Category: Nigerian Tribune

A landmark gathering of young leaders and stakeholders from across Nigeria convened today at the Nicon Luxury Hotel, Abuja, for the unveiling of Future is Now Project. The gathering, which deliberated on Leadership and Youth Inclusion culminated in a powerful communique demanding decisive action to elevate youth participation in Nigeria’s political and governance landscape.

As Nigeria celebrates its 65th Independence Anniversary, participants unanimously declared that the time for youth to claim their rightful place at the decision-making table is now. Participants emphasize that young Nigerians are not merely the leaders of tomorrow but are the leaders of today, rejecting any form of delay, denial, or exclusion from political leadership.

In a bold vision for the nation’s future, a communique read by its Convener, Mr. Laolu Akande, laid out clear, ambitious targets to be achieved by the next election cycle.

These include, ‘At least 70% of Local Government Chairmanship seats to be held by youths under 35 years; at least 70% of State House of Assembly seats to be occupied by youths under 35 years; ‘at least 70% of House of Representatives seats to be contested for and won by youths under 40 years; and a minimum of 50% of executive appointments at both Federal and State levels reserved for Nigerians under 40 years.’

To realize these goals, a pledge was made to champion political inclusion by lobbying, negotiating, and mobilizing support for credible youth candidates across all political parties. Efforts will also focus on mentorship programmes, capacity building for young leaders, and forming cross-cultural alliances to ensure governance reforms favoring youth representation.

At the unveiling, homage was paid to Nigeria’s elder statesmen and stateswomen, acknowledging their foundational contributions while urging them to graciously yield space for emerging young leaders. The call was for older generations to act as mentors and guides, ensuring a smooth and sustained leadership transition.

The gathering opened with an impassioned address by the Interim Chairman of the project, Rep Abdussamad Dasuki, who described the event not merely as a gathering, but as the ignition of a movement – a national commitment to dramatically increase youth leadership at all levels of governance.

Dasuki said the Future is Now Project is born of sacrifice and demands sacrifice from older generation.

‘Today,’ Rep Dasuki declared, ‘we are not just announcing a project, but igniting a movement, one born of sacrifice, fueled by persuasion and courage, and sustained by the dreams of millions of Nigerian youth. The Future is not tomorrow – the Future is Now.’

In his speech, Dasuki reflected on Nigeria’s political history, noting that while young leaders had once been central to the country’s formation and early development, they have increasingly been sidelined from positions of power, despite the demographic reality that over 70% of Nigeria’s population is under the age of 35.

He cited the signing of the Not Too Young To Run Act in 2018 as a step forward, but stressed that persistent barriers still prevent meaningful youth participation in governance. Rep Dasuki called for a generational shift, where younger leaders not only contest elections but are supported to win and lead.

Drawing lessons from recent youth-led global protests in countries like Nepal, Rep Dasuki warned of the dangers of political exclusion and the potential unrest that can follow when large youth populations feel alienated from their governments.

‘When a large demographic feels excluded from decision-making, frustration festers. We must act now, not only to empower, but to prevent disillusionment that can lead to instability,’ he warned.

Key highlights of the event include the unveiling of the interim governance structure of Future Is Now project – which will undertake the preparation for a more elaborate gathering of Future is Now in the first quarter of 2026 – and the unveiling of the membership registration portal www.futureisnow.ng

Also at the unveiling were former Minister of Youth, Solomon Dalung; Hon Ibrahim Bello Haliru (the youngest member of the National Assembly); Hon. Henry Shield; Hon Salisu Yakassai and Hon David Oloto.

Ms Nicole Nwosu (Convener 1), and Ibrahim Zanna (Convener 2) made presentations at the event while goodwill messages were delivered by development partners, civil society leaders, youth and student leaders, and other partners.

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government over what it described as persistent neglect, broken promises, and deliberate disregard for agreements reached with the union.

