Category: The Nation – Nigeria

As the world braces for a looming crisis in aquaculture feed, a group of bright Nigerian students is stepping forward with a solution that could reshape the future of fish farming. Students from Adiaha Obong Secondary Comprehensive School in Akwa Ibom State have captured national attention after winning the Ibom Innovation Challenge with their groundbreaking project, the Remote Fish Farming Monitoring System.

Their achievement comes against the backdrop of a sobering report by global financial services provider Rabobank, which has raised alarm over the growing shortage of fishmeal and fish oil-two key ingredients critical to the survival of the global aquaculture industry.

According to the report, titled Hooked on Scarcity, the supply of these marine-based feed ingredients is under severe strain as demand continues to outpace natural production.

Aquaculture, already one of the fastest-growing food sectors in the world, consumes nearly 90 percent of global fishmeal and about 70 percent of fish oil.

With production of salmon, shrimp, and other aquaculture staples expected to rise by 12 million metric tonnes by 2033, Rabobank warned that scarcity could begin as early as 2028, threatening both food security and livelihoods worldwide.

Against this global challenge, the young innovators in Uyo are offering hope. Known as the ‘Adisco Great Tech Innovators,’ the team’s winning project was showcased during the Akwa Ibom Tech Week 2024, where it captured the imagination of judges and audiences alike. The Remote Fish Farming Monitoring System is designed to help fish farmers oversee and control their ponds from a distance, using digital tools to track feeding, water quality, and fish health. By reducing waste and increasing efficiency, the system has the potential to make local aquaculture more resilient and sustainable-an innovation with implications far beyond Nigeria.

‘This project is not just a student experiment. ‘It is a practical response to a real problem. The new question for the youth is not ‘what do you want to become?’ but ‘what problem do you want to solve?’ These young people have answered that question brilliantly.’ said President , Ibom Innovation Network, Engr. Hanson Johnson, the organisation behind the challenge.

The Ibom Innovation Challenge, which has become a hub for nurturing grassroots technological solutions, rewarded the students with a N250,000 cash prize to further develop their idea. In addition to the financial support, members of the Ibom Innovation Network paid a celebratory visit to the school, recognising the team’s ingenuity and reaffirming the state’s commitment to fostering innovation among young people.

The Team leader, Mfoniso Patrick described the win as a turning point in her personal and academic journey. ‘This project has sparked a new interest in the world of technology for me.We started with just an idea, and now we see that it can solve real problems faced by farmers in our community. That is exciting,’ she said.

The Principal Mrs. Theresa Paulinus praised the students for their dedication, calling the achievement a reflection of both their determination and the school’s commitment to nurturing talent. ‘This victory is a testament to what our young people can achieve when they are encouraged to think critically and work together,’ she said.

Teacher and mentor Effiom Ekpo, who guided the team, added: ‘We are very proud of them. They have shown that innovation is not limited to big cities or universities-it can come from anywhere, including a secondary school classroom in Akwa Ibom.’

The breakthrough comes at a time when Nigeria, like many countries, is grappling with how to scale up fish production to meet growing demand. The country is one of the largest aquaculture producers in sub-Saharan Africa, but farmers often face challenges ranging from high feed costs to poor pond management. Observers say the innovation has symbolic value as well. It demonstrates how local ingenuity, when given the right support, can tackle challenges of global scale. While the Rabobank report paints a grim picture of looming shortages, the success of the Adisco team suggests that part of the solution may lie in empowering local communities to innovate.

The Ibom Innovation Network is already looking ahead, encouraging more students to join the movement. Plans are underway for the next Akwa Ibom Tech Week, scheduled for November 3-8, 2025. Organizers say they expect even greater participation from schools, startups, and young inventors, further cementing the state’s reputation as a hub for technological creativity.

As Nigeria marks its 65th Independence anniversary, the Arewa Defence League (ADL) has released the Kaduna October Declaration on the Rights of the People of Northern Nigeria, warning that the region is caught in a dangerous ‘polycrisis’ – an intersection of security, economic, and social challenges threatening its stability.

The declaration, unveiled at a strategy seminar in Arewa House, Kaduna, was described as a unified, evidence-driven assessment of the North’s realities and its place in the Nigerian federation. It followed extensive consultations with state coordinators, experts, and stakeholders across all 19 Northern states.

