Category: The Nation – Nigeria

No fewer than 500 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sakwaya Ward, Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The mass defection, which added to the growing wave of opposition members joining the APC across the state’s 27 local government areas, was celebrated by party supporters.

Receiving the new members, Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters, Comrade Abdullahi Tsoho Garba, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to citizens’ welfare and the consolidation of Governor Malam Umar Namadi’s development agenda.

Garba highlighted the governor’s inclusive approach to governance, emphasizing progress in infrastructure, human capital development, and service delivery – all aimed at building a prosperous Jigawa State.

He assured the defectors of continued access to the dividends of democracy under the Namadi administration.

Also speaking, the member representing Dutse Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Tasiu Soja, welcomed the new entrants and pledged equal opportunities and fair treatment within the party.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former PDP chairman of Sakwaya Ward, Malam Danazumi Yakubu, said their decision was driven by Governor Namadi’s purposeful and people-centered leadership.

‘We joined the APC to contribute our quota to building a prosperous Jigawa under Governor Namadi’s realistic 12-point agenda. The mission is on the right track, and we don’t want to be left behind,’ Yakubu stated.

Prominent among the new APC members are PDP stakeholder Alhaji Garba Dankwashan (Sarkin Fawa), Ward Secretary Abdulrahim Zobiya, Women Leader Hajiya Mariya, Youth Leader Kabiru Jidawa, and the polling unit chairmen of Gadarawa and Sabon Gari.

The President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Justice Benedict Kanyip, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, and other stakeholders have called for a concerted effort to strengthen the promotion of labour justice as a means of fostering industrial harmony and social justice in Nigeria.

The call was made on Thursday in Abuja during the 2025 Annual Public Lecture of the NICN, themed ‘Labour Law and Labour Law Education.’

The event featured contributions from Justice Kanyip, Ajaero, and Professor Ademola Popoola of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.

Justice Kanyip noted that this year’s lecture marked the fourth in the court’s public lecture series since he assumed office in 2019. He emphasized the need to improve public understanding of labour laws, which he described as limited among the general populace.

He advocated for the inclusion of labour law studies in school curricula to ensure that citizens are better informed about their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

‘We are interrogating the principles of labour justice and labour law education,’ Justice Kanyip said. ‘Labour justice and labour law education are intertwined concepts. While labour justice refers to fairness and equity in the workplace, labour law education ensures that workers, employers, and legal professionals understand and apply these principles effectively.’

‘This education is crucial for promoting social justice and adherence to legal regulations like minimum wage, working conditions, anti-discrimination laws, and the general impact on the economy.

‘Labour justice is, therefore, a framework rooted in social justice, human rights and the rule of law, which aims to ensure fairness, dignified working conditions for all,’ Kanyip said.

Ajaero noted that a healthy, harmonious, robust, and productive industrial relations space is the bedrock of national development, adding that a fair, impartial, and efficient adjudicatory process was necessary to realise this.

He added, ‘For this to be achieved, it is imperative that key stakeholders within this process, particularly the judiciary, possess a deep and nuanced understanding of the actors and their psychology in the industrial relations sphere: their aspirations, their strategies, their legitimate tactics, and their peculiar challenges.

‘This understanding is what enables the making of balanced and equitable decisions that uphold justice.

‘It is therefore our firm belief that the judicial process, especially under the sacred mandate of the National Industrial Court, must not be used to further the emasculation of workers and their organisations.

‘On the contrary, it must be deployed as a shield to protect the weak and vulnerable worker from the paws of unconscionable employers. This is the core of your lordships’ sacred mandate,’ he said.

Ajaero expressed concern that governments, their agencies, and other employers were often quick to approach the court for an injunction to prevent workers from exercising their rights.

He said since the Constitution guarantees to right to religion and association, it was wrong for employers to seek to prevent their workers from belonging to labour unions of their choice.

The NLC President called on the Executive arm of government to, without further delay, transmit the Reviewed Labour Administration Laws to / the National Assembly for passage into Law.

He noted that ‘these reviewed laws are crucial to aligning our workplace realities with international best practices and the evolving needs of the 21st-century workforce.

