Category: Nigerian Tribune

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has urged traditional and community leaders in Niger State to promptly report suspected public health emergencies to the relevant authorities to strengthen disease prevention, control and outbreak response.

Earlier, UNICEF warned that Niger State is at risk of a polio outbreak following the increasing number of cases recorded in neighbouring states, stressing the need for intensified routine immunisation and surveillance.

The UNICEF Social and Behaviour Change State Facilitator, Adamu Mamba, made the call during a two-day training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Case Management During Disease Outbreaks held in Minna.

Mamba urged participants to support disease prevention efforts by promoting healthy practices within their communities and encouraging residents to embrace vaccination programmes.

‘Community leaders should imbibe the culture of early reporting of suspected disease cases and actively support vaccination campaigns. Traditional and religious leaders have a critical role to play in disseminating accurate health information and mobilising communities during public health emergencies,’ he said.

Speaking with journalists on the sidelines of the training, the representative of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Dr Ali Wada Aliyu, said the agency had strengthened its collaboration with the Niger State Government to enhance disease surveillance and contain outbreaks.

Aliyu disclosed that the NCDC had commenced the training and equipping of Infection Prevention and Control focal persons across health facilities, with facility-specific preparedness and response plans in line with national guidelines.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the state through the provision of medical commodities, treatment supplies and technical expertise to improve disease outbreak preparedness and response.

‘The NCDC is committed to supporting Niger State through the provision of medical commodities, treatment supplies and technical expertise to strengthen disease outbreak preparedness and response,’ Aliyu said.

A Canada-based Nigerian woman, Mrs Ezinne Nwanorue, has alleged that her husband, Franklin Nwanorue, continued an extramarital affair even after publicly taking an oath to remain faithful to their marriage.

Mrs Nwanorue made the allegation in a post shared on her Facebook page, Ezinne Frank Nwanorue, on Thursday.

According to her, she endured emotional pain in the marriage despite her husband sponsoring her relocation to Canada.

The couple had gone viral on Tuesday after uploading separate videos in which they vowed not to engage in extramarital affairs, invoking death upon themselves if either violated the pledge.

In his video, Mr Nwanorue declared that he would remain faithful to his wife after joining her in Canada.

He also stated that his wife was inspired by God to make the declaration and that he willingly accepted it because he wanted the best for his family.

‘I confess and I promise that if I come to Canada and cheat on you, let me die in the name of Jesus,’ the husband said in a video.

Mrs Nwanorue also made a similar declaration in a separate video, promising to remain sexually faithful to her husband.

‘This is me confessing to my husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, that I will remain sexually faithful to him, and if I become unfaithful, let me die, in the name of Jesus,’ she said.

However, days after the videos surfaced online, Mrs Nwanorue claimed her husband had already broken the spirit of the oath by allegedly sleeping with another woman.

She accompanied her claim with what she described as a comment from a woman who allegedly admitted to having an affair with her husband after he made the public declaration.

‘This is a comment from my husband’s side chick in Nigeria. She confessed that even after my husband made his confession, he still slept with one of his side chicks. I have suffered a lot at his hands.

‘My husband sponsored my relocation abroad, and what I owe him is to help him obtain a visa, and God will do it for me. But my husband will not live to enjoy Canada if he cheats on me.

‘He has sworn an oath to be sexually faithful after he comes to Canada. I believe in God and I trust His judgment. My husband must surely die if he cheats on me,’ she wrote.

In the world of money, one truth quietly separates those who build lasting wealth from those who struggle through trial and error: self-awareness.

Not market timing.

Not insider tips.

Not even how much you earn.

Before you invest a single naira, there is a more important question to answer:……watch out for the concluding part, next week.

‘What kind of investor am I?’

Because here’s the reality – there are three distinct types of investors, and understanding where you fit is the foundation of building a portfolio that actually works for you.

Not for your colleague.

Not for that loud voice on social media.

Not for your neighbour who ‘doubled his money overnight’.

For you.

Let’s break it down.

1. The Conservative Investor – ‘Sleep Well First’

Meet Mama Titi.

After three decades of hard work, she has finally retired. Her children are grown, her responsibilities have shifted, and she now holds ?10 million – the fruit of years of discipline.

