Category: Daily Trust

The future of Africa’s media will not be shaped by technology alone. It will depend on the quality of the people who lead newsrooms, responsibly embrace innovation, and uphold the profession’s ethical values.

Preparing such leaders requires more than technical training; it requires an educational environment that combines academic excellence with practical industry experience.

My participation in the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) at the School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan-Atlantic University, has shown me how this can be achieved.

In May 2026, I joined the sixth cohort of the MTN Media Innovation Programme after a rigorous selection process. I was privileged to be among the 25 fellows selected from over 5,000 applicants drawn from television, radio, print, digital media, public relations, and content creation.

The six-month executive programme, which also includes an international study visit to South Africa, brings together experienced media professionals to examine the forces transforming journalism and the wider media industry.

Even before classes began, I had my first impression of Pan-Atlantic University. After receiving my admission letter, I became aware of the University’s culture, particularly its emphasis on discipline, professionalism, proper dressing, and respect for institutional values.

These expectations reflected a learning environment that places a premium not only on academic excellence but also on personal and professional development.

When lectures commenced at the School of Media and Communication, I expected to update my knowledge of the changing media landscape. What I experienced went beyond that expectation.

The teachings broadened my understanding of leadership, innovation, media business, and the responsibilities of media professionals in a rapidly changing world.

One of the defining strengths of education at Pan-Atlantic University is its ability to bridge theory and practice. Rather than relying solely on academic concepts, the teaching combines lectures with case studies, research, group projects, class discussions, and practical problem-solving.

Every session encourages us to connect classroom learning with the realities of today’s media industry.

The curriculum reflects the changing demands of innovation in the media space. We explored media business models, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, audience engagement, product development, strategic leadership, innovation, ethics, and sustainability.

These are not presented as isolated topics but as interconnected issues that every media professional must understand to remain relevant in an increasingly digital environment.

Another remarkable aspect of the programme is the diversity of the participants. Bringing together professionals from different sectors of the media industry creates an atmosphere of collaborative learning.

Every class becomes an opportunity to exchange ideas, compare experiences, challenge assumptions respectfully, and learn from colleagues whose professional backgrounds differ from one’s own. In many instances, the discussions among participants became just as valuable as the formal lectures.

Learning at Pan-Atlantic University also extends beyond the classroom. My colleagues and I have conversations during breaks; group assignments and collaborative projects provide opportunities to learn from one another’s professional experiences.

Aside from that, Dr. Chike Mgbeadichie, the Head of the Department of Communication, Media and Cultural Studies and the Director of the Media Innovation Programme, encouraged us to submit monthly reflections, allowing us to examine how the knowledge gained during the programme influences our work and professional practice.

One area that particularly transformed my thinking was the emphasis on media innovation and product thinking. I learned that the success of media organisations depends on understanding audience needs and developing products and services that effectively address those needs.

For instance, during one of our group presentations, we were encouraged to ask practical questions that continue to influence my thinking: What problem are we solving? Who are we serving? How do we measure impact beyond page views? How do we build products that meet audience needs while ensuring the sustainability of journalism?

These discussions demonstrated how education at Pan-Atlantic University prepares media professionals to think critically, solve problems creatively, and approach journalism from both editorial and business perspectives.

However, I have continued to apply the lessons in my workplace to strengthen my professional practice and contribute to my organisation.

Beyond academics, the University’s culture leaves a lasting impression. Excellence, discipline, professionalism, collaboration, and intellectual curiosity are consistently reinforced.

For me, studying at the School of Media and Communication has been much more than a professional development programme. It has expanded my professional network, strengthened my leadership capacity, challenged long-held assumptions, and renewed my commitment to contributing to the growth of a more innovative, sustainable, and impactful media ecosystem in Nigeria.

My experience at Pan-Atlantic University has demonstrated that quality education is not merely about transferring knowledge. It is about transforming the way people think, solve problems, lead organisations, and contribute meaningfully to society.

As I continue this journey, I remain convinced that Pan-Atlantic University is doing more than educating media professionals. It is preparing a new generation of media leaders who are equipped to respond thoughtfully to the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of Africa’s media.

