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The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, has urged the private sector to play a stronger role in advancing Nigeria’s health system by investing in local production, standardisation, and maintenance of medical equipment.

Speaking at the commissioning of the national secretariat of the Healthcare Equipment and Allied Products Providers Association of Nigeria (HEPAN) in Abuja during the weekend, Salako said the association’s initiative aligns with the government’s Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which focuses on improving governance, access to care, and health security through the industrialisation of the health sector.

The event brought together key government officials, professional bodies, and private sector players to explore strategies for ensuring that only certified and calibrated medical equipment is used across healthcare facilities nationwide.

Salako urged HEPAN members to contribute actively to unlocking the health value chain by ensuring the availability of quality infrastructure, equipment, and diagnostics.

He stressed that accurate diagnosis and effective treatment depend on the use of reliable and well-maintained medical technologies.

He encouraged the association to reduce equipment downtime in hospitals through regular training and partnerships with service users, saying, ‘The journey towards achieving zero use of substandard medical equipment and reagents requires your full and undiluted commitment’.

Reaffirming government’s support for public-private partnerships, Salako noted that Nigeria is promoting self-reliance in the production of medical technology, while pointing out that the Presidential Executive Order of June 28, 2024, which eliminated tariffs, import duties, and VAT on vital raw materials, offers a strong incentive for local manufacturing.

The Minister commended HEPAN’s leadership for its commitment to quality health service delivery, noting that Nigeria remains open for business and domestic manufacturing in the journey towards universal health coverage.

On her part, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, described the commissioning as a key milestone for quality healthcare delivery in the FCT and beyond.

She said, ‘The Secretariat and the association stand for standards in medical equipment, calibration, and sourcing of quality and standardised equipment.

‘Such standards form the bedrock of accurate medical outcomes. The results from your tests drive the kind of treatment and drugs patients receive, this is why standardisation is critical to achieving reliable healthcare outcomes’.

Represented by Pharmacist Boniface Ikwu, the Mandate Secretary pledged the FCTA’s continued collaboration with HEPAN to strengthen local capacity, promote quality assurance, and ensure regulatory compliance in the medical equipment sector.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Musa Wazani, praised HEPAN for fostering collaboration among stakeholders and ensuring that only certified medical devices are used in Nigeria.

‘I believe that HEPAN has the capacity to reduce medical tourism to the nearest minimum by ensuring that equipment imported into the country meet Nigerian standards and manufacturers’ specifications.

‘This will also address the trend of patients being referred from one facility to another to repeat tests due to lack of standardisation,’ he said.

Wazani further called on regulatory agencies to validate and verify all medical devices, saying it would maintain the integrity of healthcare services and build trust among patients and healthcare providers.

HEPAN President, Dr. Ifeanyichukwu Nwankwo, said the association was formed to eliminate the importation of fake and substandard medical devices through self-regulation and peer accountability.

‘We decided to organise ourselves to say that the best way to stop the importation of fake medical devices is through internal control. Any external body cannot do that, we know our members,’ he said.

He explained that every member must sign a pledge not to import or distribute substandard products, warning that violators would be permanently expelled.

Nwankwo added that the association’s disciplinary reach covers major equipment markets nationwide, and members are now shifting toward local manufacturing, with new factories opening in Port Harcourt and Anambra soon.

He commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its pledge to partner with HEPAN to strengthen regulation and ensure compliance.

Big Brother Naija housemate, Jason Jae, has been evicted from the ’10/10′ season, leaving five contestants in the race for the grand prize.

The show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu announced Jason Jae’s exit, marking a major point in the competition as the remaining housemates – Imisi, Dede, Kola, Koyin, and Sultana – battle for the ultimate title.

The hit reality show, which premiered on July 26-27, 2025, is set to conclude today, October 5, 2025.

Jason Jae’s eviction intensifies the suspense, setting the stage for a thrilling finale among the top contenders.

Jack Grealish scored a stunning 93rd-minute winner as Everton came from behind to hand Crystal Palace their first defeat in 19 matches across all competitions.