One afternoon, a well-meaning friend leans in and says:

‘Mama Titi, invest in this – you can double your money quickly!’

She pauses, adjusts her wrapper, and replies:

‘Double ke? What if I lose it? Abeg, give me something wey I go sleep well at night.’

Mama Titi is not ignorant. She is intentional.

Her priorities are clear:

Treasury Bills

Fixed Deposits

FGN Bonds

The returns may not be exciting, but they are predictable.

And at this stage of her life, predictability is peace.

Her mindset is simple:

‘Small small, but make it sure.’

‘Protect what I have first.’

She would rather earn modest, steady income than wake up to panic over market losses.

What defines her?

She dislikes losses deeply

Market volatility makes her anxious

Stability matters more than high returns

If you see money primarily as something to protect, not gamble with –

you might just be Mama Titi.

2. The Moderate Investor – ‘Balance Is Everything’

Now, let’s talk about Chinedu.

Chinedu is in his mid-30s, working in Lagos, earning well, and thinking ahead. He has ?10 million ready to invest – not just to save, but to grow.

He says: ‘I want growth… but I no wan cry if market misbehaves.’

That one sentence captures the essence of the moderate investor.

Chinedu is not afraid of risk – but he respects it.

So instead of putting everything in one place, he spreads his money:

A portion in safer instruments like bonds and fixed income

Another portion in stocks or mutual funds

When the market dips, he feels it. He checks his portfolio more often. Maybe even worries a little.

But he doesn’t panic.

He understands that growth comes with fluctuations.

His mindset:

‘Let my money grow, but protect me small.’

‘Balance is key.’

What defines him?

Comfortable with moderate risk

Invests with a long-term view

Believes in diversification

If you like the idea of growth but still want a safety net –

you might be Chinedu.

3. The Aggressive Investor – ‘Growth Over Comfort’

Then there is Sola.

Late 20s. Energetic. Ambitious. Bold.

She looks at ?10 million and doesn’t see security – she sees opportunity. Her philosophy?

‘If I no take risk, how I wan blow?’

Sola is not here for small returns.

She is here for multiplication.

Her portfolio is filled with:

Stocks

Startups

Crypto

High-growth opportunities

When the market drops 20%, most people panic.

Yeah, you can lose belly fat just by walking. You can lose belly fat by doing any type of exercise/physical activity. Based on science, here’s how weight loss really works in the human body. Energy balance is the balance of energy you consume (calories you eat) versus the amount of calories you expend (through daily activity). If you consume fewer calories than you need to maintain your daily activities, then you’ll lose weight. If you consume more calories than you need to maintain your daily activities, then you’ll gain weight. Any exercise or physical activity causes you to burn extra calories, which will make the amount of calories burned greater, putting you at a greater caloric deficit. If all other things are in order, you’ll cut that belly fat.

Across cities, towns and villages, darkness now defines daily life as epileptic power supply continues to cripple businesses, frustrate households and deepen economic hardship. Many Nigerians need electrical appliances to run their daily businesses: artisans like welders, printers, photographers, cyber café operators, barbers, hairdressers, tailors or even petty traders, who also sell soft drinks and water, groan.

From Lagos to Ibadan, Kano to Port Harcourt, countless business owners wake up each day uncertain whether they will have enough electricity to survive another working day. This is to say that the problem is a general one affecting almost every part of Nigeria.

Those without alternative power sources are gradually shutting down, while others who still want to struggle through it all spend huge amounts on fuel and generators just to stay afloat.

For small-scale entrepreneur, Mrs. Boladale Adeyemi, who runs a frozen food business at Monatan, via Iwo Road, Ibadan, the electricity crisis has become a nightmare.

‘There are days we only get light for two or three hours,’ she lamented.

‘Sometimes we stay in darkness for two straight days, yet they still bring heavy electricity bills every month. I spend more money buying fuel than making profit.’

According to her, several cartons of fish and chicken had gone bad repeatedly due to unstable power supply.

‘I have had to throw some of these goods away when they go bad. I am running this business on loans and that is what makes me sad every time,’ she lamented.

‘Customers do not care whether there was electricity supply or not. Once your goods spoil, you lose your money,’ she added.

