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Former Super Eagles midfielder Seyi George Olofinjana was unveiled in Lagos yesterday as the brand Ambassador of SuperWinleague Lottery and the brand’s football project.

Speaking during the unveiling of the Chelsea ‘s Africa Chief Scouting Manager at the MTN office at Falomo, the Chief Operating officer of DayEmpire Sports Marketing Management Company Ltd, Yemisi Ayodeji Daniel , said: ‘ We are starting a big project today that creates opportunities for footballers, fans and stakeholders to fulfil their dreams. We are therefore excited to have former Super Eagles and Stoke City midfielder, Seyi George Olofinjana, as our brand Ambassador for the SuperWinleague lottery and other projects.

‘This partnership with top Telecommunications company MTN and a renowned footballer underscores the importance of the project. Their decision to come on board by partnering with Day Empire SMM is a confirmation that the project is anchored on integrity, promise kept and protection of our core values as an entity. At DayEmpire Sports SMM, we not only keep our promises, we value our integrity because we want to build an International brand that will stand the test of time’

Olofinjana on his part, said he was staking his reputation by identifying with the brand because he is convinced that every promises made will be fulfilled.

SuperWinleague lottery and SuperWinleague is expected to offer footballers and fans unique experience of winning fantastic prices, trial with clubs in Europe and also the opportunity to watch the best top leagues in Europe.

Winners will be rewarded daily with cash, jerseys and football boots with the ultimate price for trials in Europe for the best player, while the fans will enjoy all expense paid trip to watch top clubs in England.

Barcelona will face Villarreal in Miami in a La Liga match on December 20, the Spanish top flight said Wednesday, making it the first European league fixture to be played abroad.

Earlier this week, European football governing body UEFA said they opposed the idea of games being played overseas but would permit it on an exceptional basis, along with a Serie A match in Australia in February between AC Milan and Como.

‘With this match we take a historic step that projects La Liga and Spanish football into a new dimension,’ said La Liga president Javier Tebas in a statement. ‘We understand and respect the concerns that this decision may generate, but it is important to put it into context – it is a single match out of the 380 that make up the season.’

The game was due to be played at Villarreal’s home stadium but will now take place at the Hard Rock Stadium in the United States, in Florida.

Villarreal will take measures to compensate season ticket holders after the game was moved.

‘Villarreal season ticket holders will be able to travel for free to the match, and those who choose not to travel to Miami will enjoy a 30 percent discount on their season ticket price as part of the measures designed to reward their support and loyalty,’ said La Liga.

In September a total of 18 fan groups from both teams involved expressed their ‘complete opposition’ to the match taking place abroad.

La Liga have attempted to play matches overseas dating back to 2017 but the Spanish football federation (RFEF) frequently resisted, despite hosting the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia themselves.

Barcelona’s rivals Real Madrid have also expressed their disapproval at the decision to take a La Liga game abroad.

They said in August hosting the game in Miami would ‘alter the competitive balance’ of the league and set an ‘unacceptable precedent’.

Sir: In today’s technology-driven world, semiconductors are the invisible engines powering everything from smartphones and data centres to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. As the global demand for these microchips skyrockets-expected to reach over $1.2 trillion by 2030-a fierce race is underway among nations to dominate the semiconductor industry, which is a race that Nigeria is now strategically entering.

Nigeria’s emergence as a semiconductor hub is not just a possibility; it’s crucial. The continent’s growing digital economy, its expanding tech ecosystem, and youthful population demand home-grown solutions that reduce dependency on foreign imports and supply chains that are vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions.

Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach $712 billion by 2050 with Nigeria as the largest contributor. Nigeria’s GDP is estimated at $243 billion in 2024, supported by a population exceeding 220 million, with over 60% under the age of 25. By establishing Nigeria as a centre for semiconductor innovation and manufacturing, we can fulfil a continental need and position Africa as a serious player in the global chip economy.

We believe Nigeria has the potential to become Africa’s semiconductor hub, placing the country and the continent to compete with global tech powers. This is not just about manufacturing chips; it’s about building a sustainable ecosystem that drives innovation, economic growth, and technological sovereignty across Africa.

Currently, the semiconductor industry is concentrated in a few countries, leaving Africa heavily reliant on imports. Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States account for over 70% of global semiconductor manufacturing capacity. This dependency exposes the continent to supply chain disruptions and inflated costs, limiting access to critical technology.

Nigeria, with its vast market, growing tech ecosystem, and young, talented workforce, is uniquely positioned to change this narrative. Our vision is bold: to develop indigenous semiconductor capabilities that meet local and Africa’s needs while competing on the global stage. We have established a fabless ecosystem along with our partners; we are pioneering the first assembly, testing and packaging (ATMP) of various chips (QFN, QFP, CSP and many more types in the works).

