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The Malala Fund has commended the collective education activism in Nigeria, particularly noting the crucial role of local education activists and young women and girls in driving change.

During her visit to Nigeria, Malala Fund Co-founder Malala Yousafzai expressed her admiration for the tireless efforts of these individuals.

Malala said, ‘I’m so honoured to be in Nigeria once again. Nigeria is a very important part of the Malala Fund’s projects.’

‘We know that Nigeria has the highest number of out-of-school children, and girls here have the same dream and determination as girls everywhere else to be able to learn and have a future for themselves.’

‘The Malala Fund works closely with local partners to understand the complex challenges facing girls’ education in Nigeria. We believe that education is the best solution, education is the best investment in their future,’ Malala stated.

Malala also outlined the organisation’s focus on education as a solution against child marriage and forced marriage, re-enrolment of girls in schools, and policy change to guarantee 12 years of education for every girl.

‘Our activists have made many achievements in many states of the country in securing better policies, gender-responsive policies for girls,’ she added.

The Malala Fund team are committed to collaborating with stakeholders to ensure that policies are implemented and financed to bring real change to girls’ education in Nigeria.

‘I met the girls, I met the education activists here in Nigeria, and I am more determined than ever that change is possible, and we will see it happen in our lifetime when every girl in Nigeria will be able to have her right to a complete and quality education.’ She said.

Also speaking, the Malala Fund’s Chief Executive in Nigeria, Nabila Aguele, explained the organisation’s impact in the country, citing a decade of investment and activism that has yielded significant results.

‘We have had a presence on the ground for 10 years, and have invested about eight million dollars over that time. But impact cannot only be measured in dollars and time.’

‘Just last year, one of our partners working with the government of Adamawa state supported that state in launching their first-ever education policy, which was gender-responsive and spoke to the needs of girls and broader communities.’

Aguele underscored the importance of local activism and expertise in driving change for adolescent girls’ education. ‘Our problems are not being solved by outsiders.

‘That’s why I’m proud to lead an organisation that invests exclusively in local activists, local experts who work to inform policy as well as community, and who do so with the voice and the power of the girl in mind.’

‘The Malala Fund has focused its efforts in specific states, including Kaduna, Kano, Adamawa, Borno, and Oyo.

‘We have selected these states because they have a high need for girls’ education, as well as a robust civil society ecosystem and political will,’ Nabila explained.

Aguele pointed out the work of local partners, including Bridge Connect Africa in Kano, which is working on gender-responsive budgeting with the state government, and the Centre for Girls Education in Kaduna, which is pioneering safe spaces for adolescent girls.

‘The Malala Fund engages with a range of stakeholders, including policymakers, traditional rulers, and community leaders, to ensure that girls have access to 12 years of quality education.

‘This work cannot be done by any one actor. It needs to be owned and driven by government, but also by community.’

Aguele noted that systems change, capacity building, and partnership are crucial in ensuring that policies are informed by the realities and needs of girls.

‘We need to ensure that whatever is being done by policymakers is informed by the realities and the needs and the wants of the girls.’

‘That’s where we find the disconnect. It’s not always about whether there’s intent or interest. It’s about policies being developed and implemented without the right people at the table.’ She said.

The Board Member, Pearl Uzokwe, disclosed that the Malala Fund recognises the crucial role men and boys can play in promoting girls’ education and the organisation is working to engage men and boys in this effort.

‘We have to carry them a lot, so they have to have a community entr,y and then you’re buying it,’ Pearl said. ‘How are you doing it? What have been the efforts in terms of engagement as mobilisers for your children in education?’

‘Malala Fund is collaborating with men in different spaces to promote girls’ education. ‘Just as you’ve said, we’ve come to realise that if we are going to achieve the goals and the aspirations that we have for girls, then we are going to have to think about boys and men as allies,’ she said.

She noted that fathers often love their children but may not understand the value of girls’ education due to societal norms.

‘If we don’t tackle the issues of the social norms that prevent them from understanding the true value, economic and otherwise, of girls being in school, then we are going to have a challenge in our hands,’ she said.

The first prosecution witness (PW1) in the ongoing trial of the immediate past governor of Taraba State, Architect Darius Ishaku and one other before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ismail Oluwadamilare Lawal, on Tuesday told the court that he did not know the total amount of the former governor’s earned allowances he collected on his behalf from the Government House, Jalingo.

