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The Deputy Governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) in Oyo State, Engr. Open Salawu, has donated N15 million to support the 2026 Rabitah Conference in Ibadan, reaffirming his commitment to advancing Islam and promoting unity among Muslims in Yorubaland.

Salawu, who is also the Giwa Adinni of Oyo State and Babalaje of Ogbomosoland, announced the donation on Tuesday when he received the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Imam Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakry Agbotomokekere, and a delegation of Imams, Alfas and Islamic scholars from across Yorubaland.

He also donated an additional N1 million to the delegation as personal support, in what was described as a demonstration of his longstanding commitment to honouring and caring for Islamic scholars.

The delegation, under the aegis of Rabitatul Aimmat Wal Ulamai Fi Bilaadi Yoruba, also known as the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, paid the courtesy visit as part of preparations for the Yorubaland Muslim Conference, Ibadan 2026, scheduled to hold in November.

The Islamic scholars commended Salawu for his contributions to the propagation of Islam, describing him as the pride of Islam in Oyo State.

They said his interventions in religious and community development had contributed to the growth of Islamic institutions and the welfare of Muslims across the state.

Among the contributions highlighted by the delegation were the construction of the Central Mosque in Ilajue, Surulere Local Government Area, and another Central Mosque in Olokoto, Orire Local Government Area.

The scholars also listed the construction of mosques in Ile-Ogiri and Tara in Ogbomoso, which they said Salawu single-handedly undertook, as well as his support for the foundation of the Ikoyi Central Mosque.

Other interventions, according to the delegation, included the roofing of several Jumat mosques and the introduction of Itikaf at the Ogbomoso Central Mosque.

They disclosed that Salawu had been funding the feeding of 100 participants during the annual Itikaf programme since 2023.

The delegation further noted that he had been feeding 9,000 people every Ramadan for the past eight years, while also sponsoring Muslim and Christian programmes on Parrot FM, Ogbomoso, for more than a decade.

The scholars said these initiatives reflected his contributions to religious activities, interfaith engagement and community welfare.

They formally invited him to the forthcoming conference and expressed appreciation for his financial support.

Speaking during the visit, Salawu commended the League of Imams and Alfas for sustaining the conference and providing a platform for Muslim leaders to deliberate on issues affecting the religious community and the wider society.

He said: ‘I commend the League of Imams and Alfas for sustaining this impactful conference and for recognising the importance of collaboration between religious and community leaders in building a peaceful, progressive and inclusive society.’

The APM deputy governorship candidate assured the delegation of his attendance at the conference, expressing confidence that the gathering would provide an opportunity for meaningful dialogue, reflection and collective action.

He said: ‘I reaffirm my continuous commitment to supporting Islamic development and other initiatives that promote environmental sanity, unity, peaceful coexistence, education, youth empowerment and the overall wellbeing of our people.’

Salawu also commended the organisers for bringing Muslim leaders from across Yorubaland together, noting that such engagements could strengthen cooperation among religious institutions and communities.

He added, ‘I am confident that this conference will provide a meaningful platform for dialogue, reflection and collective action on issues affecting the Muslim community and the larger society.’

The APM chieftain further prayed for the success of the conference, asking Allah to grant the organisers wisdom and reward their efforts.

He said, ‘I pray that Allah, SWT, grants the organisers wisdom, rewards their efforts abundantly and makes the conference a resounding success.’

The three-day conference, scheduled to hold from November 13 to 16, 2026, at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, is expected to bring together renowned Islamic scholars, community leaders, government officials and other stakeholders from across Yorubaland.

According to the delegation, the conference is designed to be intellectually engaging and spiritually uplifting, with discussions focusing on peace, unity, education, moral leadership, youth development and the strengthening of religious and community institutions.

Other areas of discussion will include the role of Imams in purifying Islamic pulpits, the responsibilities of political leaders ahead of the forthcoming elections and other pertinent issues affecting the Muslim Ummah and the nation.

