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Fermin Lopez scored a sensational hat-trick, while Marcus Rashford netted twice as Barcelona thrashed Olympiacos 6-1 on Tuesday night to return to winning ways in the UEFA Champions League.

After a disappointing loss to Paris Saint-Germain in their previous European fixture, Hansi Flick’s men bounced back in style, with Lamine Yamal also on target in a dominant display that lifted the Catalan giants to third in their group.

Lopez struck twice in the first half to give Barcelona control before Ayoub El Kaabi pulled one back from the penalty spot for the Greek champions. However, Olympiacos midfielder Santiago Hezze’s red card opened the floodgates as Barca, missing key players including Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, ran riot.

Rashford, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, looked rejuvenated and added a well-taken brace, while Lopez completed his hat-trick to seal a morale-boosting victory ahead of Sunday’s El Clásico against Real Madrid. ‘I’m very happy, we needed a win like this,’ Lopez told Movistar after the match. ‘We ended it feeling good, and now it’s time to think about the Clasico. I’m grateful to the team and want to continue in this dynamic.’

Despite a nervy start, with Daniel Podence testing Wojciech Szczesny early on after a mistake by Alejandro Balde, Barcelona soon found their rhythm. Balde made amends with a surging run that set up Yamal’s chance, which Lopez converted from close range to open the scoring.

With the Clasico looming, Flick will be encouraged by the attacking brilliance of Lopez and Rashford, though defensive lapses still remain a concern for the injury-hit side.

David Jimkuta, a first term senator, elected during the 2023 senatorial election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent southern Taraba at the National Assembly, has remarkably proven to have interest in human development and capital resources since his assumption of office two years and few months ago.

Jimkuta recently rolled out an international scholarship to 40 youths across the five local government areas tagged, ‘Sen. Jimkuta International Scholarship to India 2025.’

The scholarship has 10 youths from Wukàri, 9 youths from Donga, 5 youths from Ibi, 5 youths from Ussa and 11 youths from Takum Local Government Areas of the southern senatorial zone.

The youths who are already in the Republic of India studying medical and engineering courses comprise of both male and female.

Earlier before the recent scholarship to the 40 students, Sen. Jimkuta had distributed empowerment materials worth N2 billion to his constituents.

Inaugurating the items in Wukari, the headquarters of Wukari Local Government area, Jimkuta said the exercise was aimed at appreciating the support and encouragement of his constituents during the 2023 senatorial election.

He maintained that the first person to be appreciated was his political godfather, David Kente who he gave a 2025 Toyota Prado Jeep worth N250 million.

He explained that the car gift to his boss, David Kente, was also to mark the 60th Birthday of the Political godfather who has stood by him from his formative years in politics.

The Senator at the same occasion also rolled out a total of 70 cars, 40 tricycle pickups, and 150 motorcycles in appreciation of his constituents. Other items as learnt by BusinessDay include 100 sewing machines, 40 industrial sewing machines, 25 car washing machines, 30 irrigation pumping machines and 100 grinding machines.

Jimkuta also empowered the constituents across the 5 local government areas with agro Imputes to boost farming activities and tackle food insecurity.

Asabe maiko, one of the agro inputs beneficiaries while speaking with BusinessDay expressed gratitude to the senator, stating that it is first of its kind to have received such gesture from a politician representing the zone at the national level.

‘I have received fertiliser and pesticides, including cash to assist my farming activities, it is a serious boost to my farming activities this season, may God bless Sen. David Jimkuta for me,’ Asabe stated.

Akentere Uyasi, one of the 40 students studying engineering courses in Republic of India, while speaking with our correspondent on phone said all feedings, accommodation, transportation and self keeping arrangements have been provided for the students by the senator before arrival in India.

‘There were free plane tickets for us from Nigeria to India, we arrived in India and found out the accommodation, feeding and money for self keeping has also been provided on our behalf, we thank Sen. Jimkuta for this support.’

Sen. Jimkuta said he has to build bridges for others to cross and be self reliance and not depend on white-collar jobs to succeed.

‘I was not born as a senator, I grew up with so many challenges to arrive where I am today, if I had experiences of what it takes to be where I am today, I should also be ready to build bridges for those who are ready to learn and be of help to our society someday,’ Jimkuta stated this during his farewell message to the foreign scholarship students in Taraba.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct a free, fair, and credible governorship election in Anambra State scheduled for November 8, 2025.

