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Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and his Sokoto State counterpart, Ahmad Aliyu, are among top dignitaries expected to attend the 25th National Women’s Conference organised by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO).

The First Lady of Lagos State and Chairman of COWLSO, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing at the Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, ahead of the landmark Silver Jubilee edition of the annual gathering.

According to her, Governor Uzodimma will serve as Special Guest of Honour at the Opening Ceremony, while Governor Aliyu will grace the Closing Ceremony on the final day of the event. Sanwo-Olu described the presence of the two governors and other dignitaries as ‘symbolic of national unity and a testament to the growing recognition of COWLSO as a catalyst for women’s development across Nigeria.’

She announced that the 25th National Women’s Conference, themed ’25 Years of Visionary Legacy: Inspiring the Next Generation,’ will hold from Monday, 28th to Wednesday, 30th October 2025, at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

‘For a quarter of a century, COWLSO has stood tall as a formidable platform committed to the advancement, empowerment, and transformation of women here in Lagos and across Nigeria,’ she said.

‘This year’s theme captures the spirit of reflection, renewal, and responsibility – a moment to celebrate the legacies we have built and to pass the torch to the next generation of women leaders, builders, and change-makers,’ she added. Sanwo-Olu noted that the 2025 edition will attract 3,000 physical participants and about 2,000 virtual attendees from across Nigeria and beyond, including professionals, entrepreneurs, policymakers, civil society advocates, and homemakers.

As part of pre-conference activities, she said COWLSO had embarked on several humanitarian projects, including free health screenings, environmental sanitation, empowerment of vulnerable persons, and visits to orphanages and care homes.

She added that members of the committee would on Saturday, 11th October 2025, embark on the annual Pre-Conference Awareness Walk in Ikorodu, themed ‘Step Up, Show Up, Never Give Up.’ ‘This symbolic walk serves to sensitise Lagosians about the forthcoming conference and to amplify our shared call for unity, empowerment, and purposeful living among women,’ she said.

The First Lady outlined that the three-day conference will feature plenary sessions, exhibitions, and interactive discussions on diverse topics including ‘Practical Apps for Easier Daily Living, Business Support, and Improved Productivity’ and ‘Women Championing Traffic Discipline through Smarter Transportation Systems.’

Day Two will focus on ‘Women as Change-Makers: Combating Trafficking, Organ Harvesting, and Unsafe Practices,’ chaired by Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and other leading advocates, while another session tagged ‘Celebrating Legacy: Harnessing Leadership Insights for the Next Generation’ will feature past and present Lagos First Ladies and COWLSO Chairpersons.

On the final day, discussions will centre on ‘Women as Partners in Ensuring Safe and Secure Communities’ and ‘Celebrating 25 Years of Women-Led Entrepreneurship-Past, Present, and Future,’ featuring notable speakers such as Mrs. Tara Fela-Durotoye, Mrs. Bella Disu, Princess Ronke Ademiluyi-Ogunwusi, and Mrs. Yewande Zacchaeus, with Mrs. Kafilat Araoye as Chairperson.

The event will also feature the COWLSO Physical and Virtual Markets, where participants can access quality goods at subsidised prices, and a Gala Night on the second day with entertainment, cultural displays, and raffle draws.

‘For inclusivity, the entire conference will be livestreamed on Lagos State Government’s social media platforms to ensure that women everywhere can participate,’ she said.

Sanwo-Olu praised the 2025 Conference Planning Committee, chaired by Dr. Olayemi Oke-Osanyitolu, for their ‘hard work, creativity, and dedication in curating this landmark edition,’ and expressed gratitude to partners, sponsors, and the media for their continuous support.

‘As we count down to October 28th, I invite all women to be part of this historic moment, a celebration of 25 years of purpose, passion, and progress,’ she said.

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has expressed relief over the apparent progress toward ending the protracted conflict between Israel and Hamas, describing it as a long-awaited moment of hope for both Israelis and Palestinians after two years of devastating loss.

In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday, Obama said the prospect of peace and the return of hostages offered a much-needed ray of optimism following months of bloodshed. ‘After two years of unimaginable loss and suffering for Israeli families and the people of Gaza, we should all be encouraged and relieved that an end to the conflict is within sight,’ Obama wrote. He said the anticipated truce would not only reunite hostages with their families but also allow desperately needed humanitarian aid to reach civilians in Gaza ‘whose lives have been shattered.’

Beyond the ceasefire, Obama urged both sides to focus on long-term reconciliation and reconstruction, stressing that rebuilding Gaza must go hand in hand with recognising the ‘common humanity and basic rights of both peoples.’