The organisers disclosed that Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Deputy Governor, Barrister Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal; and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, are among the special guests expected at the conference.

In response to Salawu’s support, the delegation offered special prayers and spiritual blessings for him, his family and his political aspirations.

The conference is expected to provide an opportunity for Muslim leaders and other stakeholders to examine the responsibilities of religious and political institutions in addressing contemporary challenges and strengthening social cohesion across Yorubaland.

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparent and accountable governance, with citizens taking an active role in shaping the state’s 2027 budget.

Diri made the commitment at a stakeholders’ public interactive session on the preparation of the 2027 annual budget, held at the Harold Dappa-Biriye Conference Hall, Onopa, Yenagoa.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, said the administration would strengthen systems for tracking and reporting budget implementation to ensure the proper utilisation of public funds.

He said the government had consistently partnered with civil society organisations, the media and citizens to promote transparency, accountability and good governance in the state.

According to Diri, the interactive session was designed to give people from all walks of life an opportunity to contribute to the budget process through a bottom-up approach.

He said the citizens’ budget to be produced after the session would be published in plain language, enabling Bayelsans to understand how public funds were allocated and utilised.

The governor urged stakeholders to identify what had worked or failed in their communities and sectors, and use the findings to help the government set priorities for the 2027 fiscal year.

Diri also called for inclusion of women, youths, persons living with disabilities and communities affected by oil production in the budget-making process.

Commissioner for Finance, Maxwell Ebibai, represented by the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenues, Timipre Seipulo, said the state recorded 86 percent performance in its 2025 budget.

Seipulo said Bayelsa received actual revenue of N1.13 trillion in 2025, compared with budgeted revenue of N1.294 trillion, representing a significant increase over the previous year.

He added that recurrent expenditure stood at N274.78 billion, while capital expenditure increased to N838 billion, representing a 41 percent rise over the previous year.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Burutolu Samuel, said the session was aimed at identifying citizens’ priorities and collectively determining the state’s development direction.

Samuel urged Bayelsans to participate actively in the budget process, saying their input will help the government to produce a people-centred budget capable of delivering tangible improvements.

Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Moses Teibowei, said the administration had recorded progress in infrastructure development, particularly through the construction of roads linking hinterland communities.

Teibowei disclosed that Diri had approved the rehabilitation of internal roads in Yenagoa, including the old Okaka road, while representatives of women, youths, community development committees and traditional rulers used the session to raise concerns and present their priorities.

Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince D?tun Oyelade, has urged the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, to blacklist political candidates who refuse to participate in its proposed public debate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Oyelade, who commended the council for constituting a committee to organise the debate, said the initiative would provide an opportunity for candidates to explain their intentions, defend their campaign promises and answer questions from the electorate.

In a statement issued from his office on Wednesday, the commissioner said the initiative would strengthen democratic participation and promote good governance by enabling voters to make informed choices about candidates seeking public office.

He described the debate as an important responsibility of the media in promoting public interest and holding political office seekers accountable.

‘What the NUJ has done is to activate one of its principal mandates as the fourth estate of the realm to excite public interest in democratic exercise,’ he said.

Oyelade said political candidates should not expect to secure electoral victory by appealing to the emotions of the electorate while avoiding opportunities to explain their policies and defend their promises.

He described the avoidance of public debate by candidates as a circumvention of democratic principles, stressing that the electorate deserved to know the positions of those seeking their votes.

According to him, a public debate provides an opportunity for candidates to demonstrate their understanding of the challenges facing the people and explain how they intend to address them if elected.

The commissioner therefore urged the NUJ Oyo State Council to make participation in the proposed debate mandatory for all political candidates, particularly those contesting the governorship election.

He said the debate should provide a platform for candidates to submit themselves to public scrutiny and allow the electorate to assess their promises before making electoral decisions.

Oyelade further suggested that any governorship candidate who fails to attend the debate should be reported to the court of public opinion and identified as an obstacle to democratic development.

