Category: Nigerian Tribune

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has donated N10 million towards the establishment of a Skills Laboratory Centre at Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Ayingba, in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State.

Obi disclosed this in a Facebook post on Sunday while recounting his visit to the institution on Saturday, 15 August.

According to him, the donation was part of his continued support for the nursing institution, which he said had previously faced a threat to its accreditation because of the absence of a bus for students’ clinical placements.

He said his earlier intervention, which led to the provision of a school bus, enabled the institution to retain its accreditation and continue training nurses and other healthcare professionals.

‘Yesterday Saturday 15th August morning, I visited Grimard College of Nursing Sciences, Ayingba in Dekina LGA of Kogi State,’ Obi said.

‘A few years ago, the institution faced a threat to its accreditation due to the lack of a bus for student clinical placements.

‘It gives me great satisfaction to note that, thanks to my intervention and the subsequent provision of a school bus, the school has successfully retained its accreditation and continues to play a vital role in educating nurses and other healthcare professionals.’

Obi said his latest visit was a continuation of his commitment to supporting the institution, adding that the N10 million contribution would assist the school in establishing the skills laboratory.

He also reaffirmed his support for the management, staff and students of the institution, while urging the students to remain committed to their studies.

The former Anambra State governor described nursing as a career with extensive opportunities, noting that professional training equips individuals with the knowledge and skills required to make meaningful contributions both nationally and globally.

Obi stressed the need for deliberate investment in education and healthcare, describing the two sectors as critical to national development and improved quality of life.

‘Every nation striving for sustainable development and an improved quality of life for its citizens must deliberately invest in two crucial sectors: education and healthcare,’ he said.

He urged governments to prioritise the sectors, while calling on individuals and organisations to complement public efforts through their own interventions.

Professor Abdulkadir Usman Junaidu of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, has been elected Provost of the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria (CVSN).

Junaidu, a Professor of Veterinary Public Health, was elected by Fellows of the College following an electoral process conducted in Abuja and overseen by an Electoral Committee chaired by Professor Caleb Kudi.

His election marks a new chapter for the postgraduate professional institution responsible for specialist veterinary training and the advancement of veterinary practice in Nigeria.

In his acceptance speech, Junaidu described the mandate as a collective responsibility rather than a personal achievement, pledging to reposition the College through stronger specialist training, research, innovation and institutional development.

‘The election is over, and the responsibility of building our College belongs to all of us. I accept this mandate with humility and a deep sense of responsibility,’ he said.

He said his administration would prioritise the strengthening of postgraduate specialist and residency training while modernising training programmes to address emerging challenges in animal health, public health and livestock development.

Junaidu also promised to promote research, digital transformation and evidence-based veterinary practice, while strengthening partnerships with universities, government agencies, professional bodies and international institutions.

According to him, the College would also work towards improving the visibility and international recognition of Nigerian veterinary specialists, alongside strengthening continuing professional development and mentorship for younger veterinarians.

He further pledged to promote the welfare and professional interests of Fellows while improving governance, transparency, accountability and the financial sustainability of the College.

Junaidu said veterinary specialists had important roles to play in addressing challenges relating to One Health, food safety, food security, zoonotic diseases and livestock development.

‘The strength of the College lies in the collective knowledge, experience and commitment of its Fellows,’ he said, calling on all Fellows to work together irrespective of their positions during the election.

The new Provost brings extensive experience in academia, veterinary practice, research, university administration and public service to the position.

At Usmanu Danfodiyo University, he has served in several leadership positions, including Head of Department, Deputy Dean, Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Director of the University Development Office and Provost of the College of Postgraduate Studies.

He also served as a Commissioner in Sokoto State with responsibility for Animal Health and Fisheries Development, where he was involved in various livestock and veterinary development initiatives.

These included expansion of veterinary services, disease surveillance and vaccination programmes, provision of veterinary equipment, pasture and dairy development, and rehabilitation of veterinary and abattoir infrastructure.

He also facilitated initiatives involving artificial insemination and embryo transfer, including the development of a centre equipped with a liquid nitrogen facility.

