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Determined to transition Lagos from a consumption-based economy to a productive, innovation-driven one, Lagos State Government has adopted the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) programme to promote education and skill acquisition in science.

Marking the second edition of the Innovate Eko STEAM Day at the Government College, Lagos, Eric-Moore, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Basic and Secondary Education, Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, held a sensitisation exercise aimed at promoting and integrating creativity and critical thinking into STEAM education.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Alli-Balogun, highlighted the importance of collaboration, accessibility, career guidance and educator support in harnessing technology to drive societal change and equip students with problem-solving skills.

‘Our focus in Lagos State is on having science-oriented students. In the past three years, we have prioritised recruiting science-oriented teachers because we believe the future starts from now.’ Alli-Balogun said.

He said the state was not just ensuring improvement in teaching and learning outcomes, but was also committed to nurturing students who were confident, courageous, and who could define their career paths while still in school.

Recounting the state’s achievements in STEAM education, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Abisola Dokunmu-Adegbite, said the Ministry had witnessed a 25 per cent increase in enrolment of STEAM subjects in participating schools.

She said Lagos State had dominated in STEAM education nationally, with its students winning top spots in the National Engineers and Scientists Competition organised by the Federal Ministry of Education.

She said in the 2024 High State Assessment, 70 per cent of tracked primary school girls scored 70 per cent or above in STEAM-related subjects.

‘This is a testament to our success in dismantling barriers and engaging our young girls as future scientists and engineers’, she stressed.

Mrs. Dokunmu-Adegbite said since 2021, Lagos State had developed over a hundred students’ innovations, including prototypes for green energy and AI-driven tools.

She added that about 30 per cent of the innovations had advanced to the patent stage through dedicated funding from the Lagos State Research and Innovation Council.

She noted that the researches were not just statistics, it was proof that the youth were prepared for global issues, from climate change to digital development.

‘This search is interesting as it directly correlates to the ministry’s shift, through enquiry-based, hands-on delivery and funding of student-led projects that tackle our local challenges, like urban sustainability and digital inclusion,’ she said.

Renowned educationist and former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Peter Okebukola, called for a complete overhaul of teaching and learning methods in Nigeria, insisting that the future of African development lied in a robust Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) ecosystem.

Delivering a keynote address at a high-profile education summit in Lagos with the theme: ‘Rethink, Recycle, Innovate,’ Prof. Okebukola declared that ‘STEAM education demands that we rethink outdated pedagogies, recreate collaborative learning ecosystems, and innovate with technology to empower the next generation of African problem-solvers.’

Mr. Opeyemi Eniola, the senior special assistant on Basic and Secondary Education, and convener of the programme, affirmed the demonstration of Lagos State in tackling challenges and preparing children for the future, adding that the platform aimed at inspiring creativity, encouraging problem-solving, and celebrating ”the ingenuity of our students.”

Agwara Local Government Area is a border district located in the northwestern part of Niger State. It serves as a critical frontier zone, sharing boundaries with Kebbi State to the North/Northwest, Borgu local government area to the South and the Republic of Benin to the West.

Agwara lies near the River Niger and Kaduna River, featuring floodplains and a tropical savanna climate. The council headquarters is in Agwara town, with coordinates approximately 10°42’N, 4°35’E.

Minna, the capital of Niger State, is approximately 340 km east of Agwara by road, a journey that can take between eaight and 10 hours, depending on conditions. The road travel follows routes through Bida, Borgu and Kontagora.

The easiest primary access is via the road network linking Minna to Kontagora, and then, proceeding towards the Yauri/Kebbi axis before branching off to Agwara by boarding a ferry to cross the river.

Papiri is a community in Agwara LGA. It is the hosts St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools.

The area is characterized by dense forest. It is a riverine terrain, situated near the banks of the River Niger (specifically the Kainji Lake basin area). Its proximity to the border and vast ungoverned forest spaces has historically made it a strategic corridor.

Agwara before the attack:

Prior to the November 21abduction of over 200 students and 12 teachers from the Papiri schools, Agwara LGA was relatively safer than other parts of Niger State. There was no incident of abduction or banditry in the area before 2024.

