Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

The Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku, has reaffirmed the country’s commitment to transforming the aviation sector through increased private investment and large-scale infrastructure renewal.

Kuku stated this while speaking as a panelist on ‘Shaping the Future of Air Travel: A Global Airport Perspective’ during the 35th Airports Council International (ACI) World Annual General Assembly held in Toronto, Canada.

She said Nigeria’s stabilizing economy is driving growth in passenger traffic but warned that challenges such as poor intra-African air connectivity continue to hinder progress across the continent.

The FAAN chief emphasized that private capital remains crucial to bridging the sector’s infrastructure gaps, adding that government funding alone cannot sustain aviation expansion.

According to her, FAAN has already embarked on several major upgrades, including the deployment of electronic gates for contactless passenger processing and stronger enforcement of consumer protection rules through sanctions on non-compliant airlines in partnership with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

Kuku also restated Nigeria’s support for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), noting that its success depends on complementary investments in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) services and air cargo facilities.

She highlighted the growing number of new international routes launched by domestic carriers as a sign of Nigeria’s expanding aviation footprint and readiness for sustained sectoral growth.

‘Nigeria is on the verge of major aviation growth. With the right policies, investment climate, and regional cooperation, we can reshape the continent’s air transport future,’ Kuku said.

Kuku also renewed calls for greater private-sector participation and investment in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facilities to strengthen Nigeria’s aviation maintenance ecosystem and retain aircraft servicing locally.

Kuku said the initiative is central to FAAN’s infrastructure renewal programme, designed to reduce dependence on foreign facilities for heavy aircraft checks. She explained that despite ongoing improvements in airport modernization, Nigeria’s lack of comprehensive MRO capacity remains a key weakness in the aviation value chain.

‘If you look at Africa, especially West Africa, there’s no single MRO facility that handles comprehensive C and D checks. We have maintenance facilities that do A and B checks, but the heavier maintenance work still requires ferrying aircraft abroad. That’s what we’re determined to change,’ Kuku said.

According to her, FAAN’s plan is to create a sustainable maintenance ecosystem through collaboration with investors, state governments, and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). She said this approach will allow local airlines to conduct full-scale maintenance, reduce operational costs, and retain revenue within Nigeria.

Kuku revealed that FAAN is currently executing a 22 to 24-month capital renewal programme with partial government funding and internally generated revenue. She emphasized that aviation remains highly capital-intensive, making private collaboration crucial for long-term infrastructure sustainability.

‘We can’t depend on government funding alone. The private sector must play a role, and we are seeing increased interest from investors who recognize the potential of Nigeria’s aviation market,’ she said.

She added that the current reforms have strengthened investor confidence, enabling the development of new MRO zones and expansion of existing hangars. According to her, these facilities will form the foundation of a modern maintenance ecosystem capable of serving both domestic and regional fleets.

‘There’s been a large focus on building MRO facilities within the market. We’re also working to ensure there’s a good market for spares as we expand infrastructure. This will make Nigeria a regional hub for maintenance and aircraft support,’ she said.

Kuku said this dependence drains foreign exchange and limits local employment opportunities, underscoring the urgency of building a homegrown maintenance ecosystem.

‘Our goal is to keep both the work and the revenue in Nigeria. We want to build a maintenance ecosystem that employs local engineers and attracts global certification,’ she said.

She noted that the vision for aviation infrastructure goes beyond aircraft maintenance, encompassing cargo, logistics, and trade. Nigeria’s growing agribusiness exports, she said, require temperature-controlled facilities and reliable logistics support to strengthen the air cargo value chain.

Kuku maintained that regional hub development must integrate services such as MRO, spares supply, and cargo handling. This, she explained, would ensure that Nigeria’s airports evolve into fully functional commercial and technical centers capable of supporting sustainable growth.

She also linked FAAN’s efforts to the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), explaining that local MRO capacity will help improve fleet turnaround and enhance reliability for African carriers. ‘When airlines can maintain their fleets within Africa, turnaround times improve, reliability increases, and we create a sustainable maintenance ecosystem for intra-African connectivity,’ she said.