Junaidu said his administration would work closely with the Deputy Provost, Professor Olufunke Eunice Ola-Davies, the College’s governing structures, Faculties, Fellows and other stakeholders to implement what he described as an inclusive and progressive agenda.

He thanked Fellows for their support and called for unity following the election.

‘Together, we must reposition the College of Veterinary Surgeons of Nigeria as a stronger, more visible, innovative and globally competitive institution that serves our profession, our country and society,’ he said.

Junaidu also commended the Electoral Committee for conducting the election and expressed appreciation to his teachers, mentors, senior colleagues, contemporaries and younger Fellows who supported his candidature.

He said the new leadership would build on the achievements of previous administrations while addressing emerging challenges confronting the veterinary profession.

‘This mandate belongs to all Fellows. Together, we shall consolidate the achievements of our predecessors, address emerging challenges and take the College to greater heights,’ he added.

The Board, in a statement posted on its Facebook page on Monday, asked applicants who took part in the 2025/2026 indigene verification exercise to watch their emails for invitations to the CBT.

The CBT is part of the scholarship selection process and will allow eligible applicants to demonstrate their knowledge and aptitude.

The Board said details such as the date, venue and other requirements would be communicated to eligible applicants through their invitation emails.

Here are seven rules applicants should know:

1. Check your email regularly

Applicants who participated in the 2025/2026 indigene verification exercise across Lagos State’s five divisions should regularly check their email for the official CBT invitation.

2. Read the examination instructions

Applicants should carefully read and understand all instructions before starting the test.

3. Arrive at the venue early

Applicants are advised to arrive at their designated CBT venue early to avoid delays and ensure a smooth examination process.

4. Dress appropriately

Applicants are expected to dress appropriately and maintain orderly conduct throughout the exercise.

5. Follow officials’ instructions

Candidates must comply with instructions given by CBT officials before and during the examination.

6. Do not bring prohibited materials

Applicants have been warned against bringing prohibited materials or electronic devices into the examination hall.

7. Avoid examination malpractice

The Board warned that any applicant caught engaging in examination malpractice or impersonation would be disqualified and could be referred to the appropriate security authorities.

8. Beware of fraudsters

The Board also warned applicants against fraudsters who may try to collect money or personal information from them under the guise of helping them secure the scholarship.

The statement said, ‘The Agency does not authorise any individual to demand payment in exchange for participation in the CBT or award of scholarship.’

Applicants were advised to rely only on information released through the Board’s official communication channels and not pay anyone promising to influence their selection.

The Board reiterated its commitment to supporting quality education in Lagos State.

Nollywood actress, Monalisa Chinda, has opened up about her experience with grief following the death of her younger brother.

The actress shared her experience on Instagram while encouraging people who may be dealing with personal struggles to be patient with themselves as they heal.

Monalisa revealed that her younger brother died on February 12, a day before her daughter’s 18th birthday on February 13.

She said the loss has been difficult for her and admitted that she is still healing from it.

‘Still healing… It took me a while to heal from my youngest brother passing (12th Feb), just a day before my daughter’s 18th birthday (13th Feb). But heyyy… We are a small family, helped by God. So, if you’re going through something right now, please be gentle with yourself.

‘You don’t have to have everything figured out today. You’re allowed to feel tired. You’re allowed to take a step back. You’re allowed to have days when all you can do is breathe and get through them. Whatever feels heavy right now won’t always feel this heavy. Keep going, one day, one moment, one breath at a time. You are not behind. You are not alone. And this chapter is not the whole story,’ she stated.

Monalisa urged people going through grief or other personal challenges to give themselves time to heal rather than feel pressured to have everything figured out immediately.

RECENTLY, Nigerians heaved a huge sigh of relief as 308 victims abducted during multiple attacks in Niger and Kwara states were released. One hundred and sixty-three of these rescued persons were abducted from Woro community in Kaiama, Kwara State, and 145 from Niger State. According to security reports, the victims were rescued from the Kainji Lake National Park forest in New Bussa Local Government Area of Niger State. The Federal Government said this was the outcome of a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation conducted by the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC). According to it, this was done in concert with personnel of the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force. Security agencies further said that this operation was the largest rescue operation ever carried out on the same day by the joint security team.

