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The Africa Reinsurance Corporation Foundation has backed a two-day journalism workshop aimed at improving media coverage of insurance, risk management and financial resilience in Nigeria.

The workshop, organised by Insurance Publication Limited (IPL), is scheduled for September 15-16, 2026, under the theme, ‘The Universe of Insurance and Journalism: Risk Everywhere, in Everything.’

The programme is expected to bring together journalists from different beats to explore how insurance and risk can be incorporated into reporting on issues ranging from climate change, politics and cybercrime to health, agriculture, transport, housing and economic hardship.

The organisers said the initiative was designed to move insurance reporting beyond specialised business and insurance desks and make risk management a broader part of everyday journalism.

They noted that low public awareness of insurance remains a major challenge, limiting the ability of individuals and businesses to protect themselves against economic shocks and other risks.

The workshop will feature opening remarks from Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while the Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Omosehin, and the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr Kelechi Ohiri, are expected to provide industry and policy perspectives.

Other speakers include Dr Femi Oyetunji, Chairman, Board of Directors, SanlamAllianz Life Insurance Nigeria Limited; Professor Ismail Ibraheem of the University of Lagos; Dr Omogbai Omo-Eboh, a maritime and insurance lawyer; and Augustine Aipoh.

Oyetunji is expected to examine Nigeria’s insurance gap, the risks carried by individuals and businesses and the economic opportunities associated with improved insurance penetration.

Ibraheem, the theme speaker, will focus on what ‘risk everywhere, in everything’ means for journalists, while Omo-Eboh will address legal issues confronting investigative journalists reporting on high-risk industries, including defamation claims and Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation.

According to IPL, the workshop is also intended to equip journalists with practical tools for reporting risk without turning news stories into product advertisements.

The organisers said journalists would be encouraged to examine how insurance thinking could improve reporting of insecurity, economic hardship and systemic failures by focusing not only on losses but also on prevention, protection and accountability.

The programme follows the completion of the insurance industry’s recapitalisation exercise and the introduction of a new legal framework, providing an opportunity for closer engagement between the media and the industry.

IPL said key elements of the wider initiative would include beat-specific training, a digital learning platform, journalist toolkits and a monitoring framework, with implementation being advanced in partnership with stakeholders including the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

The organisation expects the initiative to generate wider public engagement with insurance issues, encourage policy discussions on risk management and, ultimately, contribute to higher insurance uptake.

Africa Re Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of the African Reinsurance Corporation, supports initiatives in areas including insurance and risk awareness, health, education, disaster recovery, technology, research and community development.

The African Reinsurance Corporation is marking its 50th anniversary this year and has also reached the $1billion milestone in premiums.

The long-awaited Constitution Review Bill, otherwise known as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026, has been transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for consideration and approval.

The sixth alteration focussed on 12 thematic areas, namely: Electoral Reforms, Judicial Reforms, Security and Policing, Local Government Administration, Inclusive Governance and Citizenship, Legislature, Devolution of Powers, Human Rights, Fiscal Reforms, Strengthening of Institutions, Traditional Institutions as well as Creation of States and Local Governments.

The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Barrister Kamoru Ogunlana, confirmed the transmission of the bills in a statement made available to Parliamentary Correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ogunlana said the transmission marked the commencement of the next stage of the constitutional alteration process, requiring the State Houses of Assembly to consider the proposed amendments in accordance with the Constitution.

He said: ‘The National Assembly has commenced the next stage of the constitutional alteration process with the transmission of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026 to the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation for their consideration and approval.’

According to him, the Clerk to the National Assembly, acting pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly on Wednesday.

‘The Clerk to the National Assembly has, pursuant to the directive of the leadership of the National Assembly, transmitted the Bill to the respective State Houses of Assembly in accordance with Section 9 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) today 16th September, 2026,’ he stated.

Ogunlana explained that Section 9 of the Constitution sets out specific requirements for altering the nation’s grundnorm, including the approval of not less than two-thirds of the 36 State Houses of Assembly.

He quoted the constitutional provision as stipulating that a Bill seeking to alter the Constitution ‘shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless it is approved by resolution of not less than two-thirds of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation.’

The transmission therefore places the State Houses of Assembly at the centre of the next phase of the constitutional amendment process, as they are constitutionally required to consider the proposed alterations and communicate their decisions to the National Assembly.