‘The continued delay is a disservice to the Labour adjudicatory process and undermines our nation,’ Ajaero said.

Popoola advised that ‘as we pursue the concept of labour justice, we should do so in the context of human security. The concept of human security is now actually in the forefront of the Constitution.’

He suggested that the provisions as contained in chapter two of the country’s Constitution should be reviewed to make them justiciable as a way of enhancing social justice.

Prof Popoola, who urged aggrieved workers to explore other dispute resolution mechanisms, warned that if the capacity of the NICN is not promptly enhanced, it will soon be overwhelmed.

The Rivers State University in Port Harcourt is set to host the second edition of the international conference/workshop of the Development Communication Research Association of Nigeria (DECRAN).

DECRAN’s Convener and President, Dr. Blessing N. Chinweobo-Onuoha, announced this in a statement yesterday by the Director of Media and Publicity, Dr. Chekwube Nzomiwu.

The statement said the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, will also be the chief host of the conference slated for November 19 to 21, while the Dean in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Prof. Richard N. Amadi, will be the host.

The statement added: ‘The Head, Department of Development Communication Studies, Rivers State University, Dr. Itieke-Idamieba Harry, is the co-host, while Dr. Sarah C. Joe chairs the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

‘Prof. Godwin B. Okon of the Department of Development Communication Studies, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt, is the keynote speaker, while Prof. Christopher Ochonogor of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt, will serve as the lead paper presenter.

‘The theme of the conference is: Digital inclusion and the Frontiers of Development Communication, while the sub-themes cover Development Communication and Digital Innovation, Education and Learning, Arts, Humanities and Cultural Communication, as well as Social Sciences and Governance.

‘The topics to be discussed include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and the Future of Development Messaging, Digital Inclusion and Communication Access in Rural Communities, Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Trends and Impacts, and Community Media, Podcasting and Citizen Journalism.

‘Also to be discussed are: Mobile Health and Behaviour Change Strategies, Combating Health Misinformation in Digital Spaces, Human Centred Design in Health Promotion Campaigns, Indigenous Communication and Health Education, Telehealth, Trust and Communication Ethics, Digital Learning Platforms and Access to Quality Education, Storytelling and Creative Arts in Development Narratives, Communication, Policy Advocacy and Democratic Participation, among others.’

Chinweobo-Onuoha stated that the conference would be open to all academics and professionals, regardless of their discipline.

She added: ‘There will be brainstorming sessions on the chosen topics at the conference. Our association (DECRAN) stands as a pioneering force in the realm of communication research in the country, having produced two journals since our maiden international conference hosted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in November last year.’

According to the programme of events, the opening ceremony/plenary session will be held on November 20, to be followed by the annual general meeting on November 21.

This year’s conference is being organised by DECRAN in collaboration with the Department of Development Communication Studies, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

State governments’ involvement in paying for examinations being organised by the National Examinations Council (NECO), West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and Qur’anic bodies, especially in the North, was informed by the initiatives of the second tier of government on inclusive education. This was aimed at providing equal learning opportunities for all students, valuing their unique backgrounds, and fostering a sense of community and collaboration. Its significance also lies in developing essential life skills, reducing stigma, promoting academic growth for diverse learners, and building more resilient, prosperous, and equitable societies. The plan of states to tackle out-of-school children’s menace affecting about 20 million of school age children also informed the need to pay their school and examinations fees.

It is also meant to create equal opportunities and access to all pupils, regardless of their abilities, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background, to get the same chance to learn and develop the skills needed to thrive.

This is in line with United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) policy, which considers education a fundamental human right, a public good, and a key driver of peace and sustainable development. UNESCO is the only United Nations agency with a mandate to cover all aspects of education, from early childhood to higher education and beyond. Its global efforts are anchored in the Education 2030 Agenda, specifically Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning for all.

It is also in line with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF’s) work on education, which focuses on ensuring every child has access to quality learning, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of the most marginalised and vulnerable children. This includes working on access to equitable and inclusive education, improving learning quality, and providing support during emergencies, especially on the need to address gender disparities and improve access for girls in schools.