Characteristically, President Bola Tinubu warmly welcomed the rescue, expressing deep appreciation to the combined leadership and personnel of the security agencies for their bravery, seamless inter-agency collaboration, and dedication. He said: ‘The successful execution of this intelligence-led operation demonstrates the growing efficiency and collaboration among our security services. I commend our gallant men and women in uniform for their bravery and unwavering commitment to safeguarding Nigerian lives.’ The President also emphasised the urgency and imperative of bolstering national security infrastructure to prevent future occurrences. He urged security agencies and relevant stakeholders to immediately strengthen early warning mechanisms, enhance community-level intelligence gathering, and improve rapid response capabilities. The President also canvassed the need for vigilance and security alertness across the country. He said that his administration remained steadfast in its resolve to contain security threats, protect vulnerable communities, and restore lasting peace across all nooks and crannies of the country.

The rescue of the abductees, who had experienced horror in the den of kidnappers for months, is a welcome development. It is indeed gladsome that even though the rescue took a long time, a great percentage of the abducted victims eventually regained their freedom. In this regard, we give kudos to the President and the security agencies. Their efforts led to the abductees reuniting with their families. We also commiserate with the families of victims who died in the abductors’ dens.

That said, however, we urge that more efforts be made to achieve the President’s clearly outlined goals. One of the things that must be done is to ensure an overall national security measure that would make abduction of Nigerians impossible in the first instance. Good as it is that Nigerians, the government and the families of the recently freed abductees are rejoicing at their release, there is nothing to cheer about the cycle of abductions and releases of hapless Nigerians. The joy of Nigerians would be fuller if the incubus of abduction is totally banished from the land. For how long will the authorities celebrate releases that should not have happened in the first place?

The government must expedite action on the state police bill that is currently going through the mill of legislation. A state police architecture, where each state is master of its territory and its challenges, would make it easier to address crime cases. State policing would allow each state to articulate its own indigenous and ingenuous methods of combating insecurity, and they would be taken to account on this. To be sure, abduction cases deserve close examination. This is also why the country must not treat the abduction and rescue/release of the abducted victims in Oriire, Oyo State, as a bygone issue. It should be an eye-opener to both states and the Federal Governments. They should not allow outlaws to prey on law-abiding citizens and make them go through hell in thick forests. Shedding light on what transpired in that grueling abduction episode will help the country to handle security cases better and equip it with the tools to prevent or address future incidents.

Nigeria must drill deeper into the roots of the menace of abductions. Already, they are mired in controversy, and there is the troubling argument that selective handling of kidnapping cases by the Federal Government allows them to fester. The government must counter this narrative through prompt and decisive action on all cases. It should learn from previous cases, and carry out a holistic postmortem. The point is that Nigeria must move away from celebrating rescues. Nigerians need to be better protected. Prevention, as they say, is better than cure. The government’s responsibility to protect the people is sacrosanct.

The Leader of the Senate and Chairman of the National Assembly South-West Caucus, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has congratulated Governor Ademola Adeleke on his re-election as Governor of Osun State, saying the outcome of the election has reaffirmed the supremacy of the people in a democracy.

Bamidele stated this in a statement personally signed by him on Monday, following the conclusion of the Osun State governorship election.

Adeleke, the Accord Party candidate, polled 511,067 votes to defeat the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, who secured 444,815 votes. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate, Rt. Hon. Najeem Salam, came third with 17,180 votes.

According to Bamidele, the election, which recorded a 51.57 per cent voter turnout based on the number of Permanent Voter Cards collected, demonstrated that the people remained the ultimate arbiters in a democracy.

He said the outcome of the poll should remind all political actors that ‘the final decision lies with the people, the true and ultimate arbiter of every democracy.’

Bamidele urged all the contestants to accept and respect the decision of the majority, stressing that the conclusion of the election should pave the way for reconciliation and inclusive governance in the state.

