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Nigerian comedian and content creator, Adebayo Ridwan Abidemi, popularly known as Bae U Barbie, has explained why he quit skit-making for podcasting.

Bae U said he took the decision after becoming tired of being ‘average’ and sought to create content that would distinguish him from other skit makers.

He disclosed this in a recent episode of The Moraya Show, where he said the idea for his popular talk show, Curiosity Made Me Ask, emerged while he was trying to rediscover himself.

According to him, he wanted to explore something different rather than continue along the path taken by other skit makers.

‘The concept of Curiosity Made Me Ask came from me finding myself. I was tired of being average and wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to be like the skit makers. A show called ‘Between Two Fence’ by Zack inspired Curiosity Made Me Ask,’ he said.

Bae U also revealed that his biggest career ambition is to interview United States President, Donald Trump.

Since launching Curiosity Made Me Ask, the content creator has hosted several prominent Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, veteran actor Pete Edochie and television host Frank Edoho.

The Bauchi State Government, with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has inaugurated a State Steering Committee on Actuarial Analysis to develop modalities for making healthcare services affordable, sustainable, accessible, and equitable across the state.

The committee, comprising members from health sector-related agencies, was inaugurated by the State Commissioner of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Mohammed Sani Dambam, at the end of a three-day capacity-building program funded by UNFPA in collaboration with the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency (BASHCMA).

The training focused on health financing and actuarial analysis and marked the commencement of UNFPA’s support for actuarial analysis in the state.

Inaugurating the committee at the Polio Emergency Operation Centre of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dambam stressed the importance of the committee in ensuring effective and efficient healthcare service delivery.

He charged members to develop strategies that would make healthcare services accessible and equitable to residents, particularly those in the hinterland and vulnerable groups.

Dambam assured the committee that the ministry would provide guidance where necessary and give full support to the successful execution of its assignment.

Introducing the procured actuarial analysis consulting firm at the end of the three-day workshop, the UNFPA Sexual and Reproductive Health/Health Systems Strengthening Specialist, Dr Oluwatosin Kolade, said the support was important to the state’s efforts to improve healthcare financing.

He said the initiative would contribute to the country’s efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality by creating opportunities to mainstream high-impact, low-cost interventions such as family planning into a prepayment financing mechanism through the health benefit package of BASHCMA.

In her message, the UNFPA Resident Representative for Nigeria, Ms Muriel Mafico, reiterated the agency’s commitment to its partnership with the Bauchi State Government, particularly in efforts to achieve zero unmet needs for family planning and zero maternal deaths.

She assured the state that the UNFPA team in Bauchi would continue to work with heads of ministries, departments, and agencies to achieve the objectives of the actuarial analysis and strengthen the state’s social health insurance scheme.

Mafico’s speech, which was read by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Analyst at the UNFPA Bauchi State office, Ms Deborah Tabara, also assured that UNFPA would continue to support a sustainable environment for programs in the state.

She thanked heads of agencies for their support, saying, ‘We would not have gotten this far without your cooperation and support. As we go on to the remaining parts of the roadmap that will lead us to eventually sustainably finance the social health scheme and family planning, using state-level data to make informed decisions with regard to the Bauchi State actuarial analysis, UNFPA reiterates its commitment to continue to work with the Bauchi State Government and with the key agencies and respective technical staff.’

She added, ‘We will leave no one behind in this process. We will remain consistent, and we look forward to your cooperation. At the end of the day, it is going to be our data. It’s going to be for the improvement of the lives of women, children, and other vulnerable groups in Bauchi State. We thank you very much, and we look forward to a successful program.’

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) gubernatorial candidate in Katsina State, Sen. Ahmad Babba Kaita, has congratulated the citizens of the state as it marks the 39th anniversary of its creation.

‘With nostalgia, I wish to congratulate us all as the people of Katsina State as we, by the special grace of Allah, witness and mark yet another year after creation.

In a statement to newsmen signed by Abubakar Ahmed, the ADC gubernatorial candidate, Senator Babba Kaita, lamented the insecurity situation in the state, especially in areas bordering the state’s forests.

‘This, indeed is ordinarily worth celebrating but for the fact that our people are faced with serious multiple challenges especially those of insecurity, poverty and economic backwardness caused by bad governance.

‘Instead of dining and dancing therefore, I strongly recommend we have a sober reflection and pray for divine intervention so that God can in his infinite wisdom and mercy, remove us from the current terrible situation’, the gubernatorial candidate said.

He observed that a child born 39 years ago must have become an adult by now and be standing firm on his feet, but that while some past leaders did their best to bring progress and development, the state and its people had lately been left under pressure and in constant fear of attacks by bandits while battling poverty and hunger.

Kaita advised citizens of the state to have a rethink ahead of the 2027 general elections by voting out all bad leaders with a view to bringing in focused leadership that would bring positive changes.

He maintained that the ADC was a complete departure from bad governance and wished to bring the desired positive changes, where citizens would be fully carried along in taking the state to greater heights.

Human Resource (HR) professionals in Nigeria have been urged to move beyond measuring activity, and focus, instead, on creating value and delivering impact.