Kuku added that Nigeria’s domestic airlines have begun expanding international operations, citing the new Abuja-Heathrow and Abuja-Gatwick routes as indicators of industry progress. She said such growth must be backed by a solid technical base that allows airlines to sustain international standards.

Beyond technical development, Kuku said FAAN is investing in passenger-focused technology, including e-gates for arrivals and departures and contactless travel systems. She explained that the goal is to build an airport environment that matches travelers’ lifestyles while ensuring operational efficiency.

‘We are building an airport environment that matches the lifestyle of our travelers,’ she said. ‘As we modernize, we’re ensuring that our technology solutions are seamless, user-friendly, and aligned with passenger expectations.’

She said sustainable aviation in the country depends on coordinated policy, private investment, and technical development. She said the establishment of a reliable maintenance ecosystem is key to achieving competitiveness, safety, and self-reliance in the region’s aviation industry.

Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday assured northern leaders that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fair to all ethnic nationalities across the country.

The Vice President dispelled claims of marginilasion against any ethnic nationality.

He informed the northern leaders that the Tinubu administration was working to address the social and economic challenges plaguing the country, stressing that many of those complaining were doing so out of greed and selfishness.

Shettima said this yesterday while hosting a delegation of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), led by its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Alhaji Bashir Dalhatu, at the State House in Abuja.

The Vice President urged northern leaders to rally behind President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Media and Communications in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, said Shettima told the delegation that it was time the North united behind the President’s reform efforts, urging them to resist the antics of those he called mischief makers to fragment the unity of Nigeria.

He drew a distinction between greed and grievance, as propounded by those he called ‘architects of modern conflict’.

Shettima noted that ‘while some agitations arise from genuine grievances seeking justice and fairness, others are fuelled by greed – by the quest to exploit disorder for selfish gain’.

The Vice President said the task before the Tinubu administration is to spot the difference between genuine grievance and greed with a view to embracing ‘legitimate calls for equity and inclusion, and to isolate the forces that seek to profit from chaos’.

He added: ‘We have proven, time and again, that our diversity is our strength, that our differences in tribe, faith, and geography are the very bricks that make this house of destiny we live in. This is why we must continue to resist all attempts to divide us or stir mischief among us. Our future depends on unity, and unity must remain our creed,’ he stated.

Debunking the claims of ethnic and religious bias against some sections of the country, Shettima said every group, faith, and tribe has a voice in national affairs under the Tinubu administration.

The Vice President assured all that no section of the country would be marginalised.

‘What we do as a government is to ensure that every group, every community, every faith, and every voice finds its place in the national conversation. We will never accommodate the marginalisation of any group.’

Our policies are designed to create opportunities for all; to lift every community through inclusion, education, and enterprise,’ he said.

Shettima also assured northern leaders that they remained an integral part of the Tinubu-led government, adding that the administration was ready to partner the ACF to advance the region’s development and the nation’s progress.

According to him, the North, once known for stability and unity, now faces insecurity, mistrust, and economic decline.

Shettima stressed the need to restore peace and justice in the region through constitutional means.

‘This government is yours. Your interests shall always find representation here, for I am one of you. Where there is a shortcoming, you have direct access to me. We exist to serve you and uphold the values that make the North an equal stakeholder in Nigeria’s identity,’ he said.

Highlighting efforts to reposition the region, the Vice President said the Renewed Hope Agenda prioritises education, agriculture, industrialisation, and security as pillars of northern revival.

According to him, ongoing reforms through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) have opened access to tertiary education for millions of students, while the government is expanding vocational and technical centres to prepare young people for roles in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology.

He added that Nigeria has moved beyond subsistence farming to large-scale commercial agriculture, turning the North’s vast arable land into the nation’s food and industrial hub.

