Category: Nigerian Tribune

Former commissioners, political appointees and grassroots associates of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai have broken their silence on their decision to part ways with him, insisting that they were political partners, not political property, and therefore retained the right to determine their own political future.

The former allies said they supported El-Rufai because they believed in a political project, not because they surrendered their political identities, structures, and followers to him.

The position was signed by former Deputy Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Mukthar Isa Hazo, and former Kaduna State SDP Chairman and four-time House of Assembly member for Ungwan Sanusi Constituency, Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi Maikano.

They said members of the group, including former commissioners Ja’afaru Sani, Dr. Shehu Usman Makarfi, Bashir Saidu and Senator Abdu Kwari, had made significant contributions to the political structures that supported El-Rufai, alongside numerous grassroots politicians across Kaduna State.

The group said it was therefore unfair to describe their departure as betrayal, stressing that political relationships were not permanent and that alliances could change when circumstances, interests and objectives changed.

‘Are we not adults who can take our own political decisions?’ the group quoted Bashir Saidu as asking, saying the same freedom that allowed them to support El-Rufai in the past should allow them to make different choices today.

It said the political relationship became increasingly strained after El-Rufai’s 2019 re-election, when, according to its account, former allies felt increasingly marginalised while members of the former governor’s family were perceived to be exercising growing influence in government affairs.

The group stressed that it did not question El-Rufai’s right to rely on family members or trusted associates, but said its concern was what it described as the consequent weakening of the wider political structure and the growing sense among former allies that their political relevance was diminishing.

It said the disagreement later became more pronounced after El-Rufai left office, particularly over the 2027 political realignment and the ADC governorship primary, where Ja’afaru Sani was regarded by their camp as a preferred successor.

According to the group, El-Rufai instead backed Isa Ashiru, his former political rival, who defeated Sani in the ADC direct primary with 86,113 votes to 29,580. Sani rejected the outcome and alleged irregularities in the process.

The former allies also alleged that the support for Ashiru was linked to an arrangement designed to retain El-Rufai’s influence over a possible ADC administration, including alleged plans to appoint two of his wives. They expressly acknowledged that the allegation had not been independently established by a court or formally documented in a public agreement.

The group said the development reinforced its belief that the political interests of former allies were no longer aligned with those of El-Rufai, adding that the central question was whether Kaduna’s political future should be shaped by the interests of the people who built political structures or by the interests of a few individuals.

It challenged El-Rufai’s supporters to examine not only why people left his political camp but also what happened to the relationships that made them leave. According to the group, repeated political departures deserved examination rather than automatic accusations of betrayal.

It argued that El-Rufai’s own political journey demonstrated that political alliances could change, saying he had worked with different political actors and formations and had subsequently found himself on opposite sides of political battles with some of them.

‘If El-Rufai could make political choices based on his assessment of circumstances and interests, why should his former associates be denied that same right?’ the group asked.

Researchers at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, have identified heterogeneously dense breasts, advanced age, and having had at least five pregnancies as significant predictors of suspicious breast changes, including lumps, among women undergoing three-dimensional mammography.

The study found that women with heterogeneously dense breasts had about 10 times the odds of having suspicious breast changes compared to those with other breast patterns.

Women over the age of 70 also had about 10 times the odds of presenting with suspicious lesions, while grand multiparity-defined as having had five or more pregnancies-emerged as another significant predictor.

The findings were presented at the I-Research and Innovation event organised by the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

The study examined sociodemographic, reproductive, and radiological factors independently associated with suspicious findings-classified as BI-RADS 4A to 5-compared to benign findings, classified as BI-RADS 4A-5, compared with benign findings classified as BI-RADS 1-3, among women undergoing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT), commonly known as 3D mammography.

Speaking about the research, Dr Ayo Idowu, a Consultant Radiologist at UCH, stated that the study was designed to identify factors that could help predict suspicious findings among women undergoing DBT.

According to her, DBT uses multiple X-ray images taken from different angles to create a three-dimensional view of the breast, reducing the effect of overlapping tissues and helping radiologists detect and evaluate abnormalities.

The researchers conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional analytical study involving women who underwent DBT at UCH. They found that heterogeneously dense breast tissue was the strongest independent predictor of suspicious findings.

‘Among the factors we assessed, heterogeneously dense breast tissue emerged as the strongest independent predictor of a suspicious final assessment,’ Idowu said.

She noted, however, that menopausal status, family history of breast cancer, and previous breast disease were not significantly associated with suspicious findings in the study.

