Nairametrics launches wealth academy

The Wealth Academy is designed to connect Nigerians in the country and the diaspora with experienced investment practitioners and thought leaders, providing participants with practical frameworks for analysing investment opportunities, managing portfolios and building long-term wealth.

According to Nairametrics, the academy was established in response to the growing tendency among investors to rely on headlines, social media tips, WhatsApp groups and emotions when making investment decisions.

Rather than encouraging speculative approaches, the Wealth Academy will focus on structured investment frameworks, business analysis, market cycles and evidence-based decision-making.

Participants will be exposed to current market conditions, Nigerian case studies and global investment opportunities, with the programmes designed to provide practical tools that can be applied to real investment decisions.

Speaking on the launch, Nairametrics Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ugo Obi-Chukwu, said the Wealth Academy forms part of the company’s broader thought leadership strategy and aligns with its mission of creating wealth through information.

‘For us at Nairametrics, the Wealth Academy is an important part of our broader Thought Leadership franchise and aligns directly with our mission of creating wealth through information,’ Obi-Chukwu said.

He explained that Nairametrics currently pursues this mission through its business and financial news platform, data platform, NMX 100 corporate ranking platform, DealsBook corporate transactions platform, WISE annual investor fair, Nairalytics research, as well as its thought leadership webinars and seminars.

According to him, the Wealth Academy will strengthen these initiatives by bringing investment experts, thought leaders and experienced practitioners together with people seeking practical knowledge to improve their financial, investment and business decisions.

‘The Nairametrics Wealth Academy helps us connect the loop by bringing experts, thought leaders and experienced practitioners together with people seeking practical and instructive knowledge that can help them make better financial, investment and business decisions,’ he added.

Obi-Chukwu said the academy was built on the belief that wealth creation should be based on credible information, practical tools and experience rather than speculation and hearsay.

‘Our conviction is simple: wealth creation should not be left to chance, guesswork or hearsay. People need access to credible information, practical tools and the experience of those who understand how markets, businesses and investments actually work,’ he said.

He noted that the broader objective was to move beyond simply informing Nigerians about developments in the economy and financial markets to equipping them with the knowledge required to manage capital more intelligently.

The academy will offer four courses covering different aspects of investing, with each programme designed around practical strategies and frameworks.

Nairametrics said participants would learn how to analyse investment opportunities with greater confidence, develop repeatable investment strategies, avoid common and costly investment mistakes, understand market trends and make financial decisions backed by data.

The programmes are also intended to provide actionable frameworks that participants can apply to their own investment decisions, rather than focusing solely on theoretical concepts.

The academy’s programmes will be delivered through live virtual classes, making them accessible to participants in Nigeria and Nigerians living abroad.

18 people die in Niger road crash

A resident of the village, Abdulrahman Mohammed, told Daily Trust that the truck crashed into a bridge at a sharp bend in the area on Wednesday morning.

As of 4 pm on Wednesday, when he spoke with our correspondent, he said victims were still being evacuated from the water.

Confirming the incident, Niger State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Aishatu Sa’adu, said it was a lone crash involving a heavy-duty truck loaded with goods and carrying 42 passengers, comprising 41 males and 1 female.

She said the accident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to fall into a bridge at Wuya.

According to her, 17 male passengers and one female passenger died on the spot, while 22 male passengers sustained serious injuries. Two others were rescued without injuries.

She said the injured victims were evacuated to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida, while the remains of those who died were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

‘It was a lone crash involving a truck loaded with goods and 42 passengers. The passengers comprised 41 males and one female. Eighteen of the passengers, comprising 17 males and one female, died, while 22 others were injured.

‘The injured victims have been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Bida. Also, the bodies of those who lost their lives were deposited at the mortuary of the same hospital. The truck took off from Lagos and was going to Kano when it crashed in the early hours of Wednesday,’ she said.

DSS arraigns 2 over alleged bridge demolition in Kano

A Kano Magistrate’s Court has remanded two men in custody over the alleged demolition of a bridge and theft of its materials in Danjirima, Kumbotso Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects, Danlami Sulaiman, aka Layayu, and Abdullahi Ibrahim, aka Maraki, were arraigned before Magistrate Abba Maiwada Abubakar by the Department of State Services (DSS).

They were charged with conspiracy, theft, trespass and unlawful entry.

The prosecution alleged that the suspects went to the bridge on July 22, where they allegedly demolished the structure, removed rods and other materials from it and cut up some plots of land around the area.

The charges were read to the accused by the court registrar, Anas Zage, but they pleaded not guilty.

Following their pleas, Magistrate Abubakar ordered that the suspects be remanded in custody.

He adjourned the case until Sept. 8, 2026, for continuation of hearing.

2 killed, 6 abducted in Katsina community

Bandits have attacked the Unguwar Aminu community in Kandarawa Ward of Bakori Local Government Area of Katsina State, killing two people, abducting six others and shooting four residents.