Speaking at a forum for media executives, reporters, producers, and on-air personalities held on Tuesday in Awka, Sam Olumekun, national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), commended journalists for their professionalism during the recent by-election in the state and called for stronger collaboration in promoting democracy through responsible communication, according to a statement by the Commission.

‘This forum is a reaffirmation of the Commission’s commitment to transparency, openness, and collaboration with the media-our indispensable partners in nation-building,’ Olumekun said.

He described the media as ‘the oxygen of democracy,’ urging practitioners to uphold accuracy and balance in their reportage to ensure that citizens remain well-informed ahead of the polls.

Olumekun assured participants that INEC had made significant progress in its preparations for the upcoming election.

‘All non-sensitive materials have been delivered to the state, while sensitive materials will arrive in due course under strict security arrangements,’ he disclosed.

The Commissioner explained that INEC’s ongoing week-long readiness assessment includes meetings with key stakeholders such as the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), transport unions, and a mock accreditation exercise to fine-tune logistics and operational efficiency.

He also announced that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the recent Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise are now available for collection between Wednesday, October 22, and Sunday, October 26, 2025, at registration ward levels across the state.

‘There will be no collection by proxy,’ he emphasised. ‘We seek your support to mobilize voters through your platforms to collect their PVCs and participate in the November 8 election.’

Olumekun reminded journalists that the online accreditation portal for election coverage will close on Thursday, October 24, 2025, stressing that no extensions would be granted. Accredited journalists, he said, can collect their tags from the NUJ Secretariat in Awka beginning Monday, November 3, 2025. Each tag will feature a unique barcode that security agencies can scan to verify accreditation details-an innovation aimed at enhancing safety and access control around election venues.

He further disclosed that the list of accredited journalists for the State Collation Centre would be shared with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) and security agencies to ensure proper coordination and security during the collation of results

The INEC Commissioner highlighted fake news and misinformation as critical threats to electoral integrity and public confidence.

‘False stories and manipulated videos can create unnecessary tension and erode public trust,’ he warned. ‘Let truth remain your only compass-verify before you amplify.’

Reaffirming INEC’s long-standing partnership with the media, Olumekun stressed that the relationship was ‘not transactional but foundational.’ ‘We are united by a shared belief that democracy must be protected, not only at the polling units but also in the minds of citizens who rely on accurate information to make informed choices,’ he said.

He urged journalists to continue to play their vital role in ensuring that the Anambra Governorship Election of 2025 stands as a milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey-peaceful, transparent, and credible.

Ojotu Ojema, the lawmaker representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency of Benue State in the House of Representatives, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

His defection letter was read on Tuesday during plenary by Benjamin Kalu, deputy Speaker who presided over the session.

In his letter, Ojema attributed his decision to the persistent internal crisis within the PDP, unresolved issues, and what he described as a ‘deep division’ that has left the party ‘leaderless’ in his state.

Ojema said the situation had made it impossible for him to continue to pursue his political aspirations under the PDP platform, adding that he was left with no choice but to join the ruling APC. His defection further reduces the number of PDP members in the lower chamber, strengthening the APC’s majority. The PDP has faced a wave of internal disputes across several states since the 2023 general elections, with multiple members of the National Assembly switching allegiance to the APC, often citing disunity and leadership tussles.

The Nanotechnology Research Group (NANO+) at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, says it will continue to focus on strategies to move nanotechnology from laboratory to the market through translational endeavors that will promote sustainable development in Nigeria and other African countries.

Agbaje Lateef, Head, NANO+ group, LAUTECH, said the group, through its 9th international conference, would continue to offer leadership in the pursuit of nanotechnology research in Nigeria.

Themed, ‘Sustainable Nanotechnology: From Research to Reality’, the conference is scheduled for November 18-21, 2025, at the main campus of the university in Ogbomoso.

The conference will be chaired by Razaq Olatunde Rom Kalilu, the Vice-Chancellor of LAUTECH, during the opening ceremony on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

According to Lateef, the conference will witness presentations by experts from academia, industry and governmental agencies to foster the sustainable development agenda via nanotechnology.