He congratulated Adeleke but said the victory came with the responsibility of reuniting the people of Osun State across political divides and ensuring that governance was directed towards the interests of all residents.

‘While politics is often based on the principle of partisanship to a specific political party, governance entails a collective approach that must not exclude any section of the state,’ he said.

The Senate Leader also urged Adeleke to extend a hand of fellowship to other candidates and political parties, saying such an approach would promote peace, stability and effective service delivery. He called on other candidates, particularly the APC candidate, Oyebamiji, to sheathe their swords and support the elected governor in the interest of Osun State.

‘I strongly encourage the candidate of our great party, Mr Bola Oyebamiji, to contact Governor Adeleke, congratulate him on his re-election and constructively share with him innovative policy ideas that can help him serve the interests of our people much better,’ Bamidele said.

He argued that the APC should not regard the outcome as an outright defeat, noting that Adeleke was formerly a member of the APC and had expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election.

Bamidele said the election also offered important lessons for the APC ahead of the 2027 general elections, particularly on the need to strengthen its campaign strategy and deepen engagement with voters and stakeholders across the South-West.

He said the party must meaningfully engage artisans, market women, farmers, entrepreneurs, youths, women, labour unions, civil society organisations, community leaders, traditional rulers, business leaders and other stakeholders.

‘Our engagement approach, more than any time in our recent history, must be all-encompassing, and it must not leave any person or interest behind,’ he said.

Bamidele also congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on what he described as the successful conduct of the Osun election, saying the outcome was clear.

‘To Governor Adeleke, your re-election reaffirms the supremacy of the people in democracy, and this comes with a huge responsibility that demands a collective approach,’ he said.

He added that the APC and its candidate had competed with courage, ideas and vigour, but the people had decided otherwise.

‘The outcome of this election does not make us a loser, but indeed a true stakeholder in the progress and posterity of Osun State,’ the leader added.

He expressed hope that the outcome of the election would usher in greater economic, social and technological development for Osun State.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kaduna State University (KASU) Chapter, has raised the alarm over the exodus of over 200 lecturers, including professors and other academic staff.

The union noted that the lecturers left the university due to poor conditions of service and the non-implementation of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU Agreement, promotional areas, etc.

To this end, the Union issued a two-week ultimatum to the university authorities and other relevant stakeholders to commence the full implementation and domestication of the agreement, warning that failure to do so could lead to a total, comprehensive, and indefinite strike.

Chairman of ASUU-KASU, Comrade Abubakar Abdullahi, gave the warning on Monday at a press conference held at the union’s secretariat at Kaduna State University, Kaduna, on Monday.

He said the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, which provides for improved conditions of service for academic staff in Nigerian universities, took effect in January 2026, but its implementation had yet to commence at KASU.

According to him, the union has written several letters to the university management, the Governing Council, and the visitor to the university, the Governor of Kaduna State, urging them to domesticate and implement the agreement in accordance with the law establishing the institution.

He said the union had also engaged stakeholders within and outside the state to intervene in the matter in an effort to maintain peace, stability, and industrial harmony at the university.

Comrade Abdullahi expressed concern that more than eight months after the agreement was signed, KASU was yet to commence its implementation, while almost all federal universities and several state universities had either implemented the agreement or announced timelines for its implementation, including the payment of accrued arrears.

The ASUU-KASU chairman said the delay had resulted in academic staff at the university becoming among the least-paid university workers in the country, despite KASU’s previous reputation for prioritizing staff welfare, saying over 200 lecturers, including professors, have left the university to polytechnics, colleges of education

He warned that continued delay in implementing the agreement would lead to the accumulation of salary arrears dating back to January 2026.

The union also attributed the departure of experienced academic staff, including professors and other lecturers, to poor conditions of service, warning that the loss of such personnel could take years for the university to recover from.

The chairman said the union’s Congress, at a meeting held on August 12, 2026, resolved to declare an industrial dispute and embark on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike, in line with the resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, which met at the University of Abuja on August 8 and 9, 2026.

