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Human Rights Institute of National Human Rights Commission has okayed a major research by legal scholar and health-rights advocate, Jennifer Mike-Oworodo, for presentation at its national conference this month .

The project: ‘Operationalising Reproductive Health Rights in Nigeria: A Multi-dimensional Framework for Addressing the Policy-Practice Divide,’ was selected for its approach to bridging Nigeria’s gap between health policies and real-world access to care.

Dr. Mike-Oworodo, a voice in the country’s campaign for health justice, said Nigeria must confront the structural failures that deny millions equitable access to healthcare.

‘Health justice requires fairness. Every person, regardless of gender, class or location, deserves access to care needed to live a dignified life,’ she said.

A professor of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at DePauw University and assistant professor of Law at American University of Nigeria, she warned that Nigeria’s health challenges, from underfunded hospitals to overstretched medical workers, stem partly from weak legal protections.

Although the Constitution recognises the right to health, she noted that citizens cannot legally enforce it.

‘This is why people have no recourse when the system fails them,’ she said, adding that the situation is worsened by governance lapses, politicised health budgeting and corruption, which continue to fuel the migration of skilled professionals.

She also emphasised reproductive justice as a critical but neglected area in Nigeria’s health landscape, calling for clearer regulations on assisted reproductive technologies and surrogacy.

According to her, policies must reflect intersectional realities: ‘A poor rural woman faces different barriers from an educated urban man. Our system must acknowledge these differences.’

Here is a stronger, more polished news-style version:

She outlined four urgent reforms she believes are critical to repositioning the country’s health sector: first, making the right to health legally enforceable so citizens can demand accountability; second, increasing transparent funding and strengthening management systems across all levels of care; third, adopting gender-sensitive policies that respond to the different needs of women, men and vulnerable groups; and finally, engaging communities directly in shaping and prioritising their own health needs.

‘Health is not charity, it is justice,’ she said. ‘Until Nigeria treats healthcare as a right, not a privilege, the goal of a healthy nation will remain out of reach.’

Her research presentation at the HRI national conference is expected to shape ongoing national conversations on health law, governance, rights and accountability.

The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Zamfara State Chapter, has commended Governor Dauda Lawal for the timely commencement of allowance payments to fresh Zamfara Clinical Veterinary Students.

This was revealed by Dr Kaka’u Dalla Dalla, Publicity Secretary, NVMA Zamfara State Chapter, in a statement on Tuesday.

The statement said, ‘This thoughtful intervention demonstrates the Governor’s unwavering commitment to educational development, human capacity building, and the advancement of the veterinary profession in the state.’

The doctors said by supporting our young clinical trainees, the administration has not only eased their academic journey but also reaffirmed its dedication to strengthening veterinary public health and animal welfare in Zamfara.

‘The NVMA Zamfara State Chapter expresses profound appreciation for this gesture and assures the Government of its continued partnership in promoting quality animal health services, food safety, and improved livelihoods for the people of Zamfara State.

‘We encourage the beneficiaries to remain dedicated, disciplined, and focused as they prepare to serve the state and the nation.’

Zamfara schools to remain open as gov’t adopts new security measures

The Zamfara State Government says it is not considering closing schools despite rising insecurity and a wave of student abductions across parts of the country.

Instead, the state government has introduced new security measures to protect learning centres and ensure pupils continue classes without fear of attacks.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wadatau Madawaki, disclosed this while addressing journalists at an event organised by the Federated Association of Zamfara State Students in Gusau, the state capital.

Madawaki’s assurance comes amid the recent abduction of 25 students of Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, and the attack on Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State that saw about 315 students and staff abducted.

These attacks have led some northern states to announce mass school closures, but Zamfara says it will not follow suit. Instead, authorities are strengthening security in and around schools to deter bandit attacks.

‘We have already done what we are supposed to do, and when you talk about security, you do not disclose your actions to the media. But we have taken steps to safeguard the interests of our students. The security of the schools and children is well taken care of.