ADL stressed that the North’s polycrisis is not a set of isolated issues but interconnected emergencies feeding into each other. It identified rising insecurity, entrenched poverty, broken infrastructure, and elite impunity as key drivers of hardship and disillusionment.

In its State of the States analysis, the group highlighted insecurity as the most urgent threat, citing insurgency, banditry, kidnappings, and communal clashes as factors eroding state authority and exposing communities. ‘This collapse of safety is a profound failure of the state’s most essential responsibility,’ it noted.

The group also decried economic mismanagement, pointing out that despite the region’s abundant human and natural resources, corruption and poor policies had crippled agriculture, stifled businesses, and left millions of youths unemployed.

On the social front, ADL lamented that the North continues to rank as home to the world’s highest number of out-of-school children, coupled with worsening healthcare shortages and collapsing public services. ‘An entire generation risks being left behind,’ the group warned.

The declaration also faulted a culture of elite impunity and political marginalisation, accusing leaders of enacting policies that serve the few at the expense of the majority. It added that basic human rights, including food, security, and dignity, had been eroded across the region.

While insisting it does not advocate separation from Nigeria, the group said the failures of the Nigerian state in the North had weakened trust in the social contract. It called for a transformative renewal of governance through decentralisation of powers, restructuring of priorities, and restoration of the people’s sovereignty.

Grounded in the principles of liberty, equality, and popular sovereignty, the Kaduna October Declaration affirmed that ‘ultimate authority resides with the people of Northern Nigeria, who remain an inseparable part of the Nigerian nation. No authority is valid unless it derives directly from the people’s consent.’

ADL listed the next steps to actualise the declaration, including the formation of a planning committee to convene a Northern Stakeholders’ Conference, drafting of detailed policy documents, and creation of a comprehensive voter education and mobilisation plan ahead of the 2027 elections.

‘The era of empty words is over. The time to act is now,’ said Murtala Abubakar, President of ADL, who signed the declaration on behalf of the movement. He added that the document was both a binding commitment to the people of the North and a constructive contribution to Nigeria’s broader national conversation.

The Spelling Bee competition organised by Coker-Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) brought together brilliant minds from primary and secondary schools across the council.

The event, held at the Council Secretariat Hall, created a vibrant atmosphere as students showcased their spelling skills and intellectual abilities.

The competition was moderated by Mrs. Adetola Pinheiro, a retired principal with decades of experience in the education sector. Contestants displayed remarkable focus, determination, and confidence, spelling even the most intricate words with impressive ease.

In her opening remarks, wife of the council chairman, Mrs. Muibat Ogidan, encouraged the pupils to remain committed to learning.

She noted that success is about effort, not just winning.

Head of Education and Library Services, Mr. Taiwo Adejumo, emphasised the value of participation over competition, stating: ‘Whether you win or not, the real courage lies in your participation.’

In the primary school category, Miss Obiorah Chikaima emerged as the winner, while Masters Orji Philip and Alameen Omokehinde claimed the first and second runner-up positions respectively.

In the secondary school category, Samuel Emmanuel secured the top prize, with Chima Chinecherem and Nwokeocha Favour emerged as first and second runners-up.

Special recognition was also given to outstanding participants for their dedication and commitment to academic excellence.

The event was graced Vice Chairman Mathew Olaleye, management team, teachers, and pupils from participating schools.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate United Nation’s World Tourism Day 2025 with the theme Tourism and Sustainable Transformation last Saturday, Group General Manager Continental Hotels, Mr. Karl Hala said that the Nigerian hospitality industry has shown remarkable resilience and innovation, despite facing some challenges. Citing World Travel and Tourism Council, he disclosed that travel and tourism contributed over N7 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP last year, accounting for nearly 5 percent of the total economy. The sector, he said, now supports 3.3 million jobs, with youth making up the largest portion of the workforce. ‘Investment in branded hotels has grown steadily, with Nigeria hosting over 9,000 quality rooms in international-standard properties,’ he added.

According to him, Nigeria has everything it takes to be the hospitality and tourism leader of Africa, noting that it has a rich cultural diversity, breathtaking natural assets, a dynamic youthful population, and a diaspora eager to rediscover their roots. He, however, added that Nigeria must build a strong national hospitality and tourism structure to realise this potential.

‘Telling a compelling national story is one step in the right direction. To compete globally, Nigeria needs to project its hospitality brand with clarity and pride. We must curate a narrative that showcases our unique strengths and attractions. At Continental Hotels, we say: Cradle of Humanity. This narrative exists, but it needs to be owned, structured, and broadcast consistently,’ he said.