The Clerk said he had requested the State Houses of Assembly to give the Bill the requisite consideration in line with their respective legislative procedures and communicate their resolutions to the National Assembly after completing their deliberations.

He, however, clarified that the Constitution does not stipulate a specific period within which State Houses of Assembly must communicate their resolutions on a constitutional alteration Bill.

‘Nevertheless, in the interest of an orderly, coordinated and timely conclusion of the constitutional alteration process, the State Houses of Assembly are expected to consider the Bill and communicate their respective resolutions to the National Assembly within 30 days of receipt,’ Ogunlana said.

He stressed that the 30-day period should not be misconstrued as a constitutional deadline, describing it instead as an administrative timeframe intended to facilitate the orderly conclusion of the process.

‘For clarity, the 30-day period is an expected administrative timeframe and does not constitute a constitutional deadline,’ he stated.

Ogunlana further said the National Assembly recognised the constitutional responsibility vested in the State Houses of Assembly and would respect their independence in considering the proposed constitutional alterations.

‘The National Assembly remains committed to ensuring that the constitutional alteration process is conducted in strict compliance with the Constitution and in accordance with the principles of due process, institutional cooperation and respect for the legislative responsibilities of all tiers of the legislature,’ he said.

He added that after receiving the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly would proceed with the necessary constitutional steps.

‘Upon receipt of the resolutions of the State Houses of Assembly, the National Assembly will proceed with the necessary steps in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution,’ Ogunlana said.

Except for the State Police bill, which was voted and supported by 311 members across party lines on Thursday, 23rd July, 2026, the House did not consider nor pass other constitution-related bills before embarking on annual recess, as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Section 9(1-4) of the 1999 Constitution provides that: ‘(1) The National Assembly may, subject to the provision of this section, alter any of the provisions of this Constitution.

(2) An Act of the National Assembly for the altertion of this Constitution, not being an Act to which section 8 of this Constitution applies, shall not be passed in either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of that House and approved by resolution of the Houses of Assembly of not less than two-thirds of all the States.

(3) An Act of the National Assembly for the purpose of altering the provisions of this section, section 8 or Chapter IV of this Constitution shall not be passed by either House of the National Assembly unless the proposal is approved by the votes of not less than four-fifths majority of all the members of each House, and also approved by resolution of the House of Assembly of not less than two-third of all States.

(4) For the purposes of section 8 of this Constitution and of subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the number of members of each House of the National Assembly shall, notwithstanding any vacancy, be deemed to be the number of members specified in sections 48 and 49 of this Constitution.’

The simmering cold war between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike and the governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new twist as the governors rejected the minister’s newly formed Rainbow Coalition.

At a meeting held on Monday night at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, the governors declared that the Coalition floated by the FCT Minister could threaten the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It will be recalled that certain erstwhile chieftains of the APC who lost out in the party primaries for certain elective offices have since found accommodation in the Wike-backed faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accorded recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Among such APC stalwarts who defected into the PDP and have secured tickets include Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha who lost the ticket to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; Honourable Kolo Jiya from Patigi local government, who picked Kwara North senatorial ticket after dumping.

Others are Isa Pantami, former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, who has since emerged as PDP governorship candidate in Gombe State.

In Cross Rivers, the FCT Minister is believed to be backing the PDP governorship candidate, Arthus Davis against the incumbent APC governor, Bassey Otu.

But reading the resolutions of the Progressives Governors Forum, the Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Forum, Senator Hope Uzodinma, declared that the governors unanimously resolved not to have anything to do with the Rainbow Coalition.

He maintained that such political arrangement would create confusion and affect the APC electoral fortune.

He said, ‘The forum unanimously resolved that its members won’t participate in, support or endorse any alliance or political arrangement capable of undermining the reelection of Mr President, weakening the APC or adversely affecting any candidate of the party at all levels.

‘In other words, the forum has no intention of supporting anybody at any level, that’s not an APC candidate because our candidates are being sponsored by our party. The Governors affirmed commitment is exclusively to all APC candidates.

‘Any arrangement that can create confusion, divided loyalty or competing interests will not be entertained. All levels of the party campaign architectures must align with the expectations of Mr President and objectives of the APC.’

However, Wike has reiterated that his support for the reelection of President Tinubu remained sacrosanct, saying he never promised that the PDP will not field candidates in governorship, National Assembly and States House of Assembly elections.