He emphasised that achieving a lasting peace would require determination from Israelis and Palestinians, backed by sustained international support, including from the United States. The former president’s remarks come amid renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing the two-year conflict to a definitive close and paving the way for stability in the region.

Argentina overwhelmed the Flying Eagles of Nigeria with a ruthless 4-0 victory on Wednesday night, sealing a commanding win in their Under-20 World Cup round of 16 match to qualify for the quarter-finals.

The match at the Estadio Ciudad de la Plata in Chile.

The South American side showed composure, precision, and clinical finishing throughout, while the Flying Eagles struggled to find rhythm despite flashes of attacking promise.

The tone was set early when Alejo Sarco opened the scoring in the 2nd minute, tapping home from close range after a smart assist from Dylan Gorosito. The goal gave Argentina early control, leaving the Nigerian defence scrambling to regroup.

Their momentum continued in the 23rd minute, when Maher Carrizo curled in a sensational free-kick from just outside the box, doubling the lead and electrifying the crowd.

The Flying Eagles’ attempts to fight back were undone by poor finishing. Tahir Maigana, Daniel Daga, and Amos Ochoche all had opportunities, but their efforts were either blocked or sent off target. The closest came late in the first half when Daga’s header forced a brilliant save from Argentine goalkeeper Santino Barbi. Argentina, however, never looked troubled. The third goal arrived in the 53rd minute, as Carrizo once again showed composure, this time finishing coolly past Ebenezer Harcourt after a perfect through ball from Milton Delgado.

Mateo Silvetti sealed the rout in the 66th minute, firing low into the bottom corner after slipping past two defenders. The goal reflected Argentina’s dominance in possession and fluid attacking transitions.

Nigeria’s frustrations boiled over in the 77th minute when Emmanuel Ekele was booked for a reckless tackle, with VAR confirming only a yellow card after review. Despite late attempts by Kparobo Arierhi and Auwal Ibrahim, Nigeria couldn’t find a breakthrough.

The match closed with Argentina in complete control, dictating tempo and keeping the Flying Eagles pinned deep.

The final whistle from Italian referee Maurizio Mariani confirmed a resounding victory that underlined Argentina’s title ambitions and Nigeria’s need to rebuild.

A 34-year-old Nigerian man, Nathaniel Barthram, and his girlfriend, Maria Zaloumis, have been arraigned in Zambia alongside three others over the death of a 22-year-old man, Enoch Kasengele.

According to the Lusaka Times, the case, which was initially filed as murder, has been reduced to manslaughter and transferred to the Zambian High Court for trial.

Other suspects in the case include Daniel Chiluwa, Fortune Mwitangati, and Gift Daka. They were accused of committing the offence at Onani Farm in Kabwe on August 17, 2025.

Barthram, said to be a Nigerian national living at Tuzini Farm, and Zaloumis, a farmer from Wonani Farm, were reportedly lovers. The victim, Kasengele, was a resident of Kabwe-Lusaka Road before his alleged killing.

The suspects first appeared before the Kabwe Magistrate’s Court in September, where they were charged with murder under Section 200, Chapter 87 of Zambia’s laws and remanded at the Mukobeko Maximum Correctional Facility. However, when the case came up again on Monday, State Advocate Joseph Zimba informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had downgraded the charge to manslaughter.

Following the development, the defence team applied for bail, arguing that manslaughter is a bailable offence and that all accused persons were ready to comply with conditions.

Magistrate Wamundila Liswaniso granted bail of K20,000 each, with two traceable civil servant sureties per accused, and ordered Barthram to surrender his Nigerian passport.

The five suspects are expected to appear before the High Court for trial after completing bail procedures.

The case adds to the growing list of Nigerians facing legal troubles abroad. In February, a Nigerian, Adiyako Masaliyo, was reportedly beaten to death in India after a dispute with a local man over an alleged drug-related issue.

The Nigeria Police Force has explained why it agreed to suspend the enforcement of the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Act, 1991, following consultations with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the decision was taken ‘out of consideration for the interest of Nigerians and regard for the Nigerian Bar Association,’ pending the outcome of a court hearing on the matter scheduled for October 16, 2025, at the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State.

Hundeyin said the decision followed a visit by a delegation of the NBA led by its President, Afam Josiah Osigwe (SAN), to the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The statement added that while there is currently no court order stopping the enforcement of the tinted glass law, the Police chose to suspend it temporarily to allow for dialogue and mutual understanding. To further strengthen ties between the two institutions, a joint Police-NBA committee has been inaugurated to enhance collaboration in promoting justice and public confidence.