He maintained that candidates seeking public office should be prepared to engage the electorate, respond to questions and demonstrate accountability rather than avoid public scrutiny.

The commissioner’s call comes as political activities gradually gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, with the proposed NUJ debate expected to provide a platform for public engagement with candidates in Oyo.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced moves to integrate life skills and critical thinking into the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in a bid to make the examination more responsive to the changing demands of tertiary education.

Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Segun Aina, made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at the inauguration of a committee of education stakeholders and experts mandated to develop a framework for incorporating the skills into the UTME.

Aina explained that the proposed reform was necessary because the UTME primarily performs a ranking and selection function among candidates who already possess O-Level qualifications.

According to him, continuing to focus exclusively on subject-matter knowledge could amount to duplicating assessments already conducted by examination bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

He said candidates seeking admission through UTME had already been assessed in various subject areas at the O-Level.

‘So ours is a ranking task. It’s not necessarily to test your subject matter expertise. So we feel for the UTME examination to be purely subject matter is a duplicity of effort of sorts,’ he said.

The registrar said JAMB was therefore seeking ways of assessing skills that candidates would deploy in real-life situations, particularly their ability to think critically, reason and solve problems.

He stressed that the board also wanted to determine whether the current UTME format remained effective in predicting candidates’ performance after admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

‘Are the methods that we are employing to check and predict who will do well in the university or the polytechnic or the college of education, are they still valid? Are they good enough?’ Aina asked.

He noted that the UTME format had remained largely unchanged for more than three decades, saying JAMB must continuously examine the relevance and effectiveness of its assessment methods.

‘The biggest room in the house is the room for improvement. So we want the committee to help us take a look at this,’ he said.

Aina said the committee was deliberately constituted with representatives from different segments of the education sector to ensure that the proposed reforms reflected the perspectives of stakeholders who would ultimately be affected by them.

‘We cannot be judges in our own matter. So we have assembled a team of stakeholders who are also experts in their own rights to join us in taking a look at this issue, to guide us and to make sure that any decision we take is one that is broadly acceptable to all the stakeholders who will be affected by these decisions,’ he said.

He described the assignment as a national responsibility and said the committee had been given an initial four-week period to examine the proposal from a conceptual perspective.

On the duration of the committee’s assignment, Aina said: ‘They’ve been given an initial time of four weeks to look into this.’

Also speaking, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by the Technical Assistant to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Oni Adedeji, said the initiative was in line with ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to reform assessment across the education sector.

Alausa charged the committee to develop standardised, fair and transparent assessment modalities capable of measuring candidates’ analytical, logical and verbal reasoning abilities beyond the recall of subject content.

He said the committee would also determine how the proposed components would be introduced into UTME, including whether they should be assessed as a separate standardised component or embedded within existing subjects.

The minister said the proposed reform was designed to create an assessment system that would measure not only what candidates know but also how effectively they could think, reason and solve problems.

‘I strongly believe getting these rights will shape how Nigeria evaluates readiness for tertiary education now and in years to come,’ Alausa said.

He assured the committee of the ministry’s continued collaboration and support throughout the assignment.

The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Boniface Nworgu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said the effectiveness of UTME should ultimately be assessed by its ability to identify candidates with strong prospects of succeeding in tertiary education.

Nworgu explained that JAMB conducts a selection examination rather than a certificate examination, making the predictive validity of the test an important consideration.

‘What JAMB is expected to do and what it is doing is to look at those measures that can help us to select the candidates that have the highest promise of succeeding in academic tasks at the tertiary education level,’ he said.

He said the validity of the UTME needed to be continuously reviewed because the curriculum and skills requirements of tertiary institutions had evolved considerably.

Nworgu cited the transition from the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) to the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), saying the new curriculum places greater emphasis on skills and critical thinking.

‘The focus now is the area of skills and then critical thinking. So, what JAMB is trying to do is understandable from that perspective,’ he said.