Encouraged by emerging trends in the industry, Hala described Africa as the world’s fastest-growing tourism region, projected to grow by 5.4 percent annually through 2030.

He noted that though Nigeria’s domestic tourism market alone is a sleeping giant worth billions, digital innovation is reducing costs and expanding reach, and the young people are the secret power behind our industry’s growth.

He emphasized the need to invest in youth and innovation as the future of Nigerian hospitality lies in the hands of the young workforce. He stated that with proper skills, digital empowerment and entrepreneurship support, ‘they will carry us into the future. At Continental Hotels, we have seen the impact of investing in our people. A 23 year-old Nigerian graduate who joined our hotel as a trainee, developed a digital concierge tool that has cut our response time to guest requests by more than half.’

For a sustainable tourism industry, he identified three critical steps stakeholders must take- ‘tell a compelling national story: Nigeria must project its hospitality brand with clarity and pride; build real structures: we need a fully empowered national tourism board-transparent, innovative, and globally competitive; invest in youth and innovation: The future of Nigerian hospitality is not just in marble lobbies or tall buildings, but in the hands of our young workforce.’

While recalling part of Nigeria’s success stories in tourism industry, Hala said: ‘At Continental Hotels, we have lived this story firsthand. When we embarked on our mega expansion, many doubted our vision. But, we believed in Nigeria’s potential and invested in building a world-class hotel that would showcase the country’s hospitality. Today, our flagship property is a multi-award-winning hotel, employing hundreds and serving thousands. It has become a symbol of what is possible when vision, structure, and courage come together.

‘Our two flagship hotels-Abuja Continental Hotel and Lagos Continental Hotel have continued to be recognised in the hospitality industry. These iconic properties have consistently set the standard for excellence in Nigerian hospitality, and their recent awards are a testament to their unwavering commitment to quality and service.

Nigerian development investment bank, DLM Capital Group, has completed its N9 billion Series 1 Sovereign Bond Backed Composite Notes (SBCN) issuance due 2035 under its N30 billion Medium-Term Note Programme.

The completion of the N9 billion Series 1 SBCN issuance, through its special purpose vehicle, DLM Funding SPV Plc., is seen as a bold step towards reshaping the Nigerian capital market.

The issuance, which is AAA-rated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), was designed to deliver capital preservation, liquidity, and competitive returns.

It attracted strong participation from a pool of institutional investors, demonstrating continued confidence in DLM’s credit strength, innovative structuring capability, and proven track record of delivering secure investment products.

The signing ceremony, hosted by DLM Advisory (Financial Adviser, Transaction Structurer, and Joint Issuing House/Bookrunner for the transaction, and a subsidiary of DLM Capital Group), took place at the Group’s headquarters in Lagos, recently.

At the signing ceremony, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of DLM Capital Group, Dr. Sonnie Ayere, stated: ‘At DLM Capital Group, we are committed to building innovative financial instruments that not only protect investor value but also unlock opportunities for growth across Nigeria’s real economy.

‘This first issuance is a testament to our ability to structure products that balance safety, liquidity, and competitive returns, while channeling capital into sectors like Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that are critical for long-term national development.’

Proceeds from the issuance will be used for investment in Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Bonds and underserved SME sectors, and target investors include pension funds, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), asset managers, and high net-worth individuals.

With attractive yields backed with sovereign-level credit protection, the N9 billion milestone marks the beginning of DLM Capital Group’s N30 billion Medium-Term Note Programme.

‘The initiative is expected to play a pivotal role in Nigeria’s journey towards a $1 trillion Gross Domestic Product (GDP), by unlocking capital, accelerating formal sector growth, and boosting productivity across critical sectors,’ Dr. Ayere said.

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, attention is shifting toward the next phase of freedom – one defined not just by political sovereignty but by economic and industrial self-reliance. In the transport sector, NEV Electric Ltd is emerging as a key player shaping that vision, using local manufacturing and clean energy to solve Nigeria’s mass transit challenges.

For decades, Nigeria’s public transport system has relied heavily on imported vehicles and fossil fuels, exposing citizens to fuel price shocks and rising costs. NEV Electric is changing that narrative through an integrated model that combines local assembly, increasing local content manufacturing, and sustainable infrastructure deployment.

