Category: The Nation – Nigeria

Nigeria begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar in Uyo today, knowing there is little room for error in Group L. With co-hosts Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the finals, the Super Eagles, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are effectively battling for the remaining ticket, writes TUNDE LIADI

Nigeria begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Madagascar today in Uyo, knowing there is very little room for error in Group L.

With co-hosts Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the finals, the Super Eagles, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau are effectively battling for the single remaining qualification ticket. Coach Eric Chelle’s men must negotiate this opener without injured star striker Victor Osimhen, placing greater responsibility on Nigeria’s other attacking options.

Madagascar’s famous 2-0 victory over Nigeria at AFCON 2019 serves as a clear reminder that the Barea cannot be taken lightly. For the Super Eagles, securing a home win provides the ideal platform before Tuesday’s away trip to Guinea-Bissau.

The match takes place at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, with kick-off fixed for 5pm Nigerian time. Ordinarily, the opening game of a qualifying series allows some margin for recovery, but the unique dynamics of Group L change that dynamic completely. For Chelle’s side, securing three points at home represents much more than a positive beginning, especially with another fixture scheduled just four days later.

Nigeria enter this continental campaign still dealing with the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the team has remained competitive at the AFCON level in recent years, reaching the final of the 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire and finishing third behind Senegal and Morocco at the 2025 edition. Consequently, qualification for 2027 is regarded as a basic requirement. Chelle’s primary task is to ensure Nigeria establish immediate control of the group rather than leaving themselves chasing results later in the campaign.

Madagascar present an opponent Nigeria cannot afford to underestimate. The Barea famously defeated the Super Eagles 2-0 at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, which remains their only victory in five head-to-head meetings between the two nations, alongside three Nigerian victories and one draw. Prior to that setback, Nigeria recorded a 1-0 win in 2001, followed by 2-0 victories in 2010 and 2011. Seven years after the Egyptian shock, the teams meet once again with critical qualifying points on the line.

The major tactical talking point for Nigeria is the absence of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, who was initially named in the squad but failed to recover from a muscle injury. Taiwo Awoniyi was called up as a replacement. Despite Osimhen’s absence, Chelle has plenty of attacking power available. Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, and George Ilenikhena offer distinct focal points through the middle, while Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Samuel Chukwueze provide established quality on the wings. Ilenikhena is among those hoping to make his senior international debut, alongside potential debuts for Isaac James and Moses Usor.

Without Osimhen acting as the central target man, Nigeria’s attacking dynamics will likely shift toward collective creativity. Ademola Lookman’s form will be vital, while Alex Iwobi’s distribution from midfield will be crucial for breaking down Madagascar’s structure.

Defensively, Ola Aina returns to strengthen the squad after a lengthy absence. With Zaidu Sanusi unavailable, Bruno Onyemaechi is expected to operate on the left, alongside Calvin Bassey and Semi Ajayi in central defense. In goal, Stanley Nwabali remains a strong candidate to start despite this being his first call-up of the year. The midfield offers ample depth with Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and Iwobi, giving Chelle tactical flexibility depending on Madagascar’s defensive setup. Nigeria expect to dominate possession, meaning ball retention, patience, and wide play will be essential if Madagascar choose to sit deep.

Madagascar arrived in Uyo early in the week, giving head coach Corentin Martins adequate time to adjust to local conditions. While their recent form has been mixed-featuring victories over Kyrgyzstan, Equatorial Guinea, and Comoros alongside losses to Morocco and Mali-they possess enough experience to be dangerous. Key figures such as Marco Ilaimaharitra, Rayan Raveloson, Loïc Lapoussin, Warren Caddy, Thomas Fontaine, and Hakim Abdallah form the core of the visiting squad, with Raveloson posing a specific goal threat from midfield.

Madagascar’s most realistic route to a result involves frustrating Nigeria, keeping the match goalless for as long as possible, and exploiting open space on the counter-attack. An early Nigerian goal would break that strategy, whereas a scoreless stretch could increase pressure from the home crowd.

