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The Place of Liberty School for Special Needs Children has restated its commitment to special needs children, stressing that many children with disabilities risk being neglected or forced to beg on the streets with their parents.

Speaking at its fourth anniversary celebration in Lagos, a board member of the school, Olusoji Oluwole, said: ‘Education for special needs children is very expensive, but with the support of our donors, we have been able to provide everything free of charge – uniforms, feeding, physiotherapy, speech therapy, and even training for our teachers,’

According to him, since its establishment four years ago, it has been dedicated to providing education for children with disabilities whose families cannot afford the huge cost of special education.

He said the school recently established a vocational training centre, where pupils now produce items by themselves as part of their foray into independent living.

He said the school is poised for free education, therapy and vocational skills for children from indigent families, ensuring that they become self-sufficient and not dependent on charity.

‘We’ve had some interventions; food donations, healthcare services, but more government support would allow us to do much more,’ he said.

Oluwole acknowledged support from institutions such as Randle General Hospital, which provides healthcare and physiotherapy.

The school’s administrator, Mrs. Olufunke Lipede, said the journey has been challenging and deeply rewarding, notwithstanding the difficulties involved in caring for children with disabilities.

She said: ‘If you spend just one minute with these children, you will see how wonderful they are. They are very loving and caring. You don’t even see any disability in them. Teachers at the school approach their work with love and patience. They didn’t look at the children’s conditions. They just believed that the more they try, the better for the children.’

Another board member, Oladipo Oluwole, noted that it was established to honour the legacy of his late parents, who were deeply passionate about supporting the poor and children with special needs.

The 2nd edition of Quomodo Inter-Schools Swimming Competition ended recently at the Ikoyi Club 1938 with Grange School emerging the overall champions after a keen contest by all the schools.

The event, sponsored by Quomodo Systems Africa, witnessed spirited performances from young swimmers representing Avi-Cenna International School, Children’s International School, Corona Schools, Grange School, Greensprings School, Lagoon and Whitesands Schools, and Meadow Hall School.

From the opening event to the final relays, the poolside atmosphere was electrifying and charged with cheers, and bursts of school pride, banters and bragging rights of sort.

In the end, Grange School topped the scoreboard with 517 points, followed by Children’s International School with 389 points and Corona Schools in third place with 250.5 points.

Greensprings School came fourth with 196.5 points, while Meadow Hall School secured fifth position with 149 points.

Lagoon and Whitesands Schools finished with 87 points, while Avi-Cenna International School ended with 68 points.

The Chairman of the Ikoyi Club Swimming Section, Akinbulejo Onabolu, hailed the event standard, adding that it was a proof of Nigeria’s rising swimming prospects in the sport which is fast becoming a culture.

For Quomodo Systems Africa, the competition is aimed at investing in the future of young athletes.

Olufunke Preghafi, Quomodo’s General Manager, Finance, expressed joy at seeing children as young as six showing skills, energy, and determination to excel.

‘This is one of our key CSR projects this year,’ she noted. ‘Quomodo has always stood for youth development and all-round growth. Swimming builds confidence, strength, and resilience; qualities children can carry into every area of life. That’s why we are proud to support this initiative.’

With every stroke and dive, these young swimmers not only entertained the crowd but also embodied the promise of a new generation of swimmers for Nigeria.

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has described as ‘huge moment’ his penalty goal in Tuesday’s victory over Liverpool in a UEFA Champions League match in Istanbul.

The former African Footballer of the Year made all the difference with the solitary winner after he struck from the spot in the 16th minute against the experienced Brazilian goalkeeper Allison Becker and he acknowledged that playing against the English champions was indeed a huge motivation for the Red and Gold.

‘I’m extremely happy about the performance we put in against one of the greatest clubs in the world,’ Osimhen told CBS Sports as per Liverpool FC News. ‘For us, we never get carried away because this is a true test that Liverpool gave to us. I’m really happy about this win.

‘It won’t take away that they are one of the best [teams] in the last decade. For us, it’s a really big motivation for us.

‘They made us even better and we know we have a lot of things to work on. I’m really happy for this win and the team.’

In what was his first goal of the campaign in the UCL, the former Napoli hitman explained further how he kept his cool under pressure to beat Alisson from the penalty spot.

‘You come face-to-face with one of the best goalkeepers in the world, Alisson,’ he said. ‘I have to be on high concentration for the place where I want to put the ball and I didn’t change it.

‘For me, it’s a huge moment. I came against him when I played for my previous club and he heard my penalty so I needed to be highly concentrated to do better.’