‘We are building agro-processing industries to create jobs and value chains, investing in microfinance systems to support smallholder farmers and MSMEs, and establishing industrial zones in key states, such as Kano, Kaduna, and Sokoto,’ he said.

Commenting on the state of security, Shettima stated that restoring peace remained the government’s top priority.

The Vice President also stated that coordinated operations have neutralised bandit leaders and restored stability to many communities.

Dalhatu had praised the Tinubu administration for its bold reforms and applauded Shettima’s support for the President’s vision.

‘We are proud of what you are doing as Vice President as well as the achievements of this administration. You are doing a good job of assisting the President in running the affairs of the country in difficult times. We are always happy to identify with you,’ he said.

The BoT chairman said the ACF’s visit was meant to show solidarity with the government and to formally invite the Vice President to the forum’s forthcoming 25th anniversary celebration, which will focus on the development of the northern region.

He added that the ACF planned to launch an endowment fund to drive the region’s socio-economic growth and build sectoral models that could be adopted by state governments.

Also, the ACF National Executive Committee Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, said the 25th anniversary celebration would highlight the North’s potential and reaffirm its commitment to a united and prosperous Nigeria.

He pledged the forum’s support for the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda and other developmental goals of the Tinubu administration.

Other members of the delegation included ACF Vice Chairman, Senator Ibrahim Ida; Secretary General, Murtala Aliyu; BoT Vice Chairman, Ibrahim Mai-Sule; Alhaji Nasiru Danu; Baba Ahmed Jidda; Mahmud Yayale Ahmed; Lt.-Gen. Abdurahman Dambazau (retd.); former IGP M. D. Abubakar (retd.); DIG Habila Joshak (retd.); Beni Lar; Maimuna Yaya Abubakar; Aishatu M. S. Ismail; H. E. Muktar Lamara Yero; and Mrs. Christine Gadzama.

SIR: It is crucial to start this by acknowledging the importance of Dangote Refinery as a turning point in Nigeria’s oil and gas downstream sector. For nearly 40 years, the country has relied on imports to meet its energy needs, even though Nigeria is a major crude oil producer and the government has built three refineries. This situation has caused a lot of contention for the country, including the introduction of fuel subsidies to provide a cushion for impoverished citizens in the country at the mercy of international markets.

The completion of the $20 billion Dangote Refinery is a monumental achievement. It is the largest single-train refinery in the world and a symbol of industrial ambition with the potential to change the lives of Nigerians for the better or worse. It can become a catalyst for healthy competition, accelerating the development of the downstream sector, or a monopolistic force that stifles competition, dictates prices, and undermines the broader goals of economic inclusion. The direction the refinery takes will be decided by the actions of Nigeria’s regulatory agencies.

The Dangote Refinery promises to transform Nigeria’s energy landscape. We can already see the added benefits of local production in the stabilisation of the naira against the dollar as the country saves billions in foreign exchange and reduces its reliance on imported refined petroleum products. But, there have also been concerns about how the Dangote Refinery, which, despite its scale, intends to achieve vertical integration, will stay profitable without artificial market dominance.

Moves made in the company’s first year of operations suggest the Dangote Refinery is looking to replicate its attempts at a forced monopoly in other sectors in the downstream oil and gas sector. The refinery has already sought to disrupt the complex logistical network that ensures petroleum reaches final consumers by introducing a ‘free’ delivery service targeting major retailers, in a bid to incentivise them to ditch their long-term relationships with importers and depots and to buy products exclusively from the refinery. Industry stakeholders have condemned this move as predatory.

The refinery has also been accused of abruptly lowering ex-depot petroleum prices and bearing the cost differential to undercut importers who cannot bear the losses incurred by this tactic. Already, many major importers and depots have been forced to shutter their businesses or risk bankruptcy. When challenged on the integrity of its tactics, the Dangote Refinery has defended its actions as healthy market competition.

A monopoly, even one born from private investment and innovation, can distort markets. It can lead to price manipulation, limit consumer choice, and create barriers for new entrants. In the absence of robust regulatory oversight, the very infrastructure meant to empower the economy could end up concentrating power in the hands of a few.