This opener represents a key test for Chelle as he balances squad rotation between today’s match and Tuesday’s contest in Guinea-Bissau. Ultimately, Nigeria possess superior individual quality, but the tight format of Group L means securing three points is the absolute priority over performance style.

POSSIBLE LINE UPS:

Nigeria: Stanley Nwabali; Ola Aina, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey, Bruno Onyemaechi; Wilfred Ndidi, Frank Onyeka, Alex Iwobi; Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, Moses Simon.

Madagascar: Geordan Dupire; Andy Pelmard, Thomas Fontaine, Rado Rabemanantsoa, Mathieu Acapandié; Marco Ilaimaharitra, Rayan Raveloson, Loïc Lapoussin; Warren Caddy, Hakim Abdallah, Arnaud Randrianantenaina.

Telecoms operators are moving their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives towards digital education, healthcare and technology-enabled community projects, experts have said.

Reason: Connectivity is being linked more to essential services delivery.

Experts also said MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria CSRs, for example, cover public school teacher training, healthcare facilities’ upgrade ICT labs building and women entrepreneurship.

Also, they said the new industry-backed programme coordinated by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is extending free access to some educational platforms.

The initiative provides users about 100MB of free data daily for approved educational websites and platforms.

The commission said the programme is aimed at reducing the costs to digital learning and improving access to education.

At the launch of the programme, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, said connectivity is critical to making education programmes effective.

He said: ‘We need to appreciate how critical education is to economic development because of the role of human capital.’

He added that connectivity could help remove barriers to teachers and learning materials.

The programme is expected to cover millions of students.

NCC put the cost of free data provision to five million students at about ?15 billion monthly, or ?180 billion yearly. Maida said the 100MB daily limit was introduced partly to ensure the programme remained sustainable.

The development coincides with an expansion of telecom-backed social programmes.

Alsi, MTN’s SAIL Teachers’ Fellowship trained 5,000 public school teachers in its second cohort, including training in AI-assisted teaching. So far, the programme has trained over 8,700 teachers since its inception, according to MTN Foundation.

The Foundation has also moved into community health and education infrastructure through its What Can We Do Together programme. Its sixth phase attracted 20,983 nominations for public primary healthcare centres and secondary school science labs, with 149 facilities verified.

The Foundation plans to select 40 primary healthcare centres and 15 science labs for intervention under the latest phase.

MTN has also entered the maternal health space deal with the Gates Foundation. The two organisations announced an initial investment of about $25 million in the Nigeria Maternal Health Multiplier, a four-year programme which runs from this year to 2030.

The initiative aims to help 500,000 women access maternal health, equip 5,000 health workers with AI-enabled decision-support tools and improve connectivity at 500 health facilities. It is being implemented alongside Nigeria’s maternal health reforms.

Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate said the partnership was important because it would work with health systems rather than around them.

‘Partnerships that work with our health systems, rather than around them, are exactly what’s needed,’ Pate added.

Airtel Nigeria has similarly focused part of its recent social investment on education infrastructure. Its School Adoption Programme covers 10 schools in nine states, with interventions including classroom rehabilitation, furniture, water and electricity facilities and ICT labs.

The company has also run Empower Her, a financial-inclusion and business-support programme for women, while its partnership with UNICEF has supported zero-rated access to the Nigeria Learning Passport.

Globacom has also participated in technology-focused community interventions, although its recent publicly visible initiatives have taken a different form. Last year, the company partnered the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Huawei on a project providing digital learning, e-health, public Wi-Fi and mobile connectivity to the Ibwa community in Abuja.

The project connected residents to remote learning and healthcare services, with Globacom providing the microwave backhaul and access to its core network, according to the company.

The interventions suggest that telecom CSR is being built around operators’ core assets – connectivity, digital platforms and network infrastructure – rather than being limited to conventional donations.

But the role of telecom companies in public-interest programmes also puts greater emphasis on scale, sustainability and outcomes, particularly where commercial operators are contributing network resources to initiatives with national policy objectives.