He added: ‘We have quality in our team and we just need to be focused in many games in this competition. This is a huge step for us and we won’t be carried away because we beat Liverpool. It’s a big motivation.’

Osimhen could have increased Galatasaray’s lead further when he went through one-on-one with Alisson Becker, but the Brazilian thwarted his effort, getting injured in the process.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said coal mining is becoming one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing sectors.

He said coal mining recovered dramatically from a 22 per cent decline in the first quarter to 57.5 per cent growth in the second quarter, becoming one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing sectors.

The President said this in his national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 65th independence anniversary yesterday.

He noted that the solid mineral sector has become pivotal in Nigeria’s economy, encouraging value-added production of minerals extracted from its soil.

President Tinubu said his administration inherited a near-collapsed economy caused by decades of fiscal policy distortions and misalignments, which had impaired real growth, but remained determined to change the situation.

‘As a new administration, we faced a simple choice: continue business as usual and watch our nation drift, or embark on a courageous, fundamental reform path.

‘We chose the path of reform. We chose the path of tomorrow over the comfort of today. Less than three years later, the seeds of those difficult but necessary decisions are bearing fruit, he said.

The President asserted that under his leadership, Nigeria’s economy was fast-growing and its reforms were yielding tangible results.

‘In the second quarter of 2025, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.23 per cent, Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years, and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

‘Inflation declined to 20.12 per cent in August 2025, the lowest level in three years,’ he said.

President Tinubu said his administration was working diligently to enhance national security to ensure that the economy experienced improved growth and performance.

According to him, security agencies are working tirelessly and making significant sacrifices to secure Nigeria and are winning the war against terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, had, in 2024, constituted the Mining Marshals, a security unit drawn from the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

It is aimed at securing mining sites across the country following a surge of illegal mining activities..

The minister, during the one-year anniversary of the security outfit in March, said the unit had arrested 327 suspects for illegal mining, with 143 prosecuted and reclaimed 98 mining sites.

Alake also introduced the value addition policy, where mining companies were required to present clear plans for value addition to minerals before they could obtain mining licences.

Nigeria’s tax system has always been a reflection of the country’s economic structure, its federal arrangement, and the state’s constant search for sustainable revenue.

For decades, the framework was built around a combination of direct and indirect taxes, anchored by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), with state and local governments also exercising powers over personal income and certain levies. That old order provided the bedrock upon which the new reforms signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in June 2025 are now being built.

Under the old laws, the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA) stood at the heart of Nigeria’s tax system. It governed the taxation of companies’ profits, covering both domestic and foreign firms operating through permanent establishments. Deductions, capital allowances, and rules for the treatment of dividends were all set out, while incentives for pioneer industries, agricultural ventures, and exporters were embedded as part of efforts to stimulate economic diversification.

Closely tied to this was the Petroleum Profits Tax Act (PPTA), which dealt with upstream oil operators. Given the strategic importance of crude oil revenues, this law carved out a separate regime with ring-fencing, anti-avoidance rules, and allowances to encourage investment in exploration, including deep offshore fields.

For individuals, the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) created a progressive system. Residents were taxed on worldwide income, non-residents on Nigerian-sourced earnings, while deductions for reliefs, dependents, pensions, and life assurance were permitted. Administration was mostly decentralized, handled by state boards of internal revenue, except for specific categories such as members of the armed forces and foreign service who remained under FIRS.

Nigeria’s main consumption tax emerged under the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, which replaced sales tax. VAT was charged at a flat rate and businesses were required to remit collections monthly, with limited opportunities for input tax credits. Certain essential goods and services, like medical products, educational materials, and basic food items, were exempt to cushion consumers.

Alongside this sat the Capital Gains Tax Act (CGTA), taxing gains from disposals of chargeable assets at 10 percent, though with exemptions for securities and specific reorganizations. Stamp duties applied to legal instruments, while the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) regulated duties on imports and excisable products such as alcohol, tobacco, and petroleum.

The Education Tax Act, imposing a two percent levy on company profits to fund tertiary education through TETFund, highlighted the use of taxes to pursue social objectives. In general, the administration of all these laws rested with the FIRS under the FIRS Establishment Act, which defined powers of assessment, collection, enforcement, penalties, taxpayer obligations, and dispute resolution through objections, the Federal High Court, and the Tax Appeal Tribunal (TAT). Double taxation treaties also played a role, ensuring Nigerian companies and foreign investors were not taxed twice on the same income streams, while investment incentives such as pioneer status, rural allowances, and export expansion grants were woven into the system.

That old structure has now been comprehensively reworked by four new laws: the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), Nigeria Revenue Service Act (NRSA), and the Joint Revenue Board Act (JRBA). Collectively, they mark one of the most sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s fiscal history.