Nigeria’s regulatory bodies, particularly the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), have a constitutional and moral obligation to safeguard the principles of fair competition.

It is their responsibility to ensure transparency in all business practices, monitor market behaviour and intervene when predatory actions are taken against competitors or consumers, even when they are ‘legal’. They must also enforce anti-trust laws and deter larger corporations from engaging in anti-competitive practices that marginalise smaller marketers. But most importantly, it is their responsibility to provide a favourable environment for new entrants into the downstream sector, and by doing so, ensure the energy sector remains resilient and dynamic.

The Dangote Group is only as big and successful as it is today because regulatory agencies ensured indigenous entrepreneurs were protected from monopolistic manoeuvres from international competitors. The same consideration must now be extended to other players in the energy sector to balance industrial ambition and market fairness. The Dangote Refinery represents a significant advancement towards self-sufficiency, but that doesn’t exempt it from the same standards of accountability that any other market participant must adhere to.

Nigeria stands at a crossroads. The emergence of the Dangote Refinery offers a rare opportunity to redefine the country’s energy future. The refinery may be privately owned, but the market it operates in belongs to the people.

The future of the energy sector is the responsibility of the agencies tasked with ensuring that Nigerians reap the benefits of deregulation and that companies maximise the opportunities a free market offers Nigerian entrepreneurs. If local regulators rise to the occasion, they can ensure that this refinery becomes a cornerstone of shared prosperity, not a symbol of concentrated power.

Governor Dauda Lawal has reiterated his administration’s commitment to building a modern, technology-driven Zamfara State.

The Governor declared the computer appreciation course for Commissioners and Special Advisers open at the Government House in Gusau on Tuesday.

A statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Sulaiman Bala Idris, disclosed that the retreat is a clear commitment to repositioning Zamfara State for innovation, transparency, and efficiency.

The statement added that the Computer Appreciation Training is a high-level retreat organized by the Zamfara Information and Communications Technology Agency (ZITDA).

In his remarks at the opening, Governor Lawal noted that the training on computer appreciation represents a key step toward achieving that vision.

‘Our goal is to ensure that every arm of government operates with the efficiency and precision that technology enables.

‘This initiative is both timely and strategic. We live in an era where technology is transforming every aspect of governance.

‘From how we plan and make decisions, to how we communicate and deliver services to our citizens. In this digital age, competence in basic computing is no longer optional; it is essential for effective public service delivery.

‘ZITDA has initiated essential digital reforms, including the Zamfara e-Governance Platform (e-GovConnect), the Digital Literacy Framework, and partnerships with global tech companies to boost digital skills in the state. This training empowers senior government officials with the tools needed for effective leadership.

‘I urge all participants to take this program seriously. The knowledge you acquire here should be applied in your respective ministries and offices to improve productivity, accountability, and service delivery.

‘Our citizens deserve a government that is smart, connected, and responsive – and that, ladies and gentlemen, begins with us. Therefore, know now that at the end of this exercise, there will be a test of what you have learned, and it will form part of the skill development component of your performance appraisal.’

Brazilian forward Vinicius has issued a public apology to Real Madrid after his angered reaction to being substituted during a tense 2-1 win over arch-rival Barcelona at the weekend.

Vinicius remonstrated with coach Xabi Alonso and marched off down the tunnel after he was hauled off in the 72nd minute and replaced with Rodrygo.

Vinicius did not mention the Real Madrid coach in his apology.

‘Today I want to apologise to all Madrid fans for my reaction to being substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done it in person during today’s training, I also want to apologise again to my teammates, club and president,’ said the 25-year-old.

‘Sometimes passion gets the better of me by always wanting to win and help my team. My competitive nature is born from the love I feel for this club and for everything it represents. I promise to continue fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since day one,’ Vinícius said.

The player did return to the pitch-side to see out the match, and was one of the players embroiled in a stand-off with Barcelona star Lamine Yamal.