The company currently builds its electric buses with 30% local content, incorporating Nigerian components, materials, and labor, with a clear roadmap to reach 70% local content as domestic supply chains expand. This strategy ensures more value remains within the economy, fueling industrial growth, job creation, and technology transfer.

‘True independence means being able to design, build, and power what we need with our own hands,’ says Mosope Olaosebikan, Founder of NEV Electric. ‘We’re not just assembling buses; we’re building Nigeria’s transport future – powered by clean energy, local innovation, and sustainable systems.’

So far, NEV Electric has assembled over 120 electric buses in-country, with plans to scale up to 300 units in its next production phase. The company is also deploying 160kW high-capacity fast chargers across Abuja and Lagos – the largest in Nigeria – to support fleet operations and reduce range anxiety for operators.

To make electric mobility affordable, NEV Electric has introduced a Pay-As-You-Drive financing model that enables transport operators and state agencies to adopt EVs without heavy upfront capital. The plan bundles access to the bus, charging, maintenance, and battery into one predictable payment, ensuring smooth fleet transition and easier adoption.

Beyond vehicles, NEV Electric is investing in training programs for Nigerian engineers and technicians in EV assembly, maintenance, and conversion – empowering a new generation of green-skilled workers.

Aligned with Nigeria’s industrialization goals, NEV Electric is positioning the country as a regional hub for electric mobility. The company’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, with plans underway to export its electric buses and technology solutions to other African markets, contributing to the continent’s clean mobility transition.

By integrating local manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and innovative financing, NEV Electric is delivering a homegrown solution to Nigeria’s urban transport needs – one that reduces emissions, lowers operating costs, and builds local capacity.

As the country looks toward a more sustainable future, NEV Electric represents the promise of a new kind of independence – powered by Nigerians, built in Nigeria, and soon exported to Africa.

‘Every bus we build is a statement of what’s possible,’ Olaosebikan says. ‘We’re proving that Nigeria can lead Africa’s clean mobility revolution – not by importing the future, but by building it.’

Whenever I reflect on graduate joblessness these days, I cannot but recall the good old days when there were more jobs than graduates. My employment history reflected the spirit of the times. Upon my completion of secondary school education at Olofin Anglican Grammar School, Idanre, the School Principal, the late Mr. Titus Adeola Oke, gave me a hybrid employment to teach literature in form two and also assist him in his office, even before the West African School Certificate examination results were released.

Years later, after completing my degree in English at the University of Ife, a job was waiting for me at the same secondary school. However, by September of that same year, I was called back to Ife to start my university teaching career. These early encounters with the job market were replicated over and over again throughout my career. I was headhunted for all my teaching and research positions at home and abroad. The truth is that every graduate I knew at that time had a job waiting for him or her somewhere. With only five or six universities in Nigeria at that time, there were more job openings than there were university graduates to fill the vacancies. What is more, a number of my contemporaries in secondary school, who did not go to the university, aquired enough transferable skills and self discipline to study via correspondence tuition to become accountants, lawyers, and what have you, and they eventually rose to the top of their professions.

Of course, the population has exploded since my undergraduate days, and higher education institutions have mushroomed out of control. Today, there are 307 universities and 812 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Nigeria, according to latest figures from the National Universities Commission and the National Board of Technical Education, respectively. The TVET institutions include 194 polytechnics; 32 Colleges of Agriculture; 131 Colleges of Health Sciences; 154 Colleges of Nursing Science; 181 Innovation Enterprise Institutions;153 Technical Colleges; and 98 so-called Specialised Institutions. Altogether, there are 1,119 higher education institutions in the country, churning out hundreds of thousands of students every year.

It is estimated that 50 percent or more of graduates from these institutions today are unemployed or underemployed. There are many factors responsible for this unpleasant outcome. First, the unplanned multiplicity of higher education institutions has produced graduates far more than available jobs.

Second, many factories and manufacturing industries, which are major employers of labour, have been shutting down in response to a slowing economy, high interest rates, poor or inadequate infrastructure, and insecurity.

Third, educational standards have been on the decline due to numerous factors, including inadequate staffing, poor remuneration and incentives, lack of necessary equipment and facilities, decrepit infrastructure, and over-population of teaching spaces and labs.

Fourth, institutions have not been keeping their curriculums relevant to the needs of the job market. To complicate matters, today’s graduates are hardly equipped with proper career orientation, which often makes it difficult for them to find a suitable job that matches their qualifications.