The NCC’s zero-rating programme is one such example. Its framework provides for monitoring of platform usage, data consumption, consumer complaints, network performance and compliance, with the commission saying the findings will inform future adjustments to the initiative.

For the telecom sector, the emerging model, therefore, places corporate social investment closer to the country’s wider digital-development agenda, while leaving regulators, operators and other stakeholders to determine how such programmes can remain sustainable and deliver public value.

Nollywood actress Damilola Oni has revealed why she has remained single.

In a recent interview, the actress revealed why she has remained single despite receiving several advances from men.

Oni explained that receiving attention from men does not necessarily mean that those making the advances fit her personal preferences.

‘The fact that they make advances at me doesn’t mean they are my spec,’ she said.

Speaking further on her experiences with men, she said that she regularly receives unsolicited and sexually suggestive messages from men who claim to be aroused by watching her on television.

The actress disclosed this while speaking about some of the experiences she has had with male admirers on social media.

According to Oni, some men go as far as telling her that watching her on TV made them sexually aroused and led them to masturbate.

‘I get a lot of messages in my DMs and even in the comment section saying a lot of nasty things. Some will say they got aroused while watching me on TV and they started masturbating. These messages come in regularly, but I always ignore them,’ she said.

Team Pride has secured the 2026 PUBG MOBILE National Championship (PMNC) title on September 13, claiming the $3,000 top prize and earning a spot to represent Nigeria at the PUBG MOBILE Global Open (PMGO) Africa stage.

The winning roster-comprising Oluwadamilola ‘Begho’ Oladele, Kwila Obadiah, Maude ‘Chico’ Usman, and Farid ‘Finish’ Mahri-outperformed runner-up Neon Outlaws and third-place Tribe Warriors. Begho was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The championship received major corporate backing, with Infinix supplying the official tournament device-the GT 50 Pro-while Oraimo provided gaming accessories and itel awarded home air conditioners to the winning squad.

Alongside the tournament finals, PUBG MOBILE rolled out its Version 4.6 update featuring the Vampire Hunters theme and an Afro-pop partnership with Nigerian artist Magixx under the Be the one campaign.

Representing Infinix, Nosa Stephen Ekaghe said the sponsorship reflected the brand’s interest in supporting gaming and the needs of players.

Bella Ibrahim, Content Creation Manager at Oraimo, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting gamers with products and accessories suited to their lifestyles.

Also, itel’s ATL Marketing Manager, David Chuks Obikwame, presented air conditioners to Team Pride in recognition of its victory.

From September 24 to October 23, players can participate in the in-game Unlock Magixx Style event to earn exclusive rewards, including a custom Avatar Frame, Voice Pack, Lobby Music, and themed outfits.

PUBG MOBILE Version 4.6 is currently available as a free download on iOS and Android platforms.

If you call Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola the rave of the moment, the emerging phenomenon in Ogun State politics and a man of the people, you are perfectly in order.

For this bubbling and energetic politician his nickname YAYI , given to him by some political juggernauts in Lagos State, derives from ‘Omo to yayi’ (a respectful child that gives honour, love and care to the elders’ .

This emanated from his sojourn in political offices from 199 till date .

Twice a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, twice a member of Federal House of Representatives representing Alimosho constituency in Lagos State, he graduated to becoming a Senator representing Lagos West in the National Assembly and in a deft political move returned to his state of origin to become the Senator representing Ogun West .

Only a genuis in politics can make this deft move and succeed unhindered.

Perhaps what gave YAYI such a smooth passage is his humble disposition, good representation and giving back the dividends of democracy to the people massively.

To date he has not lost any election and has a very bright chance of winning this gubernatorial election where his party All People’s Congress (APC) has made him a consensus candidate.

The intimidating profile from this Chartered Accountant who once served meritoriously with the flagshipbof Nigerian Press, The Guardian Newspapers in Lagos, where this writer also had a stint before moving higher, may not have been enough to garner support from the sophisticated and enlightened people of Ogun State, the element of good luck that follows him played a major role.

