Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Nigeria’s foremost brewing company Nigerian Breweries Plc(NB Plc) through its Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has inaugurated a Digital Learning Centre at Wisdom International School of Excellence (WISE) Sauka Lugbe Abuja in honour of Ms. Serah Yusuf winner of the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition.

The school infrastructure project forms part of the broader objective of the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative which recognises outstanding educators while extending the benefits of their achievements to students and school communities.

The centre is equipped with computers internet connectivity a smart screen computer-based testing (CBT) facilities digital learning and assessment tools and a 10KVA solar-powered inverter system.

Head of Public External and Government Affairs NB Plc Chukwuemeka Aniukwu said: ‘Through this project we are extending the impact of the Maltina Teacher of the Year award beyond recognising outstanding teachers. We want to ensure that their achievements translate into lasting benefits for their schools and communities. By investing in digital learning we are creating more opportunities for students to access technology-enabled education.” Deputy Director Education Federal Ministry of Education Dr. Iyabode Alli commended the Fund for its contribution to education.

Alli underscored the significance of digital learning infrastructure and public-private partnerships in improving teaching and learning outcomes.

Also Head of Academics WISE Schools Adesuwa Ogwu expressed appreciation to the Trust Fund for the investment noting that the Centre would strengthen the school’s capacity to deliver digital learning.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Union Bank of Nigeria Plc a partner in the initiative Nigerian Breweries Plc and the school community.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) clarified that Nigeria has not been declared Ebola-free saying it is still monitoring 52 contacts linked to the country’s confirmed case of Bundibugyo virus disease.

WHO Nigeria issued the clarification after reports suggested the country was free of the disease following the evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland.

The organisation said Nigeria currently had no confirmed case following the patient’s medical evacuation but stressed that this did not mean the outbreak had officially ended.

‘WHO has not declared Nigeria Ebola-free. Nigeria currently has no confirmed case of Ebola following the medical evacuation of the index patient to Switzerland. Health officials are closely monitoring 52 contacts who may have been exposed’ it said.

The organisation explained that it could declare an outbreak over only after the required monitoring period under international health regulations had ended.

It said a 42-day countdown would begin after the last confirmed case tested negative twice for the virus or in the current situation after the confirmed case was evacuated.

The period would be followed by heightened surveillance to detect any possible resurgence of the disease.

WHO urged media organisations to correct reports claiming Nigeria had been declared Ebola-free calling them an inaccurate interpretation of a post by its Regional Director for Africa.

The clarification follows Nigeria’s confirmation of an imported case of Bundibugyo virus disease a type of Ebola in a 42-year-old woman who travelled from Uganda to Nigeria.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) confirmed the infection on October 20 2026 after laboratory tests returned positive results.

The patient was isolated and treated by Nigerian health workers before being medically evacuated to Switzerland alongside her husband who is also a Swiss citizen.

Following the evacuation health authorities have continued monitoring 52 contacts who may have been exposed to the patient.

Authorities are monitoring the contacts to identify possible infections and prevent further transmission.

WHO stressed that continued surveillance and compliance with public health monitoring requirements remained essential until conditions for officially declaring the outbreak over were met.

Actress and filmmaker Wumi Toriola has urged schools and parents to take extra precautions amid the intense heat currently experienced in parts of the country.

Toriola made the call in a post shared via her Instagram page on Monday.

The actress speaking as a concerned mother appealed to schools to put measures in place to protect pupils from the harsh weather.

She also advised parents to increase the amount of water in their children’s water bottles and to remind them to stay hydrated and dress lightly.

She wrote: ‘As a concerned mother I appeal to our schools to take extra precautions during this period of intense heat.

‘And parents increase their water bottles add extra water remind them to hydrate well and dress light.

‘Just a reminder as we enter a new week.’

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has urged African nations to aggressively prioritise investment in research-intensive universities science and technology to unlock sustainable economic growth and achieve true economic sovereignty across the continent.