In the meantime, the Police urged vehicle owners to take advantage of the suspension to regularise their documents and ensure full compliance with all relevant regulations governing the use of tinted or shaded glasses.

The statement reaffirmed the commitment of the Police to enforce all existing laws ‘with fairness, transparency, and respect for the rights of all citizens.’

The University of Ibadan (UI) has reclaimed its crown as Nigeria’s best university, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026 released on Thursday.

UI, located in Oyo State, jumped from fourth position last year to lead the 2026 table, dethroning Covenant University, which had dominated the rankings in 2024 and 2025.

The latest report placed UI between 801-1,000 globally, ahead of other top contenders, including the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University Kano (BUK), and Covenant University (CU) – ranked second, third, and fourth in Nigeria, respectively. The 2026 ranking evaluated 2,191 institutions across 115 countries, using 18 performance indicators grouped into five key areas – teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

BUK stood out for its international outlook, while Covenant retained its edge in industry connections. UNILAG also made a mark as the best Nigerian university in research quality, with a score of 66.7.

According to THE, the 2026 edition drew on over 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications, alongside survey responses from more than 108,000 scholars worldwide – signalling a major shift in global higher education competitiveness.

Out of 51 Nigerian universities ranked, only UI and UNILAG made it to the 801-1000 band.

BUK, Covenant, and Landmark University followed within the 1001-1200 range.

Five other schools – Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka – appeared in the 1201-1500 global category.

Meanwhile, 14 Nigerian universities were ranked above 1501, while 27 others failed to make the cut.

Nigeria’s 2026 Top Varsities at a Glance

University of Ibadan (801-1000)

University of Lagos (801-1000) Bayero University (1001-1200)

Covenant University (1001-1200)

Landmark University (1001-1200)

Ahmadu Bello University (1201-1500)

Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201-1500)

University of Ilorin (1201-1500)

University of Jos (1201-1500)

University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201-1500)

Others ranked above 1501 include Babcock, LASU, OAU, UNIBEN, UNICAL, and UNIPORT.

THE, a globally respected authority on higher education data, clarified that only universities meeting its research and teaching benchmarks were considered – including a minimum of 1,000 publications between 2020 and 2024.

The Police Command in Niger says it has arrested four suspects for criminal conspiracy and theft of motorcycles in Minna.

This is contained in a statement by the command`s Public Relations officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, on Thursday in Minna. Abiodun explained that on Oct. 3, at about 9 pm, a direct complaint was received that Michael Isah, 23 years of BYJ area of Kwamba, ran away with his friend’s TBS motorcycle.

He explained further that the motorcycle’s registration. number is ABJ 402 MV valued over N1 million.

‘On receipt of this, Police operatives of Maje division swung into action and were on the lookout for the suspect with the motorcycle. Fortunately, on Oct. 4, at about 11:30 am, the said motorcycle was found with Abubakar Mutawakil of Kwamba, making efforts to get a buyer for the motorcycle. He was immediately arrested, and he confessed to the crime. He also led the operatives to arrest Michael Isah, who gave him the motorcycle for disposal,’ he said. In a related development, on Oct. 2, at about 4:30 pm, Police operatives of ‘A’ Division, Bida, intercepted and arrested Adamu Mohammed, 23 years of Masaba area of Bida. He was arrested with a TVS motorcycle bearing Reg. No. GWA 346 VZ suspected of being a stolen motorcycle.

‘During interrogation, he confessed that he stole the motorcycle from Ndasako village of Wushishi Local Government Area. The owner of the motorcycle was later contacted and confirmed the theft, while the suspect was charged to court for prosecution, ‘he said.

Similarly, on the same date, at about 8 am, Police operatives attached to Katcha Division also arrested Abubakar Mohammed, of Gudungu village via Agaie, with an unregistered Bajaj motorcycle without a key.

He said that the suspect confessed that he stole the motorcycle from Cheche village via Katcha, but he was arrested along the Agaie-Katcha road. Abiodun said that the suspect is under investigation.

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the Governor of Gombe State, Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya, on his birthday.

In a statement released by the Special adviser to the president for Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, president Tinubu joined the governor’s family, friends, and political associates to celebrate the significant day and the many milestones recorded in the state since Yahaya assumed office in 2019.

The President also noted the governor’s impressive achievements in infrastructure, education, and healthcare, especially the construction and renovation of 600 classrooms, the upgrade of five legacy secondary schools, improved performance in external examinations, fully functional primary healthcare centres in 114 wards, and the Go-Health project that focuses on the vulnerable population. He commended the governor for upholding the vision of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ by prioritising the people’s interests and well-being in all development projects.