One of the most innovative changes in the new tax regime, is the relief for small companies. The exemption threshold for Companies Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and the newly introduced Development Levy has been raised from N25 million to N100 million in annual turnover, alongside a fixed asset ceiling of N250 million. This means thousands of small businesses will no longer carry a federal tax burden, a measure expected to improve the ease of doing business and encourage formalization.

On the other end of the spectrum, the reforms tighten rules for bigger players. The Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rate for companies has been increased sharply from 10 percent to 30 percent, aligning it with the Companies Income Tax rate and removing the arbitrage that once existed between trading income and capital gains. For individuals, gains are now taxed at their applicable progressive rates, making the system more equitable.

The scope of capital gains has also widened, with the introduction of CGT on indirect transfers of Nigerian company shares. This means that offshore holding company transactions that ultimately transfer control of Nigerian entities will trigger tax obligations in Nigeria, subject to treaty protections. In addition, the exemption threshold for share disposals has been raised to N150 million in any twelve-month period, with a cap ensuring gains do not exceed N10 million.

A new feature of the tax landscape is the Development Levy, set at four per cent of assessable profits for all, but small companies. This levy consolidates multiple existing charges – the Tertiary Education Tax, IT levy, NASENI levy, and the Police Trust Fund levy – into a single unified payment, reducing multiplicity and simplifying compliance.

For multinational corporations, the laws introduce a minimum effective tax rate (ETR) of 15 per cent of net income for groups with global turnover of pound 750 million or more, or Nigerian companies with turnover above N50 billion. This measure ensures large firms cannot exploit loopholes to pay little or no tax. Nigerian parent companies of multinationals will also be required to pay a top-up tax where subsidiaries abroad fall short of the 15 per cent benchmark.

The rules around non-residents have been tightened considerably. The ‘force of attraction’ principle now applies, allowing Nigeria to tax, not just activities conducted through a permanent establishment, but also related transactions. Profits from Engineering, Procurement, and Construction contracts are now taxable even when structured through multiple contracts or offshore elements. Minimum tax rules for non-residents also guarantee that their tax liabilities cannot fall below withholding tax, or four per cent of Nigerian earnings.

Free Zone companies retain their exemptions on exports and supplies to oil and gas firms, but a transition period has been set. By January 2028, any sales into the domestic economy will subject them to full taxation, eliminating what was once a permanent tax holiday.

Incentives have been recast. The long-standing pioneer status incentive has been abolished and replaced with the Economic Development Incentive (EDI), which grants a five per cent tax credit on qualifying capital expenditure for five years, extendable where unused credits remain. This shift signals a move toward measurable, investment-linked benefits rather than open-ended holidays.

Personal Income Tax has been modernized. A clearer definition of residency, incorporating economic and family ties, expands the tax net, while exemptions for low-income earners have been raised to cover those earning N800,000 or less annually. Higher earners face steeper rates of up to 25 per cent. The threshold for tax-free severance or injury compensation has also risen from N10 million to N50 million.

Administrative reforms are equally striking. A Tax Ombuds Office has been created to provide an independent forum for taxpayers’ complaints, while the NTAA now mandates disclosure of tax planning arrangements that confer tax advantages, marking a decisive step against aggressive avoidance schemes. Penalties for non-compliance have been significantly increased: late filing attracts N100,000 in the first month and N50,000 for each subsequent month, while contracts awarded to unregistered entities can draw fines of up to N5 million.

Value Added Tax remains at 7.5 per cent, but its mechanics have changed. Nigeria has adopted global principles allowing recovery of input VAT on all purchases, including services and fixed assets, and expanded the zero-rated list to include food, medicines, education, electricity services, and tuition. The combination of zero rating and input recovery provides real relief for both consumers and businesses. VAT administration has also been digitalized, with fiscalisation rules and mandatory e-invoicing now in force.

Perhaps most politically significant is the update to the VAT sharing formula. The federal government’s share has been cut from 15 per cent to 10 per cent, with states now receiving 55 per cent and local governments 35 per cent. Within these tiers, allocations will be based on equality, population, and consumption, creating a stronger link between economic activity and fiscal benefits at the subnational level.

Finally, in recognition of the need for stronger coordination, the FIRS has been reconstituted as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), with State Internal Revenue Services given full autonomy. A framework for joint audits has also been established, and the NRS may now assist states and local governments in revenue collection upon request.