‘We are in contact with all the security agencies, and they are giving us the necessary support to ensure our schools operate without hindrance. We believe nothing will happen, and our education will continue to flourish until the end of the academic term,’ Madawaki said.

Madawaki explained that states embarking on mass closures largely operate boarding schools, whereas Zamfara currently runs mainly day schools due to insecurity.

‘As of now, most of the states that have closed their schools operate boarding systems where students stay in hostels. Bandits often strike at night when people are asleep. Here, we are yet to resume our boarding system. Our schools run during the day,’ he said.

He noted that schools in areas with persistent insecurity remain closed until conditions improve.

‘Where we feel there is insecurity, the schools have already been closed. Where there is relative peace, we have allowed students to continue since the term is almost ending. If there is a need to extend holidays, we shall do so,’ he said.

The commissioner added that some higher institutions, including the state university, polytechnic and college of education, are already on holiday.

‘They are due to resume in December, but because they keep boarding students, we will extend their holidays until January to assess the situation before they return.’

The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has approved a $500 million loan to the Federal Government to finance the second phase of its economic governance and energy transition support programme (EGET-SP).

EGET-SP is an initiative aimed at accelerating the transformation of the country’s electricity infrastructure and improving access to cleaner sources of energy.

On August 24, 2022, the Federal Government launched Nigeria’s energy transition plan as a major pathway in achieving universal energy access by 2030 and a carbon-neutral economy by 2060.

The government said the plan was designed to tackle energy poverty and the climate change crisis, as well as deliver sustainable development goal seven (SDG7) by 2030 and net zero by 2060.

AfDB, on August 1, approved a loan of $500 million to Nigeria to finance the first phase of the energy transition programme.

In a statement yesterday, AfDB said the scheme’s policy-based operation is for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

‘The second phase of the programme aims to stimulate inclusive growth by accelerating structural reforms in the energy sector, while supporting progressive reforms of fiscal policy to boost non-oil revenues and expand fiscal space,’ the bank said.

According to the lender, the programme will place emphasis on three core areas.

‘First, the programme will deepen fiscal policy reforms by strengthening public financial management systems and enhancing the transparency and efficiency of public spending,’ AfDB said.

‘Second, it will accelerate the reform of the power engineering sector to reduce energy poverty, expand access to energy, improve sector governance, and attract private investment.

‘Third, it will support implementation of the energy transition plan through measures that promote climate change adaptation and mitigation, including the introduction of energy-efficiency standards for electrical appliances.’

According to the financial institution, Nigeria’s nationally determined contribution (NDC) will also be updated for the 2026 to 2030 period.

‘The programme’s direct beneficiaries are the Federal Ministry of Power, the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Office of the Auditor General, the Debt Management Office, the National Climate Change Council of Nigeria (NCCC), the Federal Ministry of the Environment, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), and other bodies responsible for social and economic policies,’ the statement reads.

‘Benefits will also accrue to private businesses in the form of improved investment climate and opportunities in the energy sector at the level of individual states of the Federation, and from the creation of an environment more conducive to public-private partnerships.

‘As of 31 October 2025, the active portfolio of the African Development Bank Group in Nigeria comprised 52 projects with a total commitment of $5.1 billion.’

Commenting on the development, Director-General of the office of the AfDB in Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, said the new phase will reinforce and build on the achievements of the first phase.

Quietly and without fanfare, the Nigerian Railway Corporation under Kayode Opeifa is showing early signs of renewal. Yet in a system long weighed down by bureaucracy, rust, and broken promises, the real challenge lies in keeping the wheels turning after the applause fades.

When Opeifa was appointed managing director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) early this year, the announcement barely stirred headlines. But among transport watchers, it drew attention. Here was a man once associated with Lagos traffic, an arena of daily chaos now handed the task of reviving a system meant to connect the whole country.