The union’s National Executive Council (NEC), which held its 52nd meeting at Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, lamented that the government’s actions risk plunging the university system into another avoidable industrial crisis.

In a communiqué signed by its National President, Comrade Mohammed Haruna Ibrahim, SSANU expressed deep frustration at the Federal Government’s failure to renegotiate and implement the 2009 FG/SSANU Agreement, describing the silence of the renegotiation committee as ‘a betrayal of trust.’ The union warned that it would have no option but to act if the government failed to honour the two-week extension earlier granted by the Joint Action Committee of SSANU and NASU. ‘If this pattern of neglect continues, the Union will have no choice but to explore all lawful and appropriate avenues to compel compliance,’ the communiqué read.

One of the key issues raised was the continued non-payment of two months’ withheld salaries of SSANU members who participated in the 2022 industrial action. The union described the government’s action as punitive and provocative. ‘NEC strongly condemns the continued withholding of salaries of SSANU members. and urges the Federal Government to immediately release the outstanding two months’ withheld salaries as a demonstration of good faith,’ the statement emphasised. It further noted that deductions already made from previously paid arrears were yet to be remitted to pension administrators, a development it described as an attack on members’ retirement security.

Equally troubling was the union’s position on the disbursement of earned allowances. SSANU accused the government of adopting discriminatory practices by allocating only ?10 billion out of the ?50 billion Earned Allowance fund to the three non-teaching unions. ‘This allocation is unjust, discriminatory, and fails to acknowledge the indispensable role SSANU members play in the effective functioning of Nigerian universities,’ the union declared, demanding the immediate release of the outstanding ?40 billion balance in line with the signed Memorandum of Understanding.

Beyond internal university concerns, SSANU painted a bleak picture of the state of the nation, citing widespread insecurity, collapsing infrastructure, and worsening poverty. It decried the recent cholera outbreak in Zamfara and other parts of the country, the Abuja-Kaduna train derailment, frequent kidnappings, banditry, and devastating floods in Adamawa, Niger, and Lagos States as evidence of government failure to protect lives and maintain critical infrastructure. ‘Healthcare remains underfunded, agriculture and food security are under severe threat, and millions of Nigerians are facing acute hunger due to conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability,’ the union warned.

On education, the NEC said Nigeria’s schools continue to suffer from outdated facilities and gross underfunding, insisting that ‘the government must urgently meet and implement global best practices in education by funding the sector adequately.’ The union commended the slowing down in the creation of new universities, but stressed that quality, not quantity, must be prioritised.

On the economy, SSANU criticised what it described as reckless wastage in governance, even as inflation and fuel prices continue to crush households. While acknowledging the marginal stabilisation of the naira and a slight easing of inflation, it said Nigerians were yet to feel any real relief. ‘The escalating prices of petroleum products and essential commodities call for greater efforts to reduce inflation, which remains among the highest in Africa,’ the NEC stated.

The union also drew attention to the plight of its members in state-owned universities, singling out Rev. Fr. Moses Orshio Adasu University in Benue State, where SSANU members are currently on strike over unpaid salaries. ‘This unacceptable practice must stop immediately,’ it warned. SSANU further demanded urgent nationwide expansion of solar power installations to address the epileptic electricity supply undermining teaching and research in universities. It accused both federal and state governments of mismanaging increased revenues, insisting that ‘there is no excuse for failing to prioritise workers’ welfare.’

On security, the NEC made a bold case for the formal recognition of traditional rulers as part of Nigeria’s security architecture. ‘Integrating traditional rulers into national and state security councils is not a ceremonial gesture; it is an urgent and practical step toward restoring public confidence and achieving lasting peace across the federation,’ the communiqué argued. It further called for targeted security emergencies in the worst-hit states, coupled with modern technologies, intelligence-led policing, and measures to address poverty, unemployment, and land-use conflicts fuelling violence.