Ishaku and a former permanent secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in the state, Bello Yero, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Sylvanus Oriji, sitting at Maitama, Abuja, on a 15-count charge, marked FCT/HC/CR/ 792/2024, bordering on criminal breach of trust, conspiracy and conversion of public funds to the tune of N27 billion.

The former governor and his co-defendant, however, pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed hearing in the case today, Lawal, who was a personal assistant to the former governor, told the court under cross examination by counsel for the former governor, Paul Ogbole SAN, that he collected cash on behalf of the first defendant but did not know the total amount and the dates he collected the money.

‘I collected the first defendant’s earned allowances and distributed them based on his instructions. But I don’t know the total amount I received on his behalf. I also don’t know the dates,’ the witness told the court.

He told the court that he too was paid allowances for working with the former governor, adding that he was paid N20,000 allowance per day anytime he travelled with his principal.

Lawal informed the court that he was paid N130,000 monthly salary and had a poultry farm at Kubwa, Abuja, with 6,000 birds while working with the former governor.

‘The birds were 6,000 then but as of today, they are 2,000. The capacity has diminished. As of then, the poultry’s value was about N5million. It is being run by my father and me,’ he said.

When shown the notebook he made entries of allowances he collected earlier tendered as exhibit by the prosecution, the witness told the court that the entries were not counter signed by those he collected money from.

He further said that the notebook was neither a government record nor banking record, adding that the recording he did in the notebook was between him and the former governor.

Answering other questions, Lawal told the court that he was asked to go to Lagos by the first defendant and informed that he lodged in hotels, paying N20,000 daily, amounting to N600,000 per month.

According to him, ‘I was asked to go to Lagos by His Excellency (Ishaku). That was not the first time I had been to Lagos; I have friends and relatives there.

‘I stayed in hotels in Lagos. I paid bills for the time I stayed there at N20,000 per day, totalling N600,000 per month. I spent one and seven months there.’

He, however, said he did not tender any hotel receipts, adding that EFCC operatives that arrested him in his hotel room in Lagos carted away some documents, including some of the receipts.

The PW1 told the court that he was taken to EFCC Lagos office when he was arrested and was brought to Abuja from there same day. He added that he made statement to the anti-graft agency in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Justice Oriji has adjourned the case to October 20 for the continuation of cross examination of the PW1.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has advised former President Goodluck Jonathan to continue to enjoy his retirement and protect his good name.

Spokesman of the party, Mogaji Seye Oladejo gave the advice while reacting to the statement made by a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Jerry Gana on the former President Jonathan contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Oladejo described Gana’s rhetoric as too soon, noting that elections are about ideas and performance, not just bringing back old leaders.

He said, ‘Prof. Gana cannot decide alone who will be the PDP candidate, adding that this shows the party still has problems with fairness and internal democracy.

‘If Jonathan tries to run again, it will not be easy for him because of past records and other challenges. Nigerians should focus on real issues like food, electricity, transport, jobs, and security. President Bola Tinubu is already working on reforms to grow the economy and improve people’s lives.’

Popular comedian and talk show host, Teju Oyelakin, popularly known as Teju Babyface, has advised men against confessing to their wives or partners if they cheat, warning that such admissions only cause more harm than good.

In a YouTube video shared on Monday, Teju described confessing infidelity as one of the ‘most catastrophic and damaging’ things a person can do in a marriage.

‘If you cheat on your wife or your husband, but especially your wife – especially men – if you cheat on your wife, don’t tell her. Don’t confess. Do not ever do it,’ he said.

‘It is one of the most catastrophic and damaging things you can ever do in your life.’

The comedian said many people misinterpret the idea of confession, noting that while some quote the Bible to justify it, confession of sin is meant for God and not for humans.

‘People will even quote the Bible to support the idea of confession. They will say that if we confess and repent, then our sins are forgiven,’ he said.

‘Excuse me, that is to God and from God, not to man. It is confession to God, not to man. Do not do it.’

He added that people who confess after cheating often deceive themselves into thinking they are being honest, when in reality they are being manipulative.

‘You are not being honest; you are being manipulative. What you’re really doing is shedding the weight of your guilt, not helping your spouse. You’re looking for someone else to carry the burden of your wrongdoing,’ he explained.