The Nigerian Railway Corporation once symbolised unity and progress, linking far-flung hamlets, communities, towns and feeding their local economies. Over time, it slipped into decay and nostalgia, a monument to what Nigeria once had and lost. Every new management promised revival; each left behind more rust and regret. Opeifa’s arrival came into that atmosphere of fatigue, one more technocrat stepping into a place heavy with expectations and history.

What has stood out so far is his visible, unceremonious style of engagement. Instead of remaining behind desks and memos, Opeifa has been out on the tracks inspecting stations, talking to workers, and listening to passengers. At the Lagos’ Iddo Terminal, he was reported to have seen the gap between reports and reality: dim platforms, faulty toilets, flickering lights, and weary coaches. His immediate instruction was to fix what could be fixed. Toilets were cleaned, lights repaired, and platforms tidied. It wasn’t dramatic, but it was symbolic a reminder that leadership sometimes begins with simple attention.

In other parts of the country, quiet attempts are underway to reconnect dormant lines and stir local economies back to life. The long silent Jos-Kuru corridor in Plateau State is reportedly being reconsidered for reopening. The Eastern line from Enugu to Port Harcourt has re-entered national conversation, with cautious optimism about renewed work. Freight services, too, are being repositioned as a growth engine. The Lagos-Ibadan cargo line, still evolving, could eventually ease the unbearable pressure on highways and cut logistics costs for manufacturers and traders.

That shift in focus is significant. For decades, discussions about Nigeria’s railways have revolved around passengers and comfort, often ignoring that rail systems across the world survive mainly on cargo. If the NRC succeeds in moving more goods efficiently, it will do far more for Nigeria’s economy than endless speeches about ‘modernisation.’

Inside the corporation, there’s a noticeable calm. Staff unions, once quick to challenge management, are reported to have pledged cooperation. That may not sound like much, but for an organisation long plagued by distrust and internal friction, it’s a big deal. Industrial peace doesn’t fix tracks or coaches, but it creates space for real work to happen.

Still, optimism must be measured. Nigeria’s railway story is littered with bright beginnings that fade into frustration. Chronic underfunding, sluggish procurement, weak maintenance, and a culture of secrecy remain major threats. There’s talk of acquiring new coaches and wagons a welcome plan, if executed transparently. But details are still hazy: no firm timelines, no public cost breakdowns, no delivery schedule. Nigerians deserve more than reports in newspapers; they deserve information. Transparency builds trust faster than announcements.

Beyond new equipment, the bigger challenge lies in maintenance. New coaches will not survive old habits. The NRC’s history is full of once proud assets left to rot after minor faults. Opeifa has warned against vandalism and theft, but punishment alone won’t change much. What’s needed is a working repair system, spares, workshops, and community ownership. Rail stations should not become scrapyards by neglect.

Another obstacle is the railway’s isolation from the rest of the transport ecosystem. Rail must connect meaningfully to ports, highways, and industrial clusters to make sense. The NRC has started engaging state governments and private players, but success will depend on how far these partnerships go beyond paper. A line that ends in the middle of nowhere serves no one.

In the months ahead, public judgment will rest not on rhetoric but on experience. Are trains cleaner? Are they more punctual? Are fares affordable? Has cargo movement between Lagos and Kano improved? These questions will tell Nigerians more about progress than any ribbon-cutting.

The truth is, the NRC doesn’t need miracles. It needs order, discipline, and continuity. Too often, its leadership has been caught between vision and bureaucracy: grand dreams swallowed by red tape. The real transformation lies not in mega projects but in the ordinary details: working lights, clean toilets, honest ticketing, and trains that simply leave and arrive on time.

If Opeifa can keep attention on those practical, almost boring things, he might quietly restore confidence in a system that once defined national unity. Each commuter who sits in a clean coach, each trader who moves goods safely, each town that hears the train whistle again that’s the measure of renewal.