Taken together, the reforms reflect both continuity and change. From the old laws, Nigeria retains the broad architecture of corporate, personal, and indirect taxation, along with incentives for investment and social levies. But the new laws move the country decisively toward a modern, globally aligned tax eco-system: simplifying compliance, broadening the tax base, reducing distortions, strengthening enforcement, and ensuring a fairer balance of revenue across tiers of government.

For Nigeria’s economy, the implications are far-reaching. Small businesses are set to benefit from reduced burdens, while larger corporations and multinationals will face stricter obligations under global minimum tax and anti-avoidance rules. Consumers will gain relief through expanded VAT zero-rating, while subnational governments stand to enjoy higher revenues under the revised sharing formula. At the same time, the consolidation of levies and the introduction of digital VAT administration promise to ease compliance and close leakages.

The trajectory is clear: Nigeria is shifting toward a tax system that mirrors international best practices, while remaining sensitive to domestic needs. If effectively implemented, these reforms could broaden the revenue base, strengthen subnational fiscal capacity, attract investment, and ultimately stabilize public finances. However, their success will depend on administrative capacity, transparency, and the willingness of both businesses and citizens to embrace compliance in exchange for visible public benefits.

In this sense, Nigeria’s new tax regime is more than a fiscal adjustment. It is a bid to reposition the economy on a path where taxation is not just a tool for revenue extraction, but a foundation for sustainable growth, equity, and accountability in governance.

Team Brady leads by just a single point over Team Rafa at the top of the Championship standings as the UIM E1 World Championship presented by PIF heads to Lagos this weekend for its historic African debut, setting up a thrilling penultimate round in the battle to crown the 2025 ‘Champions of the Water’.

The E1 Lagos GP presented by FirstBank takes place from 4 to 5 October, with only 21 points covering the top four teams and everything to play for ahead of the season finale in Miami.

Team Brady sits atop the standings with 135 points, closely pursued by Team Rafa on 134, Team Aoki on 125, and Team Blue Rising on 114, making the rivalry at the top fiercer than ever.

Following dramatic showdowns in Monaco and a high-speed crash between Team Rafa and Team Brazil that cut qualifying short, the Championship fight has reached boiling point.

African football legend Didier Drogba, co-owner of Team Drogba Global Africa along with Gabrielle Lemaire, is expected to attend the race weekend – adding star power to a pivotal moment in both the championship and E1’s global expansion.

Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Lagos Lagoon, the event showcases the thrills of electric racing to West Africa while highlighting the region’s blue economy potential.

The Championship’s revolutionary E1 RaceBirds – all-electric powerboats that fly above the water at racing speeds – will provide spectacular racing action for the thousands of expected spectators.

The race will further help position Lagos as a growing hub for international sporting events while demonstrating the city’s commitment to green innovation for regional waterways.

Rodi Basso, founder and Chief Executive Officer of E1, said: ‘Bringing E1 to Africa represents a pivotal moment in our mission to grow electric racing globally. Having Didier Drogba and Gabrielle Lemaire – who perfectly embody E1’s values – at the heart of this journey makes it even more meaningful.’

Since assuming office as Governor of Delta State, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has not merely supported athletics but has elevated sports in general to a cornerstone of state pride and youth empowerment. His administration’s unwavering commitment to sporting excellence reached a crescendo with the fulfillment of a bold pledge he made to athletes who competed in the 2025 National Sports Festival, otherwise known as the Gateway Games which was hosted by Ogun State, few days ago.

That ‘Ukodo,’ as Governor Oborevwori is popularly called in socio-political circles in the state will make good his promise, not only galvanized Team Delta to put up one of the best performances at the sports meet, it led inexorably to a triumphant return and solidified the state’s unchallenged dominance in Nigeria’s sporting landscape. Through strategic investments, motivational incentives, and a philosophy that prioritizes human capital development through the ‘MORE Agenda’, Oborevwori is redefining what it means to lead in sports governance.

Delta State’s sporting legacy is nothing short of legendary. Often dubbed the ‘Nigeria’s Sports Powerhouse,’ Delta State has clinched the overall championship at the National Sports Festival an astonishing nine times consecutively, a streak that underscores decades of deliberate nurturing of talent. From the dusty fields of local communities to the roar of national stadiums, Delta has produced national super icons in athletics thus proving that grassroots investment yields global glory. Interestingly, under Oborevwori’s stewardship as governor, this legacy has evolved from mere tradition to a meticulously engineered machine of success. His ‘MORE Agenda,’ a blueprint for inclusive growth-allocates substantial resources to sports infrastructure, coaching programs, and athlete welfare, ensuring that no promising talent slips through the cracks. This holistic approach has been pivotal in maintaining Delta’s supremacy in sports.