Idowu stated that the findings underscore the need for further research involving Nigerian women, noting that risk factors identified in studies conducted in other populations may not necessarily yield the same results in Nigeria.

‘We need our own data to look at our women and identify which clinical factors can predict suspicious findings during mammography,’ she said.

She explained that DBT was available at UCH and could be useful for further evaluation of women with dense breasts.

However, she emphasised that women must first undergo mammography to determine whether they have dense breast tissue.

‘You need to undergo mammography before you know whether you have dense breasts. In our study, dense breasts were associated with about 10 times the odds of detecting a suspicious lesion,’ she said.

The radiologist advised Nigerian women to begin regular mammography screenings at age 40 and to continue with annual examinations thereafter.

‘When you turn 40, you should start getting mammograms. It’s not like taking an anti-malaria drug once and forgetting about it. You need to come back annually so we can monitor your health,’ she said.

Idowu stated that women with dense breasts could undergo further assessment using digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) to help radiologists identify suspicious abnormalities that may require additional investigation and treatment.

She said the study aimed to improve breast cancer screening and clinical decision-making by generating evidence specific to Nigerian women.

Idowu urged women to undergo regular breast cancer screenings even when they have no symptoms, stressing that early detection and appropriate follow-up can improve treatment outcomes.

The Federal Government has disclosed that the present administration is putting in place measures aimed at lifting children begging around the country, particularly in the northern states, off the streets.

Speaking on Thursday night while appearing on Channels Television, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, highlighted different programmes the government is undertaking to empower youths.

She explained that the government has intensified efforts to improve skill-acquisition programmes at O-level to further strengthen youths’ financial independence after school.

Ahmad also stated that specific initiatives are currently in force to ensure a reduction in the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, noting that the Federal Government’s reforms in the education sector are targeted at creating a population that can contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.

She, however, lamented that decades of inadequate youth development have made the situation a bit challenging, stating that most of the programmes need more time for the results to become visible.

The Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to building a workforce that is creative, productive and can contribute to the economic development of Nigeria.

Governors and political leaders across Nigeria have called on citizens to uphold national unity, peace and responsible citizenship as the country marks its 66th Independence Anniversary.

In separate messages to commemorate the anniversary on Thursday, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, among others, stressed the need for Nigerians to protect the country’s unity and support peaceful democratic processes.

Oborevwori urged Nigerians to remain steadfast and united, saying sustained commitment to ongoing reforms was essential to achieving lasting development and prosperity.

In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor said, ‘there is hope on the horizon and brighter days ahead.’

He urged Deltans to continue supporting President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his administration’s MORE Agenda, arguing that continuity and stability in governance were critical to sustainable development.

Oborevwori said his administration was complementing federal efforts through infrastructure development, investment in renewable energy, job creation and initiatives aimed at attracting foreign direct investment to Delta State.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive governance and policies aimed at improving living standards and expanding opportunities across the state.

In Ondo State, Governor Aiyedatiwa urged residents to approach the forthcoming electoral process with maturity, tolerance and restraint, warning that political differences should not undermine the bonds that unite citizens.

Aiyedatiwa, who spoke on Thursday in Akure during the state’s Independence Day celebration, called on political leaders, party members and youths to shun violence, embrace issue-based engagement and respect citizens’ rights to participate peacefully in elections.

‘Political differences are natural in a democracy, but they must never destroy the bonds that unite us as families, neighbours and citizens,’ he said.

The governor also highlighted his administration’s activities in healthcare, education and agriculture, including the recruitment of 3,323 health professionals, acquisition of a 1.5 Tesla MRI machine and a 160-slice CT scanner for the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex.

He said the state had also expanded support for retirees and pensioners through fully funded health insurance, while continuing teacher recruitment, bursaries, scholarships and increased support for tertiary institutions.

In agriculture, Aiyedatiwa said the government had secured 26,000 hectares of land and distributed more than two million cocoa seedlings, while about 14,000 smallholder cocoa and oil-palm farmers had been profiled under an FAO-supported programme.

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, meanwhile, urged Nigerians to use the anniversary to reflect on the country’s resilience, diversity and shared identity and renew their commitment to nation-building.

Speaking in Ilorin, AbdulRazaq congratulated Nigerians and urged them to reject violence, criminality and hate speech while embracing peace and collective security.

‘Despite our challenges, Nigerians continue to demonstrate courage, enterprise, creativity and determination-our greatest national assets,’ he said.