Nigeria has seen this story before: a burst of reform energy followed by decline. Whether this chapter becomes another cycle or the start of something lasting will depend on management’s consistency after the noise dies down. Opeifa may not be seeking headlines, but his actions are being watched. And perhaps that’s for the best a railway system improving quietly, tested daily by a public that has learned to doubt promises but never quite stopped hoping for proof.

There comes a moment in the life of a nation when denial becomes complicity, when silence matures into surrender, and failure to act is tantamount to endorsement of the very horrors that civilisation is meant to prevent.

Over the past 90 days, Nigeria has been subjected to attacks, kidnappings, and so on. From the ravaged farmlands of Benue to the charred compounds of Borno, from the blood-soaked villages of Plateau to the mass graves of Nasarawa, what has unfolded across the country is nothing short of a national emergency. The League for Social Justice (LSJ) has documented 24 major atrocities across multiple states within this period, accounting for over 350 deaths, hundreds of abductions, massive property destruction, and the complete erasure of entire communities.

Yet these incidents represent only a fraction of the violence. In Yelewata, Benue State alone, more than 150 people were burned alive in their sleep, an atrocity so gruesome that it defies the boundaries of language.

A nation under siege

The LSJ report paints a terrifying picture of systemic, patterned violence. Across the north-west, north-central, and north-east regions, armed groups, bandits, Fulani militant factions, jihadist insurgents, and transnational criminal networks have unleashed coordinated attacks with devastating precision.

The LSJ report leaves no ambiguity:

More than 350 civilians killed, hundreds abducted, including schoolgirls. Villages burned, churches and mosques desecrated.

Security personnel ambushed and executed

Over 5,000 displaced in a single attack in Kirawa, Borno.

On page 4 of the report, a graph entitled: ‘Number of Major Atrocity Incidents by Month’ shows October as the deadliest month, with nine major attacks, nearly double the incidents recorded in August.

Alongside it, a ‘heat map’ of documented incidents ranks Borno, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba as the epicentres of bloodshed, indicating a premeditated geographic concentration.

The method behind the scourge

The LSJ analysis reveals a devastating pattern, a convergence of factors that signal deliberate strategy.

It is a war against rural communities across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba, southern Kaduna, and parts of Katsina, attackers employ identical tactics including, night raids, multi-directional assaults, door-to-door executions, burning of homes, killing of farmers in their fields.

The report notes that both Christian farming settlements and Muslim communities have been targeted, a fact that underscores the complexity of the conflict but does not reduce its brutality. The signature of these attackers is uniform, chilling, ideological, territorial, and organised.

It is an economic warfare through farmland destruction. The occupation, seizure, and burning of farmland is quite strategic. They destroy food sources, cripple livelihoods, and displace families.

The LSJ report emphasises that, in a nation already plagued by food inflation and widespread hunger, this targeted destruction strikes at the heart of the country’s existence, posing a palpable threat to life and survival. Destruction of farmlands and attacking food supply goes beyond destruction of property; it is a deepening poverty, amplifying instability, fueling displacement, and driving the young toward desperation or exploitation by armed groups. You cannot starve a region without destabilising a nation.

And you cannot destabilise a nation without threatening its survival. And Nigeria’s survival is its food supply.

Expanding geographies of terror

Areas of hotbeds, which were confined to insecure zones, have metastasized far beyond their original epicentres. States that were once considered relatively safe, such as Kwara, Kebbi, Kogi, and large portions of Bauchi, are now absorbing the same patterns of mass killings, kidnappings, farmland seizures, and nighttime raids that previously defined the crisis corridors of Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara, and Borno.

These murderous marauders take advantage of porous borders, weak policing, and the total absence of deterrence to inflict their mayhem, emboldened by networks of militias, bandits, and extremist factions.

The moral question before Nigeria is stark and unavoidable: Will we continue to drift toward a future in which the most dangerous men dictate the fate of the most vulnerable, or will we summon the courage to reclaim the republic from the jaws of lawlessness?