The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM), Mallam Ahmed Ladan Gobir, gave the charge while welcoming over 5,000 delegates: 4,000 physical and 1,000 virtual, to the ongoing 58th International Conference and Exhibition of the institute, tagged: ‘Repositioning for Value and Impact,’ in Abuja.

Mallam Gobir stated further that organisations must increasingly assess success, not by the volume of work performed, but by the difference that work makes to business performance, productivity and growth.

He explained that this year’s edition of the conference, builds on conversations from previous editions, which had their focus on resilience and the future of work, adding that the 2026 conference represents a call to translate ideas into outcomes and ensure that people management contributed meaningfully to organisational and national development.

The CIPM boss further stated that the conference provided the delegates the opportunity to examine how organisations can strengthen performance, improve productivity and create measurable value in a rapidly evolving world of work.

In his keynote address delivered to the audience, comprising: business leaders, policymakers, HR practitioners, academics and development experts from across Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi, described the gathering as an important platform for addressing contemporary workplace challenges and advancing workforce development.

He commended CIPM for creating a forum that brought together practitioners, policymakers, employers, academics and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop practical responses to issues shaping the world of work.

The Minister further acknowledged the Institute’s longstanding contribution to promoting ethical leadership, professional excellence and effective people management, while applauding its leadership for sustaining the conference and championing high standards of professionalism in HR in Nigeria

The Head of Service of Lagos State, Mr. Bode Agoro, also commended CIPM for its role in professionalizing HR Management in Lagos State and across Nigeria.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Federal Civil Service Commission, Prof. Tunji Olaopa, expressed the delight that the institute has consistently worked to raise the standards of people management while building the capacity of people managers nationwide.

He also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to strengthening its partnership with the Institute as a reform partner in the Nigerian Civil Service.

Speaking on behalf of the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Rakiya Bosede Haastrup, highlighted the importance of developing people and promoting sound workplace practices, describing such efforts as essential to national development.

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Tuesday joined world leaders at the United Nations Headquarters in New York for the opening of the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

VP Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leading Nigeria’s delegation to the global gathering, earlier attended a welcome breakfast hosted by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for Heads of Delegation and their spouses.

The Vice President arrived at the General Assembly Hall in the company of Governors Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State and Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers.

Also in the Nigerian delegation were the Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd); Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu; Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, and other senior government officials.

The General Debate, holding from September 22 to 28 under the theme, ‘Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all,’ opened with remarks by UN Secretary-General Guterres and addresses by world leaders, including Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and United States President Donald Trump.

VP Shettima is scheduled to deliver Nigeria’s national statement before the General Assembly on Thursday, September 24, setting out the country’s position on major global issues and President Tinubu’s priorities for reforming international institutions, sustainable development, peace and security, climate action, and a more equitable global economic order.

On his way from the United Nations Headquarters, Senator Shettima, accompanied by governors, ministers, presidential aides and other members of the Nigerian delegation, made a brief stop at Nigeria House in New York.

Earlier in his New York engagements, VP Shettima represented President Tinubu at the Third High-Level Roundtable of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, AMSG, where he called for a new continental push to end Africa’s dependence on the export of raw minerals and build processing, manufacturing and value-addition industries around the continent’s critical resources.

Senator Shettima said Africa’s mineral wealth must translate into jobs, industrial growth and improved living standards for Africans, urging countries on the continent to strengthen cooperation rather than compete through concessions that diminish the value of their resources.

The Vice President will also participate in other high-level and bilateral engagements during the UNGA week as Nigeria advances its national interests and strengthens cooperation with international partners.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has unveiled its first-ever Unified Training Manual and standardised professional Course Badges as part of efforts to harmonise training, strengthen professionalism and improve capacity development across the service.

The initiative introduces a single training doctrine for all NCoS training institutions and replaces the 2019 Training Manual, which has been comprehensively reviewed to reflect contemporary realities, evolving correctional practices and emerging professional demands.

The Service Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Jane Osuji, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

According to her, the new manual provides a unified framework for training across the various cadres, disciplines and specialised areas of the service, ensuring consistency in the delivery of instruction nationwide.

She said a major feature of the revised manual was that it was developed internally by NCoS personnel, representing a departure from the previous practice of relying substantially on external bodies for training materials.

Osuji said the internally developed curriculum would strengthen institutional ownership, preserve professional knowledge within the service and ensure that training content remained aligned with operational realities and professional requirements.

The revised framework covers routine and specialised courses, including Command Courses, Commissioned Officers Courses, Basic Recruit and Chief Corrections Assistants Courses, as well as specialised and refresher courses.

The service also unveiled Unified Course Badges for various cadres, including the Advanced Command Course Badge for Controllers of Corrections (CC), the Command Course Badge for Deputy Controllers of Corrections (DCC), the Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC) Course Badge and the Assistant Superintendent of Corrections (ASC) Course Badge.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, commended the Manual Review Committee and personnel who contributed to the development of the new training manual and course badges.

Nwakuche described the initiative as a landmark achievement that would strengthen professionalism, institutional identity and uniformity in personnel training across the service.