To reposition universities, SSANU urged the government to grant full autonomy to university governing councils, strengthen research and innovation funds, and provide living wages with guaranteed, timely salaries to attract and retain the best talents. It also commended the introduction of the Tertiary Institutions Staff Support Fund (TISSF), urging the government to expedite the disbursement of funds already subscribed to by staff.

The union reiterated its readiness to support nation-building, highlighting the expertise of its members in engineering, ICT, healthcare, administration, and finance. ‘SSANU is not merely an advocacy group but a reservoir of professional expertise ready to partner with government and development agencies,’ the NEC declared.

The Council demanded urgent action from the government on health, education, security, food production, and infrastructure. ‘Nigerians deserve concrete action, not promises,’ the communiqué stressed, calling on its members to remain steadfast, professional, and committed to the struggle for a safer and more prosperous Nigeria.

The Association of Provosts of Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences has called on the Federal Government to exempt its institutions from the recently announced seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new polytechnics and allied institutions.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its 2025 Quadrennial Conference in Lokoja, the Provosts warned that applying the ban to health institutions would worsen the country’s healthcare manpower crisis. The statement, signed by the Association’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Nuhu Anyegwu, was made available to journalists on Thursday.

The conference noted that the restriction would ‘create an intergenerational gap of at least seven years in terms of shortage of health and medical manpower in various communities across Nigeria.’

The Provosts stressed that Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences are professional health training institutions with prior accreditation from regulatory councils and should not be categorised as allied institutions subject to the ban.

They also applauded the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for streamlining the accreditation process through digitalisation, but urged the Ministry of Education and NBTE to stop multiple accreditations by professional councils, which they described as burdensome.

The conference further expressed concern over the exclusion of Health Colleges from TETFUND’s funding schedule, calling for the passage of the TETFUND Act Amendment Bill to include their institutions as beneficiaries.

The Association re-elected its officers during the conference, with Dr. Johnson Adebayo Ojo and Malam Adamu Ahmadu emerging as Chairman and Secretary-General, respectively. It also resolved to establish a research journal and set up a Media Committee to enhance visibility.

With Nigeria’s population exceeding 200 million, the Provosts argued that expanding healthcare education remains critical to reversing brain drain and improving access to quality healthcare.

‘The Federal Government must support the growth and development of Colleges of Health Technology and Nursing Sciences if the healthcare needs of Nigerians are to be met,’ the communiqué concluded.

Prophet Adefolusho Aanu Osasele, the General Overseer of The Turn of Mercy Church, located on Okun Ajah, Ogombo Road, Lekki, Lagos, has been ordered to be remanded in custody by a Federal High Court in Lagos following his arraignment on charges of unlawful dealing in illicit drugs.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa gave the remand order on Thursday after the cleric, also popularly known as Abbas Ajakaiye, pleaded not guilty to a single-count charge of allegedly trafficking a colossal amount of 900 kilogrammes of ‘Ghana Loud,’ a potent strain of Cannabis Sativa.

In addressing the court, the counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), M. I. Erondu, revealed that Prophet Osasele was apprehended on August 3, 2024, at Ajah, Lagos, in connection with the prohibited substance.

The agency asserted that the General Overseer’s alleged actions contravene Section 11(c) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and are punishable under the same Act.

The charge, marked FHC/L/682c/2025, specifically accused Osasele, ‘alias Abbas Ajakaiye,’ of dealing in 900 Kilograms of Ghana Loud, a Strain of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug similar to cocaine, heroin and LSD, without lawful authority.

Following the cleric’s denial of the allegation and his not guilty plea, the prosecution requested a trial date and urged the court to remand him in the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCoS) pending the commencement of the trial.

However, the defendant’s lawyer, Mimido Nyiew, countered by informing the court that a bail application had been filed and served on the prosecution.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa, after hearing submissions on the bail request, granted the General Overseer bail in the sum of N50 million with one surety in the like sum.

The court further stipulated stringent conditions for the surety, requiring them to swear to an affidavit of means and provide verifiable evidence of ownership of landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.