Kafilat Taiwo is a media and development professional working at the intersection of media, technology, and governance, with a focus on strengthening media ecosystems and advancing accountability across Africa

Veteran scrabble player, Abdulmumin Jimoh, has emerged as the Masters champion at the 6th Governor Douye Diri National Scrabble Classic, taking home a trophy and a cash prize of N2 million.

At the closing ceremony held in Yenagoa over the weekend, Bayelsa-born Felix Igolukumo won the Intermediate category, receiving a trophy and N1.2 million. His compatriot, Godwin Angoye, took first place in the Open category, earning a trophy and a N700,000 prize.

For the third time, Oladokun Esan won the Veterans category, claiming a trophy and N900,000. Similarly, Godwin Joseph secured the top spot in the Students category, taking home a trophy and N150,000.

During the event, Governor Diri announced a special gift of N1 million each to two young players: seven-year-old Abdulsalam Yusuf from Kwara State and nine-year-old Bayelsa-born Elizabeth Fun-ere.

Looking ahead to the next edition, Senator Diri announced a significant increase in the tournament’s prize money. The total prize pool will double from N20 million to N40 million, with the winner of the Masters category set to receive N5 million.

Highlighting the educational benefits of the sport, the governor directed the state’s Commissioners for Sports and Education to work out the modalities for introducing Scrabble into secondary schools across Bayelsa, stating that it would help develop students mentally.

Senator Diri noted that playing Scrabble while growing up helped develop his own vocabulary, spelling, and cognitive abilities, emphasizing that it is a mind game that builds intellect and strategic thinking.

The Sokoto State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala, has been selected for an Award of Excellence as the Best Commissioner for Education in the North West geopolitical zone.

The Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education announced the award in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Ibrahim Muhammad Iya.

The ministry said the selection followed recommendations by the National Award Committee, which cited Ala’s leadership and contributions to the development of education in Sokoto State and the North West.

According to the statement, the award will be presented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, during the grand finale of the 2026 Democracy Day Anniversary President Inter-Senior Secondary School Debate Championship.

The event is scheduled to take place on August 20, 2026, at the Rivers State Ministry of Education in Port Harcourt, with Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, expected to serve as chief host.

The ministry said the notification of the award was signed by the Chairman of the National Advisory Board of President School Debate Nigeria (PSDN), Hon. Muhammad Usman.

It quoted the organisers as saying the recognition was in acknowledgement of Ala’s ‘exemplary leadership, dedication, and outstanding contributions to the advancement of education in Sokoto State and the North West region.’

Reacting to the development, the ministry congratulated the commissioner and pledged to sustain efforts aimed at improving basic and secondary education in the state.

‘The Ministry congratulates Prof. Ahmad Ladan Ala on this well-deserved national recognition and reaffirms its commitment to supporting policies and programmes that promote quality basic and secondary education in Sokoto State,’ the statement said.

It added that the recognition reflected the ministry’s commitment to ‘educational excellence, innovation, and human capital development.’

Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Femi Otedola, has revealed plans to increase his shareholding in the financial services group to more than 51%, saying majority ownership is essential to executing the reforms needed to transform the institution into a world-class banking franchise.

In an interview with Nairametrics, Otedola disclosed that he has invested more than N600 billion of his personal wealth in First HoldCo, describing the commitment as a reflection of his confidence in the group’s long-term prospects rather than market speculation.

‘I am sure that you can see from my antecedents that my investment threshold is always over and above 51 per cent,’ he said.

According to Otedola, firm shareholder control, while protecting minority investors, provides the support needed to implement difficult reforms and restructuring programmes that ultimately create value for all stakeholders.

The billionaire investor currently owns about 25.8% of First HoldCo and is its largest shareholder.

Just last week, he invested a fresh N222billion in the holding company which is a parent company of First Bank.

In the interview with the editorial team of Nairametrics, Otedola said his strategy mirrors the approach he adopted in previous investments, including Forte Oil Plc and Geregu Power Plc, where he gradually increased his ownership before successfully repositioning the businesses.

‘I am on the same trajectory with First HoldCo Plc,’ he said.

Otedola said he initially invested in the company because he recognised the strength of its franchise despite its legacy challenges.

According to him, the group’s extensive customer base of more than 30 million, nationwide branch network, deposit franchise and pan-African operations represented significant untapped value, even as governance failures and deteriorating asset quality had pushed the institution to the brink of regulatory intervention.