Alonso said after the game that the matter of Vinicius’s huff would be dealt with in the dressing room.

The Federal Government has announced shortlisted candidates for recruitments into the Nigeria Immigration Service, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Federal Fire Service.

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) made the announcement on behalf of the government.

According to a public announcement by the Board’s Secretary, Maj. Gen. Abdulmalik Jibril (Rtd.), applicants are advised to visit the official recruitment portal – https://recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng – from Thursday, October 30, 2025, to confirm their shortlisting status and check the centres for the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The statement further directed all shortlisted candidates to carefully note the date, venue, and time of their CBT as indicated on the portal.

Jibril also cautioned applicants against falling victim to fraudsters, urging them to rely solely on information available on the CDCFIB’s official website.

The Board’s recruitment exercise covers four major paramilitary agencies under its supervision – the NCOS, NIS, FFS, and NSCDC.

Members and supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have expressed concern over the destruction of their campaign canopies and posters by suspected hoodlums believed to be supporters of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

While the Orumba South Local Government Chairman, Shedrack Azubuike, denied that the incident was politically motivated, APC leaders in the area described it as a sign of desperation by the ruling party.

It was gathered that although the destruction of APC posters and banners had been ongoing for some time, the tearing down of campaign canopies occurred on Wednesday morning. Orumba North and Orumba South are known strongholds of the APC in the state.

Sources told The Nation that the action, allegedly carried out by APGA youths at Ugwuaro Primary School field, was done on the orders of the local government chairman. The APC governorship candidate, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, and his running mate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, were scheduled to make a campaign stop in the area as part of their mobilisation tour for the November 8 governorship election.

In his response, however, the council chairman said the setting up of canopies and chairs at the school field contravened an earlier directive issued by the council.

According to Azubuike, the directive-issued in August 2025-prohibited political parties, religious bodies, and social organisations from holding events within public or private school premises during official school hours.

He explained: ‘The noise from rallies or crusades disrupts learning activities. The APC did not obtain written clearance from my office to hold their rally there.’

Azubuike made available a circular dated August 14, referenced OSLG/ADM, and titled ‘Restriction on Political, Religious, and Social Gatherings in Schools During School Hours.’

The circular, signed by him and copied to all school heads in the area, stated that: ‘Any individual, group, or organisation wishing to hold a programme or event within school premises must obtain prior written clearance from the Office of the Mayor, Orumba South Local Government Council.’

It further directed school authorities to ensure strict compliance or face administrative and legal sanctions.

Azubuike added, ‘They have no clearance permit and can hold their rally anywhere else in Orumba South, but not within a school. I am not against them.’

However, the APC campaign coordinator in Orumba South, Dr Chuka Onyema, dismissed the chairman’s explanation, insisting that the action was politically motivated.

He said, ‘This is pure politics. What is happening here today is politically motivated because we have seen similar cases elsewhere. In my town, Isulo, the ADC held a rally on Tuesday at a school field, and nobody stopped them. It was peaceful. Why then was the APC prevented?

‘We also have information that other political parties have held rallies in different parts of Orumba South without any obstruction. Why target the APC?

‘Our posters and banners in Isulo, Umunze, and Ihite have been torn down and burnt. Is it the APC members who burnt their own campaign materials?’

By blurring the lines between championship fighting and stadium concert production, organisers proved that boxing could be as vital and explosive to the youth as Nigeria’s biggest music stars

When GOtv Boxing Night first morphed into ‘Boxing, Jams, Music,’ it did more than bring boxers back into the spotlight; it turned fight nights into Lagos’ favourite December carnival. From smoke machines and stage lights to electrifying sets by Burna Boy, Mayorkun, Teni, Zlatan, and Wande Coal, the ring has become an arena of rhythm and energy. It is as much about the beats as it is about the knockouts. It was a gamble: could the audience that fills stadiums for concerts also turn up for boxing if you wrapped both together? The answer, almost a decade later, has been a resounding yes. What began as a modest sporting revival in 2014 has evolved into one of Nigeria’s biggest cultural spectacles, a vibrant fusion of competition, celebrity, and community.