However, being a border community with a difficult terrain and limited security presence, it was vulnerable to threats like banditry spilling over from neighboring regions.

Before the incident, security analysts had described Agwara as a ‘vulnerable frontier.’

Intelligence reports indicated that armed groups (often linked to Sahelian extremists and bandits) were using the forest corridors connecting Benin Republic, Borgu, and Agwara as transit routes.

Prior to the school abduction, the convoy of the member of the House of Representatives from Borgu/Agwara Constituency, Jafaru Mohammed Ali, was ambushed by bandits along Borgu.

The attack, which resulted in fatalities, was a major red flag indicating that armed groups had established a strong foothold in the area.

Papiri was once a peaceful agrarian and fishing community, but by late 2024 and particularly this year, it has become a high-risk zone due to the encroachment of armed groups, utilising the porous borders and forest cover for cover.

Based on available records, St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri are young institutions, established in phases between 2008 and 2010.

As at November, the primary school was 17 years it started operations in May 2008 while the secondary school was 15 years, having admitted its first set of students in September 2010.

The schools were built through a collaborative efforts of the Catholic Diocese, the Society of African Missions (SMA), and international sponsors (specifically from Ireland).

They were established to provide education to the Kamberi people and other local communities in Agwara, an area where educational infrastructure was previously very scarce. Before these permanent structures were built, some local children were learning under trees.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday made good his promise by visiting Ologuneru axis of the ongoing 110km Senator Rashidi Ladoja Circular Road project, to engage with property owners affected by the project.

The governor, at the engagement which lasted for hours, listened to representatives of the property owners, noting that his administration would not fail the people.

He said issues relating to the setback and development corridor would be resolved before the end of his tenure in 2027.

Makinde reiterated his position that the government would ensure adequate compensations were paid to property owners, noting that no house would be demolished without adequate compensation to the affected owner.

He said necessary adjustments would be made in areas affected by the project, adding that the 150 metres setback would not be exceeded in already developed areas.

He said the Circular Road was a rapid transfer network that must comply with the highway code for standard road setback.

Governor Makinde, who hailed the residents of the 38 communities affected by the project for cooperating with his administration to address the issues, said 10 people would be nominated from the affected property owners to form a committee that would work with the New Towns and Cities Development Authority, which was the authorised agency directly in charge of the Circular Road corridor.

Representatives of the property owners lauded Makinde as a compassionate leader. They appealed to him to intervene and bring lasting solution to the lingering matter.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) yesterday welcomed the return of abducted Nigerians from captivity.

The released abductees are 38 worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in Kwara State, 51 missionary school children in Niger State and 24 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi State.

ADC spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi told reporters in Abuja yesterday that the party rejoiced with the families whose loved ones had regained freedom, but insisted that the incidents should never have occurred if the government was fully alive to its responsibilities.

Abdullahi however alleged that the Federal Government was ‘making deals with insurgents’ in a bid to free abducted victims.

‘Perhaps because there may be different considerations, but perhaps because they want a quick win, they want something to celebrate, then they will not hesitate to make the kind of negotiation or deals that they are doing,’ the ADC spokesman said.

Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja has issued a landmark judgment affirming the constitutional validity, scope, and enforceability of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) Act 2022, over the outdoor advertising in Nigeria.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Isa Dashen, dismissed the suit filed by Godec Power Nigeria and upheld ARCON’s powers over advertising content on all platforms and targeted at the Nigerian market.

The ruling comes few days after a separate Federal High Court in Lagos reached a different conclusion in Massilia Motors v. ARCON case.

Godec approached the court seeking declarations that ARCON lacked powers to regulate or have oversight function on outdoor signage, arguing that these matters fall within the control of councils under paragraph 1(k)(i) of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution.

Godec also argued that ARCON’s Notice of Violation which directed the company to comply with ARCON Act 2022, infringed on its rights to freedom of expression. The plaintiff sought 13 reliefs, including a perpetual injunction restraining ARCON from enforcing the Act; and N100 million in general damages.

