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The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, has rejected claims that Islam is aimed at capturing political power in Nigeria, insisting that its focus is on promoting good governance.

He made this known in Abuja at the unveiling of the book ‘Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum’, authored by former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen Lucky Irabor (rtd).

‘I also want to correct the notion when Bishop (Matthew) Kukah talked about Islamism. You use some words maybe in the wrong manner, or somebody might feel Islamism is negative.

‘Islamism is not aimed at seizing power at any particular forum. Islam is after good governance in society,’ he stated.

The monarch recalled how former President Goodluck Jonathan received full support from Muslims during his administration, stressing that religion was never used as a tool against him.

‘When President Goodluck Jonathan was President, we gave him 100 per cent support. Throughout his presidency, nobody said anything negative against him; he knows that, and he is here.

‘So, Islamism is not what you think it is; it is a wrong notion that you are bringing up here that it is to seize power. It is not to seize power. We’re after good governance,’ he added.

He explained that Muslims are guided by a clear code of conduct rooted in the Quran, Hadith, and the consensus of clerics, stressing that Islam rejects extremism.

‘And these are written. So, we have a code of conduct; we have ways and means of life; the Holy Quran and the Hadith of our most noble Prophet (SA), and the consensus of the Ulama, that is, the clerics.

‘These are the three things guiding us. Anybody coming outside these to say things that he really doesn’t know about is not for Islam because Islam abhors extremism.

‘You cannot be an extremist and then claim to be a good Muslim. So, let’s learn some of these issues, and then when we are talking about insecurity in our great country, we have to be careful in how we say things, how we present them.

‘So, let’s come closer as one big family with different backgrounds to forge ahead to make this country a better country, because there is nothing anybody can do,’ he stated.

The Sultan, who is also Chairman of the Northern Traditional Rulers Council, further dispelled the perception that Jihad promotes violence against non-Muslims.

‘Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim by a Muslim. Jihad means to strive, and in whatever you do in life, you strive to be the best you can be.

‘You strive to be a good Muslim, you strive to be a good Christian, you strive to be a good farmer, or a good engineer.

‘So, Jihad is not to kill a non-Muslim; that’s a wrong notion people have been airing out for decades,’ he added.

He commended General Irabor for his service to the country and for documenting his experiences as a military officer who played a key role in the fight against insecurity.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said that its sweeping monetary and foreign exchange reforms over the past two years have restored investor confidence, stabilised the naira, and laid the foundation for long-term growth.

Governor Olayemi Cardoso, delivering the keynote at the Lagos Business School’s P

leadership lecture on Friday, recalled the precarious economic situation he inherited in 2023 when inflation was spiralling, reserves were strained, and investor confidence had collapsed.

‘It was a moment that demanded not just technical skill, but leadership rooted in courage, credibility, and accountability. We had to act decisively,’ he said.

According to him, the CBN raised rates by over 800 basis points to tackle inflation, halted central bank overdrafts beyond statutory limits, unified the exchange rate, and cleared a backlog of foreign exchange obligations.

The apex bank also strengthened reserves, now above $42 billion, and launched new channels for diaspora remittances.

The results, Cardoso said, are beginning to show. Inflation, which had peaked near 35 percent, has moderated to about 20 percent. GDP grew 4.2 percent in the second quarter of 2025, capital inflows are rebounding, and Nigeria’s sovereign credit outlook has improved.

‘These shifts suggest more than a cyclical adjustment. They mark the outlines of a developmental inflection point where investor confidence is being rebuilt and Nigeria positions itself for structural renewal,’ he said.

The CBN governor, however, cautioned that the gains must be translated into durable prosperity. ‘This is only the beginning. The real task is ensuring these hard-won improvements translate into jobs, stability, and long-term growth for the next generation,’ Cardoso added.

Earlier in her welcome address, Professor Olayinka David-West, Dean, Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, noted that the CBN Governor’s Lecture Series is a flagship platform and part of the Governor’s Knowledge Acceleration and Thought Leadership Initiative, which is central to the Central Bank’s strategy of deepening public understanding and strengthening monetary policy transmission.

She recalled that two years ago, at the Senate Confirmation Hearing, the Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, and his Deputy Governors promised compliance, accountability, and transparency, thus noting that the lecture was a fulfillment of the promise and a framework for such accountability.

The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday, performed the official commissioning of the 100-bed capacity ultra-modern mother and child specialist hospital in Gombe.

The hospital, named in her honour, is part of the government’s efforts through the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.