However, Wike has said President Bola Tinubu is aware of his Rainbow Coalition political strategy, stressing that he is not answerable to APC governors over his political activities.

Wike stated this while speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Tuesday night, in response to the position of some APC governors that there was no room for the Rainbow Coalition and that its members should support only APC candidates at all levels.

The FCT minister said he had never entered into an alliance with the APC or attended meetings of the Progressive Governors Forum over the coalition, insisting that his support for Tinubu did not amount to joining the ruling party.

He said: ‘I have told you here, there’s never been a day I said, and Mr President knows, and there’s nothing I have done that I have never told Mr President, ‘This is what I intend to do,” Wike said.

He said his decision to support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election was based on his conviction that it was the turn of the South to produce the president after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years in office.

‘When in 2023 we said we were going to support Tinubu, people like Hope never knew that it would affect the presidential election,’ he said.

According to the FCT Minister, the G-5 governors did not consult the Progressive Governors Forum before backing Tinubu, but met the presidential candidate and informed him directly of their decision.

‘When the G5 came out to support the President, is there any time we had meeting with Progressive Governors Forum or with their party? We met with Mr President and told Mr President, ‘We are going to support you.’ And I have never hidden that,’ he said.

Wike said there was no contradiction in supporting Tinubu for the presidency while backing candidates from other political parties in state and legislative elections.

He cited the cases of Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, who he said are supporting Tinubu despite belonging to parties other than the APC.

He also questioned the performance of APC in some South-East states during the 2023 presidential election, despite the party’s candidates winning legislative seats in the same states.

‘In Imo State, he (Uzodimma) was governor and of APC stock. Mr President didn’t get 10 per cent in his state. But he took two senators. And Labour Party took one senator in Imo State,’ he said.

Wike argued that the outcome showed that voters could support one party’s presidential candidate while choosing candidates from other parties in legislative contests.

He dismissed the argument by APC governors that the Rainbow Coalition could undermine party unity, saying governors should concentrate on demonstrating their political influence in their respective states.

‘I agree, they are governors, I’m not disputing that, they have influence, but the influence should come more in your own state, as far as this election is concerned,’ he said.

The minister questioned the political influence of governors who were unable to deliver their states to Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election.

‘A governor that is influential, their president cannot win election in his state, still sees himself as being influential?’ he asked.

Wike also described those behind the opposition to the Rainbow Coalition as ‘politically lazy’, accusing them of failing to understand the political dynamics involved.

‘When I see the people who had that press conference, they are smart, like the 419 men. They are smart, like the 419ners. But they are politically lazy. It’s unfortunate,’ he said.

The Imo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has inaugurated polling unit executives in Imo North District, also known as Okigwe Zone, as part of efforts to strengthen its grassroots structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Leading members of the State Executive Committee and other party leaders to Umuenyi in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area for the inauguration, the State Chairman of the ADC, Prof. James Okoroma, emphasized the importance of a strong grassroots structure to the growth and organization of the party.

Okoroma charged the new executives to take their responsibilities seriously, remain accessible to party members in their respective polling units, and ensure that information about the party’s activities was effectively communicated within their communities.

He said, ‘Politics is local’ the strength of any political organization depends greatly on the effectiveness of its grassroots structures.’

The State Chairman also welcomed new members who joined the ADC from other political parties, including the PDP and an APC chieftain in Isiala, Mbano.

He described their decision to join the ADC as an indication of growing interest in the party and urged them to contribute actively to its development.

The ADC Apex Leader of Okigwe Zone, Chief Sir Stanley Ekezie, while welcoming Prof. Okoroma, members of the State Executive Committee, and other party leaders to Umuenyi, his hometown in Isiala Mbano, expressed support for the ongoing effort to establish a functional polling unit structure across the zone.

He noted that effective political organization begins at the grassroots, adding that polling unit executives had an important responsibility in maintaining contact between the party and its members within their communities.

He urged the newly inaugurated executives to remain committed to their duties, work closely with ward and local government leaders, and promote unity, discipline, and cooperation within the area.

The inauguration was attended by several party leaders, including the ADC candidate for the Okigwe North Federal Constituency, Sir Emmanuel Egejurum (Bambas); the ADC candidate for the Isiala Mbano State Constituency, Hon. Mrs. Obiageli Nwogu (Ada Ihe); and the Isiala Mbano LGA Chairman, Hon. Pius Omah, among other party leaders and members.