Sharing a personal experience, Teju admitted that before marriage, he once cheated in a serious relationship and confessed, a decision he now regrets. He said the confession was not driven by honesty but by a subconscious desire to sabotage the relationship.

‘I can see clearly now that I confessed because I wanted out of the relationship,’ he said.

‘If I cheated and then confessed, and she left by herself, I could justify it to myself. That was not honesty – that was cowardice.’

He argued that confessions rarely heal relationships but instead deepen wounds and permanently alter trust.

‘There is no benefit to your spouse when you confess. All the benefits are yours. What you give them is pain, heartache, and misery,’ he stated.

According to him, some marriages never recover from the damage caused by such revelations.

‘I have a friend who cheated on his wife 15 years ago, confessed in their first year of marriage, and to this day she still holds it over his head. He’s still suffering from that confession,’ he shared.

Teju stressed that true repentance should involve a change of behaviour, not confession, urging men to stop cheating rather than seek emotional relief by telling their wives.

‘If you feel bad about cheating, stop cheating. If you still feel guilty, confess to God or a counsellor, not your wife. Don’t ever put that weight on her. That’s not honesty; that’s cruelty,’ he said.

He also distinguished between a man who makes a mistake and one who is a habitual cheater.

‘The fact that you cheated once doesn’t make you a cheater,’ he noted.

‘A cheater is someone who does it repeatedly. But if you stumbled once, learn from it and change your actions, don’t destroy your home in the name of confession.’

Former President Dr Goodluck Jonathan has urged Nigerians not to despair despite the current challenges in the land, but to continue to nurture hope in the possibilities of greatness within the country.

Dr Jonathan stated this in his goodwill message to Nigerians on the occasion of the 65th Independence Anniversary, which, he said, ‘offers us an opportunity to reflect on our collective journey of nation-building.’

The former President wrote:

‘Our nation marks another significant milestone in its journey to nationhood. As we celebrate 65 years of independence from colonial rule, this moment offers us an opportunity to reflect on our collective journey of nation-building; on the challenges we have faced, and on the vast possibilities that still lie ahead.

‘It is true that we face challenges that could test our sense of hope: insecurity, economic disparities, and institutions that often struggle to deliver on the promises of improved wellbeing, peace and security.

‘Yet, as citizens, we must not lose faith. We must continue to nurture hope and sustain belief in the nation’s enormous potential and the resilience of the people.

‘Nigeria is a blessed nation, endowed with vast land, abundant natural resources, and, above all, the ingenuity and creativity of the people.

‘Our cultural richness, our knowledge, and our wisdom have continued to distinguish Nigerians across every sphere of human endeavour, both at home and abroad.

‘As we look to the future, let patriotism guide our actions. Let us hold firmly to optimism and faith, knowing that the greatness of our country is within reach if we remain united and steadfast. May our nation continue to rise in strength and purpose.’

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has empowered a total of 58,933 Corps members with different digital skills in its entrepreneurship drive towards youth empowerment within the last two years.

NYSC Director General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made this known in his goodwill message at a retreat organised by the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, with the theme, ‘Achieving the youth-focused Presidential Priorities And Deliverables’, held in Abuja.

The DG said for more than two years of the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, NYSC has been drawing strength from the support of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and, by extension, the Federal Government.

He stated further that the Scheme has remained committed to the success of the sixth priority area, which is focused on education, health and social investment as essential pillars of development.

Director, Information and Public Relations, Caroline Embu, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, said while congratulating the Minister for his accomplishments since assuming office, General Nafiu added that Olawande’s passion has been a source of inspiration for the Nigerian youths.

‘As at the second quarter 2025, fifty-six thousand and thirteen Corps members had been exposed to digital skills through ICT training at NYSC orientation camps nationwide.

‘Our partnership with the Enterprise Development Centre has yielded digital skills training for two thousand, nine hundred and twenty female Corps members’, he said.

General Nafiu noted that NYSC has contributed to one of the key deliverables of the sixth priority area, which is galvanising the internal and external economies of scale for youth entrepreneurial sharpening through inter-agency engagements and collaboration.