The court in Lokoja rejected plaintiffs arguments, noting that advertising regulation is not exclusively a residual matter, and that National Assembly acted in its legitimate constitutional authority when it enacted the ARCON Act 2022.

The court also dismissed the plaintiff’s freedom-of-expression claim. Justice Dashen held that the ARCON Act’s pre-approval requirement is a lawful regulatory measure: ‘The regulatory pre-approval requirement does not suppress expression; it ensures that public communications conform to lawful standards of decency, truthfulness and fairness. Such regulation is a legitimate incident of state oversight.’

Justice Dashen was unequivocal that the plaintiff failed to prove any of its 13 reliefs and dismissed the suit. It also awarded ?500,000 costs in favour of each defendant, the Attorney-General of the Federation and ARCON.

In rejecting the plaintiff’s argument that ARCON’s powers apply only to professional advertisers, the Court also affirmed the broad applicability of the Act. It accepted ARCON’s position that advertising regulation applies to ‘any and every person who engages in, regulates, sponsors or takes benefit of advertising services.’

As part of activities to mark her 100 days in office, the Chairman of Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mrs Titilola Rufai, has unveiled a sports fiesta to unite and engage youths.

She said as much during a novelty match between Team Olojo FC and Team Osolu FC, organised by the council to mark the opening of the fiesta.

Rufai said the aim of the fiesta was to engage youths in sporting activities and bring them together.

‘The idea is to bring youths in the council together to engage in sporting activities because an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.

She said: ‘Apart from football tournament that will begin on Tuesday, we also have indoor games for our youths.

‘They are ludo , snooker, scramble, table-tennis, ayo olopon, draught and boxing. This is the maiden edition. The idea is to bring out talents and stars.’

Mr Ege Olusegun, who represents Ojo Constituency 01 in the Lagos State House of Assembly, said the fiesta was a good beginning for the chairman.

The Osolu of Irewe Kingdom in Ojo, Oba Abideen Adekanbi, said the fiesta would encourage youths to concentrate more on sports, instead of engaging in cultism, crime and drug abuse.

Chief Ajao Obasa, the Akogun of Ojo land, representing Oba Kalid Rufai, the Olojo of Ojo Kingdom, said the fiesta would promote unity among youths.

The Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the fiesta, Alhaji Moruf Adekunle, said the football competition would be on for four weeks, while indoor games would be held for two days.

He said the winner of the football competition would go home with N500,000, second position would collect N300,000, while third position would go home with N100,000.

Adekunle said winners in indoor games would go home with fabulous prizes.

The 2025/2026 Nigeria Women’s Football League (NWFL) Premiership kicked off with a flurry of goals, dramatic finishes and spirited comebacks as matchday one delivered entertainment across all centres.

In Yenagoa, Bayelsa Queens edged Edo Queens 3-2 in a gripping South-South derby decided by a last-gasp penalty.

Edo Queens struck first through Rebecca Adegbemile (23′), but Bayelsa responded with goals from Kindness Ifeanyi (45′) and Janet Akekoromowei (48′) to flip the contest.

Edo Queens fought back, with Robiat Taofeeq (85′) making it 2-2. Just when the visitors thought they had secured a point, Bayelsa Queens won a stoppage-time penalty, coolly dispatched by Blessing Illvieda (90+7′) to seal a dramatic home victory.

In Owerri, Heartland Queens recovered from an early setback to down Ekiti Queens 2-1 at the Dan Anyiam Stadium.

An early concession rattled the hosts, but they levelled through Chizoba Johnson’s 13th-minute penalty before grabbing the decisive winner in the second half to complete a determined comeback.

In Lagos, Dannaz Ladies claimed a pulsating 3-2 win over Osun Babes. With the match locked at 2-2 deep into stoppage time, Nofisat Ayegbami (90+6′) struck a dramatic winner to ignite celebrations.