The inauguration exercise subsequently moved to the Okigwe South axis, where the Imo ADC State Secretary, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwokeke (Iroko), led other zonal officers to Ehime Mbano, Ihitte/Uboma, and Obowo Local Government Areas.

The team inspected the party structures and inaugurated polling unit executives as part of efforts to ensure that every level of the party had clearly defined responsibilities and active officers.

In Ehime Mbano, the State Secretary and his entourage were received by the State Legal Adviser, Barr. Chisom Dominic, the ADC candidate for the Ehime Mbano State Constituency; Hon. Marcel Chibueze Edoh, the Ehime Mbano LGA Chairman; Hon. Mrs. Comfort Ukasoanya; and other party leaders and members.

The development forms part of the wider grassroots organizational drive of the Imo ADC, following similar inauguration and sensitization activities in other parts of the state.

Party leaders described the process as an important step towards establishing functional structures at the polling unit level and ensuring that party activities are effectively coordinated from the grassroots.

THERE is something striking about hearing a prominent member of Nigeria’s political class declare that Nigerians were better off under military rule. It is even more striking when the person making the statement is Mr Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River State and presidential candidate of the Peoples Redemption Party. Duke’s intervention, however, deserves more than outrage. Understood, his argument is less a recommendation of military government than an indictment of what Nigeria’s political leaders have made of democracy. But Duke himself should make it unmistakably clear.

His questions are legitimate. After 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule, are Nigerians better educated? Is healthcare better? Is electricity more reliable? Are there enough productive jobs? Is the ordinary citizen more secure and prosperous? Duke’s answer is largely no. He argues that many of the problems Nigeria faced in 1999 remain unresolved, while some have worsened. These are questions Nigerian leaders should have been asking themselves long before Duke became a presidential candidate. The distress is difficult to deny. Millions of children remain out of school. Poverty is widespread. Healthcare is beyond the reach of many families. Electricity remains grossly inadequate, while unemployment, underemployment and insecurity diminish opportunities. When Duke asks whether Nigerian democracy has delivered enough to justify the hopes raised in 1999, the political establishment should answer the question rather than attack the messenger. But the comparison with military rule must be carefully demarcated.

Military dictatorship may appear cheaper partly because it abolishes or sidelines institutions democracy requires. There are no truly competitive elections or elected legislatures, and no obligation on those who seize power to obtain the people’s consent. Under military rule, constitutions were suspended, elected institutions dissolved, journalists detained, politicians imprisoned, and decrees used to override civil liberties. Nigerians should not allow today’s economic hardship to erase yesterday’s repression. Democracy has given Nigerians freedoms that should never be treated as minor achievements: the right to criticise the President, organise politically, challenge government in court, contest elections and periodically remove governments without soldiers appearing on television to suspend the Constitution. Nigeria has also enjoyed 27 years of uninterrupted civilian rule. In 2015, an incumbent President conceded defeat and power passed peacefully to the opposition. Yet it cannot become an excuse for democratic underperformance.

The existence of a National Assembly, courts, political parties and periodic elections does not automatically mean democracy is functioning well. Institutions must perform the purposes for which they were created. On this point, Duke’s criticism deserves attention. Nigeria’s elections suffer from a crisis of public confidence. When citizens believe votes do not matter, democracy loses more than turnout; it loses legitimacy. The legislature must be more than an institution that validates executive preferences, while the judiciary must command confidence in impartial justice. Duke’s reference to the speed with which the former national anthem was restored in 2024 also raises a fair question. Whether one supported or opposed the change is besides the point. Nigerians may reasonably wonder why some matters move through the legislative process with astonishing efficiency while reforms affecting electricity, education, healthcare, security and livelihoods remain unresolved for years.

Still, Duke must also look into the mirror. He is not an outsider commenting on a political class to which he never belonged. He governed Cross River State from 1999 to 2007-eight of the 27 years whose democratic performance he now questions. Before that, he served on the National Economic Intelligence Committee during military rule. His experience gives weight to his criticism, but it also imposes responsibility. What could his generation have done differently? Why were stronger institutions not entrenched when they had the opportunity? What lessons has he learnt? There is also the matter of timing. Duke had raised governance concerns before, but he is now a presidential candidate. Nigerians are entitled to ask whether his intervention is statesmanship or partly electoral positioning. That does not invalidate his argument, but it makes clarity essential. He should state without ambiguity that he is not advocating a return to military rule. Nothing in his reported remarks necessarily amounts to such a call. His point appears to be that politicians have failed to make democracy meaningful in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. But in a region where military takeovers have reappeared, careless nostalgia can be dangerous. The answer to a poorly performing democracy is not military rule. It is a better-performing democracy.