Symbolic and sacred spaces under attack

Schools, churches, mosques, traditional palaces, and military bases. These are the nerve centres of our identity, continuity, and sovereignty; however, they have become random soft targets, struck with impunity by the very forces a functioning state is meant to repel. Schools are there to safeguard the future, churches and mosques shape the moral conscience of the people, traditional palaces preserve our heritage and communal legitimacy, and military bases embody the coercive authority of the state. To attack, burn, or overrun them is to attack Nigeria’s essence, erase our collective memory, and plunder the very idea of the republic.

The abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, the burning of palaces in Borno, and the overrunning of military checkpoints are disturbing.

The Nigerian Constitution is unambiguous in its sections. Section 33 guarantees the right to life. Section 14(2)(b) defines the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government.

Section 44 protects property. Every one of these provisions is violated daily.

The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was domesticated into Nigerian law, prohibits extrajudicial killing, torture, and forced displacement. Yet villages are burned, civilians slaughtered, and families uprooted in their thousands. Under international law, Nigeria is obligated to prevent widespread or systematic attacks on civilians.

To reverse this trend, Nigeria must confront this crisis with the urgency it demands. The LSJ report recommends rapid-response security deployment, constitutionally regulated state policing, intelligence reform, judicial overhaul, and the establishment of a National Commission on Mass Atrocities and Internal Displacement. A Certified True Copy of this report has been sent to both houses of the National Assembly for immediate action.

We cannot keep burying victims or counting the dead.

History will remember this moment.

The world is watching. And so are the graves.

Former Super Eagles winger Tijani Babangida has blamed Nigeria’s failed 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign on ‘self-inflicted’ issues, insisting that former head coach Finidi George had the competence and experience to guide the team to qualification.

Speaking in a recent interview, Babangida expressed deep frustration over the circumstances that led to Nigeria missing out on a direct ticket, stressing that internal problems rather than lack of talent or technical know-how derailed the campaign.

According to him, Finidi’s track record with Enyimba and his understanding of the national team setup were more than sufficient to steer the Super Eagles through the qualifiers.

‘I believe if Finidi didn’t have that problem with the team, with the experience he has with Enyimba and the coaching he’s doing, I’m sure he would have cleared all those matches,’ Babangida told Brila Fm.’Because of that issue alone, we lost two matches and those two matches cost us our World Cup.’

He noted that once the internal tensions settled, particularly after the controversy involving striker Victor Osimhen, the team looked more organised and began to win again. However, by then the damage had already been done.

‘When I saw them come back, the whole team became settled and we started winning again. But it was too late for us at that time,’ he lamented.

Babangida criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for allowing the conflict between Osimhen and the coaching crew to escalate, arguing that the situation should have been handled swiftly to prevent it from affecting results.

‘The NFF should not have allowed that problem with Osimhen to escalate. They were supposed to do what needed to be done, but they didn’t. It was very unfortunate,’ he said.

Despite the disappointing campaign, the former Ajax star urged the NFF not to lose faith in Nigerian coaches. He argued that domestic managers should continue to be given opportunities, but supported the idea of pairing them with highly experienced European technical advisers.

‘NFF should not be discouraged from giving our coaches a chance again. They can always bring in a very experienced European coach to assist them, but the opportunity must remain,’ he added.

The Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) has conferred the Honorary Fellow on three veteran journalists – Dare Babarinsa, Nojeem Jimoh, and Owei Lakemfa.

They were honoured at the 34th DAME presentation in Lagos on Tuesday night.

DAME organisers said Babarinsa, co-founder of Tell Magazine, through his writings ‘continues to serve as a thought leader, guiding the public on issues of national importance’.

Regarding Lakemfa, formerly of Vanguard, the organisers said his ‘voice shaped national conversation for over four decades’, adding that his legacy continues to inspire others.