He described First HoldCo as ‘an institution on the brink’ before the Central Bank of Nigeria intervened in 2021, citing weak governance, mounting non-performing loans and a compromised capital position.

The businessman said the board embarked on an extensive turnaround programme that included cleaning up the balance sheet through a one-off N1.7 trillion impairment charge, strengthening governance, recapitalising the institution and improving risk management and credit controls.

According to him, the bank has impaired more than N3 trillion in bad loans over the past decade while reinforcing a stronger credit culture to support sustainable growth.

He noted that the transformation has begun to deliver measurable results, with the group reporting an 83.5% year-on-year increase in profit before tax to N653.4 billion in the first half of 2026 and return on average equity of 30.4%.

Otedola also dismissed suggestions that his investment in First HoldCo could follow the same exit path as some of his previous turnaround investments, describing the financial institution as a long-term generational commitment.

Unlike investments in the oil and gas and power sectors, he said First HoldCo’s 130-year history, systemic importance and role in financial intermediation make it fundamentally different.

‘First HoldCo is a long-term generational commitment unlike my previous involvements,’ he said.

On shareholder returns, Otedola reiterated the board’s ambition to achieve a dividend payout ratio of about 60%, while maintaining sufficient capital to support future growth.

He argued that stronger earnings, improved capital adequacy and disciplined capital allocation would enable the group to reward shareholders without compromising expansion plans across retail banking, digital infrastructure and its pan-African operations.

Otedola also maintained that Nigerian banking stocks remain undervalued compared with their African peers, despite delivering strong returns on equity, attributing the valuation discount to foreign exchange volatility, macroeconomic uncertainty and governance concerns.

He believes First HoldCo’s recent re-rating, which has seen the stock trade above book value, demonstrates that the market is beginning to recognise the institution’s intrinsic value following its turnaround.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has confirmed the release of Nigerian girls who were detained in Mauritius, saying they are on their way back to Nairobi.

The commission announced their release in a statement issued by its Digital Media Unit following public concern over a viral video showing the girls in detention.

The video, widely shared on social media, alleged that the girls had been held at Mauritius airport since 31 July, prompting calls for the Nigerian government to intervene.

‘Relief has come for families back home as the Nigerian girls previously detained in Mauritius have now been released and are on their way back to Nigeria,’ the statement on the NiDCOM Facebook page said.

‘The development follows days of diplomatic engagement between Nigerian authorities and officials in Mauritius. The girls were confirmed to have been safely released in Nairobi, Kenya, where arrangements were made for their onward journey to Nigeria,’ it said.

According to NiDCOM, its Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has been in close contact with the Nigerian Embassy, which formally took up the case with Mauritian authorities to ensure accountability and to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

I thought my part two on gas was my final word – until readers challenged me at the end to clarify one critical question: What is the level of infrastructural preparedness to receive gas for distribution to consumers? They demanded that I go beyond the grand visions of pipelines and hubs and examine whether Nigeria is actually ready to take delivery of the gas and get it to the people who need it. I, therefore, crave the indulgence of my readers to allow me to come back and finish the business as they require of me. This is that answer.

Nigeria sits on 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves – the largest in Africa and the ninth largest in the world. Yet, despite this abundance, the country has only about 2,500 kilometres of gas pipelines. Algeria, with a population nearly five times smaller, has 13,000 kilometres. France, with a population nearly four times smaller, operates 37,000 kilometres. This is not a resource problem. It is a distribution problem. The question that readers have rightly demanded I answer is this: even if the gas is produced, even if the AKK and OB3 pipelines are completed, is Nigeria’s infrastructure ready to receive that gas and distribute it to consumers across the 36 states? The answer, like most things in Nigeria, is complicated. There is progress – genuine, measurable progress. But there are also gaps so wide that they threaten to swallow the entire ambition of the Decade of Gas.