We are investing in research and development, talent cultivation, and strategic partnerships to build the first foundry in Africa that will be tailored for Africa’s unique challenges-such as energy efficiency, affordability, and durability in diverse environments.

Establishing Nigeria as a semiconductor hub requires more than technology; it demands collaboration among government, industry, academia, and investors. We are actively engaging policymakers to create an enabling environment that supports innovation, attracts investment, and encourages local manufacturing. At the same time, we are partnering with universities and technical institutions to nurture the next generation of engineers and designers who will drive this industry forward. The benefits of a thriving semiconductor sector are transformative.

Beyond technology, it will diversify Nigeria’s economy, create high-value jobs, strengthen supply chains, and boost exports. More importantly, it will empower Africa to take control of its digital future, reducing dependence on external suppliers and fostering resilience in the face of global uncertainties. This vision aligns with a broader continental need, it is not just about building a Nigerian semiconductor, it’s about transforming Africa’s largest economy. It’s about sovereign technology and making Nigeria an exporter of technology-from dependent to self-sufficient.

As Africa accelerates its digital transformation, the demand for chips will grow exponentially. Nigeria’s leadership in semiconductor innovation can serve as a catalyst for regional collaboration, integrating African markets and building a robust technology ecosystem that uplifts the entire continent. Our journey reflects this ambition. From pioneering indigenous industrial equipment to advancing semiconductor research, we are committed to positioning Nigeria as a global player in the chip economy. The road ahead is challenging, but the opportunity is immense. With strategic focus, investment, and collaboration, Nigeria can claim its place among the world’s technology leaders. The race for Silicon Africa is on. Nigeria is ready to lead.

A total of 176 exceptional underage candidates who scored high marks in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) have undergone screening for 2025/2026 admissions.

The screening, which was designed to ensure that only outstanding and well-prepared candidates below the age of 16 are considered for admission into tertiary institutions, was conducted by experts assembled by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The panel members were drawn from the Federal Ministry of Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC), vice chancellors, and the Gifted School, among others.

Addressing reporters, the Chairman of the Abuja Centre for the screening of under-16 candidates, Prof. Taoheed Adedoja, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exercise, which was also held simultaneously in Owerri (Imo State) and Lagos.

Adedoja explained that candidates first sat for a written examination before proceeding to face-to-face interviews.

‘They did the first paper, which took like 20 minutes. After that, the papers were marked, and they proceeded to the second session. After that, we will have a face-to-face interaction with them,’ he said.

The former Minister of Sports said 22 candidates participated in the screening at the Abuja centre, totalling 176 candidates nationwide.

‘Twenty-two candidates are here in Abuja centre and, nationwide, there are 176,’ he said.

Adedoja announced that the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, would determine when the results of the screening would be released.

Giving his assessment after monitoring the exercise, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Mohammed Dandutse, hailed JAMB for providing a platform for talented underage candidates to demonstrate their abilities.

‘Now, they are giving leverage to the underage so that they can go to the universities based on their ability to pass these exams.

‘It is very important for them (underage) to be assessed because of the maturity of focus. This is because if you take an underage to go to the university and they don’t perform, it is a useless venture.

‘So, it is better that the examination is carried out so that the best talent can be selected and it will pave the way for the development of this country,’ Dandutse said.

The lawmaker representing Katsina South Senatorial District reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s education policies aimed at national development.

He added: ‘I want to sincerely commend the leadership of JAMB for their milestone to make sure that this exam is written across the country.’

Also, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Examination Bodies, who also monitored the exercise in Abuja, Oboku Oforji, praised the students for their outstanding performance.

He said this reflected Nigeria’s competitiveness in education across Africa.

‘Because for the underage to have performed exceptionally well, it tells how we are doing in education as of today. And we are very proud of JAMB. We want to encourage them to do more. Even though we believe that with what we sighted, more is supposed to be encouraged,’ said Offorji, who was joined by fellow committee members.

Also, a total of 38 out of 43 shortlisted underage candidates participated in the screening at the Owerri Centre.

The Chairman of the Owerri Centre and Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the exercise.

He praised the candidates for their orderly behaviour and assured that the screening would strictly adhere to the guidelines provided by JAMB.

The under-16 candidates at the Owerri Centre were drawn from the Southsouth and the Southeast geopolitical zones.

In Nigeria, the official age for university admission is 18, though the National Policy allows entry from age 16.

A total of 41,027 candidates applied under the category of exceptionally brilliant underage candidates for the 2025 UTME, but only 599 scored 80 per cent and above.

Some of them were later disqualified for not meeting the same benchmark in their O-Level or Post-UTME results, leaving only 176 confirmed for final assessment.

Sir: The elderly love to talk about the ‘good old days’ in Nigeria: Streets supposedly gleamed with honesty, neighbours were paragons of virtue, and history was a neatly bound novel of saints and patriots. The young listen, hypnotized by nostalgia, almost convinced that rascals were extinct back then.