The attack, which occurred on Tuesday night, also resulted in the rustling of an unspecified number of livestock and the burglary of shops, from where the attackers reportedly carted away cash, mobile phones and other valuables.

The victims killed were identified as Ibrahim Sama’ila and Mashakuru Isa.

Daily Trust learnt that their remains were buried according to Islamic rites on Wednesday morning.

Six residents, three men and three women, were abducted during the attack, while the four people who sustained gunshot wounds were taken to hospital for medical treatment, Daily Trust learnt.

Residents said the attackers had earlier been sighted moving eastward from Doma in Faskari Local Government Area but disappeared before unexpectedly emerging in Unguwar Aminu.

Local hunters and other security groups reportedly mobilised to confront the attackers and protect the community, but the bandits managed to escape.

Following the attack, many women and children were seen leaving the community for areas they considered safer, amid fears of further attacks.

When contacted, the spokesman for the Katsina State Police Command, DSP Sadik Aliyu, said he would respond after confirming the incident.

However, as of the time of filing this report, he had not responded.

Bauchi assembly majority leader resigns to contest LG chairmanship

The Majority Leader of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Saleh Hodi Jibri, has resigned to contest the chairmanship of Shira Local Government Council under the Allied Progressive Movement (APM).

Jibri, who represented Disina Constituency, announced his resignation on Wednesday during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Hon. Abubakar Y. Suleiman.

In his farewell remarks, Jibri thanked stakeholders in Shira LGA for selecting him as the party’s candidate, as well as Governor Bala Mohammed for the confidence reposed in him.

He also expressed appreciation to the Speaker and his colleagues for their cooperation, guidance and support throughout his tenure in the House.

Earlier, the Speaker informed lawmakers that Jibri’s resignation followed the decision of the APM to nominate him as its candidate for chairman of Shira Local Government in the forthcoming local government election.

Suleiman described his relationship with Jibri as extending beyond their roles as parliamentary colleagues, noting that they had worked together since the Ninth Assembly and developed a bond comparable to that of biological brothers.

Other lawmakers paid tribute to the outgoing Majority Leader, describing him as a patient, dedicated and selfless leader whose contributions to the House had earned him respect.

Following Jibri’s resignation, the APM nominated Hon. Auwal Hassan Yana of Shira Constituency as the new Majority Leader.

The House subsequently approved Jibri’s resignation and the emergence of Yana as his successor.

In his acceptance speech, Yana thanked God, party stakeholders and Governor Bala Mohammed for the confidence reposed in him.

He pledged to build on the leadership qualities of his predecessor and appealed to his colleagues for guidance, constructive correction and continued support as he assumed his new responsibility.

Veteran Sport FC unveils youth development initiative

The newly established Veteran Sport FC, based in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is strengthening its football structure through strategic player recruitment, partnerships with football academies, and participation in competitive youth football programmes.

Speaking during an interview, the Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Veteran Sport FC, Mr. Moses Amos Momoh, said the club is positioning itself for a strong future in Nigerian football with an ambitious programme focused on professional football development, youth talent discovery, and the creation of clear pathways for promising young footballers.

Momoh explained that a major component of the club’s development strategy is its participation in the NLO U-19 Youth League, which provides young players with valuable competitive experience, exposure, and an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a structured football environment.

‘Our goal is to build a football structure where young talents can be discovered, developed, and given the right platform to progress.

‘We want to create opportunities for players who have the talent and determination but may not have had the right exposure.’

He explained further that Veteran Sport FC is committed to combining football development with discipline, professionalism, education, and player welfare.

According to him, the club recognises that developing a successful footballer requires more than technical ability.

‘Football is not only about talent. Discipline, character, education, commitment, and professionalism are very important.

‘We want to develop complete players who can represent themselves, their families, and the club positively wherever they find themselves,’ he stressed.

CIPPON seeks import duty relief on printing materials

The Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON) has urged the federal government to extend import duty relief to the printing industry to reduce the price of books published in the country.

President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria CIPPON, Printer Koko T Clement, made the appeal in a press statement, saying lack of local production of critical materials needed in the industry has made importation the only option for the industry.

He explained that some African countries have extended duty concessions or waivers on printing inputs, leaving Nigerian printers competing at a structural disadvantage.

He added that sustained high input costs have pushed capacity utilisation in many printing establishments below viable operating thresholds, resulting in closures, job losses and a shift toward finished-product importation.

He said the continued trend posed a serious threat to over 50 million Nigerians that depend on the sector for jobs to feed their families.

‘The required raw materials and machinery are not yet produced in Nigeria at the volume or quality the industry needs, making import dependence structural rather than a matter of preference. Each quarter of delay compounds these losses and erodes formal-sector capacity that will be far costlier to rebuild than to preserve,’ he said.