Speaking at the ceremony, Senator Tinubu ‘has opened doors to life, hope and a brighter future for women and children of Gombe and beyond.’

She emphasised that maternal and child health remains at the heart of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure every Nigerian child has a healthy start in life.

‘It is my belief that this facility will provide quality health services, reduce maternal and infant mortality and bring relief to countless families,’ the First Lady said.

She expressed profound gratitude to Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, his wife Hajiya Asma’u, and the people of Gombe for naming the hospital after her, commending the Governor’s sustained commitment to healthcare development.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, in her remarks, said the project underpins Nigeria’s commitment to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 which focuses on good health and well-being.

The inauguration was attended by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, his wife, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, and other dignitaries.

A former acting governor of Ekiti State, Tunji Odeyemi has emerged as the new state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

Odeyemi was elected during the state Congress of the party held in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital which was attended by delegates and party stakeholders across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state. It was witnessed by security agencies

He scored 936 votes to defeat his challenger and a former state legal officer of the party, Sunday Olowolafe who garnered 290 votes.

Delivering his acceptance Odeyemi commended the party leaders and delegates for the overwhelming support in leading the State Working Committee in the state, noting that the confidence reposed in him would not be betrayed.

He saluted the courage and commitment of all the contestants towards the growth and progress of the PDP, soliciting the support of all stakeholders in a bid to reposition the party for success during the 2026 governorship election. According to him, ‘ My emergence today is not about Tunji Odeyemi. It is about the PDP family in Ekiti reclaiming its rightful place as the true voice of the people, the hope of the common man, and the credible alternative for good governance. We must therefore put behind us the divisions of the past and focus on unity, discipline, and loyalty to the ideals of our party.

‘ Our state, Ekiti, is in dire need of rescue from maladministration, poverty, and neglect. The PDP must rise to this challenge and provide the leadership that our people are yearning for. We will strengthen our grassroots structures, empower our youths and women, and ensure internal democracy where every member has a sense of belonging.

‘ As your Chairman, I pledge fairness, inclusiveness, and transparency in all our dealings. I will run an open-door policy where all voices are heard, respected, and valued. Together with the State Working Committee, we will reposition PDP in Ekiti to win elections and deliver dividends of democracy to our people.

‘ Finally, I call on every member of our great party to close ranks. Let us speak with one voice, march with one spirit, and labour with one purpose,to return PDP to Government House, Ado-Ekiti, and restore prosperity, dignity, and hope to our people.’

Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested two suspected hoodlums and recovered a fabricated AK-47 rifle and other dangerous weapons during a routine patrol in Uyo.

The suspects, identified as Joshua Benjamin from Mbiaku, Ikono Local Government Area, and Kingsley Friday Michael from Ikot Ekop, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, were apprehended in the early hours of Thursday, October 2, 2025, along Idoro Road by Abolin Junction.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, operatives on routine patrol spotted the duo loitering suspiciously at a dark spot at about 12:30 a.m. Their conduct drew the attention of the patrol team, leading to their arrest.

A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of a fabricated revolving AK-47 rifle and a jackknife. The police said the suspects, upon interrogation, failed to provide any credible explanation for their presence at the location or for the possession of the firearm.

‘They falsely claimed to be security guards but could not present uniforms, any means of identification, or credible justification for the weapon in their possession,’ DSP John disclosed.

The suspects, now in custody, are undergoing further interrogation as investigations continue to establish their possible links to criminal activities within the state.

Reassuring members of the public, the Police Command reiterated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, warning that criminal elements will find no hiding place in Akwa Ibom.

The Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police formation for swift action.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned in strong terms the recent appointment by the Lagos State government of Ayomiposi Oluwadahunsi, popularly known as Mandy Kiss, as a brand ambassador of the State’s ‘Kick Against Drug Abuse’ (LASKADA) campaign, calling for the immediate withdrawal of the appointment.

The students’ body noted that while the LASKADA campaign is laudable, the choice of Ayomiposi as ambassador for such a role is both inappropriate and counterproductive.

Mandy Kiss, barely a few days before this appointment, publicly made statements about engaging in mass sexual activity in order to enter the Guinness Book of Records, remarks that went viral and generated national outrage.

Such a pronouncement, according to NANS, is inconsistent with the values of responsibility, dignity, and self-control that a public health campaign like LASKADA is meant to promote.

In a statement made available by the National Assistant Secretary-General of NANS, Adejuwon Olatunji Emmanuel, the association said: ‘The credibility of the messenger is as important as the message, and in this case, the messenger undermines the message.