To understand just how inadequate 2,500 kilometres truly is, we must do the arithmetic. Nigeria’s population is approximately 220 million people. That gives us roughly 11.4 kilometres of gas pipeline for every one million Nigerians. Algeria, by contrast, with a population of about 45 million and 13,000 kilometres of pipeline, has 289 kilometres per million people – 25 times more pipeline coverage per capita than Nigeria. France, with 37,000 kilometres for 68 million people, has 544 kilometres per million people – nearly 48 times more. Even if we use the higher estimate of 7,000 kilometres sometimes cited by industry observers, that still gives Nigeria only 31.8 kilometres per million people – still less than one-eighth of Algeria’s per capita coverage. To match Algeria’s per capita pipeline coverage, Nigeria would need over 30,000 kilometres of pipelines – more than ten times our current network. The NNPC itself has acknowledged this, stating in its Gas Master Plan 2026 that the current network, ‘spanning over 2,500km, is a significant foundation but remains insufficient to meet the nation’s burgeoning industrial and power demands’.

The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline is the single largest gas pipeline project in Nigeria’s history. Spanning 614 kilometres at a cost of $2.8 billion, it is designed to transport 3,500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day from Ajaokuta in Kogi State to Kano, traversing Abuja and Kaduna. By July 2026, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited reported that the pipeline had reached 98 per cent completion, with the main line laid from Ajaokuta to Kano. The River Niger crossing – a technically complex feat – was successfully completed in June 2025. But here is the catch. Six years after the project was flagged off in 2020, and despite multiple completion deadlines, the pipeline is yet to function. The NNPCL has said it is considering September 2026 for commissioning. Meanwhile, checks show that major gas stations and terminals to be constructed along the pipeline’s corridor are yet to start, with the exception of the Ajaokuta axis. The Gwagwalada station is projected to be completed within the next 12 to 16 months. In other words, the pipe is laid, but the off-take infrastructure that will actually deliver gas to consumers is not ready. The OB3 pipeline, which connects the Eastern gas network to the Western network, has also achieved its River Niger crossing. With a capacity of two billion standard cubic feet per day, it serves as a backbone linking the East to the West and extending connectivity to the North through the AKK. But the OB3 has been under construction for more than 13 years, and as of August 2025, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources was still describing it as ‘nearing completion’.

Pipelines are only half the story. Before gas can flow through pipes, it must be processed. Nigeria’s total installed gas processing capacity reached 17.2 billion standard cubic feet per day as of October 2025. But the average operating capacity was only 3.94 billion standard cubic feet per day, representing a utilisation rate of just 64.7 per cent. This gap between installed capacity and actual utilisation is a red flag. It means that even when the gas is available, the plants are not operating at full capacity. Nigeria currently commercialises only about 60 per cent of its total gas production, with the remaining volumes either reinjected for oil recovery or lost to routine flaring. Nigeria ranks as the 7th largest gas-flaring nation in the world. South Africa, by contrast, with no significant natural gas reserves of its own, has invested heavily in gas import infrastructure and distribution networks. If a country with no gas can build pipelines, why can a country with abundant gas not do the same?

If the pipelines and processing plants are the arteries of the gas economy, the distribution networks are the capillaries that deliver gas to the end consumer. And here, the picture is alarming. The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has raised concern over the country’s slow pace in developing compressed natural gas infrastructure, saying there are fewer than 50 compression stations across Nigeria. There are just 3,000 cooking gas refilling plants across the country. For a nation of over 200 million people, these numbers are woefully inadequate. By October 2025, the Presidential CNG Initiative had commissioned its 58th CNG refuelling station, extending the network to cover 28 of Nigeria’s 36 states. This is progress, but it is progress from a base so low that it barely registers. The government has announced plans for 500 CNG stations over the next three years, but even 500 stations for 200 million people is a ratio that would be considered inadequate in any serious industrial economy.

The North has been the biggest loser in Nigeria’s gas story. Over 90 per cent of domestic gas consumption takes place in the South. The AKK pipeline is supposed to change that. But the question remains: even when the pipeline is completed, will the North have the infrastructure to receive and distribute the gas? Ten gas distribution licences were issued in 2025, with licensed networks currently serving about 430 customers. But 430 customers is a drop in the ocean. The North has been promised gas for decades. The people of Kano, Kaduna, and Abuja have heard about the AKK pipeline for years. Until the gas actually flows, until the distribution stations are built, the North will remain an energy desert.