Nigeria does not need another sterile argument over whether soldiers governed better than politicians. It needs serious introspection about why, after nearly three decades of civilian rule, electricity remains unreliable, schools inadequate, healthcare weak, insecurity persistent and productive opportunities insufficient for a rapidly growing population. Government must become more accountable. Elections must command greater confidence. The legislature must exercise oversight. The judiciary must inspire trust. The cost of governance must be reduced without reducing democracy. Political office must return to public service rather than a permanent occupation. Duke also recalled the warning that a time could come when the rich would not sleep because the poor had not eaten. The warning should not be dismissed. Hunger, inequality, unemployment and loss of faith in institutions are dangerous ingredients in any society. Time is running out for politicians who believe Nigerians can endure indefinitely without consequences.

Donald Duke has made an important intervention, even if his comparison is imperfect and his own record invites scrutiny. The response is neither to romanticise military rule nor pretend that civilian rule has performed well simply because soldiers are no longer in power. Democracy must be defended, but it must also deliver. Nigeria fought too hard to escape military rule to return to it. But its leaders must understand that the strongest defence of democracy is not another speech praising it. It is making democracy work for the people.

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has been challenged by Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, to quit the presidential race if claims that his administration left Anambra State with outstanding liabilities are established.

Onanuga’s challenge followed fresh allegations by the Anambra State Government that eight external loans obtained during Obi’s tenure remained outstanding, with the state putting the balance at $92.35m, equivalent to ?127.37bn, as of June 30, 2026.

The state government also disputed Obi’s claim that he left more than ?2.13bn untouched in an ecological fund account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis, saying the account he identified was instead an Internally Generated Revenue Consolidated Revenue Account.

The allegations were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Law Mefor, in response to Obi’s recent comments on what he described as ‘Phantom Debts and Ecological Loan Fallacy’.

According to Mefor, records from the Debt Management Office showed that the eight external loans contracted during Obi’s administration were still outstanding as of June 30, 2026.

The loans, the government said, were originally valued at $123.77m and covered projects including malaria control, healthcare, education, community development, erosion control and agricultural value-chain development.

They included the Malaria Control Booster Project, Third National Fadama Development Project, Health System Development Project II, Malaria Control Booster Project (Additional Financing), State Education Programme Investment Project, Community and Social Development Project, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, and Value Chain Development Project.

The state government said it was not opposed to borrowing where such funds were used for viable projects and human capital development, adding that the present administration had continued to service the liabilities.

‘We are not complaining. It is good for Anambra once we can show the impacts,’ the statement quoted the government as saying.

The government, however, questioned the extent to which Obi’s administration’s spending translated into development, alleging that the former governor left challenges in public water supply, education, healthcare, insecurity and infrastructure.

It claimed that 78 of the state’s 179 communities, representing 44 per cent, did not have public primary schools, while only about 27 per cent of residents patronised public health institutions.

The state government also alleged that Obi left behind unpaid salary, pension and gratuity liabilities. It said the current administration had since cleared about ?22bn in inherited gratuity arrears owed to retired state and local government employees and teachers.

It further claimed that Obi spent about $4.05bn during his eight years in office, which the government said would amount to about ?5.4tn when converted using the current official exchange rate.

Obi, however, has maintained that his administration cleared more than ?35bn in historical gratuities and arrears and left office without outstanding salary, pension or gratuity obligations.

He also rejected the claim concerning the ecological fund, saying more than ?2.13bn remained untouched in a First Bank account for the Oko/Umuchiana erosion crisis.

Obi had challenged anyone capable of establishing that his account of Anambra’s finances was incorrect, saying, ‘If anybody can establish anything to the contrary, I will stop campaigning.’

Reacting to the renewed dispute in a post on X on Wednesday, Onanuga said Obi had previously tied his continued participation in the presidential race to the accuracy of his claims about the state’s finances.

Onanuga wrote, ‘Peter Obi claimed he left Anambra with a clean slate of debt and even threatened to quit the presidential race if his claims were proven otherwise.’