Like Mrs Adeyemi, thousands of Nigerians now depend almost entirely on generators to power their homes and businesses. However, the soaring cost of petrol and diesel has made generator usage nearly unbearable. Some people are turning to inverters and solar energy which are not cheap at all.

The average solar bulb costs nothing less than N10,000. The inverter prices vary widely depending on the capacity, brand, and whether it’s a basic or a hybrid solar inverter. The least is N250,000 while the highest can go for over N2million.

Not many Nigerians are buoyant enough to get these, which makes the situation more devastating.

Mr Khalid Adewale, a welder in Lagos State, spoke via the telephone on how the erratic power supply affects him, said inconsistent electricity has drastically reduced his income.

‘I cannot work without power because my machines require electricity. They are heavy machines,’ he explained.

‘Fuel is too expensive now. Some customers even complain when you increase charges because they too are suffering.

‘Making doors now is expensive due to the costs of iron rods and imagine using petrol to do the job. You can imagine how much I will have to add so as to make small profit. People complain that our prices are too high but what can we do?’ he said in Yoruba.

He disclosed that many artisans around him have either reduced operations or abandoned their businesses entirely.

Nigeria’s electricity crisis is not new, but many citizens believe conditions have worsened in recent years. Despite repeated promises by successive governments to improve power generation and distribution, millions of Nigerians still live in darkness. Nigerians are still paying for services that are not rendered. Ironically, many households without prepaid metres continue to receive estimated bills monthly, a situation that has generated widespread anger among consumers.

Residents complain that electricity distribution companies often issue arbitrary bills even when there is little or no supply. Citizens frequently lament and electricity providers are always accused of prioritising billing over service delivery.

The situation has become more painful amid rising electricity tariffs, poor service delivery and the continued absence of prepaid metres in many homes.

Nigerians are increasingly being forced to pay outrageous estimated bills despite receiving little or no electricity supply. In some communities, people contribute money to repair transformers, purchase poles and fix damaged electrical equipment themselves, despite paying electricity bills.

Mr Ugochukwu Eze, a resident of Oke Bola in Ìbàdàn, said he has applied for a prepaid metre for over three years without success.

‘They keep promising us metres, but nothing happens,’ he said. ‘Every month they bring estimated bills higher than my house rent. Sometimes there is no light for weeks.

‘I heard recently that it is cheaper now, I think around #50,000. I will try and apply again. Still, it doesn’t mean they will bring light regularly but at least I won’t be paying for what I didn’t use anymore,’ he said.

Many Nigerians, like Mr Eze, see prepaid meters as a solution to exploitative billing, but the slow pace of meter distribution continues to frustrate consumers nationwide.

The absence of stable electricity is also taking a heavy toll on students and education. Many students struggle to read at night or charge devices needed for academic work. For undergraduate student Esther Afolabi, studying has become increasingly difficult. Esther is a nursing student.

‘We spend more time in darkness than with electricity,’ she said. ‘Sometimes I have assignments to submit, but my phone and laptop are dead because there is no power.’

Still, parents expect excellence from these children,

Healthcare delivery is also under pressure. Small hospitals and clinics now spend huge amounts running generators to preserve drugs, power medical equipment and attend to patients. These are organisations that have received no government support.

Experts warn that the worsening electricity crisis is contributing significantly to unemployment and poverty.

Economic analysts have emphasised that unreliable electricity will discourage investment and weaken productivity. No economy in the world can thrive without stable power.

Businesses will always rely on electricity for production, communication and operations. When power fails consistently, production costs will automatically rise and many companies will definitely collapse.

There is no gainsaying that foreign investors are often discouraged by Nigeria’s unstable electricity supply. Many manufacturers have relocated to neighbouring countries where electricity is more stable and affordable. This can only mean one thing if it is not addressed: collapse of the economy

Over the years, successive administrations have announced reforms, privatisation programmes, and interventions aimed at improving electricity supply. Yet millions of Nigerians still rely on rechargeable lamps, and noisy generators.

The power sector privatisation introduced with high expectations has not delivered the desired transformation. Distribution companies continue to face criticism over poor infrastructure, inadequate metering and inability to supply consistent electricity.

The hardship caused by poor electricity supply extends beyond economics. It also affects mental health, family life and general wellbeing.