For close to fifty years, there has been cry of marginalisation from people of Ogun West, as Ogun East and Ogun Central have been passing the Governorship seat at Okemosan to themselves.

The clamour for equity, fairness and justice has been intensive and a few times, attempts have been made by the political gladiators to give Ogun West, the Yewa people a chance but it nosedived because the array of stars from that territory couldn’t unanimously give one of them a chance.

As God will have it, the emergence of Solomon Olamilekan Adeola provided that golden opportunity of a consensus candidate and the people of Ogun East Senatorial District, welcomed and embraced this with open arms seeing it as a payback time for the good people of former Egbado division.

It was the political masterstroke support, that they gave to the Ijebu and Remo people ( under the umbrella of Ijebu Division ) in 1978 that led to the emergence of Late Chief Victor Olabisi Onabanjo as the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN ) Governorship Candidate and eventual winning of the election which Late Chief Toye Coker of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) contested with him.

Onabanjo became the First Civilian Governor of Ogun State in 1979.

Giving an insight to this, my big Brother, Senator Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka whom my humble self as a Higher School Certificate (HSC) holder ( English Language teacher) had an opportunity of working with him as a University graduate teacher in Biology and Agricultural Science, at Muslim High School, Sagamu, in 1979 to 1980 recalled with nostalgia, the political chess game.

The electoral college of the UPN in Ogun State in 1978 was made up of 50 eminent Ogun State citizens.

According to Kaka, former Commissioner for Agriculture, former Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Alternate Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, before becoming a Deputy Governor of Ogun State and then Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria representing Ogun East, from 2011 to 2015, the primary election had four contestants at the time.

They were Chief Bisi Onabanjo from Ijebu, Chief Soji Odunjo from Egba , Dr Tunji Otegbeye from Egbado and Chief Jonathan Odebiyi (who later became a Senator) from Egbado.

The first ballot produced this result : Onabanjo (20 votes), Odunjo (20 votes), Odebiyi (6 votes) and Otegbeye (the socialist whom i loved so much as a University undergraduate in those days, (4 votes).

No clear cut candidate with a simple majority has occurred and a second ballot was to hold.

Intensive lobbying, political horsetrading and abracadabra of the highest order then commenced.

The Egbado group of 10, now Yewa, retired into an inner room, came out and proceeded for the second ballot .

With palpitating heartbeats, the electoral college watched as votes were counted.

The result : Olabisi Onabanjo (30 votes) Soji Odunjo (20 votes).

All the ten Electoral College members from Egbado unanimously cast their votes for the Ijebu man and the coast was clear for the candidate of the massively supported party in the South West Nigeria and beyond, the Unity Party of Nigeria under the leadership of the charismatic politician and legend, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Some of the men of history who participated in the 1978 exercise include : Late Senator Abraham Adesanya. Chief M. A. Kuti. Chief Solanke Onasanya, Chief S. M. Kasim, Prince Adetayo Ayannuga, Chief Isamasta Okesola Ashiru. Chief R. A. Sulaiman, Barrister Akinkola Adaramaja, Chief Agboola Alausa and Chief S. Akin Osuntoye.

With the emergence of Yayi, who will now be contesting with a formidable opponent from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Hon Oladipupo Adebutu, more known as Lado, it is the view of Senator Gbenga Kaka, a view shared by hundreds of elders, party leaders and members of APC that the cry for marginalisation is now over and they have to work assiduously to complete the project with Solomon Olamilekan Adeola emerging as the next Governor of Ogun State, come May 29, 2027.

This view is not that of APC members in Ogun East alone but that of the generality of the people.

Yayi has also made Mrs Kudirat Adegunwa – Balogun, daughter of the billionaire business tycoon. Alhaji Adebola Adegunwa, the Asiwaju of Ijebuland his running mate.

She is from Odogbolu Local Government, the maternal home of Lado.

The issue of reciprogating goodness for goodness apart. Yayi has attracted more, the support of Ijebu and Remo with his massive empowerment programme that cut across all the State .