He, however, said the committee would not restrict its recommendations to life skills and critical thinking if its deliberations revealed other measures capable of improving the predictive validity of UTME.

‘If in the course of our deliberations, we find out that there are other measures that can improve the predictive validity of the UTME, we’re certainly going to make appropriate recommendations,’ he said.

Nworgu also said the committee would insist on evidence in assessing whether any proposed changes to the examination achieved their intended objectives.

‘We are not going to make that mistake in this case,’ he said, stressing the need to establish a baseline against which the effectiveness of any modified UTME could be measured.

He added: ‘If we have been using UTME for this number of years and we want to produce a modified UTME, so to speak, there must be evidence at the end of the day that this effort was on time, that we did not waste the taxpayers’ money doing what is beneficial to the society.’

The committee comprises stakeholders drawn from universities, examination bodies, professional regulatory councils, students’ organisations, secondary schools and development organisations.

Members include Prof. Boniface Nworgu (University of Nigeria, Nsukka), chairman; Prof. M. Yakasai (Bayero University, Kano); Afolabi S. Imoukhued?; Prof. Idris Mohammed (Medical and Dental Council); Zakariyau Abdullahi (WAEC); Engr. Prof. Aaron Aboshio (Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria); Dr. Murtala Aliyu Sakwa (National Board for Technical Education); Prof. Duke Okoro (Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria); and Jiya Umar Mohammed (All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools).

Others are Dr. Chima Egbujuo (Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council); Dr. Emmanuel Udontre (Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria); Salawudeen Kamorudeen Opeyemi (Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement); Catherine-Onyejeche Ibrahim (United Nations Development Programme); Dr. Fadipe E. Oladotun (Veterinary Council of Nigeria); Dr. Alimigbe Frances (Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria); Lawrence B. Aremu (National Commission for Colleges of Education); and Edidiong Lawrence Moses (Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigeria).

The remaining members are Prof. Raymond Emmanuel (National Business and Technical Examinations Board); Dr. Clinton (Nigerian Union of Teachers); Dr. Anthony Idoko (Pharmacy Council of Nigeria); Akinteye Babatunde Afeez (National Association of Nigerian Students); Dr. Esa Onoja (Council of Legal Education); Dr. Esther Mmeka (National Universities Commission); Dr. Yusuf Abbas Raji (National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies); Prof. Babawale T. Bello (University of Lagos); and Arc. Kayode (Architects Registration Council of Nigeria).

The committee is expected to submit its initial recommendations within four weeks, after which JAMB may proceed to a further stage involving assessment experts to develop or implement the details of any framework eventually adopted.

Student leaders from tertiary institutions across the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027.

They also pledged to mobilise students across the region in support of his candidacy.

The endorsement was announced at the inauguration of the Students’ Wing of Arewa for Asiwaju (A4A), attended by Students’ Union Government presidents and other student leaders from universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Coordinator of the A4A Students’ Wing and SUG President of Bayero University, Kano, Comrade Abdulmudallib Kalli Sheriff, said the decision was informed by the Tinubu administration’s interventions in education, student financing, skills development and youth empowerment.

‘We are for Asiwaju. Our support is not passive or ceremonial; it is organised, deliberate and ready for action,’ Sheriff said.

He singled out the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention expanding access to tertiary education, particularly for students from financially disadvantaged families.

‘We will take this message to our campuses and communities. We will mobilise, communicate and organise,’ he added.

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, said the endorsement reflected the President’s ‘giant strides’ in education, infrastructure, healthcare and agriculture.

He described Tinubu’s investments in education and skills development as particularly significant for the North.

‘Through TVET and NELFUND, the President has done a lot for the North. Available programme data indicate that Northern Nigeria accounts for over 60 per cent of beneficiaries under key interventions. That is measurable impact,’ Sani said.

The governor said expanding educational opportunities must also go hand in hand with economic and digital inclusion.