Many Nigerians now sleep in uncomfortable heat due to lack of electricity to power fans and air conditioners. The change in climate all over the world has made the heat in the country unbearable for many. Food preservation has become difficult, leading to waste and financial losses. Parents worry about children having heat-related illnesses.

In rural communities, the situation is often worse. Some villages remain disconnected from the national grid entirely even in the 21st century!

Despite the widespread frustration, many Nigerians still hold onto hope that the country’s electricity sector can improve. Stakeholders have repeatedly called for urgent investment in power infrastructure, transparent regulation and accelerated meter distribution.

The citizens are also demanding an end to estimated billing and improved accountability from electricity distribution companies.

Some energy experts believe that diversifying Nigeria’s energy sources through solar and renewable energy investments could help reduce dependence on the struggling national grid.

For ordinary Nigerians struggling daily under the weight of darkness, promises alone are no longer enough.

Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has attributed the progress recorded in the state’s education sector to deliberate policy reforms, sustained investment, and a strong commitment to improving access to quality education.

The governor made the remarks through his Technical Adviser on Education Reform, Haladu Muhammad, who represented him at the International Parliamentary Roundtable on Reading Revolution held at the House of Lords, Westminster, in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

His position was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the governor’s spokesperson, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa.

According to Yusuf, his administration declared a state of emergency in the education sector immediately after assuming office, describing education as the foundation for sustainable development and prosperity.

‘It is not just a coincidence that Kano is currently leading in education reform. It is a deliberate policy choice of our administration. We have consistently maintained that education is our number one priority, and we are walking the talk,’ he said.

The governor said the state government had consistently allocated about 30 per cent of its annual budget to education for three consecutive years, describing Kano as one of the highest investors in education in Nigeria, with spending above the internationally recommended benchmark.

He also said his administration had intensified efforts to address teacher shortages and improve the quality of teaching through recruitment and continuous professional development.

According to him, the government has recruited 16,000 teachers within its first three years in office to strengthen teaching and learning across public schools while also investing in regular training to enhance classroom instruction.

Yusuf further disclosed that the administration had launched large-scale interventions to reduce the number of out-of-school children and had invested heavily in the construction, rehabilitation, and expansion of school infrastructure across the state.

He added that the government had introduced reforms aimed at strengthening teachers’ professional development, promoting girls’ education, and improving gender equality and equitable access to quality education.

The governor said the international recognition being accorded to Kano’s education reforms validates the administration’s strategy for rebuilding the sector and serves as encouragement to sustain the momentum.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Kano has access to quality education, expressing confidence that the state would continue to serve as a model for education reform in Nigeria and across Africa.

The Presidency has again reacted to the petition filed in the United States by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, against incumbent President and All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Atiku, through a lobbying firm based in the United States, submitted petitions to President Donald Trump and the US State Department concerning a 1993 civil forfeiture case involving President Bola Tinubu.

Hon Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications to President Tinubu, in a statement titled ‘Atiku Abubakar’s Flight of Fancy and an Ambition on Crutches’, described the action of the former Vice President as ‘an affront to Nigeria’s sovereignty and a vote of no confidence in its democratic institutions’.

The presidential spokesperson maintained that the engagement of the Washington-based lobbying firm, Von Batten-Montague-York, L.C., by Atiku Abubakar showed a lack of statecraft and an abdication of responsibility.

‘The mandate of the foreign lobbyists was explicit: to counter the Nigerian Government’s reform narrative in the United States, lobby American lawmakers and executive officials, and manage Atiku’s international reputation.

‘Seeking to internationalise domestic political disagreements by petitioning foreign authorities over decades-old domestic disputes is not statecraft; it is an abdication of home-grown political responsibility.

‘For a man who presents himself as Nigeria’s most experienced statesman, seeking the Presidency for a record sixth time across four decades, outsourcing his political advocacy to foreign consultants is an affront to Nigeria’s sovereign dignity.

‘It bypasses the vibrant, highly capable domestic press, civil society organisations and local intellectuals who have devoted decades to analysing the complexities of the Nigerian project.

‘Atiku Abubakar’s political journey is a study in relentless ambition unmoored from ideological grounding. From his formative years in the Customs Service and his tenure as Vice President to his endless marathon of presidential bids, his trajectory has been defined by polarising rhetoric, enduring financial controversies and an intractable disconnect from the evolving aspirations of a multi-ethnic nation.’