In Lafia, Nasarawa Amazons produced a strong performance to beat Delta Queens 2-1. Delta took an early lead through Nora Davies (4′), but the Amazons responded through Imoh Jones (40′) before Hembanfan Ayatse (45′) completed the turnaround just before halftime.

Adamawa Queens opened their campaign with a solid 2-0 win over Pacesetter Queens. Goals from Ifeoma Damian (37′) and Mary Sunday (66′) secured all three points in Makwada.

The only away win of the day came in Akure, where FC Robo Queens defeated Sunshine Queens 1-0, courtesy of Marvellous Oladunni (45′).

Three matches ended with shared spoils: Confluence Queens 2-2 Abia Angels, Naija Ratels 0-0 Ibom Angels and Ahudiyannem Queens 0-0 Remo Stars Ladies.

With late winners, penalties, comebacks, and away successes, the opening day of the NWFL Premiership set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable season.

In a determined effort to stem the tide of drug and substance abuse among students and youths in Calabar, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in strategic partnership with Devongnosis Education Ltd, has intensified its commitment by organizing a high-impact sensitization rally across Calabar state.

This initiative is in commemoration with the International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, underscoring the urgency and global significance of the fight against substance abuse.

The comprehensive campaign aims not only to raise awareness but also to instill lasting behavioral change and resilience among young people who remain vulnerable to the pervasive influence of drugs.

The rally, themed; ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Chain, Say No to Drug Abuse,’ brought together stakeholders from across the community, including the NDDC Calabar state office led by the state Director, Chief Daniel Ajunwa PhD, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), NYSC members, the Police amongst others.

The march covered key strategic locations, including Mary Slessor Road, Calabar Technical College, General Hospital, and the University of Calabar, ensuring that the message reached a broad and diverse audience. Participants actively engaged in distributing educational materials, including colorful banners, informative flyers, T-shirts, and caps, all designed to reinforce the campaign’s anti-drug message.

Beyond the rally, the campaign incorporated vital health talks and counseling sessions aimed at equipping students with factual knowledge and practical tools to resist peer pressure and avoid drug experimentation. Several secondary schools, including Government Secondary School State Housing, West African People’s Institute (WAPI), Government Girls Secondary School Big-Qua, Government Secondary School Barrack Road, and Government Secondary School Akim-IBB way, among others, embraced the campaign, demonstrating a united front against substance abuse.

The event garnered robust participation from students, NDDC staff, youth corps members, security agencies, and community leaders, highlighting the collective responsibility and collaborative spirit needed to address this societal menace.

The Director Calabar state office, Chief Daniel Ajunwa, along with coordinators from Devongnosis Education Ltd, addressed the audience with compelling insights into the dangers of drug abuse, emphasizing its detrimental effects on mental health, academic achievement, and overall well-being.

‘It is deeply alarming to witness the rising cases of substance abuse among adolescents. This not only undermines their mental and physical health but also jeopardizes their academic futures and societal contributions,’ the speakers cautioned.

They strongly advocated for early prevention education as a frontline defense, urging students to embrace drug-free lifestyles and become champions of positive change in their communities.

The speakers further underscored that drug abuse is not merely an individual problem but a wider social challenge fueled by a network ranging from cultivators to traffickers, hence the necessity for a comprehensive, community-wide response. They encouraged vigilance, awareness of drug abuse indicators, and a collective commitment to breaking the cycle.

School representatives expressed deep appreciation to the NDDC and Devongnosis Education Ltd for spearheading such a transformative initiative. They lauded the campaign’s role in empowering young people to make informed decisions and resist negative peer influences.

This landmark event embodies a significant stride towards fostering sustained community engagement, enhancing drug prevention education, and ultimately promoting a healthier, drug-free generation.

The partnership between the NDDC and Devongnosis Education Ltd has set a powerful example of how strategic collaboration can empower youths with the knowledge and resilience they need to flourish without reliance on harmful substances.

Moving forward, this campaign lays the groundwork for ongoing initiatives aimed at nurturing a safer, stronger, and more enlightened youth populace across Calabar and beyond, demonstrating a resolute stand against the scourge of drug abuse in the Niger Delta region.