Fifth, our graduates are victims of a skills gap. In other words, there is a serious mismatch between the skills and competencies our graduates have and the skills employers need for job vacancies. Such skills or competencies should normally be identified at the beginning of a class lesson, a lab work, or a workshop so that students are keyed into them. Students also should be trained on how to transfer skills from one area of knowledge to another in order to solve a new problem or adapt to a new job situation.

I noticed this knowledge gap in my encounter with some graduates while conducting a workshop for teachers of English in a secondary school. I was astonished that a graduate of English had difficulty reading, understanding, and teaching a literature textbook outside the ones she studied before as a student. I also came across a graduate of statistics, who lacked the basic skills to assist in the analysis of data obtained in an opinion poll.

Sixth, many Nigerian graduates are not sufficiently computer literate for today’s job market. They complete their education without adequate computer skills beyond the use of the telephone and social media Apps. They can use of Google to search for answers to homework assignments all right or hack into other users’ data for fraudulent purposes. But they lack basic knowledge of how computers work and can hardly use productivity software. That is why today, the integration of technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, even in knowledge-based sectors, is displacing workers and contributing to graduate unemployment.

Finally, and I blush each time I must repeat this: Most Nigerian graduates lack basic communicative skills in English, the official language, and the language of white-collar workplaces. This is especially true of graduates of public universities and even worse for polytechnic and other TVET graduates. Sometimes, I wonder whether English was their medium of instruction at all or how they succeeded if it was!

I must add, however, that the various problems discussed above are not peculiar to Nigeria. These same factors also account for graduate unemployment across the globe. Nevertheless, the problems vary from country to country. So is the rate of unemployment. For example, on the one hand, university graduate unemployment rate is relatively high in the United States, where the rate is now about the same as the unemployment rate for those without university education.

On the other hand, university graduate unemployment in Britain and the European Union is lower than that of the United States, with significant variations from country to country. A major reason for the difference is in the alignment of skills acquired in European universities and the job market.

What is important for Nigeria is to tackle these problems headlong. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has taken several major steps in this direction. First, he put a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of universities in the country to halt the overproduction of university graduates. The moratorium should be generalised across all higher education institutions. Besides, a thorough survey of all higher institutions in the country should be carried out with a view to closing failed institutions or merge failing ones with more successful or bigger institutions in order to consolidate resources.

Second, President Tinubu has ordered the final revision and implementation of secondary education curriculum to better prepare students for entry into higher educational institutions.

Third, he ordered a focus on TVET education, with attention on skills acquisition. Under the astute management of Professor Duke Okoro, the Rector, the young Federal Polytechnic, Orogun, Delta State, has invested in skills acquisition and skills transfer from the beginning, which enabled the institution recently to win first place in national engineering competition on ‘Applying Engineering Solutions to Tanker Explosion and Fire Outbreak.’

But a lot more still needs be done. The remuneration of teachers across the education sector is long overdue for upward revision in light of current economic realities. There should be more effort on job creation through greater investment in infrastructure beyond road construction. More attention should be given to power and water supply as well as recreational facilities.

The need to enhance security is also critical to attracting investment and creating a path to reindustrialisation. Still more effort should be made to make state and local goverments more responsible for education.

Finally, it is necessary to inject new blood into the civil service and encourage old hands to retire quietly. This is one way to initiate changes in existing civil service culture with all its problems, while also creating jobs for new graduates.

In only his first start for Atalanta in the on-going campaign, Ademola Lookman had an impressive performance as La Dea beat Club Brugge , 2-1.

Atalanta had to come from behind through Lazar Samardzic and Mario Pasalic to claim their first Champions League victory of the season over the Belgian side at the New Balance Arena last night.

There was no Isak Hien, Giorgio Scalvini or Sead Kolasinac in defence for La Dea, nor Charles De Ketelaere, Gianluca Scamacca or Nicola Zalewski further up the pitch.

That, however, meant that Ademola Lookman was called into the starting line-up for the first time this season, following his attempts to leave the club over the course of the summer transfer window. There was also a first start of the campaign for Brazilian midfielder, Ederson.

Atalanta threatened early on through Lorenzo Bernasconi, who thundered a fierce volley just wide of the target from 25 yards out after less than four minutes.

Ederson, Lookman and Mario Pasalic all tried their best to get Atalanta ahead, but it was the visitors who would claim the first-half lead.