The transformation did not happen overnight. Before 2014, Nigerian boxing was gasping for air. Fight schedules were irregular, talent was underfunded, and audiences had drifted to football and Afrobeats. The sport’s aura had faded, and even its champions struggled to find platforms to perform. For the organisers, Flykite Productions, reviving boxing required more than staging fights; it needed reimagining.

That creative breakthrough arrived in 2017, when the organisers decided to blend two of Nigeria’s greatest passions: music and sport. This marked the era of Boxing Jams Music, a fusion that would define GOtv Boxing Night’s cultural renaissance. Starting with the 17th edition, artists like Burna Boy, Wande Coal, Teni da Entertainer, and Daddy Showkey began sharing the stage with some of Nigeria’s best boxers. ‘Music and boxing are major sources of entertainment,’ said Jenkins Alumona, Chief Executive Officer of Flykite Productions. ‘Our aim was to provide a well-rounded, year-end entertainment package for Nigerians.’

The idea worked brilliantly. By turning each fight night into a full-scale entertainment show, GOtv created a new category of sportainment in Nigeria. The result was a multi-generational experience: the thundering punches of rising boxing stars merged seamlessly with live performances from contemporary artists like Mayorkun, Ruger, and Peruzzi, while legends such as Daddy Showkey and Sule Malaika brought nostalgic appeal. Even the pacing of the event began to mirror that of a music concert, with comedians like MC Lively and Nasboi bridging the rounds with witty crowd interactions, and DJs keeping the energy alive between bouts.

‘We did not just want a fight night; we wanted a cultural spectacle,’ one promoter explained. ‘Boxing had to feel cool again, something young people could brag about attending.’

The approach worked on multiple levels. The combination of top-tier music and live sports attracted a new audience, Gen Z and millennials, who may never have followed boxing before. Many came for the music but stayed for the knockouts. ‘I came for Wande Coal, but I stayed for the fights,’ said one fan after a previous edition. ‘It is the best event of Detty December.’

The ripple effects have been immense. The event now drives massive viewership across Africa, broadcast live on SuperSport to over 50 countries. In Lagos, it has become a seasonal economic catalyst, providing jobs for sound engineers, lighting technicians, stage designers, and security teams, while boosting hotel, hospitality, and small business revenues.

For the fighters, the transformation has been just as important. Winning the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy, the event’s coveted Best Boxer award, no longer just means prize money. It means instant fame. Champions like Oto ‘Joe Boy’ Joseph and Rilwan ‘Baby Face’ Babatunde have celebrated their wins to the roar of crowds that came as much for the music as for the match. The atmosphere, the spotlight, and the cameras have turned once-obscure boxers into household names.

It has also become a pillar of Lagos’ creative December calendar, a highlight of the city’s ‘Detty December’ festivities, mentioned in the same breath as the biggest Afrobeats concerts. Each Boxing Day, the Tafawa Balewa Square transforms into a carnival of lights, fists, and beats. ‘We will give fans a mind-blowing package of entertainment and sports,’ said Bamidele Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Flykite Productions. ‘This is going to be a memorable experience.’

As the 34th edition draws near, GOtv Boxing Night: Boxing, Jams, Music stands as proof that reinvention can save not only a sport but an entire culture around it. What began as a rescue mission for boxing has grown into a continental entertainment powerhouse, an event where Afrobeats meets uppercuts, and where Lagos comes alive under the floodlights of sport and sound.

This December 26 at Tafawa Balewa Square, the gloves will be raised again, the stage will come alive, and the crowd will sing along. It will not just be about who wins in the ring; it will be about how GOtv continues to redefine what it means to entertain Nigeria.

Dr Husaini Yakubu, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Primary Healthcare Board, has reaffirmed the state government’s commitment and that of other partners to eradicating polio in the state.