?Speaking on Sunday during the closing panel of the 12th Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa held in Bahir Dar Ethiopia Jonathan warned that Africa can no longer afford to remain a passive consumer of foreign technologies. Instead he argued the continent must position itself as an active producer and exporter of knowledge and innovation.

?Addressing African leaders policymakers and international stakeholders the former president stressed that the continent’s ability to create productive jobs for its rapidly growing youth population hinges on its capacity to translate academic research into viable industrial and commercial ventures.

?Jonathan described research-intensive universities as critical engines of national development highlighting their pivotal role in generating knowledge conducting scientific research and training advanced skills

?’Africa’s transformation and economic sovereignty must be built on African knowledge driven by African ingenuity and sustained by African enterprise’ Jonathan declared during the panel discussion.

?He pointed to Asian and global economic success stories-specifically India Singapore and South Korea-as clear evidence that sustained state investment in scientific and technological infrastructure can transform developing economies into global industrial powerhouses.

?He said African governments must learn from these nations by channelling dedicated funding into science engineering digital technologies and applied research.

He advocated for a stronger formalised synergy between universities government agencies and the private sector.

?He noted that closer ties between higher institutions and industry would ensure research findings directly yield homegrown solutions spur new commercial enterprises and generate employment opportunities tailored to Africa’s unique socio-economic challenges.

?Highlighting the continent’s demographic advantage Jonathan emphasised that Africa’s large youth population is its most valuable resource for long-term transformation. However he cautioned that this potential can only be realised if governments deliberately create the enabling environment for young people to acquire advanced technical skills and pursue entrepreneurial innovation.

?He called on leaders to equip the younger generation with the tools needed not only to participate in the evolving global economy but to influence its direction actively

?The Tana High-Level Forum is an annual platform that brings together African heads of state experts and civil society leaders to address pressing security governance and development challenges facing the continent. Jonathan’s submission firmly placed educational reform and scientific sovereignty at the heart of Africa’s security and economic agenda.

Spain and Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has won his third consecutive Best Young Player of the Year award in the 2026 Ballon d’or ceremony.

The Spanish youngster won the first of his three in 2024 when he broke into Barcelona’s first team.

For the women’s side of the award Barcelona Femini youngster Vicky Lopez.

Yamal is also one of the nominees for the Ballon d’or an award that he would be looking to secure.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has attributed the delay in opening the Opebi-Odo Iya Alaro Bridge to the installation of a 25-metre steel monument designed to reflect the cultural heritage of the area.

Sanwo-Olu spoke during an unscheduled inspection visit to the bridge to ascertain the progress of the installation being handled by Julius Berger Plc.

The governor explained that the monument was not part of the original bridge design but was introduced towards the final stage of construction.

He said this delayed the opening earlier projected for the end of September.

Sanwo-Olu also said the monument was conceived to preserve the history of the area as a cane market with four steel structures representing the hands involved in cane weaving.

According to him the installation involved about 300 tonnes of steel and stands approximately 25 metres high.

The governor announced that the installation was 80 per cent complete with three of the four steel components already assembled and installed.

Work on the final component he said would begin before the completion of other proposed features.

Sanwo-Olu urged the residents to exercise patience assuring them that the government would not compromise safety in its efforts to deliver the project.

The governor acknowledged that the bridge had missed its earlier opening target adding that the additional time was necessary to ensure the monument was safely installed before the facility was opened to traffic.

He hailed officials of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure as well as construction workers for their efforts urging them to accelerate work on the outstanding components.

Sanwo-Olu added that the bridge would ease movement for motorists and improve connectivity along the corridor.

He added that the monument could transform the location into a destination for recreation tourism and cultural appreciation.

The governor assured residents that the bridge would be opened to traffic before Christmas.

Governorship candidates omitted from the final list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will have to wait a little longer to know their fate.

The electoral body excluded their names following the September 24 Supreme Court judgment which upheld the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

It gave affected candidates until Saturday to submit their objections through their political parties.

Among the affected candidates are Oladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State; Isa Ali Pantami of the PDP in Gombe State; and Aminu Gwarzo of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) in Kano State.