Atalanta had to wait until the final 20 minutes to find the equaliser. Nordin Jackers did brilliantly to stop Musah while charging into the area, but the Brugge goalkeeper overcommitted and brought down Mario Pasalic on the follow-up.

Samardzic stepped up to convert the penalty just inside the right post to level for Atalanta with what was his first competitive goal this calendar year.

Then, with three minutes of regular time remaining, Pasalic stole the lead with a well-placed header from Samardzic’s corner delivery, sending the New Balance Arena into a frenzy.

Atalanta, who had been eliminated by Club Brugge in the Champions League play-off round last season, are now off the mark with their first victory in Europe this season.

Incidentally before the game, Atalanta coach Ivan Juric said he called on Lookman and Emerson in the starting line-up for the match because they are ‘excellent athletes’.

‘They’re quality players. They’ve been training with us for a while, I think that today is a good opportunity for them to start playing in matches,’ Juric told Sky Sport Italia about the return of Lookman and Ederson to the starting line-up. ‘They’re two excellent athletes, we’ll see how they get on during the game.’

Wife of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Mrs. Aishat Taiwo, has called on pupils to face their future with courage.

Speaking during Spelling Bee Competition, Mrs Taiwo, expressed satisfaction at the turnout and reaffirmed the council’s commitment to education.

She described the Spelling Bee as a celebration of learning and a reflection of the bright future envisioned for children in the community.

She praised teachers, parents, and guardians for their sacrifices in shaping young minds, calling them the true builders of society.

She urged participants to compete with courage and confidence, reminding them that their efforts today are seeds for tomorrow’s success.

Mrs. Taiwo also highlighted the history of the Lagos State Spelling Bee, initiated in 2001 by Senator Oluremi Tinubu through the New Era Foundation, which birthed the famous ‘One-Day Governor’ tradition. She noted that beyond word mastery, the competition builds confidence, sharpens vocabulary, and instills resilience qualities that prepare children for academic success and life’s challenges.

Chairman of Ejigbo LCDA, Aare Taoheed Taiwo, praised the participants and encouraged them to keep striving for excellence.

He reaffirmed his belief in the capacity of the pupils to make Ejigbo proud and assured that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment for learning, growth, and development.

The event, held at the council secretariat, featured thrilling rounds that tested vocabulary, accuracy, and mental alertness, creating a lively atmosphere of competition and learning.

At the end of the competitive event, Obuseh Destiny from Akinsanya Ajaloleru Nursery and Primary School, emerged winner in the primary school category. Okeke Goodness from Ejigbo Nursery and Primary School and Adurojaiye Daniel from Oladele Alake Nursery and Primary School were runners-up.

Aqua Kiana from Oke-Afa Comprehensive College won the Secondary School Category. Abdulwahab Misturah, also from Oke-Afa Comprehensive College and Akanbi Selimot from Ejigbo Senior High School, emerged runners-up.

The event was attended by the Vice Chairman, Abimbola Nicholas Ike; All Progressives Congress (APC) Party Chairman in Ejigbo, Alhaji Fatai Kasummu; legislators led by the Leader of the House, Gabriel Sobande; the management team led by the Council Manager, Olusegun Ajagunna; facilitators, and staff members of the council.

Super Falcons’ forward Gift Monday has been crowned as the Player of Matchday 22 of the United States Women’s League (USWL) following her sensational hat-trick for Washington Spirit.

The 23-year-old received the highest number of votes in a poll conducted on X (formerly Twitter) , securing 50 percent of the 881 votes cast. She comfortably outpolled Gotham FC’s Rose Lavelle (35 percent), Utah Royals’ Mia Justus (8 percent), and Kansas City’s Bia Zaneratto (7 percent).

It has been a week to remember for the Nigerian international. In addition to the Player of the Week accolade, she was also named in the USWL Team of Matchday 22, further underlining her growing influence in the league.

Monday’s treble not only powered Washington Spirit to victory but also boosted her tally for the season to eight goals and two assists in 19 matches. The former FC Robo Queens and Tenerife striker is now firmly in the race for the Golden Boot, sitting fourth on the charts.

She trails Kansas City’s Temwa Chawinga, who leads with 14 goals, Gotham FC’s Esther Gonzalez (13 goals), and Chicago Stars’ Ludmila da Silva (10 goals).

Having only joined Washington Spirit at the start of the campaign, Monday has quickly established herself as one of the USWL’s most dangerous forwards. Her form will also be a huge boost for Nigeria as they prepare for upcoming international assignments.