The 2025 National Sports Festival, held from May 16 to 30th in Abeokuta, Ogun State, served as the ultimate reference point for Oborevwori’s vision. The Gateway Games, the 22nd edition of this biennial sports extravaganza in the country, brought together over 5,000 athletes from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, competing in 35 sporting disciplines ranging from athletics and wrestling to table tennis and para-sports. For Delta, the stakes were sky-high: not just to defend their title but to inspire a new generation amid whispers of rising competition from states like Bayelsa, Lagos and Rivers.

And this is where Governor Oborevwori’s game-changing pledge matters. In the lead-up to the festival, during a morale-boosting send-forth ceremony in Asaba, the governor promised unprecedented financial rewards to motivate his Team Delta. ‘Excellence must be rewarded,’ he declared, outlining a tiered incentive structure: one million naira for each gold medal, five hundred thousand for silver, and two hundred and fifty thousand for bronze. This was no empty rhetoric. It was a calculated infusion of fiscal firepower designed to transform abstract motivation into tangible drive.

The impact was immediate and profound. Team Delta comprising athletes, officials, and support staff, stormed the MKO Abiola Stadium and other venues with determination that echoed across the country. By the time the curtains fell on the sports festival on May 29, 2025, they had amassed a staggering haul of 126 gold medals, 100 silver, and 111 bronze, totaling 337 medals-a haul that dwarfed other competitors and reaffirmed Delta State’s stranglehold on the top spot.

Bayelsa settled for second with a respectable but distant tally, while host Ogun clinched third, highlighting Delta’s tactical edge in high-medal events like athletics where it swept a whopping 45 gold medals and wrestling 32 gold medals. Of particular note is the standout performance of a young sprinter Ejiro Okoro’s double gold in the 100m and 200m dashes. Then there was the para-athletics squad’s clean sweep in seven events, thus showcasing the inclusivity that is apparent in the champion’s team. These victories weren’t flukes, they stemmed from rigorous pre-festival camps funded by the state government, international coaching exchanges, and psychological support sessions that instilled a winner’s mindset in the athletes, all orchestrated by Oborevwori’s winning aura.

Significantly, what set this edition apart, however, was the governor’s fulfillment of his pledge-a masterstroke in leadership that transcended the medals. Talk of a promise keeper. On September 18, 2025, Oborevwori hosted a grand reception at the Delta State Government House in Asaba for the sporting ambassadors. In a ceremony brimming with jubilation, he personally handed over cheques totaling hundreds of millions of naira to the heroes of Ogun 2025. Gold medalists like Okoro pocketed N1 million for each medal, their eyes lighting up with the realization that their sweat equity had real-world value. Silver and bronze recipients followed suit, with N500,000 and N250,000 respectively, ensuring every contributor felt valued. Officials, from coaches to medical personnel, received N200,000 bonuses, acknowledging the ecosystem behind the stars.

‘This is not just about money; it’s about building a culture where excellence is the norm,’ Oborevwori remarked, his words resonating with athletes who recounted how the pre-game promise fueled late-night trainings and unbreakable team spirit.

This commitment to fulfillment is no isolated gesture; it’s the linchpin of Delta’s enduring dominance. In a nation where sports funding often evaporates post-victory, Oborevwori’s reliability has created a virtuous cycle. Athletes train harder, knowing rewards await; coaches innovate without budgetary fears; and communities rally behind a program that delivers jobs, pride, and economic ripple effects. Consider the numbers: Delta’s medal count has grown by 15% since Oborevwori took office, correlating directly with a 20% increase in state sports allocations. This motivation has permeated beyond the festival, propelling Delta squads to glory in continental events like the African Games and fostering talents who now eye Olympic berths. Young athletes in Warri and Ughelli, inspired by tales of millionaire medalists, flood local academies, swelling participation rates by 30% in the last year alone.

Moreover, Oborevwori’s approach addresses deeper societal needs. Sports in Delta isn’t elitist; it’s a ladder for social mobility. Many athletes hail from humble beginnings, using platforms like the festival to escape poverty. Female athletes, in particular, have thrived under this regime, with women’s teams securing 40% of Delta’s golds in Ogun, a testament to gender-inclusive policies that include maternity support for competitors.

The ripple effects extend nationally. Other governors now eye Delta’s model, with states like Edo and Anambra replicating reward systems. Yet, Oborevwori’s edge lies in authenticity-his pledge wasn’t a campaign gimmick but a fulfillment of a lifelong passion for sports, honed as a former student athlete himself. By receiving the Torch of Unity in May, symbolizing the festival’s spirit, he infused the event with personal gravitas, urging unity among the many ethnic groups in Nigeria. This holistic ethos-blending motivation, resources, and recognition-has made Delta not just winners, but architects of a sporting renaissance.