The governor highlighted interventions by his administration in education, agriculture, healthcare and urban renewal, including KwaraLEARN, which he said had trained thousands of teachers and provided more than 1.2 million textbooks and learning materials across more than 1,500 primary schools.

He also said more than 2,000 classrooms had been constructed and nearly 9,000 teachers recruited, while more than 200 primary healthcare centres had been renovated, equipped and solarised.

In Borno, Governor Zulum urged residents to protect the relative peace achieved in the state and ensure that the emerging political season did not undermine it.

Zulum said about two million residents had returned to their communities, while more than 30,000 homes, schools, health facilities and other public infrastructure destroyed during the insurgency had been reconstructed.

He said his administration had implemented more than 1,500 clusters of projects across the state’s 27 local government areas, covering security, infrastructure, human capital development, agriculture, resettlement and reconstruction.

On education, Zulum said the number of functional secondary schools had risen from 34 in 2019 to 129 in 2026, while enrolment had reached 1.8 million children.

‘As the political season sets in, let us conduct our campaigns without rancour, so we do not undermine the relative peace and stability our state now enjoys,’ he said.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also called on political parties and candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns in line with the Electoral Act, 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Bamidele, who is Chairman of the South-West Caucus in the National Assembly, warned political actors against hate speech and inflammatory statements capable of triggering unrest and ethno-religious violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said political rights must be exercised within the law, adding that political ambitions should be pursued with restraint and respect for democratic rules.

‘No ambition is worth setting the nation ablaze,’ Bamidele said, stressing that Nigeria’s political activities should preserve rather than undermine the country’s unity and collective heritage.

In Oyo State, the governorship candidate of the Allied People’s Movement, Bimbo Adekanmbi, congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and commended citizens for what he described as their resilience and continued belief in the unity of the country.

Adekanmbi acknowledged the economic difficulties faced by Nigerians, particularly the rising cost of food, transportation and other basic necessities, but said citizens should remain committed to building a country that future generations could be proud of.

He called for peaceful participation in the democratic process and urged voters to consider the vision, competence and values presented by political parties and candidates.

He also called on residents of Oyo State to continue supporting Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration, citing its projects and programmes across the state.

Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to transform Nigeria’s power sector, assuring Nigerians that ongoing interventions across the country will further improve electricity supply.

Tegbe spoke when he paid a thank-you visit to the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State at the party’s secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, where he appreciated party leaders and stakeholders for the support that followed his appointment by President Tinubu.

The Minister said the confidence reposed in him by the President had placed a major responsibility on him to contribute to resolving the longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s power sector.

‘President is determined to fix problems in the power sector and we are not leaving any stone unturned to achieve this goal,’ Tegbe said.

‘Nigerians can testify to the considerable improvement in electricity supply nationwide in recent weeks but we have not got to where we want to be as a force to reckon with in the global community.’

He said the Federal Government was implementing several projects across the country, stressing that the completion of the ongoing interventions would significantly improve electricity access.

‘A lot of projects are ongoing in all parts of the country and the time most of them are completed, every part of the country would have constant power supply and we would all be proud of the Tinubu administration,’ he said.

Tegbe disclosed that several projects were also being implemented in Oyo State, including solar-powered street lighting and mini solar grids.

‘In a few weeks from now, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will have a full installation of solar-powered street lights while mini solar grids will be constructed in six different locations in the state,’ he said.

On the Ogbomoso project, the Minister said work was nearing completion, assuring residents that challenges encountered by the contractors had been addressed.

‘The project in Ogbomoso is nearing completion and I can say it here that the little challenges being experienced by the contractors handling the project have been addressed and they will deliver the whole project very soon,’ Tegbe said.

He also assured residents of Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa that the Saki project was receiving attention.

‘The one in Saki which is aimed at fixing the age-long problems in Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa axis is equally receiving the right attention and hopefully, the darkness being experienced in those parts of the state will be addressed,’ he said.

Tegbe expressed appreciation to APC leaders, members and supporters in Oyo State for the support that accompanied his appointment, saying the level of enthusiasm demonstrated by the party had exceeded his expectations.

‘I did not expect the degree of support and enthusiasm which my first and second appointments by President Tinubu attracted from all APC leaders, members and supporters,’ he said.

He added: ‘But I have come to realise that nothing is too much to be done for the progressive family and humanity as a whole.’