Daniel Muñoz had earlier given in-form Palace the lead in the 37th minute, finishing smartly from Ismaila Sarr’s pass after Tyrick Mitchell had struck the post.

The goal looked set to secure a third consecutive Premier League victory for Palace and extend their remarkable unbeaten run.

Everton, however, improved after the break following the introduction of Tyler Dibling and Thierno Barry.

Their persistence paid off in the 76th minute when Iliman Ndiaye converted from the penalty spot after Maxence Lacroix fouled substitute Tim Iroegbunam.

With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Grealish-on loan from Manchester City-pounced in stoppage time, firing home after Dean Henderson parried Beto’s close-range header.

The dramatic 2-1 victory ended Palace’s club-record unbeaten streak, their first loss since April 16.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity across several parts of the country, urging the Federal government to confront the crisis with honesty, urgency, and transparency.

In a statement on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party called on the federal government to first acknowledge the true scale and complexity of the security challenges, instead of making what it described as ‘insensitive claims of progress that mock the daily realities of Nigerians.’

The ADC also urged the government to engage directly with affected states, local governments, and communities, listen to their experiences, and seek local input in developing practical solutions.

It further called for heightened security alertness nationwide, with coordinated military and police operations involving local and state security networks.

The party added that the government should commit to regular public reporting on security incidents and institute a transparent system for tracking and auditing federal security funds.

‘Nigeria is under attack. This administration must stop pretending otherwise. They must stop treating national security as a political talking point and start treating it as a governing priority.

‘The lives of Nigerians must matter more than sound bites and ceremonies. The time for symbolic gestures is over, what the country needs now is responsible leadership, operational urgency, and measurable results,’ Abdullahi said.

Billionaire politician Ned Nwoko and his actress wife, Regina Daniels, have reacted after a viral video showing Regina playfully recording her husband in the restroom drew widespread criticism.

The clip sparked backlash from netizens, who argued that the actress had crossed boundaries by sharing an overly intimate moment, especially given Nwoko’s political status.

Unfazed by the controversy, Nwoko took to social media to post a heartfelt message celebrating love, peace, and understanding.

Sharing a new video of himself and Regina in a light-hearted TikTok clip, the Delta North senator expressed deep affection for his wife.

He wrote, ‘Not all echoes are noise; some are signals for hearts willing to listen beyond the surface. Love does not always shout; it speaks softly in the warmth of her smile, in the glow of her presence, and in the joy of moments shared. The world may be loud, but truth rests in silence, where two hearts find their rhythm. We love where we live, and in that love, life itself finds its perfect meaning.’

The romantic post attracted a wave of mixed reactions. While some fans praised the couple’s open display of affection, calling them ‘couple goals,’ others speculated that Regina might be managing her husband’s social media page.

One user wrote, ‘Unfortunate wailing children go start to dey cry now. Distinguished, abeg add more Cameroon pepper for their yeye eyes.’ Another added, ‘Couple goals. My Senator shows love and capacity in a wholesome package. I stan and restan!’

Despite the initial criticism, the couple’s public display of affection continues to endear them to many of their followers.

Nigerian music superstars Burna Boy, Wizkid, and Ayra Starr have officially submitted their albums and singles for consideration in the upcoming 2026 Grammy Awards.

Burna Boy entered his latest album, No Sign of Weakness, in both the Album of the Year and Best Global Album categories. His hit singles ‘Last Last’ and ‘For My Hand’ were submitted for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, while Love was entered in the Best African Music Performance category.

Wizkid submitted his project Morayo for Album of the Year and Best Global Album. His track Piece of My Heart is up for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, while his collaboration with Ayra Starr, Gimme Dat, was entered for Best African Music Performance.

Ayra Starr, on her part, submitted her single Hot Body for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. She also joins Wizkid in the Best African Music Performance category with their joint track Gimme Dat.

The submissions come ahead of the official announcement of nominees for the 2026 Grammy Awards, where all three stars are expected to be strong contenders representing Nigerian and African music on the global stage.