In Oborevwori, one sees a leader who understands that true excellence is forged in the fire of commitment. The 2025 Gateway Games weren’t merely a victory lap; they were a manifesto in motion, proving that when leaders back words with wallets, miracles happen on the field. As Delta prepares to defend its crown in future festivals-perhaps eyeing Enugu 2027-the governor’s gold standard gleams brighter than any medal.

For athletes nationwide, his message is clear: strive, and the rewards will follow. In Oborevwori, Nigeria has found a champion whose legacy will echo through stadiums for generations, setting an unassailable benchmark in the pursuit of sporting greatness.

Over 1000 youths drawn from Ughelli North, Ughelli South, and Udu (U3) Federal Constituency on Wednesday passed a vote of confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and Hon. Rev. Francis Waive, citing their ‘exemplary performance’ in office and endorsing them for reelection in 2027.

The resolution was taken during a youth summit at T’Nero’s Place (Sakpra Hall), DSC Township, Udu Local Government Area, where over 1,000 young people gathered for empowerment and political engagement.

Key political figures from the Delta APC attended the event, including Hon. (Rev.) Francis Waive, Olorogun John Oguma, Olorogun Eddy Ono-Sorhue, Chief Henry Afure Sakpra, m Barr. Valentine Onojeghuo and others.

While presenting the report of his stewardship, Hon. Waive thanked the youths for their support over the years and pledged continued empowerment programs, noting that provisions for youth initiatives were already captured in the 2025 budget.

‘We have future leaders among us, those who will one day become Governors and Senators,’ Waive said. ‘Our youth empowerment initiative is included in the 2025 budget, and those present today will be among the first beneficiaries.’

He lauded Governor Oborevwori’s role in sustaining the Federal Medical Centre, Udu, and expressed confidence in his re-election bid for 2027. He also reaffirmed support for President Tinubu, citing the progress of work on the Benin-Effurun road expressway.

‘I salute my Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, for his total support. He is a humble leader, and we will continue to support him. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also deserves our backing and continued support to enable him to deliver on his promises,’ Waive said.

The lawmaker further urged unity within the Delta APC, dismissing perceived rifts between old and new members, while also seeking youth backing for his reelection bid.

‘My signature of excellence is visible throughout my federal constituency,’ he declared.

In an interview with the newsmen, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Delta State, Olorogun John Oguma, praised the performance of President Bola Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori, and Hon.Waive, urging patience with the governor, whom he said would deliver on all promises.

According to him, ‘ President Tinubu, Governor Oborevwori and Waive’s reelection will be easier in 2027 because of their excellent performance. ‘I can boldly tell you that there is no vacancy in Aso Rock and Government House in Delta, and with the youths solidly behind Hon. Waive, one can’t stop them.

Earlier in his welcome address, Chief Ejiro Hope, National Youth Leader of U3 Federal Constituency Youth, described the occasion as ‘Youth O’clock.’ He stressed that the program was not a political rally but an empowerment platform:

‘This is a youth summit and not a political gathering. It is an opportunity to hear from our member, Hon. Francis Waive, to interact with him one-on-one. Numerous employment opportunities have been created for our youth, and we urge continued peace across Delta State.’

Chief Hope also presented Waive with an award for ‘Most Friendly House of Representative Member,’ recognising his legislative contributions and support for grassroots projects.

Other leaders at the summit echoed their support, Evang. Eddy Ono-Sorhue praised Waive’s ‘hard work and commitment,’ while Chief Henry Afure Sakpra described him as a ‘square peg in a square hole,’ urging youths to register to vote.

The summit ended with a resounding call for unity, empowerment, and active participation of U3 youth in shaping the future of their constituency and Delta State at large.

Galatasaray stunned Liverpool with a 1-0 win in the UEFA Champions League phase. Victor Osimhen netted home a first-half penalty in a matchup in which Liverpool dominated possession (67.1% to 32.9%) and shot attempts (16-9).

But Galatasaray was able to hold on, securing its first victory of the competition. The club then proceeded to relay a simple troll aimed at Liverpool, captioning its post: ‘You’ll never walk alone, but sometimes you walk out without points.’

Since the 1960s, ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ by Gerry and the Pacemakers has served as Liverpool’s famous anthem, sung by Kopites alike around the world. The motto appears on the top of the club’s badge.

The ‘Shankly Gates’ – built in honour of legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly – also feature the phrase.