The Minister particularly thanked the leadership of the Oyo APC for its confidence in his ability to deliver, saying, ‘I appreciate the current leadership of the party in the state for believing in us to deliver the good.’

Beyond his ministerial responsibilities, Tegbe also pledged to contribute to the success of the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘More importantly, we will spare no efforts to ensure that President Bola Tinubu gets reelected in 2027 and we are not going to stop at that as all the candidates of our great Party will get our full backing,’ he said.

He disclosed that he had opened discussions with aggrieved governorship aspirants in the state as part of efforts to strengthen unity within the party.

‘I have opened talks with most of the aggrieved gubernatorial aspirants and I have no doubt in my mind that everything will be resolved in no time,’ Tegbe said.

He also pledged to work with APC support groups, acknowledging their contribution to the party and the country.

‘We will work with all the Support Groups because we appreciate what they are doing in the interest of our great Party and our dear country as patriots,’ he added.

Earlier, Oyo State APC Chairman, Dr. Moses Alake Adeyemo, commended Tegbe’s performance and commitment to the power sector, attributing recent improvements in electricity supply to the Tinubu administration’s determination to revive critical sectors of the economy.

Adeyemo, a former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, expressed confidence that Tegbe would justify the confidence reposed in him by President Tinubu and deliver on his mandate.

The visit was attended by several APC leaders and stakeholders, including Dr. Taofeek Lamidi, Hon. Fatai Adesina, Alhaji Lateef Ajiboye, Olawale Sadare, Hon. Joshua Oyebamiji, Tunde Oloyede, Comrade Olalekan Oladejo, Sunday Babalola, Alhaji Mojeed Delesolu, Sunday Aborisade, Fatima Hassan, Akanbi Elegbede, Alhaja Tinuade Adigun, Lukman Owonikoko and Comrade Muse Osundara.

The Presidential Campaign Organisation of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Mr Seyi Makinde, and his running mate, Mr Lawal Daura, has faulted President Bola Tinubu’s 66th Independence Day address, describing it as ‘rhetorical’ and bereft of concrete solutions to Nigeria’s economic hardship, poverty and insecurity.

The campaign organisation said the address failed to present specific, measurable and binding economic and security policy commitments for which Nigerians could hold the administration accountable.

The Director of Strategic Communications of the Makinde/Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation, Mr Richard Ihediwa, gave the campaign body’s position in Abuja on Thursday while reacting to the President’s address.

Ihediwa stated: ‘It is indeed disappointing that the President’s address failed to present specific, measurable and binding economic and security policy commitments for which Nigerians can hold him accountable.

‘Instead, the speech remained vague and failed to provide concrete answers or direction on major national issues.

‘This lack of binding policy commitment shows that the All Progressives Congress administration has no solution to the challenges facing our nation.’

The organisation said the four consecutive Independence Day speeches delivered by Tinubu since assuming office in 2023 had contained promises of a better future without delivering the expected improvements to Nigerians.

It also faulted the President’s claim that his administration’s reforms had not weakened the economy, arguing that the removal of the petrol subsidy and the floating of the naira had triggered severe economic disruptions.

The organisation claimed that the reforms had contributed to a sharp increase in the price of petrol and a significant weakening of the naira, with consequences for businesses and households across the country.

According to Ihediwa, the impact of the reforms included the weakening of the productive sector, closure of businesses, increased transportation and food costs, reduced purchasing power and rising poverty.

The campaign organisation also alleged that the departure of several multinational companies from Nigeria reflected the difficult operating environment created by the government’s economic policies.

Ihediwa said the President’s promise of prosperity was not matched by decisive plans to address the country’s infrastructure deficit, estimated at $2.3 trillion, or clear commitments on agriculture, industrialisation and local manufacturing.

He also questioned the government’s borrowing plans, citing the country’s rising debt and the reported request for a $1.5 billion World Bank loan.

On insecurity, the organisation said the address failed to provide sufficient reassurance to families and communities affected by killings, abductions and other violent attacks.

Ihediwa added that the campaign organisation believed Nigerians deserved ‘a new leadership’ that would listen to citizens, understand their challenges, take responsibility and deliver results.

He declared that the organisation was confident that voters would support the APM presidential candidate, Engr. Seyi Makinde, whom he described as possessing the capacity, commitment and blueprint required to ‘Reset Nigeria’ and guarantee the security and wellbeing of citizens.

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has assured residents of the state that his administration will use the next four years to consolidate its achievements and intensify efforts to improve their standard of living.