He added that the research group, which was formed eleven years ago (2014) had contributed immensely to nanotechnology RandD in Nigeria through top-notch investigations along with collaborators from other countries, culminating in about 180 research articles.

According to Lateef, the NANO+ group has trained over 500 early-career scholars in nanotechnology research in a decade, and has been engaging in advocacy projects to deepen the understanding of nanotechnology in Nigeria.

The flagship journal of the group, ‘Nano Plus: Science and Technology of Nanomaterials’, which was unveiled in 2021, is promoting nanotechnology publications, and it has secured indexing by CrossRef, Google Scholar, African Journals Online (AJOL), and EBSCO. According to him, the group has consistently organised annual gatherings to discuss nanotechnology in Nigeria since 2017, which involves hands-on training on the synthesis of nanoparticles and their multifarious applications, along with presentations of research works by scholars from Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States.

The group also reiterated its call for the development and implementation of a robust nanotechnology policy for Nigeria, amidst the need for special funding of nanotechnology research infrastructure in Nigerian Universities as implemented in South Africa.

The group also seeks the interest of public-spirited individuals, organisations, and venture capitalists in funding nanotechnology endeavours in the country.

The previous conferences witnessed participation of government agencies, including a minister of science and technology, technocrats, members of the armed and paramilitary forces, industrialists, scholars, and students.

Also, members of the group have attracted research grants worth over N100 million in the last three years from TETFund on nanotechnology-based investigations, while five members of the group, Agbaje Lateef, Musibau Adewuyi Azeez, Taofeek Akangbe Yekeen, Tesleem Babatunde Asafa, and Iyabo Christianah Oladipo, were among the 20 scholars who received the LAUTECH VC’s outstanding award for scholarly contributions to the growth of the university in April 2025 during the 17th convocation ceremony.

Furthermore, the leader of the group, Agbaje Lateef, is a top 2% scientist in the world, a feat that he has achieved for six consecutive years (2020-2025).

The group continues to make a case for the entrenchment of nanotechnology RandD in Nigeria to address various challenges that confront the nation in the health, agricultural, industrial, energy, defence, and environmental sectors.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the terrorism trial of two alleged commanders of the terrorist group Ansaru until November 19, 2025, following the absence of Mohammed Abubakar, counsel for the Department of State Services (DSS).

Justice Emeka Nwite granted the adjournment after receiving a letter from Abubakar, who apologised for his inability to appear in court and requested a new date.

The defence did not oppose the request, prompting the court to fix a new date for the continuation of the trial.

The defendants, Mahmud Usman (also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar) and Abubakar Abba (also known as Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, and Mallam Mamuda), face a 32-count charge relating to terrorism, conspiracy, illegal mining, and providing material support to terrorist organisations.

The charges, filed on September 4 and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, were submitted by Abubakar, director of Public Prosecutions, on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

Usman, the 1st defendant, pleaded guilty to one of the counts illegal mining and was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison on September 11. Abba, the 2nd defendant, pleaded not guilty to all charges. According to the federal government, the illegal mining offence, which took place between 2015 and 2025, involved the extraction of valuable minerals such as ‘thunder’ and ‘california stones’ without lawful authorisation, violating Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LFN 2004.

The prosecution further alleges that between 2013 and 2015, the two men supported terrorist activities and were instrumental in the formation and leadership of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (also known as JAMBS/Ansaru), a group linked to Al-Qaeda and officially designated as a terrorist organisation in Nigeria.

The defendants are accused of receiving training in weapons handling and improvised explosive device (IED) fabrication, undergoing combat training with Jama’atu Nusratil Islam Wal Muslimin (JNIM), a terrorist group based in Mali, and participating in the 2022 attack on the Nigerian Army’s Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, Borgu Local Government Area, Niger State, which reportedly resulted in multiple casualties. Following their arraignment and not-guilty pleas to most charges, the court ordered both defendants to remain in DSS custody in Abuja pending the continuation of the trial on the next adjourned date.

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) is set to host its annual Golf Tournament in November, in collaboration with Carloha Nigeria, distributor of Chery automobiles, to enhance networking and sportsmanship among professionals in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Using sport as a platform to connect stakeholders beyond traditional business settings, and as part of the collaboration, Carloha will provide a Chery Tiggo 8 Pro SUV as the hole-in-one prize for participating golfers.