‘So, the decision by the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, to approve Ayomiposi’s appointment for the mentioned role raises serious questions about judgement and due process.’

NANS said further that: ‘Influence alone cannot be the basis for such a sensitive role. While it is true that young people listen to influencers, the right ambassadors must combine influence with credibility, education, and a track record of positive impact.

‘There are countless educated young Nigerians – students, graduates, professionals, and responsible social media influencers – who command both visibility and respect, and who would have been far more deserving choices for this role.

‘We strongly believe that this appointment sends the wrong message at a time when the government should be intentional about values, role models, and the future of Nigerian youth. By endorsing controversial figures with questionable conduct, the state risks trivialising the fight against drug abuse and eroding public trust in an otherwise noble campaign.

‘To this end, the Lagos State government must immediately withdraw Mandy Kiss’s appointment as LASKADA Ambassador, and the Commissioner should apologise to Lagos residents, including students, parents, and youth advocates, whose trust in the campaign has been shaken.

‘It is also important that a transparent selection process be instituted to ensure that future ambassadors are persons of integrity, credible, and capable of inspiring young people positively.

‘So, we recommend that the state government engage credible students, reformed substance-abuse survivors, youth leaders, respected professionals, and social media figures with clean reputations who can speak with authority and integrity.

‘As the voice of Nigerian students, NANS remains committed to supporting every effort aimed at curbing drug abuse. But we will never stand by and watch the struggle for youth development reduced to sensational headlines and misplaced priorities.

‘The unity and health of our youth are too important to be gambled with. We call on the Lagos State Government to correct this error immediately in the interest of the campaign’s success and the credibility of leadership.’

The high-powered Committee for the Creation of New Emirates, Chiefdoms and Districts set up by the Bauchi State Government has proposed thirteen new emirates, two chiefdoms and 113 districts.

The proposal was contained in the report of the Committee submitted to the Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, on Friday at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Bauchi, by the Chairman of the Committee, Hamza Koshe Akuyam.

While submitting the Committee’s report to the Governor, the Chairman explained that the proposed thirteen new emirates and two chiefdoms represent the most deserving of all the over 100 memoranda received from across the state.

Hamza Koshe Akuyam recalled that the body was inaugurated on 4 July 2025 with the mandate to review requests from communities across the state, assess their historical, cultural and administrative justifications, and make recommendations to promote justice, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence.

He disclosed that the Committee received a total of 196 memoranda, 17 for the creation of emirates, 166 for districts, and others for chiefdoms.

According to him, ‘The mandate was to review various requests submitted by communities, assess their historical, cultural, and administrative justifications, and make fair recommendations that promote justice, inclusiveness, and peaceful coexistence.’

He said, ‘At the end of the work, the Committee is hereby recommending the creation of thirteen additional emirates, two chiefdoms, and 111 districts across Bauchi State.’

Responding to the report of the Committee, the Governor, Sen Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, commended the Committee for what he described as a ‘transparent and painstaking exercise.’

The Governor praised the methodology, models and templates used, noting that the process reflected community ownership and affinity.

He said the reform was in line with his administration’s commitment to ‘unbundle Bauchi’ for easier governance, eliminate ungoverned spaces, and give communities a sense of self-actualisation.

While acknowledging that the exercise may be painful for some monarchs, Bala Mohammed stressed that similar practices had taken place across Nigeria and even beyond Africa.

He assured traditional rulers and communities that government would implement the recommendations fairly, balancing the aspirations of new communities with the dignity of existing institutions, while expanding opportunities for leadership and representation.

The Governor assured that the report would be transmitted to the State House of Assembly directly and intact, the way it was submitted by the Committee, for legislative action in order to make it realistic.

He urged the Assembly to expedite the process devoid of ethno-religious and political sentiments but in the interest of the people of Bauchi State.

Imagine trying to teach a ghost to paint. It has no hands, no eyes, and no physical form. All you can do is show it millions of paintings and tell it, ‘This is a cat,’ or ‘This is a starry night.’ Over and over again, you provide examples until, miraculously, the ghost starts to understand the essence of ‘cat’ or ‘starry night.’ It learns the patterns, the styles, and the concepts. Eventually, you can ask it to paint something new-a cat on a bicycle under a starry night-and it can conjure an image from the patterns it has absorbed. This enchanting, almost magical process is, in simple terms, how generative AI works. It’s a digital ghost in the machine, learning from vast amounts of data to create something entirely original. The process involves recognising complex patterns, much like a seasoned player develops an intuition for games of chance. On platforms like https://fortunica-online.com/en-gb, success often comes from understanding probabilities and patterns over time. Similarly, generative AI doesn’t rely on luck; it masters its craft by analysing countless examples until it can predict the next logical step, whether that’s a word in a sentence or a brushstroke in a painting.