The icing on the cake is the provision of infrastructures all over the state again, facilitated by Senator Olamilekan Adeola as constituency projects.

Ordinarily people expected that such infrastructures should have been solely in Ogun West, his Senatorial District but it was a pleasant surprise that Yayi has giving his milk of human kindness for other Senatorial Districts to savour.

In my hometown, Okun – Owa in Ward 3, Odogbolu Local Government, a befitting health centre is being constructed along with accommodation facilities for doctors, nurses and attendants.

In Ogbo, the hometown of Late Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a block of 12 classrooms is being constructed, ditto for health facilities and some roads in Ijebu – Igbo.

I have just stated a few ones in Ogun East that i have seen for myself but have heard plenty of such largesse.

If Solomon Olamilekan Adeola can achieve this as a Senator through constituency projects, it is the belief of Ogun State people that he will perform very well in Ogun State as a Governor with executive power.

Despite the fact that campaign is yet to commence in full blast, children have now made Yayi’s slogan as their singsong.

Chants of ‘Yayi jowo. Yayi jare, Yayi ti mo mo, o sa prapra ‘

This Yayi it is, Yayi for sure, Yayi that i know is very smart and sharp, is a language that appeals to the youths.

The social media has worked favourably too as Yayi is now the poster boy of ladies on Facebook and Tik Tok.

What has made this possible was the fact that the energetic Adeola has met all the leaders and members of the party in the 236 wards of Ogun State, listening to their needs and promising to do his best.

Throughout Ogun State he has met with several groups and delved into the territory of other political parties, most of whom have assured him of their support.

He has promised to visit every ward in Ogun State and will even make surprise visits to ward meetings.

A demonstration of the massive support that Yayi is enjoying was brought to bare at Ijebu – Ode recently.

A group called Caucus 7202 staged a rally/ empowerment programme in Ijebu – Ode, though it was not the APC party show, the attendance was overwhelming.

There was transport jam in Ijebu – Ode and people have to park their vehicles in all places, with most of them far from the Dipo Dina Stadium where the event held.

They had to move by motorcycles, more known as Okada and tricycles, called ‘Marwa’

When YAYI and the incumbent Governor of Ogun State (now Senatorial Candidate of Ogun East) Prince Dapo Abiodun arrived in a convoy, a frenetic outburst of joy rented the air.

‘Yayi jowo, Yayi jare ‘ catapulted the milieu as thousands sang and danced with the King of Fuji music, Wasiu Ayinde Marshall, at his best.

It was like another Ojude Oba but this time around with a kaleidoscope of adire and ankara dresses.

Our women were in competition for designs while trumpeters, gangan dance troupes, local apepe groups and others performed excitedly.

Yayi and Abiodun were stunned at the massive crowd, replica of the one that graced the Gateway games 2006 opening somel years ago during the era of Otunba Gbenga Daniel as Governor.

The groups carrying banners were in scores, with traders and artisans in majority.

The road transporters were there in full force and various groups like the Hausa, Fulani, Ndigbo, Ijaw, Igede etc attended in droves.

There is no gainsaying the fact that Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has a mass followership in Ijebu and Remo.

If that be the case, it is expected that the Yewa people will just leave peanuts of votes for the opposition, while the maternal home of this fantastic politician, the Egbas will surely play the role of ‘omo wa ni, e je o se’ (he is our son, let him occupy the seat.

The APC in Ogun State will inaugurate its campaign council on Thursday, 17th September 2027 at Abeokuta.

Yours sincerely will surely bring you field reports of some campaign rallies he is chanced to attend.

Sina Ogunbambo, a Media Analylst and Consultant who contributefd this piece, was former Chief Press Secretary to three former Governors in Lagos State, Sir Michael Agbolade Otedola, Brigadier – General Olagunsoye Adedapo Oyinlola retd and Brigadier- General Mohamed Buba Marwa retd.