Tinubu also wished the governor robust health and strength as he continues to deliver good governance to the people of Gombe.

A mechanic, Opeyemi Adebiyi, 28, on Thursday, appeared before a Mapo Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan over the alleged theft of N450,000 cash and car gear, belonging to a customer.

Adebiyi pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge bordering on false pretense and stealing brought against him. The court’s Magistrate, Mr John Olorimoke, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200,000 with two reliable sureties in like sum.

Olorimoke said that the two sureties must be blood relations and must each possess a valid identification card. He adjourned the case until Oct. 30 for hearing.

The Prosecution counsel, Insp Oluseye Akinola, told the court that Adebiyi allegedly committed the offences sometime in June, at Sanyo area of Ibadan, Oyo State. Akinola further stated that the defendant fraudulently took N450,000 from one Afeez Ojekunle, the complainant, on the pretext that he would repair an IS250 Lexus Jeep gear for him. According to the prosecutor, Adebiyi first presented N300,000 as his workmanship bill to repair the damaged gear and later added another N150,000 to buy a new gear entirely.

He said that the defendant later informed the complainant that the gear was irreparably damage and would require another N150,000 to buy a new one while the old one would be sold.

‘After receiving the total sum of N450,000 cash, Adebiyi absconded with both the money and the faulty car gear before he was later arrested,’ the prosecutor said.

According to Akinola, the offences contravened the provision of Sections 419 and 390 (9) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Vol. ii, Laws of Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000. (NAN)

Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) has emerged as a historic figure following his nomination as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

A distinguished legal scholar and reform-driven academic, Amupitan’s career spans over three decades of teaching, research, and legal advocacy. From his humble beginnings in Kogi State to his rise as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Jos, his story is one of intellect, integrity, and quiet revolution in Nigerian law. Here are 23 astonishing facts about the man set to steer Nigeria’s electoral future.

1. Amupitan is the first person from Kogi State ever nominated to lead INEC, breaking a regional precedent in Nigeria’s electoral history.

2. He holds all his degrees-LL.B, LL.M, and Ph.D from the same university, the University of Jos, where he was a Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

3. Amupitan began teaching at age 22 and rose from Assistant Lecturer to full Professor of Law in less than 20 years. 4. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2014, joining the elite league of Nigeria’s most distinguished legal minds.

5. He’s an academic who’s also a top legal practitioner, merging the courtroom with the classroom, a rare balance in Nigerian academia.

6. Amupitan has trained and mentored more than 40 postgraduate law scholars, including 13 PhDs, many of whom now teach across Nigeria and beyond.

7. His research has shaped national policy, influencing reforms in electoral law, corporate governance, and privatisation.

8. He’s a walking legal library, with over 50 publications and five major law textbooks studied in universities and used by practising lawyers.

9. He was a double university leader, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Jos and Pro-Chancellor/Chairman of Council at Joseph Ayo Babalola University. 10. He believes ‘safety and integrity’ are the soul of law, a philosophy reflected in his leadership style and writings. 11. Amupitan once chaired both the Committee of Deans and the Faculty of Law at UNIJOS, guiding two of the university’s most powerful academic organs.

12. His academic rise was meteoric, from lecturer to Reader in 14 years, to Professor by 2008.

14. He started his professional journey in Bauchi, serving at the Bauchi State Publishing Corporation during his NYSC year (1988-1989).

15. Amupitan has redefined legal education in northern Nigeria, helping modernise law curricula and supervision standards.

16. He’s a respected voice in the Nigerian Bar Association, where his work on corporate governance earned him national recognition.

17. He’s not just a law professor but a reformer, championing the legal framework for privatisation, petroleum law, and election reform in Nigeria.

18. Amupitan is one of few SANs to have built his entire career in the university system, rather than the courtroom. 19. He’s a homegrown intellectual powerhouse, with every degree and promotion earned within Nigeria-no foreign study, no shortcuts.

20. He was appointed Pro-Chancellor of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in 2023, marking a rare dual leadership between two major institutions.

21. He’s deeply family-oriented, often crediting his wife, Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Amupitan, for his success; together they’re raising four children.

22. At 58, he remains one of Nigeria’s youngest professors to hold the SAN title, combining academic depth with courtroom prestige.

23. He’s from Ayetoro Gbede, Ijumu LGA, a small Kogi town now on Nigeria’s electoral map thanks to his INEC nomination.