The NYSC Chief Executive stated further that the Scheme would strengthen its existing partnership to drive empowerment initiatives and youth support systems through enhanced collaboration with Access Bank, Unity Bank, Wema Bank, British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation, NNPC Foundation/Kudimata and Activate Success on its Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme.

He said NYSC’s partnerships, together with other initiatives, gave rise to the Scheme’s contributions to the second deliverable, namely, improvement of employability and access of youth to business and income-generating opportunities.

General Nafiu also said the number of Corps members supported in mentorship, internship, apprenticeship and career development opportunities also keeps rising, as 385,461 Corps members had participated in the SAED programme from June 2023 to the second quarter of 2025.

‘Through our public and private sector partners, one thousand, one hundred and eighteen Corps members were given financial support to start their businesses over the last two years.

‘NYSC has made great contributions in the area of education with five hundred and seventy-four thousand Corps members posted on teaching assignments, especially in rural schools, from June 2023 to date.

‘In the area of health, 38,112 Corps members were posted to health facilities across the country, also with priority given to rural deployment, resulting in enhanced access to quality health care services for the citizenry.

‘Moreover, as part of the Scheme’s contributions to the achievement of universal health coverage, 49839 Nigerians had benefitted from medical outreaches under the NYSC Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers within the period’, he added.

General Nafiu also said the foregoing achievements were products of shared vision and commitment to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government.

He reiterated NYSC’s continued partnership with the Ministry of Youth Development and other stakeholders in its determination to drive initiatives that would accelerate national development.

In his address at the event, the Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, called on the youths to make effective use of the youth help desk domiciled at the Ministry.

He said President Tinubu had earlier charged the Ministry to become a true place of hope and empowerment for the Nigerian youths.

He added that the Youth Ministry has trained a total of fifteen thousand, five hundred and nine youths on digital skills instead of the targeted figure of ten thousand.

‘We planned to support Eighty Thousand youths in mentorship and career development, but we recorded Ninety-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and twelve beneficiaries.

‘In crime reduction and peace building, we trained a total of five thousand and twenty-three. The Nigerian Youth Academy (NIYA) has recorded over two hundred and fifty thousand Nigerian youths,’ Olawande said.

He also said there was a need to speed up operations on the National Youth Investment Fund so as to fast-track other initiatives and laudable achievements for the Ministry.

Toncoin (TON) is under heavy pressure after sliding to $2.82, breaking below the key $2.90 support. Meanwhile, Stellar (XLM) is showing more resilience, holding near $0.386 with neutral momentum as traders track a potential breakout toward $0.50 if support around $0.36 holds.

While these tokens fight to stabilize, BlockDAG (BDAG) is stealing the spotlight. The project’s presale has already raised nearly $415M, sold 26.5B coins, and locked a batch 30 price of $0.0013, far below its confirmed $0.05 listing. Backed by a headline BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team partnership, BlockDAG is rewriting the emerging crypto coins with record-breaking momentum and viral investor demand.

TON Slides Below $2.90 as Sellers Target Deeper Losses

Toncoin has broken below the critical $2.90 support, falling to $2.82 with a sharp 7.9% daily loss. Multiple failed attempts to hold the $3.16 resistance opened the door for bears to take control, leaving traders focused on the next key levels. Immediate resistance now sits at $3.00, while the next major support zone is between $2.60 and $2.70.

Market weakness and risk-off sentiment are adding pressure, pushing traders to exit high-volatility assets. Toncoin’s recent adoption news offers little protection as technical indicators signal more downside. A recovery above $3.00 is needed to shift momentum back to the bulls. Without it, sellers are likely to extend losses toward the $2.60 floor, making this a high-risk but potential buy zone for investors.

XLM Slips Below $0.39 but Traders See a Path to $0.50

Stellar (XLM) is trading near $0.386, down about 2.3% this week. Market cap sits at roughly $12.3 billion, with daily trading volume dropping to $150 million, signalling reduced activity. Technical charts show strong support between $0.36 and $0.37, while resistance remains near $0.45. If buyers defend these levels, analysts see a potential move toward the critical $0.50 mark.

The Relative Strength Index hovers around 50, showing a neutral market where neither bulls nor bears dominate. A clean breakout above $0.45 could spark renewed momentum, while failure to hold $0.36 may trigger a slide toward $0.30. Investors tracking mid-cap crypto trends may view this range as an opportunity to accumulate ahead of a push toward $0.50.