‘We cannot meaningfully empower young Nigerians politically while leaving them educationally, economically and digitally excluded,’ he said.

Sani urged the students to make their mobilisation issue-based and anchored on the administration’s record.

‘Do not campaign with insults; campaign with evidence. Do not answer criticism with abuse; answer it with facts,’ he said.

Director-General of Arewa for Asiwaju, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, mni, said the case for Tinubu’s re-election should be based on achievements rather than promises.

‘We are not here to ask for your support on the strength of promises. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has already delivered, and the record speaks for itself,’ Badaru said.

He cited NELFUND, TETFund projects and the Energising Education Programme as interventions benefiting students and tertiary institutions across the North.

Badaru, who formally inaugurated the Students’ Wing, charged its members to ‘carry this record to every campus, every hostel and every student union across the 19 Northern States.’

Accepting the mandate, Sheriff pledged to build a coordinated student mobilisation network across the region ahead of the 2027 elections.

’19 Northern States. The FCT. Thousands of campuses. Millions of young Nigerians. One coordinated movement,’ he declared.

‘The students of Arewa are ready to stand with President Tinubu. We are ready to mobilise, organise, engage and deliver.’

In order to promote clean-energy innovation, STEM education, creativity and practical problem-solving among secondary school students statewide, the Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, has launched the Lagos Clean Energy Schools Innovation Challenge (LCESIC) 2026.

The launch, held on Wednesday at the ASSBIFI Event Centre, Plot 5, ASSBIFI Road, C.B.D., Alausa, Ikeja, brought together top government officials and key stakeholders from the energy and education sectors.

Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, described LCESIC as an investment in the next generation of clean-energy innovators, stressing that the initiative goes beyond a conventional school competition.

Ogunleye noted that the rapidly changing global energy landscape requires deliberate investment in young people who will design, build, regulate, manage and lead the energy systems of the future.

According to him, the initiative provides students with a structured platform to identify real-world energy challenges, develop ideas, test solutions and apply their scientific knowledge and creativity to practical problems.

‘This is not simply a competition. It is a platform for our young people to identify problems, ask questions, develop ideas and create solutions to real-world energy challenges,’ the commissioner said.

He explained that the challenge focuses on four thematic areas: Solar Energy and Photovoltaics; Energy Efficiency and Conservation; Biogas and Waste-to-Energy; and Wind and Hybrid Energy Systems.

The commissioner emphasised that Lagos, as Nigeria’s economic and innovation hub, must continue to develop the human capacity required to participate meaningfully in the transformation of the energy sector. He added that such capacity building must begin early by exposing students to innovation, technology and practical problem-solving.

Ogunleye encouraged participating students to remain curious, work collaboratively, test their ideas and learn from setbacks, stressing that the objective goes beyond producing a winning project to developing a generation capable of identifying challenges and working systematically towards practical solutions.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the education sector, schools, private-sector partners, mentors and other stakeholders to create opportunities for young people to learn, innovate and contribute to the development of Lagos State.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Mrs. Ibilola Kasunmu, described the initiative as an investment in young people and the future of the energy sector.

Kasunmu stated that the energy challenges facing Lagos State and the wider world require young people who can think critically, embrace technology and develop practical and sustainable solutions.

She explained that the maiden edition of LCESIC brings together eligible Senior Secondary School One (SS1) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2) students from Education Districts 1, 2 and 3 to develop innovative solutions across the four thematic areas.

She said participating students would progress from district-level competitions to the State-level competition and ultimately the championship.

The Permanent Secretary noted that the programme aligns with the Lagos State Government’s commitment to youth development, STEM education, innovation and sustainability under the THEMES+ Development Agenda.

Kasunmu acknowledged the support and leadership of the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, and the Honourable Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, in advancing initiatives that invest in the future of young people.

She also commended the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Education Districts, school principals, teachers, mentors and implementing partners, particularly Dr. Yetty Ogunnubi, founder of YD Company, for their contributions to the development and implementation of the initiative.