He was alsoSenior Consultant on Media to formerOgun State

Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel and former Chairman, Consultative Advisory Committee to former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State in Odogbolu Local Government.

In terms of political ideology, he was inclined obviously towards conservatism. Despite his passion for politics and an obvious delight in hugging the limelight of public office, Alhaji Muhammad Tukur, who passed on September 12, at the age of 90, neither made impressive strides nor left indelible imprints in this sphere.

He contested and won the election as governor of the old Gongola State, comprising Adamawa and Taraba states in 1982 on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), but was in office for only three months before the military terminated the Second Republic in December 1983.

Almost three decades later, he was elected National Chairman of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2012. However, he quit office in controversial circumstances on January 15, 2014, after seven governors, 22 senators and 57 members of the House of Representatives, led by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, publicly declared the formation of a ‘New PDP’, thereby dealing a blow to his leadership of the party.

Between 1993 and 1995, he was the Minister of Industry and a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in the regime of General Sani Abacha. The dictatorial disposition of that government and the hostile domestic and international circumstances within which it operated did not create the appropriate climate for its appointees to post outstanding performances.

However, it was on the economic and business terrain that Tukur made remarkable contributions and left reasonably enduring milestones. Indeed, his notable managerial abilities were manifest when he rose to become the General Manager of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) in the mid-1970s. It was at a time when the NPA was under severe stress as a result of the massive importation of cement, which caused a burden that the organisation had challenges coping with.

It was reported that during Tukur’s tenure as general manager, there was considerable expansion of the seaports’ facilities to cope with the country’s vastly increased import and export needs. When he quit the services of the NPA, he ventured full scale into private business as the founder and chairman of BHI holdings with the DADDO Group of Companies as one of his thriving outfits.

His companies ran a successful agricultural business operating on large areas of farmland situated across the various River Basin authorities, and also had substantial interests in manufacturing, logistics and trading. His serving as President and then life patron of the Africa Business Roundtable (ABR) indicates his active involvement in the business terrain across Africa.

Tukur was for about five decades a major player in the Nigerian economy, with diverse investments that made him a much sought-after member and advisor of various economic associations and councils. A member of various Chambers of Commerce in Nigeria, he was Honorary Life President of the West and Central Africa Ports Management Association. He was a member of the UNIDO International Business Advisory Council as well as the Ghana Investors Advisory Council.

Elected Chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in March 2002, Tukur was Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Africa Investor Ltd, and also Chairman of the Board of the OECD Africa Investment Advisory Group.

A fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology, Zaria, he was awarded an MSc from the University of Pittsburgh and the Doctorate Degree of Law (Honoris Causa) by the Benue State University, Makurdi.

In recognition of his contribution to business in Nigeria and Africa, he was awarded the National Honour of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and held the traditional titles of Tafidan Adamawa and Wakinlin Ganye in Adamawa State.

Madagascar will be without midfielder Andy Pelmard for today’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Nigeria at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

Pelmard had been expected to join the final group of Barea players arriving in Nigeria but was missing from the latest squad update. Reports from the Madagascar camp indicate that he will not feature in the Group L opener.

His absence reduces Madagascar’s options as they prepare to face the Super Eagles, who are seeking a winning start to the qualifying campaign.

Nigeria will travel to Bissau afterwards to face Guinea-Bissau on September 29.

Afrobeats singer Kizz Daniel has revealed that his break from music was due to the death of his mother.

The award-winning artiste made this known on Friday while responding to a fan who questioned his absence from the music scene.

An X user had asked the singer, ‘I guess album really made you busy you had to pause for a while.’

In his response, Kizz Daniel clarified that his break was not linked to an album but was as a result of a personal loss.

‘I paused for my Mom not an album … Lost her this year, but I gotta keep moving for the rest of the family … sorry I came late this year,’ he wrote.

The singer, known for chart-topping hits including Buga, Woju and Twe Twe, had kept a low profile in the early months of the year, sparking speculations among fans that he was working on a new project.

Kizz Daniel added that while the loss has been difficult, he is determined to keep moving for his family and apologised to fans for his late comeback this year.