BlockDAG’s $415M Presale Explodes With BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team Deal

BlockDAG is turning into a market event as its BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team partnership floods X, Telegram, and Discord with nonstop buzz. The project’s presale has nearly raised $415 million, sold 26.5 billion coins, and locked a Batch 30 price of $0.0013, creating one of the most watched early-stage crypto launches of 2025. This isn’t a quiet presale anymore, BlockDAG is now trending across social channels, and that visibility is driving a new wave of retail buying.

The hype isn’t just noise. Whales have already pooled more than $10 million, signalling institutional-scale interest before the official launch. With each batch pushing the price higher, traders are rushing to lock in the current rate before the gap to the confirmed $0.05 listing price narrows further.

This viral momentum is reshaping investor psychology. BlockDAG’s presale is no longer about speculation but about securing entry before October’s next price move. The combination of hard adoption numbers and a global BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team partnership gives this project a rare mix of credibility and excitement. At $0.0013, the window for an early position is shrinking by the day.

Final Take

Toncoin’s recent price crash signals growing uncertainty, while Stellar’s steady climb remains tied to cautious accumulation and key technical levels. Both offer trading setups but lack a defining catalyst strong enough to pull capital away from safer market trends.

BlockDAG, on the other hand, is building an entirely different story. Its nearly $415M presale, confirmed $0.05 listing target, and viral BWT Alpine Formula 1® Team partnership give it the kind of institutional credibility rarely seen in early crypto launches. With each batch pushing prices higher, the current $0.0013 entry stands out as one of the most asymmetric opportunities in emerging crypto coins analysis. For investors, BlockDAG offers a chance to buy into momentum before it turns into the next headline rally.

Ondo Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has pledged stronger collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations to boost food security, empower youths, and reform land administration in the state.

The governor who gave the assurance on Monday in Akure while receiving the FAO Representative in Nigeria and to ECOWAS, Dr. Hussein Gadain, who led a delegation on a courtesy visit, commended FAO’s interventions since the launch of its programme in July 2024.

He specifically commended the FAO interventions in the area of training farmers, providing advocacy, and deploying GIS tools for forest mapping.

He said his administration was committed to expanding the partnership by allocating land to farmers, engaging youths in agribusiness, and backing projects with budgetary support.

‘Land is a very scarce factor of production. Many people are looking for land for expansion, while new entrants are coming in and the land size remains the same.

‘With land allocation committees at the local government level, ownership will be guaranteed and issues of land grabbing are reduced,’ the governor said.

He stressed the need to prepare younger farmers for the future.

‘Most farmers are getting old. Before they retire, it is better to start training younger ones.

‘We had Youth on Ridges in the last administration where land was cleared and provided for young people to farm. We need to revisit that deliberately and intentionally,’

Earlier, Gadain said his visit was to review FAO’s progress in the state and identify fresh areas of collaboration in line with Ondo’s priorities on food security, climate resilience, and natural resource management.

He disclosed that Ondo is currently benefitting from two Global Environment Facility (GEF) projects – the Food Systems, Land Use and Restoration (FOLUR) project, and the Biodiversity project covering Ondo, Edo, Delta, and Ogun States.

Both are aimed at restoring degraded forests, conserving biodiversity, and supporting local livelihoods.

According to him, FAO’s interventions in Ondo include establishing a GIS laboratory, reviving extension services, introducing farmer field and business schools, facilitating policy dialogue on land access, and setting up solar-powered nurseries capable of producing over two million seedlings.

He revealed that more than 3,800 hectares of degraded forest have already been restored in the state, while another one million seedlings are to be delivered.

‘Our interventions also align with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation, which will enhance food security, create jobs, expand export revenue, and strengthen ecosystem services in Ondo State,’ Gadain said.

Top government officials at the meeting included Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; and Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Olaleye Akinola, amongst others.

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed claims of deliberate religious persecution in Nigeria, insisting that Christians and Muslims coexist peacefully in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday in Owerri, Imo State, at the launch of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s book ‘A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria,’ Tinubu described the allegations as ‘a lie from the pit of hell.’