He said the two-week ultimatum was issued in accordance with established procedures governing industrial disputes, giving the university authorities time to take concrete steps towards the full implementation and domestication of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement.

ASUU-KASU also listed several outstanding local issues affecting its members, including university autonomy, excessive workload, promotion arrears, death benefits, group life insurance coverage, the 25 and 35 per cent wage awards, and pension remittances.

The union urged the university management and other relevant authorities to treat the issues with urgency and provide satisfactory responses to avert industrial disharmony and preserve peace and stability at the institution.

The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has stepped up efforts to improve access to finance, agricultural inputs and other productive resources for women farmers as part of measures to boost food production and strengthen livelihoods across Nigeria.

The bank said the initiative was informed by persistent challenges limiting women’s participation and productivity in the agricultural value chain, despite their significant contribution to the sector.

According to estimates cited from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), women account for up to 70 per cent of Nigeria’s agricultural workforce, with women farmers contributing substantially to the country’s food supply.

However, the bank noted that limited access to productive resources continues to constrain their potential, particularly access to finance, inputs, technology, mechanisation and markets.

Recent World Bank data cited by the bank indicates that only three per cent of female farmers in Nigeria are formally enrolled in financial systems, compared with 10 per cent of male farmers.

BOA said closing the gap would help women farmers increase their yields, improve household livelihoods and contribute more significantly to national food security.

As part of its intervention, the bank recently engaged women farmers in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory and provided agricultural inputs to support their ongoing farming activities.

The bank said the engagement was designed not only to provide immediate support but also to better understand the challenges confronting women farmers and develop interventions that address the full production cycle.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of BOA, Ayodeji Oludare Sotinrin, said agricultural financing should extend beyond the disbursement of loans to addressing the practical constraints farmers face.

‘Women are already contributing significantly to agriculture and to Nigeria’s food system. Our responsibility is to ensure that the systems around them give them a better opportunity to produce, grow and participate in the value chain,’ he said.

Sotinrin added that farmers require access to inputs, mechanisation, markets and other support to translate financing into increased production.

‘Agricultural financing cannot end with disbursement. Farmers need access to inputs, mechanisation, markets and other support required to turn financing into output. That is the ecosystem we are building at the Bank of Agriculture,’ he said.

The bank said its approach is reflected in the Renewed Hope Smallholder Support and Value Chain Fund, through which it is working with farmer aggregation companies to bring more than two million smallholder farmers into a structured Federal Government-backed on-lending framework.

According to BOA, the model combines financing with agricultural inputs, agronomic support and offtake arrangements to increase production and improve farmers’ participation in the value chain.

The bank is also deploying a N250 billion facility to provide single-digit financing to smallholder farmers, while its N1.5 trillion recapitalisation is expected to expand its capacity to reach more farmers and deepen agricultural lending.

BOA said women farmers would particularly benefit from the integrated approach because the constraints they face are interconnected, with limited access to finance often compounded by difficulties obtaining inputs, technology, mechanisation and reliable markets.

The bank is also using its Guaranteed Minimum Price (GMP) Aggregation Programme to connect farmers producing selected commodities with structured aggregation, accredited warehouses and guaranteed offtake.

It said the arrangement is expected to provide farmers with greater certainty around markets while strengthening the link between financing, production and market access.

BOA said the overall objective is to make agricultural finance more responsive to the actual needs of farmers and enable them to convert access to capital and inputs into increased production.

The bank added that as Nigeria intensifies efforts to improve domestic food production and strengthen food security, expanding access to productive resources for underserved smallholder farmers, particularly women, would remain central to building resilient agricultural value chains.

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has expressed its willingness to partner with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) to ensure the success of the National Summit and Exhibition on Orange Economy, slated for Oct. 6-8, 2026, at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts (National Theatre) in Lagos.

The Managing Director of BOI, Dr Olasupo Olusi, gave the assurance when he received members of the summit’s organising committee, led by the NIPSS Director-General, Prof. Ayo Omotayo, at the bank’s corporate headquarters in Lagos on Monday.