DAME Trustees said Jimoh’s legacy is mentorship and ethics. Jimoh was a former Editor of The Punch.

An Assistant Editor at The Nation, Chikodi Okereocha, won the Energy Reporter of the Year on the night.

His entry, ‘Electricity Act: Will states walk the implementation talk?’ published on June 10, 2024, was adjudged the best in the category.

The story examined the implementation challenges that faced the passing of the Electricity Act, raising questions about costs and balancing promises with risk.

Other nominees in the category were Olawin Oladare of The Punch and Moyosore Salami of The Guardian.

The Nation was a runner-up in many categories.

This newspaper was the first runner-up in Editorial Writing, won by The Punch. Vanguard was the other nominee.

The Nation was the first runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year category, which was won by The Punch.

ThisDay, The Sun and Premium Times were joint second runners-up in the Newspaper of the Year category.

The Nation Editor, Adeniyi Adesina, was the first runner-up in the Editor of the Year category, won by Tunji Abioye of The Punch.

Shaka Momodu of ThisDay, Iheanacho Nwosu of Daily Sun and Idris Akinbajo of Premium Times were joint second runners-up in the Editor of the Year category.

The Nation’s Taiwo Alimi was a runner-up in the Sport Reporting category, won by Peter Akinbo of The Punch.

Serial winner and The Nation Assistant News Editor (Weekend), Innocent Duru, was a finalist in the Health Reporting category, won by Sodiq Ojuroungbe of The Punch.

A former staff member of The Nation, Ibrahim Adam, was a runner-up in the Lagos Reporting category, won by Johnson Idowu of The Punch.

Folashade Ogunrinde of Premium Times won the Solid Minerals Reporting category with a story on how illegal mining led to the Ibadan fatal explosion.

Rakiya Muhammad of RM Times won the Child-Friendly Reporting. Sahara Reporters and ICIR journalists had the other nominations.

Elliot Ovadje of The Punch won the News Photography category. He had two nominations. A Blueprint photojournalist had the other.

Temitope Aina of The Sun won the Child-Friendly Photography category, beating Dayo Oyewo of The Punch.

Godfrey George won the Judicial Reporting category, in which The Punch had the three nominations.

ýAbdulRasheed Hammad of Ripples won the Investigative Reporting category, ahead of The Punch and HumAngle reporters.

ýOmolabake Fasogbon of ThisDay won the Education Reporting category. Premium Times and Prime Progress reporters were runners-up.

ýVanguard won Child-Friendly Medium. The Sun and Independent were the other nominees.

ýDaily Trust won Best Designed Newspaper ahead of ThisDay and Leadership.

ýThe Guardian was named the Best Designed Media Website, beating BusinessDay and ThisDay.

ýAbimbola Adelakun of The Punch won the Informed Commentary category.

Lasisi Olagunju of Nigerian Tribune and Azu Ishiekwene of Leadership were the other nominees.

ýVeronica Dan-Ikpoyi won the Television Reporter of the Year. Will Ibong of Channels was the runner-up.

ýýDAME Trustee Lanre Idowu said 665 names have entered the DAME Hall of Fame since its inception.

ýHe paid tribute to DAME Lifetime Achievement awardees who passed on recently, including Doyin Abiola, Christopher Kolade, Dan Agbese; as well as a DAME judge, Joseph Agboola and a DAME Ambassador, Evelyn Osagie (who was a journalist at The Nation).

ýIdowu urged the media to continue to hold those in authority accountable, adding that a change in national orientation was needed for national rebirth.

ýRegretting that many journalists unfortunately undermine the system, he stressed that good journalism plays a significant role in repositioning the country.

ý’Our media is trying, but there is a lot more for the media to do,’ Idowu said.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prince Lukman Fagbemi, has advised law students to prioritise developing strong advocacy and critical analytical skills to excel as advocates in the legal profession.