In her goodwill message, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Adumasi Bosede, described LCESIC as a laudable initiative that provides students with opportunities to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges.

Adumasi emphasised the importance of collaboration among government institutions, schools, teachers, industry partners and other stakeholders in nurturing the talents and capabilities of young people.

She encouraged participating students to approach the challenge with enthusiasm, curiosity and an open mind, stressing that meaningful innovation begins with identifying a genuine need and developing an appropriate solution.

The launch was graced by top government officials and key stakeholders from the energy and education sectors, including senior officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the General Manager, Lagos State Electrification Agency (LSEA), the Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), representatives of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Education District officials, school principals, teachers, mentors, participating students, implementing partners and members of the media.

The presence of stakeholders across the energy and education sectors underscored the importance of collaboration in equipping young Lagosians with the knowledge, skills and practical experience required to contribute to the future of the energy sector.

The launch also provided an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the teachers accompanying participating students, whose dedication and mentorship remain critical to nurturing innovation and developing young people’s skills.

The Lagos Clean Energy Schools Innovation Challenge 2026 is expected to provide participating students with practical exposure to clean-energy concepts while strengthening their skills in innovation, creativity, teamwork and problem-solving.

The initiative represents a collaborative effort between the energy and education sectors to nurture young talent and develop a pipeline of future professionals, entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators capable of contributing to the evolving energy landscape of Lagos State and Nigeria.

The ministry therefore called on participating schools, teachers, mentors, partners and students to embrace the initiative and contribute to its successful implementation.

The gender gap in agricultural productivity is costing Nigeria an estimated $2.3 billion annually, equivalent to about two per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has said.

The FAO said the loss underscored the urgent need for increased investment in women farmers and the removal of barriers limiting their access to land, finance, technology, agricultural services, markets and leadership opportunities.

Representing the FAO Representative in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jimmy Owani, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at a high-level meeting and panel discussion commemorating the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer.

The event, held at the United Nations House, Abuja, had the theme, ‘Advancing Women’s Leadership and Economic Power in Nigeria’s Agrifood System.’

Owani said closing the gender gap in agriculture would not only improve the livelihoods of women but also accelerate Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, strengthen food security and promote inclusive economic growth.

He said women played vital roles across Nigeria’s agrifood systems, including crop production, livestock, fisheries, food processing, trading, entrepreneurship and agricultural innovation.

‘Women contribute an estimated 37 per cent of labour in crop production alone. Yet many continue to face barriers in accessing land, finance, agricultural services, improved technologies and leadership opportunities,’ he said.

According to him, female-managed farms often record lower productivity, not because women lack the capacity to farm, but because of unequal access to resources and opportunities.

Owani said agriculture contributes between 22 and 25 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP and supports the livelihoods and food security of millions of Nigerians, making women’s participation and empowerment critical to the sector’s transformation.

He said the challenge was not peculiar to Nigeria, noting that women constituted approximately 41 per cent of the global agrifood workforce but continued to experience inequalities in access to productive resources, finance, technology, markets and decision-making opportunities.

He added that FAO estimates that closing gender gaps in agricultural productivity and wages globally could add nearly $1 trillion to the world economy and reduce food insecurity for millions of people.

Owani stressed that the discussion should move beyond recognising women as contributors to agriculture to ensuring that they become decision-makers, innovators, investors and leaders.

He called for stronger representation of women in farmers’ organisations, cooperatives, agribusinesses, financial institutions and policy platforms shaping Nigeria’s agricultural development.

Also speaking, the World Food Programme (WFP) representative, Edouard Thiam, said the organisation had supported farming communities in northern Nigeria over the past five years to increase production, improve incomes and strengthen local economies.

He said 128,000 women had been a major part of WFP’s interventions, which included the provision of seeds, fertiliser and other agricultural inputs, access to equipment and storage, irrigation, market linkages and resilience hubs.