Tuesday’s defeat marked Liverpool’s second in a row, with the club set to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Fed Govt and UN initiatives on girl-child education

Nigeria faces a significant challenge in the education of the girl-child, with an estimated 7.6 million girls deprived of an education, particularly in the northern regions. The United Nations (UN), primarily through its agencies like the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), is actively supporting the Federal Government to address the barriers to girl-child education in Nigeria through targeted programmes, advocacy and strategic partnerships.

One of the UN initiatives and programmes is the Girls’ Education Project (GEP3). This was a landmark initiative, ran by UNICEF in partnership with the Nigerian government and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). It was implemented from 2012 to 2022. It successfully enrolled 1.5 million more girls in school across six northern states by addressing socio-economic barriers and gender norms.

Another initiative is Reaching and Empowering Adolescent Girls (REACH), which is a follow-up to GEP3. UNICEF launched the REACH programme in 2023. It focused on empowering adolescent girls in northwestern Nigeria through integrated, multi-sectoral programmes for education and life skills.

Also included is Accelerated Second Chance Education Programme, a UNESCO-led initiative, launched before the COVID-19 pandemic. It helped women and girls who had dropped out of school re-enter the education system through remote and in-person learning. In 2022, over 6,000 women and girls graduated from the programme.

A few days ago, the UN reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening girls’ education in Nigeria, with a steely resolve for collaboration with the Malala Fund to ensure millions of children, especially the girl-child and out of school children, are back in classes for learning.

At a high-level engagement in Abuja with Malala Yousafzai, co-founder of the Malala Fund, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall, emphasised that no child should be left behind.

Malala lauded Nigeria’s central role in the fund’s 2025-2030 global strategy, noting that over $8 million had already been invested in local partner organisations.

She stressed the importance of supporting married and pregnant girls to return to school, boosting education financing, and leveraging schooling as a tool to end child marriage.

Also, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has renewed its commitment to reducing the high number of out-of-school children in Sokoto State.

During a visit to SKS Model Primary School, Yabo, UNICEF Country Representative Wafa Said praised local efforts to boost enrolment but expressed concern over children still roaming the streets. He promised to strengthen teacher training and expand climate-friendly school initiatives.

The imperative of addressing girl-child education, out-of-school scourge

However, with these international organisations intensifying efforts to ensure every Nigerian child, especially girls, can access and complete quality education, stakeholders believe that should also inspire the government to engender sustained efforts to address the pressing challenges.

Founder of FOWGI, Mrs. Rifkatu Ademola, highlighted key challenges limiting girls’ access to uninterrupted quality education, such as lack of safe learning spaces, cultural norms, and economic hardship.

‘We must align action with policy to ensure that no girl is left behind due to poverty, period, or patriarchy.

‘We must innovate in how we teach, support girls emotionally and mentally, and create solutions rooted in their lived experiences,’ she said.

Mrs. Ademola stressed the need for collaboration between government, civil society, schools, parents, and the girls themselves, adding that real change could not occur in silos.

‘We must intentionally raise the next generation of girl leaders, not just as beneficiaries of education, but as creators of systems, solutions, and structures,’ she added.

Team Lead, NCAssociates EdTech Consulting and an EdTech specialist, Isaac-Joseph Olanrewaju, said the millions of school-age children who were out of school, and girls disproportionately excluded from learning opportunities undermined the nation’s development aspirations, fueled cycles of poverty, and weakened national competitiveness.

‘Educating our girls is not charity-it is smart economics. Evidence shows that girls who complete school are less likely to marry early, more likely to earn higher incomes, and more likely to educate their own children. This creates a multiplier effect that strengthens households, communities, and the nation.

‘Nigeria cannot achieve its ambitious national development goals while millions of its children remain out of school. We must recognise that every child excluded from education is a lost opportunity for national progress,’ he said.

An educationist and Director, Capacity Development Initiative, Lagos, Mr. Onanuga Olubayo, noted that most of the cities that rated high on the index of poor education to the girl-child were within the continent of Africa, Asia and the Middle East. This, he said, was borne out of a general conservationist opinion on the girl-child, their position socially and economically.

‘Education should be holistic. We must take into serious consideration the total well-being of the child as reflected in the taxonomy or domains of learning which encompasses the child’s cognitive, affective, psychomotor and every other necessary skills that would ensure proper grooming of the child for better applications of the knowledge gained at school. I emphasise there should be no preference for or reference to gender, a child is a child whether boy or girl and deserves education as an integral part of their rights,’ he said.

Olubayo stated that the post COVID-19 pandemic opened eyes across the globe to several possibilities (opportunities) that were hitherto not perceived and particularly several holes and gaps that should be fixed in the Nigerian education system.