‘There’s no religious persecution in Nigeria. It’s a lie from the pit of hell. I have always believed in good governance, and since I assumed office, I have focused on your welfare. Today, Nigerians can confidently say we have well-equipped hospitals, and we can treat critical illnesses such as cancer,’ he said.

Tinubu’s comments followed claims by American talk show host Bill Maher, who in a viral clip from his show Real Time with Bill Maher, alleged that Christians were being systematically killed in Nigeria.

‘If you don’t know what’s going on in Nigeria, your media sources suck. You are in a bubble. I’m not a Christian, but they are systematically killing the Christians in Nigeria.

‘They’ve killed over a hundred thousand since 2009. They’ve burned 18,000 churches. These are the Islamists, Boko Haram.

‘This is so much more of a genocide attempt than what is going on in Gaza. They are literally attempting to wipe out the Christian population of an entire country,’ Maher said.

The video was widely circulated by international influencers, including Radio Genoa, an anti-Islamic personality on X.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, had also debunked Maher’s claim, insisting that Nigeria’s security challenges should not be portrayed as a targeted campaign against a single religious group. He described the allegation as ‘a gross misrepresentation of reality.’

Reassuring Nigerians, Tinubu said the economy was improving and urged citizens to remain patient. ‘Nigeria’s economy just turned a corner, and you will receive prosperity; those talking negatively about this country should stop saying so. Just be patient, as all Nigerians will feel the prosperity in due time; don’t be corrupt,’ he said.

The Umo Eno-led administration in Akwa Ibom State has launched a N100 million Creative Industry Fund to boost the state’s entertainment and film sector, in a fresh push to empower young people and expand opportunities under his ARISE Agenda.

The fund, announced during the Ibom Entertainers Week in Uyo, is targeted at building capacity, supporting practitioners, and positioning Akwa Ibom as a creative hub in Nigeria.

Briefing newsmen on Tuesday, Commissioner for Information, Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the initiative was one of the administration’s most significant interventions in September 2025.

‘This is not just about entertainment, it is about building an economy around the talents of our young people, giving them the tools to compete nationally and globally,’ he stressed.

The Commissioner also highlighted the inauguration of the fourth batch of the Ibom-LED Entrepreneur Accelerator Programme and the continued distribution of ARISE food packages across the 31 local government areas.

‘In just one month, more than 10,000 youths and SMEs have benefitted from training and empowerment schemes,’ he said. ‘Our governor is deliberate in creating jobs and giving hope to young people.’

On infrastructure, Umanah noted that over 771 kilometres of roads and 31 bridges are at various stages of completion, while Ibom Air has acquired four new aircraft, with work ongoing at the new Terminal Building and MRO facility at Victor Attah International Airport.

Workers’ welfare, he said, has remained a top priority. ‘Over ?78 billion has been paid in pensions and gratuities. Teachers have received N1.2 billion in wardrobe allowance. We have implemented the ?80,000 minimum wage, introduced a 13th-month salary, and approved the recruitment of 4,000 new workers,’ Umanah declared.

On social welfare, he revealed that more than 500,000 vulnerable households have benefitted from interventions, while in housing, 267 Compassionate Homes have been delivered, with 150 free houses for public servants already underway.

The health sector has equally recorded progress with the expansion of health centres, an emergency ambulance service, a medical oxygen plant, and the ongoing construction of a 350-bed International Hospital.

To secure lives and property, the governor launched the State Security Trust Fund, recruited 4,500 community watch personnel, and established a Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways. ‘We are reinforcing Akwa Ibom’s status as one of the safest states in Nigeria,’ Umanah added.

In tourism, projects such as the ARISE Resort, Ibom International Convention Centre, ARISE Shopping City, and a 2,000-capacity amphitheatre are ongoing. The ecological remediation of 70 hectares of gullies has also commenced.

The governor also partnered with FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to commission 17.33 km of roads in Ika Local Government Area, while presenting new vehicles to all former deputy governors of the state.

Sports development received a boost with the successful return of the Ibom Sports Festival after 14 years, alongside the revival of inter-house sports and the Governor’s Cup, and plans for a Sports Academy.

Summing up, Umanah said: ‘These achievements are not happenstance. They are the deliberate outcomes of a governance strategy anchored on the ARISE Agenda. Akwa Ibom is on a steady path of growth, innovation, and transformation under Governor Umo Eno.’