The presidential aide said the state government had now confronted Obi with figures which he claimed contradicted the former governor’s account of the financial position of Anambra when he left office.

He added, ‘Now, the Anambra government has confronted him with facts and figures showing he owed Water Corporation workers, teachers, and pension and gratuities, and had also borrowed for frivolous things,’ Onanuga said.

‘The ball is back in his court. Will he follow through on his threat by quitting the race?’ he asked.

The Federal Government has dismissed reports that it plans to sell the nation’s Unity Colleges, saying the concession of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys Association is a specific intervention aimed at restoring the institution’s lost glory.

Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, who stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said the government had no intention of selling or transferring ownership of any of the Unity Colleges to private interests.

He explained that the management agreement involving King’s College was designed to allow the school’s Old Boys Association to invest heavily in infrastructure and restore the institution to its former standard, while ownership of the property would remain with the Federal Government.

Alausa, who was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said the press conference was convened to clarify what he described as misinformation surrounding the agreement with the King’s College Old Boys Association (KCOBA).

He said: ‘Federal Government is not selling any Unity College. The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education, does not have the intention to sell any Unity College and we will not sell any Unity College.’

While lamenting the high level of dilapidation of the Unity Colleges across the country, the Minister said the government had opted for an innovative approach because of the huge infrastructure deficit confronting the Unity Colleges and the limited resources available to government.

He said even a release of ?2 trillion would not be sufficient to address the accumulated infrastructure decay across Unity Colleges nationwide.

Alausa said the condition of some of the schools became evident during unannounced inspection visits carried out by him and the Minister of State.

He said the situation he encountered at King’s College, particularly its old campus, exposed the extent of deterioration in hostels, classrooms, laboratories, toilets, dining facilities and other infrastructure.

The minister said the school had at a point gone for nine months without electricity before intervention by the government.

He also criticised the use of portions of the school premises as a public car park, saying such an arrangement raised serious security concerns for students.

Alausa said the government had subsequently directed that the car-parking arrangement be discontinued.

He explained that the decision to engage the King’s College Old Boys Association followed its willingness to invest significant resources in rehabilitating and repositioning the institution without increasing fees.

According to him, the alumni association already has a foundation that would manage the institution on a not-for-profit basis.

He said the arrangement was not an abdication of government responsibility, noting that the government would retain ownership of the school and monitor the implementation of agreed performance indicators.

‘The property still remains Federal Government property. The Federal Ministry of Education has given clear KPIs to meet,’ he said.

Alausa also cited the experience of former mission schools and some institutions managed by alumni associations as examples of how private or alumni-supported management could help restore schools to their former standards without transferring ownership.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the management concession granted in respect of King’s College would run for 35 years.

She said the duration was necessary to enable the concessionaire to make the level of investment required to rehabilitate the institution and achieve sustainable results.

Ahmad stressed that the arrangement should not be interpreted as a sale of the school or a precedent for concessioning all Unity Colleges.

She said the Federal Government was not extending the King’s College arrangement to other Unity Colleges.

The minister said a short-term concession would not provide sufficient time for an investor or alumni body to commit the level of resources required to transform an institution with decades of accumulated infrastructure challenges.

Alausa also disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 3,000 teachers this year, with the government working to absorb existing PTA teachers into the public teaching system where appropriate.

He said the government planned to recruit an additional 5,000 teachers next year as part of efforts to address the shortage of teachers in federal schools.

The minister said the administration was also committed to rehabilitating infrastructure in the schools while addressing concerns raised by staff unions.

On the protest by education-sector unions over the King’s College arrangement, Alausa condemned the blockade of the Ministry of Education, saying workers had the right to protest but must do so within the law.

He said the government had already reached a six-point agreement with the Trade Union Congress and other stakeholders, adding that the ministry remained open to dialogue.

He, however, said the government would not tolerate the alleged obstruction of access to the ministry, damage to property or intimidation of workers.

Alausa maintained that the government’s objective was to restore the quality, discipline and unity that characterised institutions such as King’s College when they were established to train future leaders.

He said the government would continue to explore partnerships that could attract additional resources to the education sector without relinquishing ownership of public institutions.

Preparing for IELTS does not have to be expensive. Nigerian candidates can make strong progress with free online materials, regular practice and a clear understanding of what the examination requires.

The key is to practise deliberately rather than simply spending hours watching IELTS videos. Candidates should focus on the four test areas: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights the free preparation strategies to achieve high band scores.