The legal practitioner noted that these skills could be developed through participation in mock trials, continuous practice, research, and mentorship, saying that this would enhance their confidence and prepare them for the complexities of the legal practice.

Fagbemi gave the advice at the grand finale of the maiden Moot and Mock Competition organised in his honour by the Law Students’ Society (LSS), University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), in collaboration with Lukman O. Fagbemi and Co. (Rahmah Chambers).

He described the competition as a valuable platform that provides students with practical exposure and strengthens their courtroom competence.

No fewer than 20 universities across Nigeria, including the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), University of Ibadan (UI), University of Benin (UNIBEN), and the host institution, UNILORIN, participated in the competition.

The competition featured multiple stages, including a primary memorial-writing phase, a debate and quiz competition, and a mock trial that was presided over by Magistrate Gbenga Abdullah of the Magistrate Court, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Following an anonymous review of memorials submitted by teams representing each of the participating universities by selected judges, UNIBEN, which emerged as the school with the best-written memorial, and three other institutions made it to the semifinals.

Speaking during the grand finale held last week, the president of UNILORIN LSS, Ibraheem Abdulrasheed, said the competition was conceived to help aspiring lawyers develop strong advocacy skills and to provide a practical platform where students can engage with real-life legal scenarios.

According to him, the competition also reflects the commitment of the LSS and the honouree to raising a new generation of lawyers who are not only academically grounded but also courtroom-ready.

At the end of the finals, UNILORIN emerged as champions, Crescent University came second, UNIBEN placed third, and Osun State University finished fourth. The winners received cash prizes of N700,000, N500,000, N400,000, and N300,000 respectively. Individual participants and teams were also presented with various awards.

In his address, David Ogundipe, Lead Partner at Earnest Attorneys LP, emphasised the need for every aspiring lawyer to continuously hone their advocacy skills, remain prepared at all times, and uphold integrity in all their professional engagements.

Ogundipe, who is also an alumnus of UNILORIN, noted that ‘the legal profession demands diligence, discipline, and a commitment to lifelong learning,’ adding that young lawyers must cultivate these qualities early in their careers.

The honoree, Prince Fagbemi appreciated the LSS for organising the moot and mock competition in his honour, noting that such initiatives help bridge the gap between theory and practice for aspiring lawyers.

Fagbemi, who served as LSS President during the 2007/08 academic session, pledged continued support to ensure the competition holds annually, describing it as part of his efforts to give back to the Faculty of Law, which he said shaped his legal career.

The event was attended by Prof. Muritala Sambo, a professor of constitutional law who represented the Dean of Faculty of Law, UNILORIN, Prof. Bashir Omipidan, as well as other lecturers, friends, and colleagues of the honouree.

The Zamfara Government has reiterated its commitment to promote peace building and conflict resolution and commended partners and Civil Society Organisations support towards achieving sustainable peace in the state.

The state Deputy Governor, Malam Mani Mummuni, gave the commitment in Gusau on Tuesday while declaring a one-day meeting on ‘Empowering Community Security (ECOS) Early Programme for Katsina and Zamfara’.

The meeting was organised by the Civil Society Organisation, Voluntary Aid Initiative (VAI), in partnership with NEEM Foundation.

The meeting was organised under a project ‘Empowering Community Security (ECOS)’, on Regional Early Warning -Early Response (EWER).

The meeting was attended by traditional and religious leaders, members of the Community Peace Committees, farmers, herders, CSOs, religious organisations, and other relevant stakeholders from Katsina State and Zamfara.

The deputy governor described the meeting as one of the key achievements of the ECOS project in both Katsina and Zamfara.

‘This is timely, considering the needs and importance of peace and stability to society.

‘This aligns with the state government’s commitment under Gov. Dauda Lawal’s administration to promote peacebuilding, community dialogue, and conflict resolution and to ensure sustainable peace and stability among communities in the state.