There is a direct link between gas infrastructure and national security. When a region has no power, no industry, and no jobs, the young men of that region have three choices: starve, migrate, or turn to crime. If the AKK pipeline is completed, it will supply gas to power plants in Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, generating 3,600 megawatts of power. That power can run factories. Factories can employ thousands. Those thousands will not join bandit groups. Farmers can go to their fields without fear of kidnapping. Crime will decrease. This is not theory. It is cause and effect. The solution to Nigeria’s insecurity is not foreign weapons or mercenaries. It is not spurious excuses like ‘Christian genocide’ or any other diversionary narrative. These excuses are lies – designed to turn citizens against one another while the real culprits walk free. A young man who has not eaten in two days does not care about the religion of the person he robs. He cares about survival.

So, is Nigeria ready to receive and distribute its gas? The honest answer is: not yet. The pipelines are being built, but they are not finished. The processing plants exist, but they are not fully utilised. The distribution networks are expanding, but from a base that is embarrassingly low. With only 2,500 kilometres of pipeline for 220 million people – a mere 11.4 kilometres per million Nigerians – the gap is a chasm. This is not a counsel of despair. It is a call to urgency. Nigeria has made genuine progress, but progress is not the same as completion. The solution is not external. It is not in foreign aid or foreign intervention. It is in Nigerian pipelines, Nigerian gas, and Nigerian political will. The gas is already there, waiting to be delivered. The only question is whether Nigeria will deliver it – or whether, like so many other projects, it will be left to rust. The six geopolitical zones cannot wait. The North cannot wait. The youth cannot wait. Every day that the gas does not flow is a day that another young Nigerian picks up a gun or a laptop to steal. The gas is there. The technology is there. The investment is there. The only missing ingredient is governance. If Nigeria can get that right, the gas will flow. The factories will run. The jobs will come. The insecurity will recede. The final answer to my readers is this: Nigeria is not yet ready. But it can be. The question is whether we will choose to be ready – or whether we will continue to wait, as we have waited for decades, for a future that never arrives.

Air Peace has commenced flight operations on the Lagos-Conakry-Bamako route, as part of its regional expansion strategy and strengthening air connectivity across West Africa.

The inaugural flight departed the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Saturday, August 1, 2026, linking Nigeria’s commercial capital with Conakry, Guinea, and Bamako, Mali.

The airline said the new service is aimed at boosting trade, tourism, investment, cultural exchange and business travel while advancing its vision of connecting more African cities through a seamless route network.

Upon arrival at Ahmed Sékou Touré International Airport in Conakry, the Air Peace delegation, led by Chief Commercial Officer, Nowel Ngala, and Director of Flight Operations, Captain Augustine Kamano, was received by Guinea’s Minister of Transport, Ousmane Gaoul Diallo, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Guinea, Umaru Kamfu, Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Thiam Oumar Sekou, and members of the Nigerian community.

Speaking at the reception, Diallo described the new route as an important development that would strengthen bilateral relations between Nigeria and Guinea while facilitating greater movement of people, trade and economic opportunities.

The Director of Guinea’s Civil Aviation Authority, Thiam Oumar Sekou, also welcomed the airline, saying improved air connectivity would support aviation growth and regional integration across West Africa.

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Guinea, Umaru Kamfu, commended Air Peace for expanding its African network, noting that the new service would provide more convenient travel options for Nigerians, Guineans and other regional travellers.

Ngala said the launch represents another step in Air Peace’s commitment to building a robust African route network.

According to him, the Conakry and Bamako services will enable passengers from the airline’s domestic destinations to connect through Lagos to regional and international destinations, including London and the Caribbean.

Following its stop in Conakry, the inaugural flight proceeded to Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako, where the delegation was welcomed by officials of Assistance Aéroportuaire du Mali and members of the Nigerian community.

Deputy Director of Assistance Aéroportuaire du Mali, Abdrahamane Farota, said the new route would strengthen connectivity between Nigeria and Mali while creating additional opportunities for trade, tourism and economic cooperation.

Representing the Director General of Mali Airport, Technical Director Bahide Konandji described the service as a positive development for the country’s aviation sector and regional integration.

Members of the Nigerian community in Mali also welcomed the direct connection, saying it would improve travel convenience and strengthen ties between both countries.

With the addition of Conakry and Bamako, Air Peace now operates services to 13 regional destinations across West Africa, further expanding its footprint within 11 years of commencing commercial operations.