The tournament, themed, ‘Strengthening Bonds with Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector Through Golf,’ is one of the key highlights of NAPE’s Annual International Conference and Exhibition, which attracts petroleum explorationists, geoscientists, executives, and policymakers from across the country. Beyond competition, the event reinforces the role of sports as a bridge between corporate engagement and industry collaboration, offering a relaxed setting for professionals to exchange ideas and strengthen relationships within Nigeria’s energy sector.

Felix Mahan, general marketing manager of Carloha Nigeria, said the company’s involvement in the NAPE Golf Tournament reflects its support for initiatives that foster collaboration and professional excellence.

‘We are pleased to be part of the NAPE Golf Tournament. It is a platform that promotes excellence, unity, and community spirit. At Carloha, we believe in the power of sports to bring people together and inspire high performance,’ Mahan said. He added that the values represented by the game of golf, including class, discipline, and precision, align with those within the petroleum industry.

‘By sponsoring this tournament and presenting the Tiggo 8 Pro as the hole-in-one prize, we hope to encourage healthy competition and recognise outstanding performance,’ Mahan added.

The Chery Tiggo 8 Pro is a seven-seater SUV, features an advanced infotainment system, leather-trimmed interiors, and driver-assist technology. According to Carloha, the model comes with a six-year warranty, six years of free service, and a seven-day repair promise under its Carloha Care package.

Carloha said the event serves as an opportunity to engage with the industry stakeholders and promote the values of teamwork and sportsmanship that the tournament represents.

The company added that its participation aligns with efforts to improve customer experience and after-sales support through its CarlohaCare initiative.

In a defining moment for Nigeria’s capital market, IRON Global Markets Limited (‘IRON’) has been awarded ‘Capital Markets Deal Architect of the Year’ at the 2025 Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards held at the Lagos Continental Hotel.

The recognition reinforces Iron’s position as a leading force in shaping sophisticated deal architecture and advancing capital market innovation across Africa.

Speaking on the achievement, Jubril Enakele, managing director/CEO, described the honour as both validation and motivation: ‘This award celebrates more than just transaction excellence. It affirms the power of innovation, partnership, and purpose in transforming African markets,’ said Enakele. ‘At Iron, we believe that every deal we structure must serve a larger economic goal, to unlock value, enable growth, and strengthen confidence in Africa’s financial ecosystem.’

As a licensed Issuing House regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigeria, IRON delivers integrated financial advisory and capital market services to public and private sector clients, including sovereigns, sub-nationals, and corporations. The firm has executed landmark mandates with the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MoFI), Craneburg Construction Company Limited, Dangote Cement Plc, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, MTN Communications Nigeria Plc, Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, Elektron Energy Development Strategies Limited, Lekoil Nigeria Limited, Fidelity Bank Plc, and Tantalizers Plc, among others. Beyond transactions, Iron’s work is rooted in advancing Nigeria’s economic architecture through strategic insight, disciplined execution, and unwavering integrity. Its growing influence reflects a deliberate commitment to capital market development, institutional strengthening, and sustainable finance, principles that continue to guide the firm’s strategic direction.

Iron Global Markets Limited, a subsidiary of Iron Capital Partners Limited (‘IRON’) is a SEC-regulated investment banking and financial advisory firm delivering capital market and corporate finance solutions to governments, sub-nationals, and corporations. Anchored on excellence, innovation, and execution discipline, IRON partners with clients to design transformative financial strategies that drive economic resilience and growth across Africa.

As part of its commitment to promoting community health and social impact, ChamsAccess Limited held a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign at Yaba College of Technology on Friday, October 17, 2025. The initiative, organized in line with the global Breast Cancer Awareness Month, aimed to educate young people on early detection, prevention, and the importance of regular screening.

The event featured a lively awareness walk across the campus, an enlightening health talk delivered by medical professionals, and free breast cancer screening for 50 participants out of the over 200 attendees. Students turned out in large numbers, displaying enthusiasm and appreciation for the opportunity to engage in an event that combined learning with wellness. Representatives from the Student Affairs Office were also in attendance and commended ChamsAccess Ltd for the thoughtful initiative. They expressed gratitude for the company’s effort in bringing such a relevant and impactful programme to the student community and indicated interest in future collaborations.