States recurring default in paying exam fees of registered candidates

But, such educational initiative of paying fees for examinations for pupils becomes a problem for the candidates as such state governments defaulted by owing the examination bodies billions for many years thereby truncating the future of the candidates to embark on acquisition of more knowledge, skills, and values to build a more sustainable future.

In a media report on February 17, 2023, the NECO Registrar, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, stated that seven northern states collectively owed NECO over N2 billion in unpaid examination fees. The debt was reportedly reduced from over N3 billion through the efforts of some state governors. This debt, which is used to pay examiners and acquire materials, affects the council’s ability to conduct examinations smoothly.

The registrar made this known while announcing the 2022 External Senior School Certificate Examination at the council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State. He said the debt was affecting the council in the conduct of examination as it relied on what it generated from the payment of examination fees to pay its examiners.

Also, WAEC had in the past raised concerns about state governments defaulting on payments for candidates in public schools. In 2023, eight states reportedly owed the examination council. Zamfara and Niger were identified as the biggest debtors.

Zamfara State, under former Governor Bello Matawalle, reportedly owed WAEC about N1.6 billion, a figure later confirmed by the current administration. In an interview, Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesperson, Mustapha Kaura, said the debt was inherited from two previous administrations.

Kaura said the state intended to pay the debt either in full or in installments once the governor secured approval from the state executive council. In May 2025, the Zamfara government announced it had paid N1.4 billion to clear the debts it owed to WAEC from 2018 to 2022.

‘The swift payment of the outstanding debt to WAEC and NECO has relieved the stranded Zamfara students, who completed their final exams, but could not proceed in their education due to the examination bodies withholding their results,’ a statement published on the state government’s website said.

‘For the West African Examination Council (WAEC), Governor Dauda Lawal has paid the outstanding bill of one billion, four hundred million naira that the previous administrations owed from 2018 to 2022.’

In 2021, a report identified six states as owing NECO N1.8 billion. They were Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, Kano, Niger, and Zamfara.

As expected, WAEC and NECO usually withhold results for state-sponsored students when the respective state governments fail to pay the registration fees. This is a recurring issue that affects thousands of students across the country.

Zamfara pays N3.7b exams debt, students’ withheld results released

Few days ago, the Zamfara State Government announced that it had settled accumulated debts owed examination bodies leading to the release of withheld students’ results. Briefing journalists on this development, the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Malam Wadato Madawaki, said this had ended nearly a decade of non-release of student’s results.

He said the milestone was one of the gains of Governor Lawal’s declaration of a state of emergency on education in November 2023. Madawaki explained that, when they assumed office, they met a chaotic situation where public school pupils, who sat for WAEC and NECO examinations between 2015 and 2023, could not access their results.

He alleged that previous administrations of Zamfara State failed to pay their examination fees. According to him, Zamfara owed WAEC N1.4 billion for the period 2019 to 2023, while NECO was owed N1.3 billion for examinations conducted between 2019 and 2022.

Madawaki said a backlog of N1.022 billion covering 2015 to 2018 NECO exams was also settled by the present administration. He noted that due to the debts, Zamfara public schools were initially barred from writing NECO examinations in 2022 and 2023, but following Governor Lawal’s intervention, NECO shifted the 2023 exams by two weeks to allow pupils from the state to participate.

‘With the governor’s approval, all outstanding payments have now been made. WAEC has released all withheld results up to 2024, while NECO has cleared results from 2015 to 2022,” he said.

Stakeholders urge timely payment of exams fees

While the move by the governor was aimed at securing the future of many pupils, many of whom could not collect their higher institution certificates because their secondary school results were withheld, stakeholders have called on concerned state governments still defaulting to pay the examination bodies.

Reacting on the issue in an interview with The Nation, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) Chief Adeolu Ogunbanjo said it was unfortunate that state governments are not paying for the NECO and WAEC examinations of their students after they must have sat for the examinations. According to him, it means that any state government that has not paid the examination fees is only paying lip service to education.

Ogunbanjo said: ‘WAEC and NECO have honoured you. They have agreed that the pupils should write the exams on credit. You didn’t pay in advance; whereas individuals will pay in advance.