‘As we all know, Gov. Lawal was fully prepared and committed to continue partnership with local, national, and international NGOs to promote peace, stability, and general development of Zamfara.

‘On behalf of the state government, I would like to commend VAI and NEEM Foundation for their contribution to peacebuilding in the state.

‘This initiative is not only timely but commendable considering the choice of the time and the target stakeholders from the two states currently affected by insecurity,’ Mummuni said.

In their separate remarks, the Emirs of Gusau, Abdulqadir Ibrahim-Bello and Kaura Namoda, Dr Sanusi Muhammad, assured the commitment of traditional institutions in the state to continue supporting projects for peace building.

In a determined effort to stem the tide of drug and substance abuse among students and youths in Calabar, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), in strategic partnership with Devongnosis Education Ltd, has intensified its commitment by organizing a high-impact sensitization rally across Calabar state.

This initiative is in commemoration with the International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, underscoring the urgency and global significance of the fight against substance abuse.

The comprehensive campaign aims not only to raise awareness but also to instill lasting behavioral change and resilience among young people who remain vulnerable to the pervasive influence of drugs.

The rally, themed; ‘The Evidence is Clear: Invest in Prevention, Break the Chain, Say No to Drug Abuse,’ brought together stakeholders from across the community, including the NDDC Calabar state office led by the state Director, Chief Daniel Ajunwa PhD, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), NYSC members, the Police amongst others.

The march covered key strategic locations, including Mary Slessor Road, Calabar Technical College, General Hospital, and the University of Calabar, ensuring that the message reached a broad and diverse audience. Participants actively engaged in distributing educational materials, including colorful banners, informative flyers, T-shirts, and caps, all designed to reinforce the campaign’s anti-drug message.

Beyond the rally, the campaign incorporated vital health talks and counseling sessions aimed at equipping students with factual knowledge and practical tools to resist peer pressure and avoid drug experimentation. Several secondary schools, including Government Secondary School State Housing, West African People’s Institute (WAPI), Government Girls Secondary School Big-Qua, Government Secondary School Barrack Road, and Government Secondary School Akim-IBB way, among others, embraced the campaign, demonstrating a united front against substance abuse.

The event garnered robust participation from students, NDDC staff, youth corps members, security agencies, and community leaders, highlighting the collective responsibility and collaborative spirit needed to address this societal menace.

The Director Calabar state office, Chief Daniel Ajunwa, along with coordinators from Devongnosis Education Ltd, addressed the audience with compelling insights into the dangers of drug abuse, emphasizing its detrimental effects on mental health, academic achievement, and overall well-being.

‘It is deeply alarming to witness the rising cases of substance abuse among adolescents. This not only undermines their mental and physical health but also jeopardizes their academic futures and societal contributions,’ the speakers cautioned.

They strongly advocated for early prevention education as a frontline defense, urging students to embrace drug-free lifestyles and become champions of positive change in their communities.

The speakers further underscored that drug abuse is not merely an individual problem but a wider social challenge fueled by a network ranging from cultivators to traffickers, hence the necessity for a comprehensive, community-wide response. They encouraged vigilance, awareness of drug abuse indicators, and a collective commitment to breaking the cycle.

School representatives expressed deep appreciation to the NDDC and Devongnosis Education Ltd for spearheading such a transformative initiative. They lauded the campaign’s role in empowering young people to make informed decisions and resist negative peer influences.

This landmark event embodies a significant stride towards fostering sustained community engagement, enhancing drug prevention education, and ultimately promoting a healthier, drug-free generation.

The partnership between the NDDC and Devongnosis Education Ltd has set a powerful example of how strategic collaboration can empower youths with the knowledge and resilience they need to flourish without reliance on harmful substances.

Moving forward, this campaign lays the groundwork for ongoing initiatives aimed at nurturing a safer, stronger, and more enlightened youth populace across Calabar and beyond, demonstrating a resolute stand against the scourge of drug abuse in the Niger Delta region.