Ah, but the good old days were never good. They were messy, morally bankrupt, and populated by architects of chaos-the very men who could rig elections, loot public coffers, and disappear into impunity as if wrapped in invisibility cloaks. The nostalgia is a clever disguise, hiding a rot that has seeped through generations like oil in a leaky pipeline.

Excessive greed has always been Nigeria’s national sport. From colonial collaborators to post-independence politicians, every kleptocrat, every kakistocrat, every ‘big man’ in a suit has fed on it. Impunity is the soil in which this greed grows, nurturing corruption like weeds strangling the roots of progress. Where consequences are absent, embezzlement becomes an art form, and morality evaporates faster than promises before an election.

Consider the political theatre: governors, senators, and ministers strut like peacocks in public, their feathers dazzling the electorate. Behind closed doors, they clutch contracts, budgets, and public resources, performing a choreography perfected over decades. The judiciary winks; regulatory agencies yawn. And the ordinary citizen? Left to marvel at headlines, shrug at scandals, and mutter, ‘Well, at least it’s not worse.’

Nigeria’s ‘good old days’ nostalgia is especially delicious because it is self-serving. Those who speak fondly of history were often the very gardeners who planted the weeds, the potters who moulded the mud, the conductors of a symphony of avarice and impunity. They polish history like varnished skulls, leaving hollow memories dressed in sepia-toned lies.

Impunity is not inert. It is a living, breathing creature. It slides into ministries like a cat, flirts with politicians like a siren, whispers to bureaucrats with intimate charm, and giggles as commissions, audits, and anti-graft agencies fail spectacularly. It thrives in Nigeria because we let it, celebrate it, and occasionally film it for viral TikTok.

Take the elections. Take the looted pensions, the missing infrastructure funds, the unbuilt hospitals, the collapsed bridges, the schools that look like post-apocalyptic sets. All evidence of impunity’s subtle genius. It grows stronger with every unprosecuted scandal, every delayed court case, every public official who leaves office with pockets lined and conscience empty.

And yet, the nostalgia persists. It comforts the old and seduces the young. It whispers: ‘Look, not everything is corrupt; the past was cleaner.’ But it wasn’t. History is riddled with rascals who looted, lied, and laughed while ordinary Nigerians bore the consequences. The difference today is transparency and social media-the corruption is more visible, but so too is the impunity.

The solution is not comforting. Confronting impunity in Nigeria is like confronting a dragon: patient, cunning, and terrifyingly seductive. It demands courage, transparency, accountability, and the political will of citizens who refuse to be silenced by nostalgia or seduced by patronage. Shine light into every shadowed corner. Demand justice where none exists. Celebrate integrity where it struggles. And stop applauding rascals in tweed and tailored suits, however polished their speeches.

The good old days exist only in memory, a sepia-tinted hallucination. Nigeria’s challenge is to cultivate integrity in the soil history has left-however infested it may be. Only then can we break the chain of impunity, ensuring that the rascals of today do not become the nostalgia of tomorrow.

Because impunity thrives not on history’s mistakes but on our willingness to forget them. And in Nigeria, if we forget, the cycle continues: embezzlement, scandals, and rhetoric, all performed with the theatrical grace of actors in a tragicomedy we call politics.

Presidential Community Engagement Office (Southwest) has continued its BAT-STEM education initiative, reaching pupils and teachers in Ondo, Ekiti, and Osun States with learning materials.

In Ondo State, pupils of St. James CAC Caring Heart Mega School and Iloro Community Primary School, Akure, got materials to make learning easier and engaging. The team moved to Ekiti State, where Methodist Primary School, Ilisa Quarters, St. Andrew’s Primary School, both in Omuo-Ekiti, and Ado Grammar School, Ado-Ekiti, witnessed similar gestures. Pupils got scholarship support, bags, sandals, exercise books, pens, pencils, and math sets, while teachers got tools to enhance classroom delivery; boards, markers, and dusters.

In Osun State, the initiative reached Modakeke High School, Modakeke, and Moremi High School, Ile-Ife, where the vision of Renewed Hope was strengthened. Pupils, teachers, and the community participated in an exercise that provided educational materials and empowerment, reflecting values of compassion, equity, and opportunity that define the programme.

‘This gesture will encourage pupils to take their studies seriously. We are grateful to President Bola Tinubu for making education a priority,’ Mrs. Mary Akinyemi, headteacher of Ado Grammar School, said.

The Federal Government says it has commenced the final phase of negotiations with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other tertiary education unions.

Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, during a meeting of the Technical Working Group on Conditions of Service of ASUU.

Alausa expressed optimism that outstanding issues would soon be resolved to prevent further industrial action.

He said the group was finalising a counter-offer to be presented to the unions through the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Negotiations Committee.