Despite the bail being granted, the judge ordered that Prophet Osasele be remanded at the NCoS facility until he is able to fulfil the stipulated bail cconditions.

The matter has been adjourned to November 18, 2025, for trial.

Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly called Odumeje, has ignited a storm of controversy across social media with a blistering critique of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he flatly described as ‘a businessman rather than a president.’

In a viral video that has drawn widespread attention and diverse reactions, the often-controversial cleric, who goes by the moniker ‘Indaboski,’ argued that the true measure of a leader lies in their commitment to national development and the welfare of their citizens, a standard he believes is unmet by the current administration.

Odumeje starkly contrasted President Tinubu with several global figures he hailed as exemplary nation-builders, including former US President Donald Trump, Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traoré, and China’s President Xi Jinping.

According to him, these figures represent true leadership dedicated to elevating their respective countries.

‘I don’t know who’s calling Tinubu president. Tinubu is just a businessman. If you want to talk about a president, call Trump, Ibrahim Traoré, Xi Jinping, and many others, they are all true leaders.

‘Leaders are people who develop their country so that their children and citizens can benefit, but the ones we have in Nigeria are busy acquiring wealth for their own children,’ he was quoted as saying.

Lamenting the country’s dire situation, Odumeje accused the political elite of focusing solely on amassing wealth for their personal families while neglecting the growth and prosperity of the nation.

He concluded his sharp condemnation by redefining Nigeria’s globally recognized status. Despite the popular tag of being the ‘Giant of Africa,’ the Prophet asserted that the country has devolved into what he bluntly called a ‘giant of f@ilure not a Giant of Africa.’

The fiery remarks from the influential cleric are expected to continue driving debate over the priorities of the current Nigerian leadership and the overall state of the nation.

The All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC), has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Bankers’ Committee for their role in revamping and reopening the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

AFRIMA described the restoration of the 1976 landmark as a major step in preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage and boosting the arts sector. The project, led by the CBN and Bankers’ Committee, was inaugurated during Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebrations.

AFRIMA President and Executive Producer, Mike Dada, called the development a milestone for Nigeria’s creative industries.

‘The National Arts Theatre has played a crucial role in nurturing African creativity, serving for decades as a hub for music, theatre, film and cultural festivals. Its revival speaks volumes about Nigeria’s vision and the dedication of stakeholders like the CBN and the bankers’ committee to supporting the creative economy,’ Dada said. ‘This is not just a building restored, but a renewal of cultural confidence and an investment in future generations of Nigerian and African talent.’

Dada also congratulated Nigeria on its 65th independence anniversary, commending the country’s resilience and leadership in music, film, fashion, and digital culture.

‘On behalf of the International Executive Committee of AFRIMA, I extend heartfelt congratulations to Nigeria as the country marks 65 years of independence. Nigeria remains a vital partner to AFRIMA and a key pillar of Africa’s cultural identity. Its creative energy continues to inspire not just the continent but the world,’ he added.

He noted that Nigeria’s role as host of the 9th AFRIMA Awards has further amplified African music globally and strengthened unity across the continent.

AFRIMA reaffirmed its commitment to promoting African music, nurturing young talent, and advancing culture as a driver of pride and development.

The South-West coordinator of the Gbenga Hashim Solidarity Movement (GHSM), Alhaji Abass Olaniyi, has dismissed Reno Omokri’s recent appeal for the South West and the North to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, saying that the region will not ‘reward monumental failure with another mandate’.

Omokri, in a statement, had urged the two regions to show solidarity with Tinubu, likening the plea to the North’s decision to back former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 despite his poor performance in office.

He also claimed that Tinubu had expanded Nigeria’s GDP and launched infrastructure projects in the North.

But reacting in a statement, Olaniyi accused Omokri of political deception and manipulation, stressing that governance is about competence, not ethnic reciprocity or emotional blackmail.

‘Our people are too politically conscious to reward hunger, poverty, and economic collapse with fresh endorsement’, Olaniyi said.