Adeleke gave the assurance on Thursday while addressing the people of Osun State at Fakunle Comprehensive High School, Osogbo, during activities marking Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary and the presentation of prizes to winners of the 2026 Osun State Essay Competition.

The Governor thanked the people of the state for their participation in the just-concluded governorship election, saying their large turnout and determination contributed to the successful conduct of the poll.

He pledged that his administration would work with renewed determination to address areas requiring further attention, while consolidating gains recorded in education, healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture.

According to him, his administration’s development agenda is centred on the people, stressing that government programmes must ultimately translate into improved quality of life for citizens.

Adeleke said significant attention had been given to the education sector through the improvement of schools, provision of learning facilities and recruitment of teachers.

He also cited Osun’s fifth position nationally in the 2026 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination as evidence of progress in the sector, noting that the state moved up from seventh position in the 2025 ranking.

The Governor congratulated participants and winners of the 2026 Osun State Essay Competition, as well as their teachers and parents, saying the initiative would encourage young people to think critically and contribute ideas to the development of the state and country.

On healthcare, Adeleke said his administration had continued to strengthen primary healthcare delivery, improve health facilities and expand access to health insurance and other medical interventions.

He added that road construction and rehabilitation, bridge projects, water systems and other infrastructure interventions remained central to his administration’s development agenda.

The Governor further said the state was supporting farmers through improved agricultural inputs, mechanisation and access to markets, stressing that agriculture must serve as both a means of feeding the population and creating wealth for families and communities.

While acknowledging that challenges remained, Adeleke said the achievements recorded so far demonstrated that the state was moving in the right direction.

He described the people of Osun, particularly its youths, farmers, entrepreneurs, teachers and workers, as major assets to the state’s development, expressing confidence that a peaceful, prosperous and self-reliant Osun was achievable.

The Governor also used the Independence Anniversary to call for peace and unity among Nigerians, regardless of political, religious or social differences.

He urged citizens to resolve disagreements peacefully, noting that meaningful development could not take place without peace and stability.

However, the state Commissioner for Regional Integration and Special Duties, Dr Bashir Tokunbo Salami, also quoted Adeleke as saying that the future of Nigeria depended largely on how the country treated its young people, urging government and other stakeholders to provide quality education, create opportunities, support talents and give youths reasons to build their future in the country.

He called on Nigerians to renew their hope in the country and recommit themselves to building a nation where every child would have a fair opportunity, hard work would be rewarded and citizens could live with dignity.

The Governor concluded by assuring the people of Osun that his administration would continue to listen to their concerns and pursue policies and programmes aimed at improving their lives.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has felicitated with FCT residents on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, urging them to support government reforms and sustain the development drive in the capital territory.

In his independence anniversary message on Wednesday, Wike said the theme of this year’s celebration, ‘From Reforms to Stability: Consolidating Nigeria’s Renewed Hope for Shared Prosperity’, reflects an opportunity for renewal and sustainable growth.

‘We acknowledge the challenges that have faced our nation in the past 66 years, but also see a great opportunity for renewal and sustainable growth. We are very optimistic that the future is brighter. We have a President who is intentional about prioritising the well-being of the citizens and has brought unprecedented development to the FCT,’ he said.

The minister described the FCT as a symbol of national unity where Nigerians from all tribes and faiths live and thrive in peace, noting that the administration’s mission is to transform Abuja into a world-class capital city.

He said the administration has invested heavily in critical infrastructure, road networks, public transportation and tackling urban sprawl to ensure development reaches every part of the territory.

‘This administration has totally transformed the road network of the FCT from the city centre to the remotest rural parts, providing world class roads equipped with drainage and solar lighting, thereby putting an end to both inaccessibility and insecurity in far-flung settlements,’ Wike said.

He added that ultramodern bus terminals have been built in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, with plans to extend to Kuje, Bwari and Gwagwalada to provide safe transportation.

Wike said the FCTA is also improving access to quality healthcare and education across all area councils, revitalising schools and primary health centres.

He assured residents that security remains a top priority, with intensified surveillance, enhanced community policing and deployment of modern technology to combat crime.

The minister urged residents to remain law-abiding, support government initiatives and protect public infrastructure from vandalism.

On the 2027 general elections, Wike enjoined residents to vote for progressive and visionary leaders who will sustain the infrastructural revolution in the FCT.

‘As the nation prepares for the forthcoming general elections in January 2027, I enjoin you all to see it as an opportunity to vote in progressive, visionary leaders that will sustain and expand the infrastructural revolution that has commenced in the FCT,’ he said.

