BANI world’- a reality that is brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible.

Prof Benecke argued that only adaptive thinking and responsible communication can help Africa navigate global uncertainties, including the rise of artificial intelligence and algorithmic biases.

Similarly, the Executive Dean of Humanities, Prof. Kammila Naidoo, described the summit as a ‘platform for examining how both traditional and digital media can strengthen African agenda in global affairs.’

With South Africa set to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November, she stressed that moments like this present opportunities to ‘position an African agenda and shape international discourse.’

Forging a future beyond oil, tarrifs and imports

At SAIIA, Programme Head of African Governance and Diplomacy, Steven Gruzd, who hosted the visiting fellows at the University of the Witwatersrand re-echoed that both nations must move beyond dependence on oil, tariffs, and imports to build resilient partnerships.

‘With the way Trump has been acting on tariffs and using them as weapons, I do not think AGOA is going to continue in the same form that it was,’ he said, warning that Africa’s reliance on the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) leaves it vulnerable. ‘South Africa and Nigeria do need to put their heads together as to how to industrialise, diversify and develop really dynamic business relations,’ he added.

Gruzd highlighted the growing presence of Nigerian businesses in South Africa and South African firms in Nigeria as proof of untapped opportunities. He urged both countries to invest more aggressively in the blue economy (marine resources, shipping, and shipbuilding) as well as the creative sector, citing Nollywood and Afrobeats as cultural exports with unmatched global influence.

‘These sectors offer untapped potential for growth and regional leadership,’ he said, adding that greater collaboration could boost job creation, reduce economic shocks, and strengthen Africa’s global competitiveness.

Building bridges through Education, Collaboration

For MTN Nigeria, which launched MIP in 2022 in partnership with Pan-Atlantic University (PAU), the summit was also a reminder of the power of corporate-backed capacity building. Over 3,700 Nigerian journalists applied this year, but only 20 were selected – an indication of the programme’s growing prestige.

‘This programme has become the most sought-after media partnership in Nigeria. If Nigeria and South Africa get it right, the continent gets it right. That is why we bring journalists here, to deepen understanding and foster collaboration,’ said Funso Aina, Senior Manager for External Relations at MTN Nigeria.

Prof. Isaac Ezechukwu of PAU’s School of Media and Communication echoed this, describing MIP as Africa’s most transformative media education initiative. He called for greater investment in media education from governments and corporate actors, noting that ‘media is an infrastructure for national development, deserving commensurate policy attention.’

Appreciating the gains of the programme, MTN Group in collaboration with UJ and The African Editors Forum (TAEF) on September 12, launched the Pan-African MIP to equip journalists with digital, entrepreneurial and policy-reporting skills.

The 12-week programme would blend online modules with in-person training in Johannesburg and a two-week placement with an MTN partner company.

Fellows will study digital transformation, sustainability of independent media, ethics, entrepreneurship, and the impact of emerging technologies across MTN’s 16 markets to strengthen African journalism at a time of growing disinformation and fragile media business models.

The Institute of Entrepreneurship and Apprenticeship Management and Administration (IEAMA) has unveiled its flagship initiative, Finance Meet Entrepreneur 2025, designed to connect small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) with financial institutions, with the aim of boosting economic growth across Nigeria.

The programme officially launched at an inaugural event held in Lagos, where IEAMA also inducted new members and highlighted the vital role microfinance banks play in empowering entrepreneurs and combating poverty nationwide.

Speaking at the event, IEAMA’s Acting Registrar, Jerry Ibeh, emphasised the institute’s mission to professionalise entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

He noted that a key focus is the formalisation of the traditional Igbo apprenticeship model, IgbaBoy, which has contributed significantly to the growth of the informal sector.

‘We are working towards professionalising entrepreneurship, starting with the IgboBoys system practiced in Igbo land. When you assess Nigeria’s economy, it’s clear that this group is driving significant growth,’ Ibeh said.

He further explained that IEAMA acts as a bridge between entrepreneurs and financial institutions, ensuring that loans are properly utilised.

‘There are financial institutions partnering with us to empower entrepreneurs after they acquire skills. We follow up to ensure that if someone borrows 20 naira, it is spent on the intended purpose,’ he added.

IEAMA has also partnered with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) through the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to train corps members in practical entrepreneurial skills.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Adebosin Gbadebo, Acting Provost of the Lagos State Cooperative College, underscored the importance of SMEs to the Nigerian economy.

He noted that SMEs make up about 96% of businesses in the country and contribute roughly 40% to the gross domestic product (GDP).

‘Without access to finance, no business can thrive. Nigeria’s economy largely depends on the activities of SMEs,’ Gbadebo said, adding that as of 2025, more than 800 microfinance banks are operational across the country.

He also classified businesses into four main categories: nano enterprises with annual revenues below N3 million; micro businesses generating between N3 million and N5 million; small enterprises with turnover up to N29 million; and medium businesses employing up to 200 staff.

Among those decorated with IEAMA’s doctorate was Dr. Edwin Ashibudike Nwabaku, a pastor and businessman who said the programme deepened his understanding of entrepreneurship.

Nwabaku said he plans to integrate IEAMA programs into his church’s empowerment initiatives.