The airline said the expansion reinforces its commitment to positioning Lagos as a major aviation hub and improving connectivity across Africa and beyond.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) chapter, has disclosed that its members are yet to receive salary payment alerts despite the Ondo State Governor approval of a special intervention fund of over N1.1 billion to offset outstanding salary arrears owed to workers in the institution.

The union said the ongoing indefinite strike, which has grounded academic activities at the university since July 10, 2026, will not be suspended until lecturers and other affected workers receive payment notifications in their bank accounts.

Chairman of ASUU-AAUA, Comrade Bolu Oshodi, said the union had been informed that the state government released the intervention fund to the university, but the institution was still awaiting the credit of the funds into its account.

‘As we speak now, the latest information is that the government has released the money to the university, but then the university is still waiting for the money to drop into its account. They said the problem is with the bank, but as far as we are concerned, what our members are waiting for is the alert,’ Oshodi said.

The lecturers are currently owed three months’ salaries covering May, June and July, a development that triggered the industrial action.

Oshodi stressed that ASUU would not rely on assurances or promises, insisting that the strike would only be suspended after members confirm receipt of their outstanding salaries.

He, however, noted that the salary arrears dispute is only one aspect of the challenges facing the university, warning that another round of industrial action may be imminent over the Ondo State Government’s failure to implement the 2025 Federal Government/ASUU agreement on the new salary structure for university lecturers.

According to him, the agreement, which took effect in January 2026, has already been implemented in federal universities and several state-owned institutions, including Ekiti State University (EKSU), Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), and Kwara State University (KWASU).

Oshodi lamented that lecturers in Ondo State-owned universities, including AAUA, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), have yet to benefit from the new salary package.

He also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate monthly subvention to the university, revealing that while the institution receives about N223 million monthly from the state government, its salary obligation stands at about N550 million.

‘The N223 million has never been enough for salaries alone. The salary bill is about N550 million. The university has consistently been forced to source additional funds to bridge the gap,’ he said.

The ASUU chairman appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to not only ensure prompt payment of the outstanding salaries but also implement the new salary structure and settle arrears dating back to January 2026.

‘It is more depressing and annoying that all the universities around us are already enjoying the new package. We are passionately appealing to the governor to do the needful. We are not asking for anything extraordinary; we are asking for what is due to us,’ Oshodi stated.

He disclosed that the AAUA chapter of ASUU has concluded internal consultations regarding a possible fresh strike over the non-implementation of the 2025 agreement and is awaiting approval from the union’s national leadership before taking further action.

A former Nigerian international squash player, Longdi Dasbak, on Monday has called for increased efforts to encourage girls to take up squash, saying female participation in the sport remains very low.

Dasbak made the call on Monday during the second edition of the Squash Premier League at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Package B, in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the week-long tournament, themed ‘Breeding the Next Generation of Champions,’ began on Monday and will end on Aug. 8.

Dasbak described the league as a positive initiative that would significantly contribute to grassroots development and the growth of squash in Nigeria.

‘I would say this is a very good development, especially for grassroots squash, because that is where every successful sport begins.

‘We want to develop young players who will take the game to the next level while making squash more popular across the country. This league is another important way of promoting the sport,’ she said.

She said that participation had increased considerably since the league was introduced in 2025, adding that the growing number of children taking part showed that awareness of the sport was improving.

‘The first edition did not attract this number of participants, but now you can see many more children taking part. That shows awareness is increasing, and I believe it is a very positive development,’ she said.

Dasbak, who participated as one of the instructors at the coaching and officiating clinic organised by the tournament, said it was her first time that she will be speaking at the event.

She said she established the Dasby’s Sports Development Association in Plateau to create opportunities for girls, particularly those from less privileged backgrounds, to participate in sports.

According to her, the association also runs Dasby’s Squash Academy, where boys and girls aged six years and above receive training, with special emphasis on encouraging female participation.

‘Female participation in squash is still very low, and we have very few women actively playing the sport. That inspired me to establish the foundation in Plateau State,’ she said.(NAN).

No fewer than 21 persons were feared dead, 37 others abducted, while thousands of residents fled their homes after heavily armed bandits launched an attack on Tsamaye community in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The attack, which lasted from about 9:00 p.m. on Monday until after 3:00 a.m. on Tuesday, also left two homes burnt, livestock stolen and the entire community deserted, witnesses told Daily Trust.