Yakubu said this at the 2025 World Polio Day celebration held at the Emir of Gusau’s Palace on Saturday in Gusau.

The ceremony was attended by polio survivors, government officials, representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), among others.

Yakubu described the active participation in the polio and rubella vaccination by the stakeholders in the state as a welcome development.

He attributed the successes recorded in the fight against polio in the state to the active collaboration between the state government and partners.

Yakubu also commended Gov. Dauda Lawal for declaring a state of emergency in the health sector.

According to him, various measures taken by the state government and support from stakeholders had resulted in the successes recorded in the fight against polio in the state.

‘Despite the challenges of insecurity, the state has maintained its polio-free status.

‘We will continue to collaborate with partners and all stakeholders to ensure children in the state are strongly protected from killer diseases.

‘The state government will continue to pay all required counterpart funding for various healthcare development programmes,’ Yakubu said.

In his remarks, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ibrahim-Bello, promised the Emirate’s continued support for polio eradication in the state.

Represented by the Secretary of the emirate, Sambo Sambo, it would continue to mobilise religious and community leaders toward polio eradication.

‘We are ready to continue collaborating with the state government, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners to maintain the successes recorded in polio eradication in the state.

‘We will continue to engage our subjects and sensitise them on the significance of the health benefits of polio vaccination.

‘We are achieving success in sensitising our subjects, and we are seeing more acceptance of polio and measles vaccination exercises from parents and communities.

‘Our people are responding to all activities, and they obey all the directives given by the emirate, which has led to various successes recorded,’ Ibrahim said.

Mathematics is deemed to be beyond figures. It is described as the foundation of resilience in society.

Thus, this made Temitope Comfort Iroko, a PhD candidate in Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee(UWM), to explore new approaches to decision-making under uncertainty, combining mathematics, reinforcement learning, and computational methods to address complex challenges in finance and insurance. Her research focuses on developing models that optimise choices when outcomes are uncertain, with applications in portfolio execution, insurance decisions, and other financial systems.

Currently, Iroko’s work centres on robust impulse control under model uncertainty, creating numerical methods and reinforcement learning algorithms that remain effective even when traditional models are misspecified.

‘Uncertainty is not just theoretical; it is the reality of financial markets, insurance systems, and increasingly, healthcare,’ she said. ‘My goal is to build mathematical tools that enable adaptive decision-making, so institutions can respond effectively when conditions shift, or models fail.’

Iroko’s contributions have attracted recognition within the United States. Supported by the Northwestern Mutual Data Science Institute (NMDSI), she has been invited to present her research at the institute. She will also present her work at the Joint Mathematics Meetings (JMM), the largest annual gathering of mathematicians in the U.S., following acceptance of her submitted abstract. She also received a SIAM Student grant to present her work at a major Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics conference, showcasing her findings to leading experts in applied mathematics.

The practical implications of her research are notable. In finance, her methods offer strategies for managing shocks in markets and insurance portfolios, helping institutions operate more effectively under uncertainty. These innovations illustrate how advanced mathematical models can inform risk management and decision-making in U.S. financial and insurance systems.

Beyond her research, Iroko contributes to the academic community through leadership. She founded and now leads the SIAM Student Chapter at UWM, fostering collaboration among students in mathematics, engineering, and data science. Under her guidance, the chapter promotes professional development and prepares emerging researchers to apply mathematics to real-world challenges.

Iroko’s academic journey demonstrates sustained excellence. She earned a first-class degree in Statistics at the University of Jos, graduating as the top student in her class. She completed a master’s degree in mathematics at the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) on a Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, collaborating with Professor Roger Stern of the University of Reading to enhance R-Instat, a statistical software for climate data analysis. She later earned a master’s in applied mathematics at Wroclaw University of Science and Technology under the Lukasiewicz Scholarship.

According to her, Mathematics is the foundation of resilience in society. ‘In finance and insurance, the right models allow better decisions in the face of uncertainty. That’s what drives me ,’ she said.