According to him, the committee’s work aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that all efforts must be made to keep Nigerian students in school and avoid disruptions to the academic calendar.

‘The President has made it clear that our children must remain in school. The technical working group is working to finalise a component of the condition of service that has to be proposed. They are working to finalise a counter-offer to them.

‘Hopefully by the end of today, or latest tomorrow, the Allied General United Federal Government Tertiary Institutions Expected Negotiations Committee will receive that counter-offer to ASUU,’ he said.

The minister noted that about 80 per cent of the unions’ demands were similar across tertiary institutions, with the remaining 20 per cent reflecting sector-specific concerns.

He said that the committee, inaugurated earlier in the week, had begun intensive deliberations to fast-track agreement and implementation timelines.

He added that this current administration had made significant progress already with the payment of the Earned Academic Allowance of N50 billion released by the president.

‘In addition, N150 billion was included in the 2025 budget for needs assessment, and this will be released in three tranches, with the first N50 billion ready.

‘They (lecturers) deserve to be paid so much and our academic and non-academic staff. But then, we can’t give you everything you want at the same time.

‘But it’s the gesture, our benevolence, commitment to at least get substantial benefits and financial reward to you.

‘This government is doing other things to improve your welfare. At this point, we’ve addressed several of the issues that we’ve brought up,’ he said.

Alausa also confirmed that promotion arrears and other outstanding allowances, including teaching and wage awards, had been addressed, while all remaining areas would be cleared by 2026.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to mutual respect and sustainable solutions, he appealed to academic and non-academic unions to exercise patience and avoid strikes as a first resort.

‘We have resolved a lot of these issues. But we know the final part is the condition of service. We will resolve that as well.’

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to demolish buildings of land grabbers.

He particularly mentioned land grabbers and encroachers on the Lot A parcel of land (popularly called Coral City), at the Obagie Acquisition, Benin City.

Okpebholo, in a statement, by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said this was his final warning to land grabbers and encroachers to desist from selling, building, or buying any land from any speculator in the designated area.

He said the entire Obagie Acquisition belonged to the state government, adding that plans were underway to return Lots B, C and D of the Obagie Acquisition to their owners/occupants.

The governor said return of the affected Lots was part of his promise to regularise properties on government land and return the land to their owners.

The statement said: ‘Th is notice serves as a strong and last warning to land grabbers and encroachers on government land in Lot A (Coral City) and others across the state, as dire consequences await such illegal activities.

‘Any building on the designated area (Lot A) will also be demolished, while the encroachers will be prosecuted.’

Nigerian Army headquarters has deployed a full brigade and heavy equipment in parts of Kwara South Senatorial District, it was gathered yesterday.

Troops were yesterday already milling around through communities inward Oke Ode and Babanla, both in Ifelodun Local Government.

The operation is also extending to Edu and Patigi to comb through thick forests from where kidnappers have launched cowardly attacks on communities and abducted people in return for ransom, it was gathered.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the issue at the weekend on the sidelines of the visit to Jos, Plateau State capital, hailed the President for the support, and the military high-command and allied security forces for the renewed intervention to eliminate threats to public safety.

‘We will not spare resources in support of the Military, DSS, Police and other security agencies as they work to strengthen security of lives and property,’ the governor said in a statement welcoming the army deployment.

‘We are upbeat that this operation, as part of the ‘Operation Fasan Yanma’, will eliminate all of forms of threats in affected areas in Kwara South and Kwara North. I thank the President and the security agencies for the efforts so far. As I said a few days ago, we just need to double our efforts to save the people. We are confident that the Brig.-Gen. A. A. Babatunde-led Army Brigade will succeed in this important task and clear the entire areas.’

He also commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 2nd Division, and every other officer for their support.

Former AC Milan manager Sergio Conceicao will take over as coach of Al Ittihad following the sacking of Laurent Blanc, the Saudi Arabian Pro League club has announced.

The Portuguese coach, who also won 52 caps as a player, was revealed in a video on social media titled ‘The King Rules the Game’.

‘Victory is not a choice,’ says Conceicao, 50, in the video. ‘It is an identity that defines us. Rivals may change and their allies will fall but the champion remains.

‘The champion owns the game. I am Sergio Conceicao, I came to build glory with Ittihad.’

He has signed a two-year contract and is the fourth Portuguese to manage the club, the most recent being current West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo who left in 2023.

Conceicao spent seven years in charge of Porto winning the Portuguese league three times before moving to Milan in the middle of last season.

He was fired after AC Milan finished eighth in Serie A and lost to Bologna in the Italian Cup final.

Al-Ittihad are currently third in the Saudi Pro League, three points behind leaders Al-Nassr.

It was a 2-0 defeat by their rivals at the end of September that spelt the end of Blanc’s 14 months in charge.