He added that the benefits of activating the concession extend well beyond the printing industry itself to create lower-cost books, packaging and essential printed materials for the health, electoral and public sectors.

Seyi Makinde picks former DSS DG as APM presidential running mate

Makinde made the announcement at the elective National Convention of the APM held at the Rilwanu Adamu Square, Government House, Bauchi, where he also declared that the task before the opposition ahead of the 2027 general election was bigger than merely winning power.

He said the central challenge was to give Nigerians a genuine choice about the future of the country and demonstrate, with measurable plans and records, how an alternative government would improve their lives.

‘As we approach 2027, therefore, I believe the task before all of us is bigger than winning an election. It is to give Nigerians a real choice about the future of their country,’ Makinde said.

Congratulating the new national officers elected at the convention, the Oyo State governor said the APM had, within a short period, emerged as an opposition party to reckon with.

He urged the new leadership of the party to work with other opposition political parties towards presenting a credible alternative to Nigerians in 2027, stressing that a viable opposition remained indispensable to the survival of democracy.

‘As I said during the Ibadan Declaration in April this year, the presence of credible opposition is what sustains democracy.

‘So, our new leaders must be ready to work with other opposition parties to ensure that we give Nigerians a credible alternative in the 2027 general election,’ he said.

Makinde said the coming campaign season would inevitably feature political slogans, promises and declarations by candidates but argued that Nigerians should demand more from those seeking to lead them.

According to him, the 2027 election should be about measurable outcomes rather than government announcements, policies and promises that do not translate into improvements in the lives of citizens.

‘The 2027 election must be an election about outcomes. For too long, we have measured governance by announcements. We are presented with policy after policy, rather than evidence of whether those policies have made people’s lives better,’ he said.

Using the experiences of ordinary Nigerians to illustrate his point, Makinde said economic policies should ultimately be measured by citizens’ purchasing power rather than official statistics.

‘When our mothers go to the market, they don’t experience economic policy as a statistic. They experience it in what their money can buy. How much rice, beans and gari they can take home,’ he said.

He added that young Nigerians would judge employment policies by their ability to secure productive work and build independent lives, just as farmers would assess agricultural policies by their productivity, access to markets and whether farming had improved their economic condition.

On security, Makinde said the effectiveness of government should not be determined by the number of security meetings held by officials but by whether Nigerians could live and pursue their livelihoods without fear.

‘Families do not judge security by the number of meetings government has held. They judge it by whether they can travel, farm, work and sleep with their two eyes closed,’ he said.

The APM candidate said the defining question of the 2027 election should therefore shift from what government claimed to have done to what had actually changed in the lives of Nigerians.

‘The question before Nigeria in 2027 should not simply be: What has government done? It should be: What has changed for Nigerians?’ he said.

He added that opposition candidates must equally subject themselves to scrutiny by explaining what they would do differently and the measurable improvements Nigerians should expect if they were elected.

Makinde said his administration had applied the same principle in Oyo State by focusing not merely on projects announced by government but on their impact on the people.

He identified poverty reduction, job creation, education, healthcare and security as some of the major issues that should dominate the 2027 political conversation.

UPDATED: Politician who swore on Quran for Kwankwaso joins APC

Abdullahi, who previously swore on the Qur’an to affirm that Kwankwaso did not send Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf to the APC earlier this year, announced his resignation from the NDC in a letter addressed to the party chairman of Kofar Ruwa Ward in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.

He said his decision was prompted by frustration over what he described as ‘failed promises’ within the NDC, adding that he would now support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid under the APC.

‘I have been with Kwankwaso for 29 years but have only benefited from failed promises. I will go to where I will be respected more,’ Abdullahi said.

In his resignation letter, he thanked the NDC for the opportunity to serve the party but announced his immediate resignation from its membership.

Troops neutralise bandit in foiled Benue attack

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation Whirl Stroke (OPWS), have neutralised an armed herder and recovered an AK-47 rifle while foiling an attack on Azege community in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State.

The troops, in collaboration with personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, achieved the feat in response to a distress call on Monday reporting an attack on the community in Tombo Council Ward of Logo LGA.

A statement issued on Tuesday by the Acting Media Information Officer, Headquarters JTF OPWS, Lt. Ahmad Zubairu, said the troops swiftly mobilised to the area and engaged the attackers in a gun battle.

Zubairu said the troops overpowered the assailants, forcing them to flee in disarray, adding that they pursued the fleeing attackers and discovered one of the suspected armed herders who had been neutralised during the encounter.

He listed the items recovered from the scene to include one AK-47 rifle, one magazine containing 16 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and one Nokia mobile phone.

He added that the recovered items had been secured, while the remains of the neutralised assailant were evacuated by the police.

‘Efforts are ongoing to track and apprehend other members of the group who fled the scene,’ the statement said.

The JTF, however, commended the troops for their tactical resilience and the police for their cooperation during the operation, while urging residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements and activities in their communities to security agencies.