The Presidency, which dismissed Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid as a continuation of a doomed voyage spanning more than three decades, further declared that President Tinubu’s achievements placed him above other contenders for the country’s highest office.

‘As President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration continues to implement the Renewed Hope Agenda – stabilising the economy, expanding infrastructure, institutionalising a new national minimum wage and delivering landmark social programmes such as NELFUND – Atiku remains trapped in the past.

‘His latest foreign-backed manoeuvres appear less like the conduct of a visionary statesman and more like what they truly are: a desperate flight of fancy, haunted by the unexorcised ghosts of a long and controversial political history.’

A woman, Rokibat, has prayed Grade A Customary Court, sitting Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, to end the union between her and her husband, Busari, as a result of the strain in their relationship.

Rokibat stated that there was no more love between her and her husband as a result of the seed of discord his family members sowed in their relationship because they were jealous of her.

Rokibat also said that Busari cheated her in the sale of a property they jointly owned and sold.

She further explained that Busari took to beating her, most especially in the middle of the night.

The plaintiff pleaded for the custody of their four children, whom the defendant had put in the care of three of his siblings.

Rokibat demanded for N50, 000 per for their children’s feeding.

She also begged the court to mandate her husband to be responsible for their education and health service.

Busari was absent in court despite being served court summonses.

Rokibat, in her evidence, said, ‘My husband and I did not perform any traditional or formal marital rites.

‘He never met with my parents and did not pay my bride price.

‘My husband and I shared a blissful relationship.

‘We always enjoyed each other’s company and showered each other with affection.

‘Our marriage was heaven on earth.

‘But all these stopped as a result of my husband’s family’s interference in our marriage.

‘His family, most especially his sisters, were not happy with the closeness between my husband and me, and therefore did everything they could to drive us apart.

‘My husband once took ill and was in a terrible state for months.

‘I took him to my hometown, where he was attended to and restored back to health.

‘None of his family members checked on him at the initial stage of the sickness, and even when it got worse and I had to seek further medical attention for him in my town.

‘My husband and I started experiencing more strain in our relationship after we both contributed money to buy half a plot piece of land, which we later sold for N500,000.

‘My husband, instead of sharing the money equally between us, gave me only N100, 000.

‘I felt cheated and made this known to him.

‘He refused to acknowledge his wrong and tried to lord it over me.

‘We gradually started drifting apart, and this led to a gap in our communication.

‘My husband started picking faults in all that I did and would fight me.

He cultivated the habit of beating me every now and then, and this most especially in the middle of the night.

‘My lord, I got fed up with the hostility I receive from my husband and his family members, and I packed out of his home.

‘I am no longer happy in our marriage.

‘I pray the court to dissolve our union.

‘I also plead for our children’s custody.

‘My husband has distributed our children among his siblings.

‘Our first and second children are with his elder sister.

‘The third is with another of his sister.

‘I entreat the court to mandate him to give our children N50, 000 per month for food, while he should also be responsible for their education and health care.’

The court president, Mrs S.M Akintayo, adjourned the case until April 8 and ordered a fresh hearing notice to be issued and served on the defendant.

Art and culture narratives of Ibadan and Yorubaland remain incomplete without the legendary Oloolu masquerade, a tradition deeply embedded within the Aje family of Ode Aje in Ibadan.

Chief Oyerinde, head of the Aje lineage, according to report, had recounted how their forebear Áy?rinde Aje-a celebrated warrior, confronted and overcame Oloolu during a fierce conflict in Ogbagi, Ondo State.

After defeating the war spirit, Áy?rinde seized its sacred regalia and even the infamous skull of the captive’s wife, which now crowns the masquerade, bringing all both to Ibadan as spiritual assets.

The name Oloolu-meaning ‘you will put your life in peril’-aptly reflects the grave danger associated with acquiring such powerful spiritual authority.

Ahead of the Oloolu festival coming up in the ancient city of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, here is what you should know about this dreaded masquerade:

1.Origins and Meaning

Oloolu traces back to a war in Ogbagi, Ondo State, where the fierce masquerade was finally subdued by warrior Ayorinde Aje. After his victory, Ayorinde brought Oloolu to Ibadan, with the name meaning ‘you will put your life in peril,’ signaling the danger involved in acquiring its regalia.