This powerful technology is no longer confined to science fiction; it’s reshaping our world, from how we work to how we play. But how does it go from being a student of human creation to a creator in its own right? Let’s demystify the magic.

What Is This Digital Ghost?

At its core, generative AI is a type of artificial intelligence that can produce new and original content. Unlike other AIs that might only recognise or classify information, generative models create. They can write poems, compose music, design images, and even generate code. Think of them as incredibly advanced mimics that, after seeing enough examples, can develop their own unique style.

These systems are powered by complex algorithms called neural networks, which are loosely inspired by the human brain. They learn by identifying underlying patterns and relationships in massive datasets. This training allows them to generate outputs that are not just copies but are statistically plausible creations based on the data they’ve learned from.

This brings us to the most crucial part of the process: the training. Without it, our digital ghost would have an empty canvas and no inspiration.

The Library of Everything: Training Data

The fuel for any generative AI model is data-colossal amounts of it. An AI that generates text, like ChatGPT, is trained on a vast corpus of text from the internet, including books, articles, and websites. An image generator like MidJourney or DALL·E, on the other hand, learns from billions of images paired with descriptive text captions. This library of examples is what teaches the AI about the world.

Here’s a breakdown of the kind of data used for different models:

Text Models: Fed with terabytes of text from the web, they learn grammar, context, facts, and conversational styles.

Image Models: Trained on huge databases of images and their descriptions, they learn to connect words like ‘surrealist painting of a fox in a top hat’ to specific visual elements.

Music Models: Learn from countless hours of music, absorbing melodies, harmonies, rhythms, and genre conventions.

This data doesn’t just teach the AI what things are; it teaches the AI the intricate connections between them.

Learning the Rules of Art (and Everything Else)

Once the AI has its library, the learning begins. During training, the model tries to predict and reconstruct the data it’s given. For example, a text model might be given a sentence with a missing word and tasked with guessing it. An image model might be shown a blurry image and asked to make it sharp.

With each attempt, it receives feedback on how well it did. If it guesses the wrong word, it adjusts its internal parameters. This process is repeated billions of times, and with each iteration, the AI gets better at understanding the patterns. It’s not memorising the examples but rather building an internal, abstract representation of the information. This is how it learns the ‘rules’ of language, art, and logic without ever being explicitly programmed with them.

This foundational understanding is what allows the AI to move from simply recognising patterns to generating them on its own.

From Apprentice to Master: The Creation Process

After extensive training, the AI is ready to create. The process of generating new content usually follows a few key steps, starting with a prompt from a user. This is where you get to collaborate with the digital ghost.

Here is a simplified step-by-step guide to how generative AI creates something new:

Receiving the Prompt: You give the AI a command, known as a prompt. This can be anything from ‘Write a short story about a time-travelling detective’ to ‘Create an image of a crystal palace on Mars.’

Interpreting the Concept: The AI breaks down your prompt into concepts it understands from its training. It associates words like ‘crystal,’ ‘palace,’ and ‘Mars’ with the patterns it has learned.

Generating From Noise: For many models, especially image generators, the process starts from a field of random noise (like TV static). The AI then gradually refines this noise, shaping it step-by-step to match the concepts in the prompt.

Refining and Iterating: The model continuously checks its own work against the prompt, making adjustments to better align the output with the request. It’s essentially asking itself, ‘Does this look like a ‘crystal palace’?’ until the result is a close match.

This generative ability allows the AI to produce a near-infinite variety of outputs, making it a powerful tool for creativity and problem-solving.

Comparing Different Generative AI Models

While the underlying principles are similar, different generative AI models are specialised for various tasks. Understanding their strengths can help you choose the right tool for your needs. The table below offers a comparison of common model types.

As this table illustrates, each type of generative AI excels in its own domain, having been trained on data specific to that medium. This specialisation is what allows for such high-quality and context-aware outputs.

Unleash Your Inner Creator

Generative AI is more than just a technological marvel; it’s a new frontier for human creativity. By understanding how it works-not as magic, but as a sophisticated process of pattern recognition and generation-we can demystify the technology and harness its potential. From the initial spark of a prompt to the final, polished creation, AI acts as a collaborative partner, a tireless assistant, and an endless source of inspiration. It’s the ghost we taught to paint, now ready and waiting for our next masterpiece.