The Controller-General, who was decorated with one of the newly unveiled course badges, described the decoration as a symbol of professional identity and accomplishment that carried enduring prestige.

He urged officers to appreciate the significance of the badges and uphold the discipline, values and professional excellence they represented.

In recognition of professional advancement, Nwakuche also decorated the Deputy Controllers-General with the Advanced Command Course Badge.

Providing an overview of the initiative, the Deputy Controller-General in charge of Training and Staff Development, DCG Olanrewaju Amoran, said the Unified Training Manual was developed to address the need for a single, contemporary training resource reflecting the changing demands of correctional administration and practice.

Amoran said the development process drew on the expertise of experienced personnel across relevant professional areas of the service, ensuring that the manual was grounded in institutional experience, operational realities and emerging trends in corrections.

He explained that the manual would serve as a common reference point for instructors and trainees, promote consistency in the interpretation and delivery of course content, and enhance the quality of professional training across all NCoS training institutions.

According to him, the initiative would also strengthen continuous professional development by providing officers with relevant and standardised learning materials throughout their career progression.

This, he added, would reinforce a culture of excellence, competence and lifelong learning within the service.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Manual Review Committee and Deputy Controller-General in charge of the Human Resources Directorate, DCG Ado Sale, stressed the importance of the Unified Training Manual and standardised Course Badges to the professional development of officers.

Sale emphasised that the badges were not ceremonial accessories or items that could be purchased from open markets, but professional distinctions earned through prescribed training and formally conferred by the commandants of the service’s training institutions.

The ceremony also featured the presentation of an Award of Excellence to the Controller-General by the Review Committee in recognition of his leadership and support for the initiative.

Nwakuche subsequently presented plaques and certificates of recognition to members of the committee for their contributions to the development of the new curriculum and training manuals.

The unveiling of the Unified Training Manual and standardised Course Badges marks another step in the service’s ongoing reforms to strengthen institutional capacity, promote training excellence and develop a modern correctional workforce capable of responding to emerging challenges.

The NCoS reaffirmed its commitment to continuous professional development and building a competent, disciplined and forward-looking workforce in furtherance of its mandate to secure custodial centres and facilitate the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders into society.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has dismantled a Nigerian-Mexican drug cartel operating a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory in Eziama community, Obeagu, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

Two kingpins, 45-year-old Chukwu Obumneme Christopher, alias Brown, and 60-year-old Chukwu Georginus Monday, alias George, were arrested in connection with the operation of the meth lab in partnership with a notorious Mexican drug cartel member, Rodriguez Villanueva, based in Mexico City, Mexico, after several months of intelligence gathering and surveillance of the syndicate.

The spokesman for the NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Thursday that the two kingpins were arraigned before Justice Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Enugu Judicial Division, on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, the organisation, management and financing of a drug trafficking organisation, and unlawful possession of precursor chemicals used in methamphetamine production, contrary to the NDLEA Act.

After they pleaded to the charges, Justice Segun-Bello adjourned their trial until October 21, 2026, following an application by the agency for an accelerated hearing.

Also named in the charge and currently at large are Uchenna, alias Uche; Celestine Ikemefuna Iwuchukwu; and Rodriguez Villanueva, who is a notorious member of a Mexican drug cartel.

Investigations by a Special Operations Unit (SOU) of the NDLEA revealed a sophisticated, transnational operation by the Nigerian-Mexican cartel. Surveillance activities by the NDLEA between December 1 and 4, 2025, tracked Brown’s movements between Lagos, Enugu and Anambra states, ultimately leading operatives to a compound in Obeagu, where a clandestine laboratory capable of producing methamphetamine in commercial quantities was uncovered.

The lab, fitted with improvised reactors and distillation apparatus, mirrored similar facilities recently dismantled in Ogun, Oyo and Ebonyi states.

A search of the premises led to the recovery of vast quantities of precursor chemicals, including 690 litres of methylamine, 1,000 litres of isopropyl alcohol, 300 litres of hydrochloric acid, 290 litres each of toluene and acetone, 400 litres of liquid sodium hydroxide, 125 kilograms of N-phenylacetamide, 414 kilograms of lead acetate, and 769.6 kilograms of tartaric acid, among other controlled substances. The haul was consistent with a high-potency, P2P-based methamphetamine manufacturing operation.

A related search of George’s family residence yielded eight large fuel tanks, four commercial gas burners, four dehydrators, and 11 kilograms of ephedrine, further underscoring the scale of the cartel’s operations.

Reacting to the development, the Chairman and Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), reaffirmed the agency’s unwavering resolve to track down every fleeing suspect connected to the cartel and ensure that they all face the full weight of the law.

He commended all NDLEA officers involved in the operation for their professionalism and doggedness in cracking yet another international drug syndicate.

Marwa described the Enugu lab bust as further proof that Nigeria will not be allowed to become a haven for transnational drug cartels, warning that the agency’s intelligence-driven operations and international partnerships would continue to close every loophole exploited by drug barons, whether local or foreign.

He reiterated his charge to all NDLEA personnel to sustain the momentum of relentless enforcement until the nation is rid of the scourge of illicit drug production and trafficking.