‘But these organisations will trust the state governments and they allow the students to write the exams. I’m sorry to say that any state government that has refused to pay the examination fees of their students is only paying lip service to education. The states should not be taken seriously as having anything to do with the upbringing and education of their students.

‘They are saying that they want to encourage education for all. But, their attitude is absurd, condemnable and really very bad.

‘The implication is that for the case of Zamfara State that owed to the tune of five to 10 years, we don’t know what the students will be doing. That means the time they would have graduated, they would be waiting for examination results.

‘So, that is why I said they are only paying lip service to education of their states’ students. They should stop that and then be serious with education for once. And that is why these people have been encouraged to join Boko Haram to become bandits. It’s rather unfortunate. And they should stop it.’

The Founder/CEO IA-Foundation, Ibironke Adeagbo, in an interview with Nation, said education is not a privilege. It is a fundamental right guaranteed to every child, regardless of gender, background, or circumstances, Adeagbo said.

‘When states fail to pay examination bodies, they punish the children they are meant to support. The consequences of such actions by some states have shattered many dreams, interrupted learning, caused emotional distress, and increased the dropout rate among young people.

‘As an organisation committed to addressing the out-of-school children crisis in Nigeria, we urge all indebted states to take urgent action by clearing their debts to WAEC and NECO without further delays.

Zamfara’s recent efforts to settle its debts, which have spanned five to 10 years, are highly commendable. This should motivate and encourage all other indebted states to do the same, in order to fulfill their constitutional obligations and moral responsibilities to ensure that no child is denied access to education.

Ronke Oyelakin Odukoya, a child rights activist and the current Executive Director of the Bimbo Odukoya Foundation (BOF) in Lagos, Nigeria, submitted that it was sad that this was happening in the nation’s education system.

Odukoya, who also serves as the Executive Coordinator for BOF and a Public Relations Officer for the Association of Orphanage and Home Operators in Nigeria (ASOHON), said: ‘So as a child protection network, an initiative of UNICEF, my message is to encourage states to clear these debts for the benefit of students’ future prospects and uphold their right to education as enshrined in the constitution – ‘the right to development’. The implication of unpaid debts is that students’ results remain withheld, hindering their academic and career progression, as seen in the case of Zamfara, which recently settled its debt to resolve withheld results.

‘If we should analyse the impact of these debts on children and young people, re-emphasising their right to education, it is imperative and a wakeup call for ‘timely payment’. CPN urges the governments through the states to fulfill their financial obligations to examination bodies to ensure students can access their full results and continue their education.

‘Importance of education cannot be over-emphasised knowing that education is a crucial pathway for personal development and societal progress, and withheld results act as a significant barrier to this.

‘The ripple effect of this unpaid debt can mar the futures of these children and impact on future opportunities as it can also prevent students from sitting for future examinations, thus creating a long-term negative impact on their ability to pursue further education or employment.

‘The children could also loose trust in the state government and the examination bodies.

‘Lastly, the delay in paying the examination fees may make students to lose interest in education and could lead many to engaging in some social vices; and an idle mind is indeed the devils workshop.

‘Some of the affected students may be compelled to abandon schools and engage in menial jobs, especially in any financial earnings pending the release of their results.

‘As a child advocate, knowing the importance of education to any child’s development, I want to implore the government and other actors to ensure that these unpaid fees are cleared and our children can further their education and in return, be an impactful members of the society and the country at large.’

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has put measures in place on how it can be more united so as to win 2027 governorship and other elections.

The party lamented the activities of some aspirants seeking elective positions, who had been floating and nurturing groups, saying ”this is furthering causing divisions within the party, instead of uniting it.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Leadership Summit in Ibadan, the party resolved that its interest must take precedent over and above personal interests, saying every aspirant, who had been floating groups within the party must desist.

The communiqué said the aspirants were enjoined to concentrate efforts on promoting APC, instead of promoting groups’ interests.

‘We note that imposition of candidates for elective and party positions is unhealthy for peace, unity and cohesion within the party. We therefore advocate an all-inclusive, free, fair and transparent processes of electing party candidates and officials without external influence.