On the journey, Ayorinde ordered the beheading of the captive bearer’s wife for refusing to continue; her skull remains attached to Oloolu’s attire as a chilling emblem of authority and sacrifice.

2. Cultural Power and Reverence

In Yoruba belief, Oloolu is a key ancestral masquerade-an Egungun-that connects the community to spiritual forebears and brings blessings like rain, prosperity, fertility, and protection during times of crisis.

It is widely considered the most feared and respected masquerade in Ibadan and across Yorubaland, with a reputation that evokes awe and reverence.

3. Sacred Ritual Protocols

The masquerade is bound by strict taboos: The bearer must abstain from his wife for 30 days before the festival. He must remain barefoot and carry no loads except his costume, which includes a female skull and human thigh bone.

It is forbidden to challenge Oloolu. An attempt by another masquerade, Iponri-Iku, led to its demise when it bent to pick up a mystical cowry dropped by Oloolu, broke its spine, and died, reinforcing Oloolu’s dominance.

4. Appearance and Festival Practices

Performed annually in July, Oloolu visits key Ibadan districts such as Popo-Yemoja, Beere, and Oja’ba. No other masquerade may appear during its procession.

As it dances, the bearing of a real female skull atop a pyramid-like layered costume creates a haunting presence. The ensemble is made from cloth layers, nets, and often human bone artifacts, each adding to its spiritual weight.

5. Taboos and Supernatural Beliefs

It is believed that the first person seen by Oloolu at its emergence may fall gravely ill or die if not appeased with ritual rites.

Women are strictly forbidden from seeing Oloolu. It is thought that any woman who glimpses it will lose her menstrual cycle, and in extreme cases, face death or paralysis.

6. Role in Community Life

Governed by the Aje family in the Ode Aje compound, the custodian of Oloolu holds significant ceremonial authority and social status in Ibadan.

The masquerade is seen as both a guardian spirit and a conduit for blessings-commonly invoked for fertility, business success, and protection in times of trouble.

Nigeria’s first professor of linguistics and scholar, Emeritus Professor Ay? Bamgbose, is dead.

The 94-year-old professor of linguistics, who was credited with establishing linguistics as an academic discipline in Nigeria, passed away in the early hours of Saturday, ending an era of groundbreaking work in Yoruba language development, bilingual education and African language policy.

Born on 27 January 1932, Bamgbose was widely regarded as Nigeria’s first Professor of Linguistics and one of Africa’s most influential scholars in language studies.

He received his early education in Nigeria before proceeding to the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he obtained a doctorate in linguistics in 1963.

He subsequently joined the University of Ibadan, where he built a distinguished academic career and played a pivotal role in establishing linguistics as a recognised discipline in Nigeria.

Over more than six decades, Bamgbose made significant contributions to language policy, bilingual education, sociolinguistics, orthography development and the promotion of indigenous African languages, particularly Yoruba.

The late professor’s research and publications became authoritative reference materials in universities across Africa and beyond, while his advocacy for mother-tongue education influenced educational policies aimed at preserving indigenous languages and strengthening cultural identity.

Beyond academia, Bamgbose served in several leadership positions within national, regional and international professional bodies. He mentored generations of linguists and researchers, many of whom have continued to advance scholarship on African languages.

Throughout his career, he received numerous honours in recognition of his contributions to linguistics and African scholarship. In 2022, he was celebrated on his 90th birthday by the Yoruba World Centre and other academic institutions for his enduring impact on Yoruba language development and African intellectual discourse.

Tributes poured in shortly after news of his death, with academics, universities, cultural organisations, former students and admirers describing him as an intellectual giant, an exceptional teacher and a tireless advocate for indigenous languages.

Many noted that his lifelong conviction that African languages were indispensable to education, cultural preservation and national development reshaped scholarly discourse and public policy, leaving a legacy that will continue to influence generations of researchers and policymakers.

His death marks the end of an era in Nigerian and African linguistics, but his contributions to scholarship, language policy and the preservation of indigenous languages are expected to endure for years to come.

Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced by the family.