Speaking on the initiative, a representative of ChamsAccess Ltd reaffirmed the company’s dedication to advancing social responsibility causes that promote health, education, and wellbeing across communities.

The campaign aligns with ChamsAccess Ltd’s belief that awareness saves lives, and its ongoing efforts to empower individuals-especially young people-with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed health decisions.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and partner organisations have appointed Inspired Evolution as the investment manager for Zafiri, a new decentralised renewable energy (DRE) equity investment vehicle targeting small-scale and decentralised renewable energy, to expand access to electricity and clean cooking solutions for tens of millions of people across sub-Saharan Africa.

Backed by an initial $300 million capitalisation by 2026, Zafiri is expected to scale up to $1 billion to accelerate energy access in Africa. It is structured as a permanent capital investment vehicle that provides long-term equity to expand clean energy access in underserved markets. The vehicle leverages concessional junior equity to de-risk private sector participation and mobilise commercial capital into scalable off-grid and decentralised energy solutions.

Zafiri addresses one of Africa’s toughest energy-financing gaps by channelling long-term equity into distributed renewable energy (DRE) companies that are essential to last-mile access yet remain underfinanced by mainstream capital markets. Zafiri’s founding partners include IFC, AfDB, The Rockefeller Foundation, Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), and Nordic Development Fund (NDF). Inspired Evolution is an Africa-based investment firm focused on scaling clean energy and climate solutions across the continent. The company, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cape Town, has financed more than 10 GW of renewable energy generation, supported 29 companies across 18 African countries, and manages over $850 million, including co-investments, through its suite of Evolution funds.

The appointment underscores Zafiri’s central role in Mission 300, a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and African Development Bank to provide first-time electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.

‘One of the key challenges slowing Africa’s energy transition is the lack of equity financing for distributed energy companies-those expanding power generation and improving access for millions,’ said Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa.

‘Zafiri addresses this ‘missing middle’ by offering long-term equity to these providers, helping scale innovative business models. IFC is proud to support this initiative, which is expected to reach 30 million people and spur job creation across the continent. Through our commitment to the M300 platform, we are deepening our support for impactful solutions like Zafiri. Inspired Evolution brings strong local investment expertise and a proven track record, making it a valuable partner for M300 in delivering development impact through the private sector.’ ‘By combining AfDB’s capital-including our Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA)-with IFC and partners, Zafiri will inject the much needed risk capital to take the DRE sector to the next level in terms of commercial maturity, larger operational footprint, and ultimately impact on the many communities beyond the grid,’ said Kevin Kariuki, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth.

‘We are honored to partner with IFC, AfDB and global investors to manage Zafiri, a vehicle uniquely designed to close the equity financing gap for distributed energy solutions across Africa,’ said Wayne Keast, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Inspired Evolution. ‘We will focus on building and scaling high-impact businesses that can deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy while driving inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth.’ Over its lifespan, Zafiri aims to facilitate new electricity connections and clean cooking access for more than 30 million people while supporting the growth of Africa’s DRE sector. Operations will commence in early 2026.

‘The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support Inspired Evolution as it leverages its proven track record to accelerate energy access across Sub-Saharan Africa,’ said Ghita Benabderrazik, Director of Innovative Finance at The Rockefeller Foundation. ‘Following the announcement of our anticipated $10 million investment in Zafiri at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, we remain deeply committed to closing the equity gap for distributed renewable energy solutions that power livelihoods and drive productive use – advancing inclusive development, reducing poverty, and creating jobs.’

‘Complementing the debt support TDB Group has been deploying across several renewable energy sub-sectors in Africa, we are pleased to join forces with this strong group of investors to inject some much-needed equity into small-scale DRE providers – providers which, via electrification and clean cooking, can ultimately catalyse sustainable development in their communities,’ said Admassu Tadesse, TDB Group President and Managing Director.

‘Zafiri enables the speed and scale that is needed to meet the ambitious targets of Mission 300,’ said Satu Santala, NDF Managing Director. ‘NDF’s junior capital is expected to catalyse significant commercial investments into increasing energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. At NDF, we are in full support to make Zafiri become a success and mobilise more private capital for climate action.’