Residents said the attack also triggered another tragedy when scores of villagers attempted to escape across a river after receiving information that the bandits were approaching.

According to locals, the overloaded boats capsized, with about 25 people, mostly women and children, swept away by the water. While seven persons were rescued alive, 18 others are feared to have drowned, as families continued searching for their missing relatives.

One resident, who was preparing to flee from the village, told Daily Trust that the attackers themselves disclosed that they had abducted 37 people after relatives called the victims’ phones.

‘When we called our relatives, the bandits answered the phones and told us they were the ones who abducted them. They said they had taken 37 people,’ he said.

He explained that while some victims were seized inside the village, many others were captured in nearby farms where they had gone to sleep for fear of recurring attacks.

‘Because of the frequent attacks, many people no longer sleep in the village. They spend the night in farms and bushes to avoid being attacked. This time, the bandits searched through the farms, woke people up and took them away.

‘Most of those abducted were women and children. I personally saw three infants placed on the ground by the bandits while they led their mothers away.’

The resident lamented that despite informing security personnel about the invasion, no reinforcement arrived before the attackers completed their operation.

‘We excused them during the previous attack because the bandits had surrounded them and were firing at them. But this time, they were informed early enough, yet nobody came to rescue us.’

Another resident who fled to Sokoto metropolis in the early hours of Tuesday said their village had been completely dispersed and everyone ran for their lives.

‘We fled to Sokoto because we have never experienced terror like what happened on Wednesday night. About 40 of us escaped here, and everyone is now staying with relatives.’

A local vigilante member, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the bandits first entered the village around 8:00 p.m., moving from house to house while forcing residents to identify wealthy households and locations where livestock were kept.

‘Some people managed to escape and alerted us. We informed the security operatives stationed in our village and asked them to support us so that we could confront the bandits, but they told us they did not have adequate equipment. We also contacted our traditional leader, but there was little he could do apart from sympathising with us.

‘When the gunfire intensified, we had no option but to hide.’

According to him, the security personnel urgently require Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) to effectively respond to attacks across the difficult terrain.

He added that fewer than 20 residents now remain in the community after the attack, with over 100 vehicles transporting displaced villagers from yesterday evening to now.

‘From yesterday until today, nobody has eaten because of the trauma and panic caused by the attack,’ he said.

Residents also said the bandits razed two houses belonging to Lawwali Ta’u Mai Chaji and Hassan Hasken Halara, a vigilante member.

‘Our colleague was with us defending the village when his house was burnt. We only found ashes afterwards. We cannot even determine how many members of his family or livestock died in the fire because everything was reduced to ashes.’

Those confirmed killed during the attack, according to residents, include Kabiru Mallam Tanimu, Ayuba Mallam Hashim and Yakubu Mu’azu, while many others remain missing.

The attack has also forced residents from numerous surrounding settlements to flee. The affected communities include Borai, Tsululu, Garin Tudu, Bukka Hamsin, Turkawa, Rumbukawa, Dutsin Na Umma, Zangon Mu’azu, Arawa, Kuru, Zangon Mallam, Mai Hurde, Zugun, Gidan Na Birni, Mashaya, Marina and several others.

The displaced residents appealed to the federal and Sokoto State governments to urgently deploy additional security personnel and provide APCs to enable security operatives reclaim the area and allow displaced families to return home safely.

The Chairman of Sabon Birni Local Government Area, Ayuba Hashimu, confirmed that the incidents occurred but said he could not independently verify the casualty figures.

‘The incidents indeed happened, but I was not there myself. Therefore, I have to verify the figures before I can confirm them,’ he said.

The spokesperson of the Sokoto State Police Command, DSP Ahmad Rufai, confirmed the attack, saying additional security personnel had been deployed to restore peace and prevent further attacks in the affected communities.

Daily Trust recalls that on Wednesday, bandits attacked Tsamaye community in the same local government area, killing eight residents, including three worshippers inside a mosque, highlighting the worsening insecurity in Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

Sabon Birni remains one of the worst-hit local government areas in Sokoto State and the wider North-West, where armed groups have continued to carry out deadly attacks, mass abductions and widespread displacement despite ongoing security operations.