The Indian city of Ahmedabad will stage the 2030 multi-sport Commonwealth Games 100 years after the inaugural edition was held in Hamilton, Canada, organisers have confirmed.

The choice of Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, was ratified by the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow following a recommendation from the executive board.

India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

‘We are deeply honoured by the trust shown by Commonwealth Sport,’ said Dr PT Usha, president of the Commonwealth Games Association of India.

‘The 2030 Games will not only celebrate 100 years of the Commonwealth movement but also lay the foundation for the next century. It will bring together athletes, communities and cultures from across the Commonwealth in a spirit of friendship and progress.’

Ahmedabad is the key city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world’s biggest cricket stadium. The venue is named after the Indian premier.

Modi said he was ‘delighted’ and that India looks ‘forward to welcoming the world’.

The executive board announced in October that Ahmedabad was its preferred choice following a rival bid from Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

Ahmedabad is the second Indian city to stage the Commonwealth Games, following Delhi in 2010, which was meant to showcase India’s status as an emerging global power.

However, they were marred instead by construction delays, budget overruns and corruption allegations that saw the head of the organising committee jailed.

The future existence of the event was in doubt last year when the movement struggled to find a replacement host for 2026 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew for cost reasons.

Daniel Andrews, the then premier of Victoria, said two years ago that an initial estimate of Aus $2 billion (US $1.29 billion) needed to hold the Games would more likely be around Aus $7 billion, which he called ‘well and truly too much’.

The Scottish city of Glasgow stepped in and will stage a slimmed-down version of the multi-sport format, meaning that Britain will have hosted two editions in a row, after Birmingham in 2022.

In an age of increasing continental, regional and world championships across numerous sports, there have long been questions about the relevance of the Commonwealth Games, an event restricted to an international association where the vast majority of competing countries were once territories of the British Empire.

But Dr Donald Rukare, president of Commonwealth Sport, said on Wednesday: ‘India brings scale, youth, ambition, rich culture, enormous sporting passion and relevance, and I’m delighted to report strong interest from a range of nations to host the 2034 Games and beyond.

‘We start our next century for the Commonwealth Games in good health.’

Commonwealth Sport added between 15 to 17 sports will feature at the 2030 Games, which follows a programme review.

Athletics and para-athletics, swimming and para-Swimming, table tennis and para table tennis, bowls and para bowls, weightlifting and para powerlifting, artistic gymnastics, netball and boxing have all been included.

The remainder of the programme is set to be finalised, with Ahmedabad able to either propose up to two new or ‘traditional’ sports.

Among those under consideration are T20 cricket, hockey, wrestling, badminton archery, rugby sevens, 3×3 basketball, cycling and diving.

A successful Commonwealth Games would strengthen any bid by India, the world’s most populous nation, to stage an Olympic Games, with the next two Summer editions set for Los Angeles (2028) and the Australian city of Brisbane (2032).

The wife of Kebbi State Governor Hajiya Zainab Idris has urged parents not to withdraw their children reunited with them yesterday after nine days in captivity from school.

She spoke during the reunification of parents and pupils at the Government House in Birnin-Kebbi.

She expressed happiness that none of the girls was violated by their abductors during the traumatic days.

She added that the 24 girl had been taken to the hospital for medical checkup.

‘You must not deny them education because of this incident. They must go back. Government is already putting in place necessary measures for their safety,’ she said.

Governor Nasir Idris said the abduction of the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School Maga caused their parents, the people of the state and his government sleepless nights.

‘Since the pupils were taken by the bandits about nine days ago, the parents had been traumatised, but we thank God that it didn’t take long before the security personnel deployed to search for them were able to rescue them,’ he said.

They were brought to Birnin-Kebbi, the state capital, on Tuesday night from Bagega forest in Anka local government area of Zamfara State, where the abductors kept them.

The schoolgirls were then handed over to their parents by the governor.

Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Halimatu Bande, said the period of the girls’ captivity was a trying period for the state.

‘We thank those who stood with us through this period and the security personnel who helped to rescue our girls,’ she said.