‘There is gross misuse of social media platforms by some party members. Such misuse of social media platforms is further causing divisions within the party. We have therefore resolved that the use of social media as a means of passing information concerning the party must be controlled.

‘We note that the absence of a rallying point is negatively affecting coordination within the party. We hereby resolve that in the absence of a sitting governor, who is a member of our party, it is imperative that a collegiate leadership comprising two nominees from the three senatorial zones be immediately put in place.

‘We note that some aspirants have been campaigning and in the process, they are making inflammatory comments capable of further deepening divisions within the party.

‘We therefore resolve that campaign activities are premature at the moment, most especially, taking into cognisance INEC’s guidelines. We therefore caution aspirants against making inflammatory statements and engaging in campaign activities, against INEC’s guidelines.

‘We note that Oyo State is short-changed in respect of appointments from Abuja despite our contributions to the successes of the party in 2023. We therefore resolve that the party needs to make a strong representation to Abuja to address this unfair treatment.’

Lagos has again taken the continental spotlight as it hosts the 2025 International Conference on Sustainable Urban Mobility (SUMConference25), a landmark platform convened by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) to drive Africa’s transition toward cleaner, smarter, and more inclusive transport systems.

The conference with the theme: ‘Harnessing clean urban transport innovation and investment in Africa.’ brings together policymakers, financiers, engineers, and development partners from across the continent to explore sustainable pathways for transforming urban mobility through innovation and strategic investment.

Declaring the summit open, Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, described clean transport as ‘a prerequisite for competitiveness and public health, not a luxury.’ He said the conference should not be seen merely as an event but as ‘a foundational movement for continental renaissance’ anchored on sustainable mobility.

‘This conference represents a defining moment for Africa’s cities,’ he said. ‘We must harness innovation and direct investment towards building transport systems that are climate-smart, people-focused, and future-ready. Lagos is leading this charge with policies that promote electric mobility, CNG adoption, and sustainable transport integration.’

Sanwo-Olu noted that the rapid urbanisation confronting African cities also presents a rare opportunity to lead the global clean-transport revolution. He cited the successes of Dakar’s Electric Bus Rapid Transit and Kigali’s cycling lanes as examples of African ingenuity that prove sustainable mobility is achievable on the continent.

‘Our goal,’ he said, ‘is to create an African Platform for Sustainable Mobility that will harmonize standards, pool resources, and advocate fair financing for clean transport development.’

The Managing Director of LAMATA, Engr. (Mrs.) Abimbola Akinajo, underscored the significance of the gathering, describing it as a shift ‘from dialogue to concrete action.’ She said the conference was conceived to turn shared ideas into measurable outcomes that advance Africa’s clean mobility agenda.

‘This platform is not just about talk,’ she said. ‘It is about collaboration, innovation, and investment that can make clean transport achievable and profitable across the continent. Our responsibility is to forge a future defined by efficiency, equity, and sustainability.’

Akinajo outlined LAMATA’s commitment to scaling up clean transport technologies, including compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric buses, and to promoting initiatives such as SHE-CAN, which prioritizes safety and inclusiveness in urban mobility.

She noted that the summit, which evolved from the Africa Sustainable Mobility Course hosted in 2022 and 2023, has grown into a full-scale international dialogue aligning with the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport (2026-2035). ‘We are creating a continental network of actors committed to low-carbon transport systems that support social inclusion and economic resilience,’ she said.

In his remarks, the Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to policies that align with global sustainability standards. ‘Our goal is to ensure that transport in Lagos evolves with technology and environmental responsibility at its core,’ he said. ‘Through strategic planning, we are integrating electric vehicles, expanding CNG infrastructure, and modernising traffic management to make Lagos a clean, efficient, and resilient megacity.’

The high-level attendance reflected the growing momentum behind the clean mobility agenda. Dignitaries present included the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transport, Hon. Temitope Adewale; Commissioner for Transport, Ogun State, Hon. Gbenga Dairo; Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa; General Manager, LASPARK, Mrs. Adetoun Ibilola; and General Manager, LASPA, Mrs. Adebisi Adelabu.