He said before the pandemic, there had been issues associated with out-of-school children, particularly the girl-child, adding that post-pandemic, it has morphed into ‘a near national embarrassment’.

According to the founder of the Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) in Nigeria, Oreoluwa Somolu Lesi, the visit is important since it will help to shine light on the gap in the education for the girl-child.

She cited that the main cause of girl-child early marriage was poverty and illiteracy, adding that the partnership would help minimise the pandemic of girl-child marriage in Nigeria.

‘Her foundation has really supported local organisations’ focus on education.

‘What the foundation is doing is important. The partnership is important because it spotlights the problem.

‘The visit is important. It’s an opportunity to advocate and discuss the way forward for the girl-child,’ Lesi said.

For the Lead, Edu-norms Consulting and Education Business School, Dr. Adedamola Israel Olofa, the cost of leaving millions of children out of school – especially girls – is too high for Nigeria. He stressed the need to act with urgency: spend wisely, protect schools, support families, and change social attitudes to turn the tide and secure the future of children.

The President of Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Mr. Kanu Emmanuel Orji, noted that Malala’s visit to Nigeria and partnership with UNICEF to promote girl-child education was a significant development that deserved commendation.

Orji also stressed that the collaboration had the potential to drive meaningful change in the education sector, particularly in addressing the issue of out-of-school children.

Highlighting the importance of low-cost schools as a viable model for providing accessible and quality education to marginalised communities, the AFED’s head added that by supporting this push, Nigeria can make significant strides in capturing all school-age children and promoting inclusive education.

‘The Malala Fund believes in innovation, and Malala as a product of a low-cost school owned by her father when she was attacked by the Taliban, received a great feat in education that has placed her on global stage and so must emphasis on low-cost schools as a global solution to tackle the problem of out-of-school children was noteworthy,’ he said.

Educationist and founder, Baiwa Foundation for Human Development, Dr. Mikailu Ibrahim reiterated that the visit would draw global attention to the challenges girls faced in accessing education, serving as an inspiration and advocacy. He added that her visit to Nigeria and her partnership with UNICEF were significant for advancing girls’ education in the country.

Ibrahim also noted that the collaboration might likely influence policies that prioritise girls’ education, facilitating necessary reforms.

He also stressed that the partnership would also engage community stakeholders, addressing cultural barriers that hinder girls from attending school.

‘In fact, partners in the sector are already talking about the visit and its promise of UNICEF’s resources, especially from the FCDO funded Girl’s Education Programme (Phases 1-3) can provide vital support, including funding, educational materials and teacher training and improving infrastructure,’ he added.

Panacea to the twin recurrent challenges

On likely solutions to address the problems, Isaac-Joseph said: ‘The Universal Basic Education framework must be enforced, with increased budgetary allocation and transparent monitoring, build safe learning environments with gender-sensitive infrastructure – functional toilets, clean water, and menstrual hygiene facilities, expand the Safe Schools Declaration to protect children in conflict-prone areas.

‘Conditional cash transfers, free school meals, and scholarships can reduce the economic burden and incentivize parents to keep children, especially girls, in school.

‘Recruiting and training more female teachers provides role models and encourages girls to remain in school. Continuous professional development in inclusive pedagogy and digital learning is essential.

‘Mobile learning apps, radio and TV lessons, and offline digital tools can reach children in remote or insecure regions. Digital literacy programmes must include girls from the outset, preparing them for future careers in STEM and closing the gender gap.’

Olubayo, in a chat with The Nation, said: ‘There should be grassroots orientation programme to change the culturally wrong notions around the girl-child in homes, families and communities across the nation.

‘There should also be a strong emphasis on child’s rights and particularly the girl-child, which should be well-gazzetted and primed for implementation nationwide.’

He also emphasised the creation of a workable framework to execute the afore-mentioned points, which, he asserted, would go a very long way in addressing the problem.

He stressed the need for a proper and well-defined concept on education that actually address deficits in the economy, adding that there should be deliberate investment in education of children.

Olofa said: ‘Compulsory education and anti-child marriage laws should be enforced. Girls who dropped out because of marriage or unplanned pregnancy should be allowed to return to school.

‘Improve security around schools, especially in the North. The abducted 300 Chibok girls on my mind. Provide safe classrooms, toilets for girls, and clean water.’

For Ibrahim, focused initiatives can target Nigeria’s large population of out-of-school children, offering alternative learning opportunities and incentives for families.

‘Education empowers girls, enhancing their decision-making abilities and health knowledge, leading to better job prospects and reduced poverty.

‘The ripple effects of educating girls extend to mental health, self-esteem, and resilience against gender-based violence,’ he added.