Thiam said the interventions were particularly important as farming households faced the combined pressures of conflict, insecurity, climate shocks and rising costs.

He said more than 70 per cent of jobs created through WFP activities had gone to young women.

Thiam also said WFP’s local procurement strategy was helping to retain agricultural investment within Nigeria by purchasing food from Nigerian farmers and businesses.

According to him, such purchases keep markets active, expand rural employment and reduce dependence on food sourced from outside the country.

The IFAD Country Director, Dede Ekoue, represented by the Country Programme Coordinator, Chioma Adiele-Okpara, said IFAD had reached at least 96,827 women through its Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises for Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ).

She said the programmes were helping women move beyond subsistence farming into organised production, processing and market engagement, while expanding their access to finance, productive assets, knowledge and technology.

Adiele-Okpara said 87,888 women under VCDP were members of supported rural producer organisations, while 36,572 had been trained in crop production technologies and 50,613 had accessed advisory services.

She said LIFE-ND had trained 17,201 women, while SAPZ had trained 5,815 women in improved crop production practices.

She added that LIFE-ND had enabled 11,003 women to access savings, 9,568 access credit, 11,382 access insurance and 14,654 receive financial literacy training.

The IFAD representative urged stakeholders to invest in women’s productive capacity, enterprises, organisations, innovations and leadership, stressing that women must be treated as equal partners and decision-makers in transforming Nigeria’s agrifood system.

She said the International Year of the Woman Farmer should result in concrete actions that would create lasting economic opportunities for women farmers across the country.

Imo State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified efforts to build a functional grassroots structure in Imo North Senatorial District, with the inauguration of polling unit executives across the zone.

The exercise, which took place in different parts of the senatorial district, was part of the party’s ongoing mobilisation and sensitisation programme 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 party, Prof. James Okoroma, stressed the importance of effective grassroots organisation to the growth of the ADC.

Okoroma charged the newly inaugurated executives to take their responsibilities seriously, remain accessible to party members and ensure that information on the activities of the party reached members at the polling unit level.

He said, ‘Politics is local,’ adding that the strength of any political organisation depended largely on the effectiveness of its grassroots structures.

The chairman also welcomed new members who recently joined the ADC from other political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and an APC chieftain in Isiala Mbano.

He described the development as an indication of interest in the party and urged the new members to contribute to its growth and organisational development.

The ADC Apex Leader of Okigwe Zone, Chief Sir Stanley Ekezie, who welcomed Okoroma, members of the State Executive Committee and other party leaders to Umuenyi, his hometown, expressed support for the move to establish a strong and functional polling unit structure across the zone.

Ekezie said effective political organisation began at the grassroots, noting that polling unit executives had a key role to play in maintaining contact between the party and its members within their communities.

He urged the new executives to remain committed to their responsibilities, work closely with ward and local government leaders, and promote unity, discipline and cooperation among party members.

Those who attended the inauguration included the ADC candidate for Okigwe North Federal Constituency, Sir Emmanuel Egejurum (Bambas); the party’s candidate for Isiala Mbano State Constituency, Hon. Mrs Obiageli Nwogu (Ada Ihe); and the Isiala Mbano Local Government Area chairman, Hon. Pius Omah, among other party leaders and members.

The exercise later moved to the Okigwe South axis, where the Imo ADC State Secretary, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwokeke (Iroko), led zonal officers to Ehime Mbano, Ihitte/Uboma and Obowo local government areas.

The team inspected existing party structures and inaugurated polling unit executives as part of efforts to ensure that responsibilities were clearly defined and that active officers were in place at the various levels of the party.

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

The exercise is part of the wider grassroots organisational drive of the Imo ADC, following similar inauguration and sensitisation activities in other parts of the state.

Party leaders said the exercise was aimed at strengthening the party’s structures at polling unit level and improving the coordination of its activities from the grassroots.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was happier when they worked together, adding that he still considers the former Rivers State governor a friend despite their political differences.