Bruno Guimaraes and Nick Woltemade inspired Newcastle United to a crucial victory over Nottingham Forest at St James’ Park, intensifying the pressure on Forest manager Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou’s wait for a first win with Nottingham Forest continued as his side suffered another setback, following Thursday night’s Europa League defeat to Midtjylland.

Guimaraes broke the deadlock just before the hour mark with a superb curling strike from outside the box. Forest players protested to referee Peter Bankes, claiming the Brazilian had fouled Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Before the opener, Newcastle – previously the Premier League’s lowest scorers – had struggled to break through Forest’s defence.

However, momentum shifted as the hosts pressed for more goals. Forest goalkeeper Matz Sels pulled off impressive saves to deny Sandro Tonali, Malick Thiaw, and Harvey Barnes, while Woltemade’s thunderous effort struck the underside of the bar.

Woltemade eventually doubled Newcastle’s lead from the penalty spot after Guimaraes was brought down in the box by Elliot Anderson, sealing the Magpies’ second league win of the season.

As the final whistle blew, frustrated Newcastle fans chanted ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ toward Postecoglou, with Forest now sitting 17th in the Premier League table.

One of the top four finalists, Sultana, has been evicted from Big Brother Naija’s ’10/10′ season.

Sultana became the 3rd runner-up of the season, leaving Imisi, Dede and Koyin to battle for the ultimate prize of N150m.

The show host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu announced Sultana’s exit, marking a pivotal moment in the competition.

Big Brother Naija premiered on July 26-27, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude today, October 5, 2025.

The eviction set the stage for an intense finale, with the remaining three housemates vying for the top spot.

Exams are used to measure a student level of knowledge on a particular subject or subjects. To pass exams gives a student the chance of success and attaining a level of progress.

These exams are in-depth and require a strong dedication to study.

The ‘difficulty’ of these examinations can often be subjective, depending not only on the academic rigor but also on personal dedication, and the academic background of the individual student writing the exams.

Passing them often takes years of study, determination, and sometimes many trails.

The country with the hardest exam is China, as it is home to the world’s No. 1 toughest exam – Gaokao, while India has 3 of the world’s top 10 toughest exams.

1. China ? Gaokao Exam

2. India ? IIT JEE Exam

3. India ? UPSC Exam

4. England ? Mensa

5. US/Canada ? GRE

6. US/Canada ? CFA

7. US ? CCIE

8. India ? GATE

9. US ? USMLE

10. US ? California Bar Exam

Source: Erudera

Africa’s automotive industry is rapidly gaining momentum, with several indigenous brands producing vehicles tailored for the continent’s unique terrains – and increasingly penetrating export markets.

From Nigeria’s Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing to Ghana’s Kantanka and Kenya’s Mobius, local automakers are redefining innovation, engineering, and industrial expansion across the continent.

South Africa continues to serve as Africa’s automotive powerhouse, assembling vehicles for major global manufacturers including Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, and Ford, further solidifying the continent’s growing presence in the global automobile market.

Here are the top cars made in Africa:

1. Innoson (Nigeria) – Manufactures sedans, SUVs, pickups, and buses.

Popular Models: Innoson Umu Sedan, Innoson Pickup, Innoson Bus.

2. Kantanka (Ghana) – Produces locally inspired SUVs and pickups.

Popular Models: Kantanka Omama Pickup, Kantanka Onantefo 4×4.

3. Mobius Motors (Kenya) – Builds rugged, affordable SUVs for African terrains.

Popular Model: Mobius II.

4. Volkswagen South Africa – Produces and exports the Volkswagen Polo.

Popular Model: VW Polo.

5. BMW South Africa – Manufactures and exports the BMW 3 Series.

Popular Model: BMW 3 Series.

6. Mercedes-Benz South Africa – Assembles the globally exported C-Class.

Popular Model: Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

7. Toyota South Africa – Produces Africa’s best-sellers, the Hilux and Corolla.

Popular Models: Toyota Hilux, Toyota Corolla.

8. Ford South Africa – Manufactures the tough, export-ready Ford Ranger.

Popular Model: Ford Ranger.