He argued that the economic record of the APC-led government was catastrophic, noting that Nigeria’s GDP, which stood at over $570 billion in 2014, had shrunk to less than $300 billion, representing almost a 50% contraction. He said this went beyond a recession and was more than economic depression, citing soaring inflation, unemployment, and poverty as evidence of Tinubu’s poor performance.

Olaniyi dismissed Tinubu’s claims of GDP growth as ‘a mirage created by currency devaluation that leaves Nigerians poorer than ever’, adding that ‘Nigerians don’t eat GDP statistics; they eat food, and under Tinubu food is unaffordable’.

Positioning Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim as the South West’s political alternative, Olaniyi described him as a credible leader with the vision, global exposure, and economic acumen to unite the North and South based on fairness and competence.

‘The South West cannot tie its destiny to a sinking ship. Across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti, the conversation is already tilting towards Gbenga Hashim. He represents the hope and new beginning that Nigeria desperately needs’, Olaniyi said, in contrast to Tinubu’s poor performance.

He also urged Northern leaders to resist divisive appeals and instead align with genuine progressive forces committed to rescuing Nigeria from years of misrule.

‘2027 is a defining year. Nigerians must rise above deception and sentiment to embrace competent leadership. The South West is ready to lead that change, and Gbenga Hashim is the rallying point’, he said.

A neurosurgeon, Professor Olufemi Adeleye, stated that the use of motorcycles and other single-occupant transport for mass transit is a brain-numbing, dangerous practice that should be urgently stopped to reduce the increasing cases of brain injury from road crashes in Nigeria.

Professor Adeleye, in his inaugural lecture entitled ‘Adversity, Neurosurgery, Innovations: Ibadan’ at the University of Ibadan, stated that motorcycle crashes have overtaken motor vehicle crashes as the most frequent cause of brain injury in recent decades, exacting a heavy toll on the limbs and lives of people, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

According to him, ‘the victims are the young, productive members of the population, often the riders themselves. They suffer severe brain injuries, which many times require surgical operations that they cannot afford; as a result, they simply perish.

‘For, as it turns out, they are actually not making any sustainable living whatsoever from this brain-numbing, infernal trade. Hence, they languish in the emergency rooms of hospitals, unable to raise the funds for even the basic medical tests and investigations required, let alone the surgical operations.’

‘For instance, the in-hospital cost of all that is involved with basic remedial brain surgery in an average situation is about 1 million naira, more or less.

The donor said that requiring patients to pay out-of-pocket for hospital care is a harmful health-financing model that burdens people who are already very impoverished, living on less than 50 cents a day, and called for it to be phased out.

‘Surely, parents who live on less than 50 cents a day may, if necessary, be encouraged-even urged-to find a way to personally bear the cost, the $10 expense of those childhood diseases; although they would not receive all the help or aid they need when faced with the misfortune of caring for a child with brain cancer or similar serious illnesses,’ he added.

Professor Adeleye also encouraged fostering a spirit of invention in medical care despite the resource-challenged environment in Nigeria, rather than being carried away by high-tech gadgets, saying, ‘we should always focus on how to simplify, at least for now. Think global, act local.’

He added, ‘We should arm ourselves with the most up-to-date, cutting-edge knowledge and skills in our trades and disciplines, and then steer our minds toward finding ways to simplify them for local acceptability, relevance, and affordability. Many tools, gadgets, and pieces of equipment used in healthcare institutions are products of advanced technologies, which often make their deployment logistically challenging in low-resource areas.

‘Let us gain all the necessary foreign exposure, not just to become local champions, but also to look forward to returning home with an eye for simple measures and tools that are more appropriate for our environment.’

Abia Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has demanded a written retraction, public apology, and the sum of N100bn as compensation from Hon. Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, also known as Iyierioba Chikamnayo, over a series of ‘defamatory and malicious’ publications he made against him on Facebook.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by his counsel, Dr. Sonny Ajala, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Otti accused Chikamnayo of persistently making ‘unjustified demonic online defamatory posts’ against him on his Facebook account titled ‘Iyierioba Chikamnayo.’