Obi said this during a virtual interview with Nigerian media personalities, Adeola Fayehun and Rudolf Okonkwo.

The former Anambra State governor recalled his working relationship with Wike, who served as Minister of State for Education between 2011 and 2014 while Obi was governor of Anambra State.

During that period, Wike visited Anambra to inspect and commission education projects carried out by the Obi administration, including renovated secondary schools.

Speaking about their relationship, Obi said Wike remained his friend despite their political differences. He also recalled that the FCT minister appeared healthier and happier while they worked together.

‘Nyesom Wike still remains a very good friend of mine. He looked healthier when we were working together. When Wike and I were together, he was a much happier person and was enjoying himself.’

Obi also addressed a claim that Wike had said he would be the first person he would go after if he became president. He said his ambition was not driven by a desire to pursue political opponents but by his plans for the country.

‘Someone even told me that Wike said if I became president, he would be the first person I would come after. But I’m not campaigning to become president to start pursuing people. I want to go into office to focus on tomorrow, not chase people around.’

The former governor further pointed to photographs of himself and Wike from the period they worked together, saying they showed how healthy the FCT minister looked at the time. He again linked Wike’s appearance during that period to his happiness.

‘Well, if you look at the pictures of Mr Wike when we were moving together, you can see how healthy he is and looking very well. So, that means when we were together, he was a much, much happier person and enjoyed himself.’

Obi also made it clear that he had no personal grievance against Wike, saying their political differences had not changed their friendship. He added that having wealth and other material things does not always bring happiness.

‘But let me assure you, I don’t have anything against Mr Wike. He remains a friend and everything. Sometimes, you can have too much money and everything, but you don’t have happiness.’

Obi’s comments come amid political differences between him and Wike ahead of the 2027 general election.

He also dismissed the suggestion that his administration would focus on pursuing political opponents, saying his interest in becoming president was centred on addressing Nigeria’s challenges and building a better future for the country.

Zobo is one of Nigeria’s most popular homemade drinks. Made from dried hibiscus flowers, it is affordable, refreshing and easy to prepare. Beyond its taste, zobo contains natural plant compounds that may offer several health benefits.

However, the way it is prepared matters. Adding too much refined sugar can turn an otherwise healthy drink into a high-sugar beverage.

In this article, Tribune Online highlights some of the potential health benefits of drinking unsweetened zobo.

It contains antioxidants

Hibiscus is rich in natural compounds such as anthocyanins and polyphenols. These compounds have antioxidant properties that protect the body’s cells from oxidative stress.

This makes unsweetened zobo a simple way to add more plant-based compounds to your diet.

It lower blood pressure

One of the better-known potential benefits of hibiscus is its effect on blood pressure.

Studies suggest that drinking hibiscus tea may help to lower blood pressure, particularly in people with elevated blood pressure.

However, people taking blood pressure medication should not stop their treatment and replace it with zobo.

It may support heart health

Keeping blood pressure under control is important for maintaining good heart health.

Choosing unsweetened zobo instead of sugary soft drinks can also help to reduce your intake of added sugar, making it a better drink choice as part of a balanced diet.

It supports healthy hydration

Zobo is mainly made with water, so it can contribute to your daily fluid intake. Staying properly hydrated supports several important functions in the body, including normal kidney function and the removal of waste through urine. However, plain water should still be an important part of your daily fluid intake.

It supports healthy blood sugar choices

Unsweetened zobo contains no added refined sugar, making it a better option than heavily sweetened drinks for people trying to reduce their sugar intake. Adding large amounts of sugar can significantly increase the drink’s sugar content.

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It is a better alternative to sugary drinks

One of the simplest benefits of unsweetened zobo is what it can replace. Instead of drinking f

soft drinks or other heavily sweetened beverages, you can choose homemade zobo with little or no added sugar. This can help to reduce your overall intake of added sugar and unnecessary calories.