He called for peaceful coexistence and unity, saying the anniversary should remind Nigerians of what can be achieved with shared purpose.

‘Let this anniversary serve as a reminder of what we can achieve when we work with a shared purpose and a unified vision. Together, we will build an FCT that we can all be proud of – a beacon of hope and prosperity for the entire African continent,’ Wike added.

Kogi State Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project has commenced the distribution of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards to 12,112 adolescent girls enrolled as second-cohort beneficiaries under the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) component of the project.

The distribution exercise, being implemented across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State, is designed to facilitate beneficiaries’ access to their designated financial channels and ensure that eligible adolescent girls are adequately reached under the CCT intervention.

The CCT component is one of the interventions of the Kogi AGILE Project aimed at supporting adolescent girls to remain in school, transition successfully, and overcome some of the financial barriers that may affect their education.

Speaking during the exercise, the State Project Coordinator (SPC), Kogi AGILE Project, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani Oricha, reiterated the project’s commitment to ensuring that eligible beneficiaries receive the necessary support under the programme.

He explained that the distribution of ATM cards represents an important stage in the implementation of the CCT intervention, as it provides beneficiaries with the financial access required to receive the support provided under the programme.

Alhaji Oricha urged the beneficiaries and their parents or guardians to make responsible use of the intervention, stressing the importance of the support in promoting girls’ education and encouraging beneficiaries to remain committed to their studies.

He also called on school principals, parents, community stakeholders, and other relevant actors to support the successful implementation of the programme by ensuring that beneficiaries are properly guided and protected throughout the process.

The CCT Lead, Kunle Mumini, said the second cohort comprises 12,112 eligible adolescent girls whose ATM cards are being distributed as part of efforts to strengthen the delivery of the CCT intervention.

According to him, the distribution is being organized across the three senatorial districts to improve accessibility, reduce the burden of traveling long distances for beneficiaries, and ensure that the exercise reaches eligible girls across the state.

He further encouraged beneficiaries and their parents to cooperate with officials during the exercise and ensure that all required procedures are followed for proper documentation and accountability.

The commencement of the second-cohort ATM card distribution builds on the experience of the first cohort of the CCT intervention, which targeted 13,359 adolescent girls in all transitioning classes across Kogi State.

The first cohort was designed to support girls at critical transition points in their education, particularly as they move from one level of schooling to another. The continuation of the intervention with a second cohort underscores the project’s broader focus on improving girls’ access to and retention in education.

Some beneficiaries who spoke during the exercise expressed appreciation for the support, noting that the intervention would provide additional encouragement for them to remain focused on their education.

Parents and guardians also welcomed the initiative, with some describing the CCT support as an important intervention for families facing financial challenges associated with keeping their daughters in school.

School principals and administrators participating in the exercise similarly emphasised the importance of collaboration among schools, parents, communities and the AGILE Project in ensuring that the intervention achieves its intended objectives.

The distribution exercise is expected to continue across the three senatorial districts, with project officials working with relevant stakeholders to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries under the second cohort are adequately reached.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Nigeria has appointed Mr S.D. Kum as its new Head of National Office (HNO).

His appointment takes effect on Friday, 2 October 2026.

Until his appointment, Mr Kum served as the Senior Deputy Registrar and Head of Test Administration at WAEC Nigeria.

He succeeds Dr Amos Dangut, who was appointed Registrar of WAEC International in mid-June this year.

Dr Dangut, who served for nearly three years as the HNO of WAEC Nigeria and is now set to lead the council at the regional level, will also officially assume his new role on Friday, 2 October 2026, at the council’s international headquarters in Accra, Ghana.

Mr Kum steps into his new leadership role with extensive operational and field experience gathered across various Nigerian geopolitical zones.

He previously served as WAEC Branch Controller and Zonal Coordinator for several regional offices, notably overseeing operations in places including Rivers State.

While serving as Zonal Coordinator, Mr Kum was reported to have been the primary enforcer of the Nigeria Examinations Committee’s (NEC) anti-malpractice directives.

He gained significant prominence in 2022 when he officially issued de-recognition letters to 35 secondary schools in Rivers State indicted for mass cheating and examination malpractice.

Throughout his career, he has frequently collaborated with state ministries of education, secondary school principals and civil security outfits to design effective examination timetables, ensure smooth coordination and maintain secure testing environments.