Delegates from more than 12 African countries, including Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, South Africa, and Ethiopia, joined representatives from the African Development Bank (AfDB), UN-Habitat, and C40 Cities. Discussions centred on financing frameworks, alternative fuels, carbon markets, intelligent transport systems, and air quality management, which are all key to positioning African cities for sustainable economic growth.

Akinajo said Lagos’s growing reputation as a hub for clean transport reform and knowledge exchange places it at the forefront of Africa’s sustainable mobility movement. ‘From our waterways to our roads, Lagos is embracing innovation not as an experiment, but as a necessity,’ she said.

The three-day conference continues with technical sessions, exhibitions, and investment forums showcasing innovations in electric vehicles, smart mobility, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to demolish buildings of land grabbers.

He particularly mentioned land grabbers and encroachers on the Lot A parcel of land (popularly called Coral City), at the Obagie Acquisition, Benin City.

Okpebholo, in a statement, by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, said this was his final warning to land grabbers and encroachers to desist from selling, building, or buying any land from any speculator in the designated area.

He said the entire Obagie Acquisition belonged to the state government, adding that plans were underway to return Lots B, C and D of the Obagie Acquisition to their owners/occupants.

The governor said return of the affected Lots was part of his promise to regularise properties on government land and return the land to their owners.

The statement said: ‘Th is notice serves as a strong and last warning to land grabbers and encroachers on government land in Lot A (Coral City) and others across the state, as dire consequences await such illegal activities.

‘Any building on the designated area (Lot A) will also be demolished, while the encroachers will be prosecuted.’

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah scored twice to help Egypt beat Djibouti 3-0 in Casablanca yesterday and qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The 33-year-old has netted nine times in a marathon qualifying campaign that began two years ago, and victory for Egypt gave them an unassailable five-point lead in Group A with one round remaining.

Twice African Footballer of the Year, Salah helped Liverpool win the Premier League a record-equalling 20th time last season, and captured the Golden Boot award with 29 goals.

But the Egypt captain has lost his spark with Liverpool this season, scoring just three goals in nine matches in all competitions.

After Ibrahim Adel put Egypt ahead on eight minutes, Salah netted six minutes later and again on 84 minutes to complete the scoring.

While Egypt have won the Africa Cup of Nations a record seven times, they have been less successful in World Cup qualifying, qualifying for the tournament just four times in 15 attempts – in 1934, 1990, 2018 and now 2026.

Former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey scored as Ghana trounced the Central African Republic 5-0 in Meknes, and need one point from their final match at home to Comoros to qualify.

Mohammed Salisu, Alexander Djiku, captain Jordan Ayew 71 and Kamaldeen Sulemana were the other scorers for the Black Stars, who led 1-0 at half-time.

Cape Verde came from two goals behind in Tripoli to draw 3-3 with Libya and edge closer to a first World Cup appearance.

The island nation of about 550,000 inhabitants off the coast of Senegal will clinch first place in Group D if they defeat Eswatini in Praia on Monday.

Known as the Blue Sharks, the Cape Verdeans are two points ahead of Cameroon, who beat Mauritius 2-0 in Saint-Pierre with Manchester United striker Bryan Mbeumo among the goals.

Cape Verde have 20 points after nine rounds, two more than Cameroon, whose eight World Cup appearances in an African record.

Roberto Lopes, a defender with Republic of Ireland club Shamrock Rovers, conceded a first-minute own goal as Cape Verde made a disastrous start.

Telmo Arcanjo levelled for the island nation before goals either side of half-time from Ezoo el Mariamy and Mahmoud al Shalwi gave the Mediterranean Knights a 3-1 lead.

Sidny Cabral reduced the deficit and Cyprus-based Willy Semedo equalised on 82 minutes to set up a tense finish as Cape Verde sought a fourth goal and qualification.

A match-winner did not materialise, but they will be expected to beat Eswatini, who remained winless in the group after surrendering a two-goal advantage in a 2-2 draw with Angola in Lobamba.

Cameroon, firm pre-qualifying favourites to win the group, had to secure maximum points in Mauritius to keep alive their hopes of overtaking Cape Verde, but needed 92 minutes to ensure success.