The publications, which include posts captioned ‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and disaster!’ posted on September 22, 2025, and ‘Fighting Promax!!!!’ on September 21, 2025.

Others, such as ‘Old or new Abia?’ shared on September 14, 2025, ‘Sabbath Message’ on September 13, 2025, and ‘Alex Otthief is a confirmed criminal and congenital liar = looting governor!’ on August 15, 2025, were cited as examples of libelous attacks against the governor.

Ajala of Deeplaw Associates said, ‘Our client for the avoidance of doubt is the only Governor and Chief Executive of a State within the 36 States of Nigeria who bears the name Alex Chioma Otti, thus no effort is required by members of the public to link all your spiteful, false and defamatory attacks to our client either by direct name calling or by other variant of the name Alex Chioma Otti by way of caricature, pun, simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia and/or metonymy.’

The SAN affirmed that Otti’s integrity has remained sterling over the years, citing his ‘distinguished career’ in the banking sector, where he rose to become Managing Director/Chief Executive of Diamond Bank Plc before venturing into politics.

The letter recounted how Otti was confronted with the post on September 29, 2025, while in Abuja attending the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on Abia State’s Attorney-General.

Ajala said Otti’s attention was called to Chikamnayo’s Facebook wall, where he found ‘a cocktail of disparaging publications calculated to instigate public hatred against him.’

Ajala, in the letter, stressed that his client ‘unequivocally denies in their entirety your malicious defamatory materials published online,’ adding that ‘he (Otti) has no criminal indictment whatsoever or conviction by any court of law and thus declares unequivocally that the content of your online publications generally and specifically. as blatant falsehood.’

The SAN further argued that Chikamnayo’s actions amounted to ‘unquantifiable mental torture, depression, denigration, brutal destruction of his reputation built over the decades’ and ‘utterly disfigured and diminished our client’s standing in the eyes and estimation of right-thinking persons.’

Governor Otti’s demands include a written retraction of all defamatory posts to be published on the same Facebook wall as well as in four national dailies, namely ThisDay, Punch, The Nation, and National Ambassador Newspapers.

It also requested a written apology to be published on the same Facebook wall, compensation of N100bn for reputational damage, and an undertaking to cease from any further defamatory publications.

Ajala warned: ‘Take very careful notice that should you fail, refuse, and/or ignore to comply with our demands as contained herein within seven (7) days from the delivery of this letter. we shall without further recourse to you seek legal redress for the appropriate remedy against you for your malicious online libelous publication against our client graphically recounted herein.’

The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku and the Majority Leader in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olatunji Oshati, have appealed to the protesting youths of Ireakari Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to remain calm and hopeful, assuring them that the government has not neglected their plight.

The Commissioner explained that the Ireakari axis was mentioned at the last State Executive Council meeting under the Operation Emergency Road Construction programme, and expressed confidence that the roads in Idoani, Idogun, Imeri and Afo communities would soon be attended to as a matter of urgency.

Ajanaku noted that both the state and federal roads serving the communities, including the Ipele-Idoani-Isua road and the Oba-Ikun-Afo road, have already been brought to the state government’s attention. He said remedial works and major interventions would commence as soon as the rainy season subsides.

He stressed that the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa will never abandon any part of the state in its developmental agenda, adding that the OUR EASE Agenda remains a guiding principle to ensure that every citizen enjoys the dividends of democracy.

‘The government of Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is responsive and people-oriented. I want to assure our people in Ireakari that they have not been forgotten. Their concerns are already on the table, and as soon as weather permits, the road rehabilitation programme will extend to their axis,’ Ajanaku said.

On behalf of the state government, he further urged the youths to remain peaceful and continue to engage constructively with the government, stressing that their sacrifices and patience would soon yield positive results.