Understand the IELTS scoring system

Before practising, learn how IELTS examiners assess your performance. For Writing and Speaking, understand the assessment criteria and the difference between the band scores. This helps you identify what separates an average response from a stronger one.

Pay particular attention to grammar, vocabulary, organisation, fluency and pronunciation. Knowing the marking criteria also prevents you from wasting time memorising complicated words that you may not use correctly.

Create a simple daily practice routine

Set aside time every day for IELTS preparation. A simple routine could include Listening and Reading practice in the morning, followed by Writing and Speaking exercises later in the day.

You do not need to study for many hours at once. What matters is consistency. Keep track of your scores and mistakes so you can see whether you are actually improving.

Improve listening with regular practice

Use free IELTS Listening tests and English-language audio materials to become comfortable with different accents and speaking speeds. Before each recording, read the questions carefully and identify the information you need to listen for.

After completing a practice test, review every wrong answer. Find out whether you missed the information, misunderstood the speaker or made a spelling mistake. Repeated practice will make it easier to follow the recording without panicking when you miss an answer.

Read quickly and look for relevant information

IELTS Reading is heavily dependent on time management. Practise identifying keywords and finding relevant information without reading every sentence repeatedly.

Pay attention to synonyms because the question may use different words from those in the passage. Use a timer during practice. If a question is taking too long, move on and return to it later.

Practise speaking every day

You can practise Speaking without paying for a private tutor. Use free IELTS Speaking questions and record your answers on your phone. Listen to yourself afterwards and identify areas that need improvement.

Pay attention to unnecessary pauses, repeated words, pronunciation and grammar. Practise answering questions naturally instead of memorising complete responses. You should be able to explain your opinions and give examples without sounding rehearsed. Free mock-speaking videos can also help you become familiar with the format.

Write under the 60-minute limit

Practice IELTS Writing under actual time conditions. Give yourself 60 minutes and complete both tasks. This teaches you how to divide your time between planning, writing and checking your work.

After each essay, check whether you answered the question fully, organised your ideas clearly and used appropriate vocabulary and grammar. Do not focus only on writing long sentences. Clear and accurate writing is more useful than complicated sentences filled with errors.

Build useful vocabulary

Avoid trying to memorise hundreds of difficult words. Instead, learn vocabulary around common IELTS topics such as education, employment, health, technology, transport and the environment.

Learn how words are used in sentences and practise using them in your own writing and speech. A smaller vocabulary that you can use accurately is more valuable than a long list of words you barely understand.

Use free official resources

Candidates should start with reliable preparation materials instead of downloading every IELTS resource they find online. The official IELTS website provides free information and preparation materials. The British Council also provides free preparation materials and practice activities. Use these alongside free practice videos and tests from reputable educational platforms.

Take full mock tests

Do full IELTS practice tests regularly, particularly as the examination approaches. Sit the test under realistic conditions. Keep to the time limits and avoid unnecessary breaks. Afterwards, review your performance instead of simply looking at the score. Identify where you lost marks and make those areas the focus of your next practice session.

Keep an error notebook

Write down the mistakes you repeatedly make. For example, you may notice that you frequently make spelling mistakes in Listening, struggle with particular Reading question types or use certain grammatical structures incorrectly in Writing.

Review these mistakes regularly and practise correcting them. This gives your preparation a clear direction instead of making every study session random.

The Federal Government will re-arraign five men on Thursday (tomorrow) in connection with the kidnapping of pupils and teachers on May 15 in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as well as the subsequent killing of two of the victims.

The Department of State Services (DSS) will present the case on behalf of the Federal Government, charging the men with a six-count amended indictment labelled FHC/ABJ/CR/438/2026.

The accused persons identified as members of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimina fi-Biladis Sudan (ANSARU) terrorist group are, Mahmud Muhammad (aka Abu Bara’a, Abbas Mukhtar); Abubakar Abbas (aka Isah Adam, Mallam Mahmuda Al-Nigeri); Abdulrazak Umar (aka Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid); Yunusa Musa (aka Abu Yunusa Bin Musa); and Shamsu Adamu Sani (aka Abu Itisar).

Although, the suspects were to be arraigned on Wednesday, September 16, it was aborted following the insistence of the accused persons to be defended by lawyers of their own choice.