Dynamo Moscow midfielder Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu put the Indomitable Lions ahead on 57 minutes and Mbeumo struck in added time with his fourth goal of the qualifying campaign.

Cameroon complete their schedule at home to Angola in Yaounde and must win to have any hope of automatic qualification.

Should Cape Verde finish first, Cameroon would hope to finish among the four best-ranked runners-up and qualify for play-offs in November.

The winners of the African mini-tournament, comprising single-match semi-finals and a final, advance to six-nation inter-continental play-offs next March with two World Cup places up for grabs.

Eswatini looked set to end an eight-match winless run in the mini-league when South Africa-based Justice Figuareido pounced on long passes to score twice early in the second half.

Angola, with French coach Patrice Beaumelle in charge for the first time after the sacking of Portuguese Pedro Goncalves, halved the deficit through Jonathan Buatu.

Then slack Eswatini marking at a corner enabled Papel Ary to head the equaliser with 10 minutes of regular time remaining.

Afrobeats singer Adekunle Gold has described his creative partnership with his wife and colleague, Simi as seamless and collaborative.

In a recent interview, he explained how Simi effortlessly contributes to some songs by adding to the chorus while mixing it in the studio.

According to him, their process involves mutual input, with Simi often enhancing his tracks with backups or adjustments during mixing, even without him present.

Similarly, he said he provides feedback on her songs, making their collaboration smooth and intuitive.

Adekunle Gold said, ‘My partnership with Simi is very seamless. When I write. So, Don Corleone, when I made the song, I think she was listening to the chorus when I made it, and she just said, well, she has an idea, that she wanted to add something to it. I’m like, okay, go for it.

‘And then she just went, go Kunle, and that was it. I’m like, oh, this is smart. And that’s it.

‘And we’re just in the studio right there, because she was mixing the song. She mixed the song at first, right? She was mixing the song and then she just added to it. Sometimes one of the benefits I enjoy is when I send my song to Simi to mix, you know, she does like some. I don’t have to be there.

‘She just does some backups, things that the song needs, and then that’s it. It’s just very easy. When she writes the songs, when she sends to me, I tell her what I think she should add to it, and that’s easy’.

Addressing claims about Simi prioritising his career over hers, Adekunle dismissed the speculation, emphasising that both he and Simi are unaffected and content with their dynamic.

‘All of these things don’t faze me, nor my wife or anything. We’re good’, he said.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Alhaji Olayide Abas, has expressed confidence that the long-standing internal crisis within the party, which has hindered its return to power since 2019, will soon be resolved.

Abas assured that stakeholders across the party are now committed to working together to rebuild a stronger and more united progressive front in the state.

Speaking at the party’s Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, the APC chairman noted that conflicts are natural in any human organisation and are often the result of interactions, competition, and differing interests.

He added that the true measure of leadership lies in the ability to effectively manage such inevitable crises, stressing that this capacity determines a party’s growth, cohesion, and eventual electoral success.

He said, ‘In Oyo APC today, we have gone through a lot in the last seven or eight years and the beautiful thing now is that we have got to a point where virtually everyone is saying ‘enough is enough’.

‘We had a Leadership Summit on Tuesday and its outcome reflected a bright future of hope, unity and progress for our great Party in the state. The Summit was well attended by invited dignitaries from across the state and it signalled a new beginning with a promise of huge success.

‘I must appreciate Party leaders such as; His Excellency Chief Iyiola Oladokun, Chief Akin Oke, Senator Ayo Adeseun, Sen. Brimo Yusuf, Alhaji Fatai Ibikunle among other stakeholders as well as all the members of the Peace Advocates (a group of eminent APC leaders in the state) for their contributions to the success of the Summit which rekindled the spirit of togetherness, love and service in our people as evident in the feedback generated during and after the programme.

‘We have carried out series of reconciliation efforts since I assumed office as the state chairman late last year and the results are manifesting.

‘Even the Summit which we organized successfully on Tuesday was sponsored by eminent party members who wanted the best for the APC in the state and the next thing is for us to set up an Implementation Committee for the resolutions reached at the summit to see the light of the day while efforts are being put in place to organize an expanded Stakeholder Meeting as soon as possible with a view to bringing everyone on board.’