‘We don’t just want to be a sponsor but partners. We want to play a key role in forming the whole event and all the activities around it,’ he said, adding that the bank is very big on the Creative Sector because of its objective of job creation.

‘We are experts. I have a whole creative division that finances the creative sector…I don’t think there is any development institution in Nigeria that finances the creative sector more than BOI. Count in BOI support because of our big influence in the creative sector’ he said.

Dr. Olusi advised the organizers of the summit to also seek support from other like-minded institutions that can also help in making the whole event a success because, he said, ultimately it is about national development, about the economy and job creation.

Earlier, the NIPSS Director-General, Prof. Omotayo, said the summit is being organized as part of the institute’s efforts to contribute to Mr. President’s target of growing Nigeria’s economy to US$1 trillion by 2030.

‘Mr. President is so much interested in Nigeria reaching the US$1 trillion economy. In the past four years, we have been having themes that will show the pathway to us having the US$1 trillion economy.

‘Mr. President deliberately approved this topic (Orange Economy) because he likes the fact that before now, we have done three others that have direct relationship with the US$1 trillion economy and he said let us see what the theme can bring,’ he said.

Prof. Omotayo explained that every year, Mr. President charges the institute with a theme of study that concerns him the most, adding: ‘Basically, he is looking for evidence-based research and recommendations on what can be done to reach the US$1 trillion economy.’

‘So, we have started on the Orange Economy. We have conducted four studies. Our participants who are divided into seven groups of 15 each have visited seven institutions in Abuja. They have completed visits to seven states in Nigeria. We have completed visits to 14 countries, seven in Africa and seven outside Africa. We have gathered data and we are looking at this. Our experts are putting their reports together,’ he said, noting that the report will be delivered to Mr. President in November.

‘Because Mr. President has asked us to start working immediately, that is why we are having the National Summit and Exhibition on Orange Economy. We are not asking BOI to sponsor this programme. We are asking that we work together as partners to ensure that the summit is well delivered’, the NIPSS Director-General said.

In his remarks, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, former Minister of Information and Culture and Managing Partner of Bruit Costaud, the consulting firm for the summit, said the National Theatre was chosen as venue for the summit because it is the natural baseline for discussing Nigeria’s creative future, being the historic epicentre of African Arts and Culture since FESTAC ’77.

‘The choice of National Theatre provides an appropriate, iconic and revitalised setting for the summit while underscoring its central message, that Nigeria’s creative and cultural assets constitute a powerful engine for economic growth, employment, investment and international influence,’ he said.

Alhaji Mohammed also said Lagos was chosen for the event because it is the undisputed creative capital and one of Africa’s leading centres for music, film, fashion, entertainment, advertising and digital creativity.

He said the Orange Economy, with 48 subsectors, is probably the most complex and most relevant economy today, adding: ‘When the informal numbers are included, we are talking of scores of millions of jobs being created.’

Other members of the committee who attended the meeting are Prof. Sola Adeyanju (mni), Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, Mr. Nosakhare Uwadiae, Mr. Steve Babaeko, Mrs. Olayemi Alaka and Mr. Segun Adeyemi.

Nigerian singer, Omah Stanley Didia, popularly known as Omah Lay, has revealed why he no longer puts pressure on himself to quit smoking after several unsuccessful attempts.

The Afrobeats star made this known during a podcast conversation with DJ Dan, where he spoke about his experience with smoking and the difficulty he has faced trying to quit.

Omah Lay said he had made several attempts to stop smoking but struggled to maintain the decision.

According to him, he has now chosen to accept smoking as part of his current lifestyle instead of continuing to force himself to quit.

‘I love smoking a lot. I tried to stop, I forced myself but I can’t. Honestly bro, life is just one. I am going to just die one day. We are all going to die one day. So what’s the essence of forcing myself to stop smoking?

‘I want to be at peace and smoke my weed. And the fact that it is illegal in Nigeria, it gives me artificial happiness and a sense of rebellion. This is it. This is my life. I will just live it. I will enjoy every single thing that I have.’