The candidates are awaiting INEC’s decision on their appeals to know whether they will participate in next year’s governorship elections.

INEC’s Director of Information and Voter Education Victoria Eta-Mesi told our reporter yesterday that the commission would effect the necessary corrections but had yet to fix a date for the publication of the updated list.

She said: ‘All corrections submitted by other parties and candidates together with court orders are being effected and will be published once ready.

‘No date has been fixed for the publication.’

A high-ranking source within the commission said it was reviewing submissions by candidates and political parties and would consider each on its merit.

The source said: ‘The commission received complaints and will review them according to their merit and in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Constitution.

‘Those who are in accordance with the law will be included while those who fail the legal test will not be part of the election.

‘Don’t forget some of the candidates and parties are also in court.

‘When the judgments are delivered the commission will review and comply accordingly.’

The commission’s position followed complaints by political parties and candidates whose names were omitted from the governorship and state Houses of Assembly lists.

The list for the National Assembly elections contained the names of candidates who may have violated the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 following the Supreme Court’s judgment on Section 77 of the Act.

However the names of some candidates were excluded from the governorship and state Houses of Assembly lists prompting protests from the affected parties and candidates.

INEC subsequently gave them until October 24 to submit their complaints for consideration.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also wrote to the commission seeking the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment.

INEC said the corrections submitted by political parties and candidates alongside relevant court orders were being processed and would be published once ready.

Olawepo-Hashim’s name yet to be uploaded

The name of Olawepo-Hashim was yet to be uploaded to INEC’s website as Accord’s presidential candidate as of yesterday.

It was unclear why the commission had not uploaded his name despite a statement by INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan that the commission would respect the judgment and include him as the 19th presidential candidate for the January 16 election.

However it was gathered that the delay might be connected with an appeal filed by the party.

Accord National Chairman Maxwell Mgbudem told The Nation that the party had appealed the judgment but declined to give details of the appeal.

England and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane has won the 2026 Gerd Mller Trophy for his sensational 2025-26 campaign for club and country becoming just the second player in history to win the prize twice.

Since its inception in 2021 the Gerd Mller Trophy is awarded to the player with the most goals scored across a singular campaign. Named after the late German legend Gerd Mller.

The 33-year-old scored a total of 73 goals for Bayern Munich and England last season crowning him as the sport’s top goalscorer in the 2026 Ballon d’or ceremony.

Kane’s goals helped Bayern Munich add another Bundesliga title to their trophy cabinet. The defending German champions also won the DFB-Pokal and the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup.

The Yayi Progressives Movement (YPM) has announced plans to mobilise about 30000 members for its Ogun-East Mega Rally scheduled for Wednesday October 28 2026 at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium Ijebu-Ode Ogun State.

YPM said the event would demonstrate the organisation’s strength and mobilisation capacity while reaffirming its support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in Abeokuta during a press conference unveiling activities lined up for the rally Co-Convener and Director-General of the movement Rt. Hon. Kehinde Odeneye said YPM currently has over 90600 documented members across Ogun State adding that about 30000 members are expected to participate in the Ogun-East rally.

According to him the rally would mark the beginning of a wider mobilisation exercise that would subsequently move to the Ogun Central and Ogun West Senatorial Districts.

He said ‘We have deliberately chosen Ogun-East as the starting point of this campaign to demonstrate our organisational strength unity and readiness to support our party and its candidates.’

He noted that the movement would use the rally to mobilise support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Governor Dapo Abiodun the APC candidate for the Ogun-East Senatorial District Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola popularly known as Yayi and other APC candidates contesting legislative seats in the district.

Odeneye added that the rally would also feature the inauguration of specialised structures including the YPM Artisans Ambassadors Students’ Wing Youth Wing and Women’s Wing.

He explained that the structures were designed to deepen grassroots participation and ensure that different segments of society were effectively integrated into the movement.

The YPM Director-General said the movement had continued to strengthen its grassroots network through constituency coordinators polling-unit canvassers and other organised groups across the state.