The Southeast Classic Chess Championship has commenced in Umuahia, the Abia State capital.

The event which commenced at New Eastern Comfort Hotels, Umuahia, Abia State, would bring together chess players and enthusiasts from across the Southeast region for a four-day competition.

The championship, hosted is hosted in a serene environment suited for high-level intellectual competition, attracted key stakeholders in the chess community and sports administration.

Among those present were the Southeast Zonal Chess Association Representative, Dr. Donald Onyekwere; Chess Patron and brother to the Governor, Chief Obioma Otti, who made a generous donation towards the development of chess; Chairman, Abia Chess Association, Hon. Lukeman Ukara; Board Member, Kelechi Agomuo; and member, Dicken Smart Udeagu.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Sports, Comrade Obioma George, highlighted the renewed visibility of Abia in the sporting community under the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti.

Recalling the recent Southeast Zonal Elimination Games in Imo State, he said Abia’s delegation was welcomed with the remark, ‘See Abia arriving in her full glory,’ reflecting the growing recognition of the state’s renewed commitment to sports development.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jane Igwe, encouraged participants to explore Aba and patronise its renowned indigenous products, noting the importance of showcasing Aba’s products to the international market. She also urged athletes to embrace sportsmanship and celebrate the opportunity to compete regardless of the outcome.

The Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadinma Annaba, described the championship as a platform for identifying and nurturing emerging chess talents, expressing optimism that the next chess Grandmaster could emerge from this competition.

He further noted that the event provides a stepping stone for athletes aspiring to national and international competition.

Okezie Ihejirika, Chess Coach, in a bite of thanks appreciated the organisers, dignitaries, officials and participants for their contributions to the successful commencement of the championship.

The championship, our correspondent reports, reinforces Governor Otti’s administration’s commitment to broadening sports development and creating platforms for young Abians and athletes across the region to compete, develop and excel.

Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu has disowned his inclusion in the policy team of African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 election.

Moghalu, in a statement posted on his X handle on Thursday, said he was neither consulted nor asked to give his consent before his name was listed as a member of Atiku’s campaign policy team.

His reaction came hours after Atiku’s campaign unveiled its Presidential Campaign Council, with Moghalu named among members of the Policy Team.

The team is chaired by economist and banker Mohammed Hayatudeen, while Professor Mohammed Sagagi serves as deputy chairman.

‘I am surprised to see a statement from @atiku and @ADCNig campaign team including my name as a member of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s policy team for the 2027 presidential campaign.

‘For the record: I was not consulted and did not give my consent to my name being published as a member of the ADC candidate’s policy team.

‘I am NOT, in fact a member of Atiku’s policy team, even unofficially or in any advisory capacity,’ Moghalu said.

Moghalu, who was a presidential candidate of the Young Progressives Party in the 2019 election, said he had quit partisan politics in Nigeria in 2022.

‘I have quit partisan politics in Nigeria since 2022. I have maintained, and continue to maintain, my non-partisan posture in our country’s national affairs.

‘I am not a member or sympathiser of any political party in Nigeria,’ he said.

He said his current engagements included serving as president of the Institute for Governance and Economic Transformation, IGET Africa, which he described as a non-partisan public policy think tank and executive education academy, as well as Chief Executive Officer of Sogato Strategies, a geopolitical risk and regulatory strategy advisory firm.

Moghalu said his decision to remain outside partisan politics did not mean he was disengaged from national affairs.

‘I remain committed to my country, Nigeria and its progress, but such commitment does not have to entail ANY partisan alignment.

‘I have adopted the path of statesmanship, not partisanship,’ he said.

The development followed the unveiling of Atiku’s campaign structure on Thursday, with Kashim Ibrahim-Imam appointed chairman, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai as deputy chairman, and Senator Austin Akobundu as Director-General and Campaign Manager.

The campaign said the Policy Team would formulate proposals aimed at tackling key challenges, including the rising cost of living, unemployment, insecurity and declining purchasing power.