At Wednesday’s aborted proceedings, Mr Akilaluyel Shettima, a Deputy Director with the Legal Aid Council, had announced appearance for the five of them, but the first accused person, Mahmud Muhammad, objected.

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Muhammad told Justice Salim Ibrahim that they had been represented by one Bala Dakum as their lawyer before and would want him to continue to defend them.

At this point, the Federal Government lawyer and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN conceded that the issue of choice of lawyer is a Constitutional matter that must be respected and allowed for the accused persons.

Oyedepo told the Court that the DSS is a law-abiding institution not interested in persecution of the accused persons but only interested in justice.

At this point, the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim, resolved to shift the fresh arraignment to tomorrow, September 17 and ordered the accused persons to contact their lawyer to be in Court today for the re-arraignment to hold.

Justice Ibrahim also asked the DSS to allow the accused persons access their lawyer to prepare for their defense as required by law.

Blessing Bashorun, Executive Chef and Founder of Cabbilicious Foods and Cabbilicious Culinary School, has called for stronger professional standards across Africa’s food and hospitality industry as part of efforts to position African cuisine for greater global recognition.

African cuisine already carries a strong identity, cultural depth and diversity, but wider international recognition also depends on how consistently that food is presented to global audiences. For chefs and food businesses looking beyond local markets, professional standards can influence whether interest in African food develops into lasting credibility.

Blessing maintains that creativity alone cannot sustain that visibility. She argues that African culinary professionals must be prepared to match the quality of the food they create with the level of professionalism expected in international hospitality environments.

‘African cuisine already has the identity and richness to stand confidently anywhere in the world. What we need is to make sure the standards behind the food are just as strong as the food itself,’ she said.

That argument goes beyond presentation. Global recognition is built through repeated experiences, and a cuisine that attracts attention must also be supported by businesses and professionals capable of delivering quality consistently.

For African food brands seeking international opportunities, this means paying closer attention to the standards that shape the entire dining experience. Strong food safety practices, reliable service and professional execution can strengthen how African cuisine is received in markets where expectations are already firmly established.

‘If we want African cuisine to be respected globally, then the experience around it has to inspire the same confidence as the food itself,’ Blessing said.

Blessing has made food safety one of the key areas of her professional work. She holds the Highfield Level 3 Award in Food Safety for Catering through the London Professional Training Centre in the United Kingdom and has consistently advocated stronger food safety practices within professional catering.

That expertise is relevant to the wider global conversation because international recognition does not stop at introducing new audiences to African dishes. The businesses representing those dishes must also be capable of meeting the standards expected by consumers, hospitality partners and institutions in different markets.

Culinary training is another part of that equation. Through Cabbilicious Culinary School, Blessing works with aspiring chefs and food entrepreneurs, preparing them to understand the professional expectations attached to working in the food industry.

The importance of such training becomes clearer as African chefs seek opportunities outside their home markets. Technical ability may create an opportunity, but the capacity to work within professional systems and deliver consistently can determine how far that opportunity develops.

Blessing stated that stronger training can also allow African culinary professionals to compete internationally without diluting the identity of the food they represent.

‘Global recognition should not mean losing what makes African cuisine unique. It means presenting that uniqueness with the level of professionalism that allows it to compete anywhere,’ she said.

This balance between cultural identity and professional execution is becoming increasingly important to the way African cuisine is positioned. Global appeal does not require African food to become less African. It requires the industry around it to become stronger at presenting its value consistently.

The same principle applies to food businesses. As African entrepreneurs build catering companies and hospitality concepts around local cuisine, the quality of their operations becomes part of how consumers experience the food itself.

A memorable dish can introduce someone to a cuisine, but confidence is built when that quality can be repeated. This is why stronger industry standards matter to the broader effort to move African cuisine from occasional international curiosity into a more established part of the global hospitality conversation.

Blessing’s work through Cabbilicious Foods has given her experience within professional catering, while Cabbilicious Culinary School provides an avenue for developing people who may eventually represent African food in different markets.

Her push for greater global recognition therefore centres on a straightforward principle. African cuisine already has the cultural value and culinary strength required to attract international attention. What can strengthen its position further is an industry capable of supporting that food with the professionalism global audiences expect.

For Blessing Bashorun, stronger food safety, better professional preparation and consistent service standards are not separate conversations from the global future of African cuisine. They are part of what will determine whether the attention African food continues to receive can be converted into lasting international recognition.