He said participants would embark on a solidarity trek from Mobalufon to the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium at 7:00 a.m. while the main rally would begin at 11:00 a.m.

According to him the event would feature performances by Fuji musicians King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal popularly known as K1 De Ultimate and Alhaji Wasiu Alabi Pasuma while comedian and compere Gbenga Adeyinka would anchor the programme.

Odeneye assured participants and residents of adequate security arrangements saying the Nigeria Police Force Department of State Services Ogun State Amotekun Corps Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and other relevant agencies would be involved in security and traffic management.

Meanwhile the President of the Artisan Association of Nigeria Ogun State Comrade Anthony Ayodele disclosed that the rally would inaugurate 1180 YPM Artisans Ambassadors and Grassroots Mobilisers.

Ayodele said the initiative aimed to strengthen YPM’s grassroots structures across communities wards and local government areas.

He said the ambassadors and mobilisers would bridge the movement and the people by engaging residents communicating its programmes listening to community concerns and encouraging peaceful participation in the democratic process.

The artisan leader stressed the importance of artisans to economic development employment generation and skills acquisition saying the initiative would give artisans greater representation and visibility in the political process.

He called on artisans community leaders youths women students market associations party members and other stakeholders to participate in the rally.

Ayodele urged participants to maintain peace respect public facilities obey traffic and safety regulations and cooperate with security personnel and event officials.

The organisers said the mega rally would strengthen cooperation among YPM structures and reaffirm the movement’s commitment to peaceful and democratic participation ahead of the 2027 elections.

The rally will be held at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium Ijebu-Ode on Wednesday October 28 with the solidarity trek from Mobalufon commencing at 7:00 a.m.

The people of Aramoko Ekiti the headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State have appealed to the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi to intervene in the obaship crisis rocking the ancient town.

They also begged the monarch to plead with Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti to allow the Kingmakers to conclude the process of selecting a new monarch for the town which has been stalled for months.

The stool became vacant in August 2025 following the death of the previous monarch Oba Adegoke Adeyemi aged 82.

In a statement issued on Monday the head and secretary of the Kingmakers High Chiefs Julius Adebayo and Kolade Oyebade said the selection process had been suspended for about six months leaving the community without a substantive monarch.

They said the 12 Kingmakers were unable to reach a consensus among three shortlisted princes after an initial vote ended in a 6-6 tie.

They said a second round of voting was required to resolve the deadlock in line with the established selection procedure.

The Kingmakers said the process which began in April 2026 complied with the Alara of Aramoko Chieftaincy Declaration and the Ekiti State Chieftaincy Law.

They explained that they shortlisted three princes following an Ifa consultation conducted by renowned Ifa priest Baba Araba Elebuibon.

‘However 6 months later the process remains suspended after the Hon. Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs postponed it. Our letters to the Government have gone unanswered.

‘Kabiyesi we are constrained to run to you as our father and the custodian of Yoruba culture. The stool of Alara remains vacant. Our youths are restive. Our traditional festivals and rites cannot hold.

‘We therefore beg Kabiyesi Onirisa to please use your revered office to appeal to Governor Oyebanji to kindly grant permission for the Kingmakers to reconvene immediately and complete the selection’ the statement said.

The kingmakers said the prolonged vacancy was affecting the town’s cultural heritage traditional festivals and customary rites and expressed concern over growing restiveness among youths.

They described the Ooni as a revered traditional ruler and custodian of Yoruba culture whose intervention could help resolve the impasse peacefully.

The kingmakers expressed confidence that the Ooni’s intervention would help resolve the dispute and preserve the historical ties between Aramoko-Ekiti and Ile-Ife.

They also expressed confidence in Governor Oyebanji’s commitment to upholding the law and respecting traditional institutions.

‘We are confident that with Kabiyesi’s fatherly intervention this matter will be resolved peacefully and the ancient bond between Aramoko and Ife will continue to be protected and strengthened.

‘We have faith in Kabiyesi’s wisdom and in Governor Oyebanji’s respect for law and tradition’ it added.