The next time you see a stunning AI-generated image or read a cleverly written piece of text, you’ll know the secret behind it. It’s not about a machine thinking for itself, but about an algorithm so well-trained on human culture that it can reflect it back to us in new and unexpected ways. So why not try it yourself? Experiment with a text or image generator and see what you can create. You might just be surprised by the artist within you.

Peter Obi has outlined how the EFCC recovered loot of ?853 billion should be strategically invested to directly benefit Nigerians, insisting on transparency and accountability in their utilisation.

The former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, in a post on his X handle Friday, commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the recovery, describing it as ‘a step in the right direction.’

However, Obi cautioned that the ?853 billion was ‘just a tiny fraction of the funds looted from the public treasury by leaders,’ and stressed that ‘beyond this recovery, what truly matters is the utilisation of these funds in a verifiable and accountable manner, specifically in the critical areas of development, health, education, and poverty alleviation to benefit the people.’

The Labour Party standard-bearer said Nigerians ‘want to see impact’ and must be able to trace where and how the EFCC recovered funds are invested.

He noted that the country currently has over 20 million out-of-school children, the highest figure globally, and more than 100 million citizens living in poverty, with the situation being worse in the North.

Obi argued that if the recovered funds are properly channelled, they could significantly contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and insecurity.

‘For example, the Federal Government 2024 operational budget for Universal Basic Education contribution is about ?251.47 billion, so to triple this sum will be an additional ?503 billion.

‘The remaining ?350 billion can be shared directly to 19 Northern provinces for lending microcredit to the poor,’ Obi proposed, noting that many states have long applied for as little as ?2 billion in similar loans from development banks.

The former governor warned that the announcement should not end up as another mere record of recovery but rather mark the beginning of a new era of accountability.

‘Let this not just be another announcement of recovery. Let it be the beginning of a new era of accountability, where every kobo retrieved is turned into classrooms, hospitals, skills, and opportunities for ordinary Nigerians,’ Obi said.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has flagged off the construction of the Transit Way (N2), linking Wuse Zone 3 to the Central Area, with assurances that under his watch, no sector of the FCT Administration will be left out in the development drive of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Friday, the Minister emphasised that road infrastructure remains the backbone of any modern city, attracting investments and accelerating growth.

‘There’s no development in any city without a good network of roads. When all the cities are linked with good roads, then you talk about development. Road infrastructure attracts investment,’ Wike said.

Wike disclosed that Abuja has already caught the attention of international investors, citing a Dubai-based company that has committed to replicating the Dubai City Walk project in the FCT.

According to him, the N2 corridor, which will be supported by two strategic bridges, evolved from a citizen-led initiative around the TY Danjuma Foundation.

The Minister commended the efforts, adding that the FCTA took over and expanded the scope to connect the Central Area with the Wuse District.

While assuring strict supervision of the contractors, Wike announced fresh plans to rehabilitate not less than 40 additional schools across the FCT, complementing 70 ongoing school projects, out of which about 45 have already been completed.

He also hinted that attention will soon shift to healthcare facilities, stressing the urgency of timely project delivery.

‘Time waits for nobody. If you don’t know how to meet up, go and ask those who know how to beat up with the speed I work with,’ Wike warned, urging top officials to keep their phones on 24 hours for effective coordination.

The Minister noted that flag-off and commissioning activities will run until late October, after which more projects vital to the economy and the city’s landscape will be unveiled from November.

Despite opposition and criticisms, Wike assured that ‘All those who hate us are still using the roads, water, and streetlights we provide. We don’t know the meaning of blackmail in our dictionary; the only thing we know is to work, work, and work to the satisfaction of our people,’ Wike said.

Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the project as a milestone in strengthening connectivity, easing traffic congestion, and promoting seamless movement within Abuja.

She noted that the N2 Transit Way is another demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda translating into visible dividends for residents.

Mahmoud further applauded the National Assembly for their consistent support through collaboration and legislative backing.

‘Your role in ensuring that the FCT receives the needed budgetary attention and oversight is highly commendable, and today, we are witnessing the fruits of such partnership,’ she stated.

The N2 road project is one of the major infrastructure efforts lined up for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third-year anniversary, with the FCTA positioning Abuja as a model modern city through roads, schools, health facilities, and investor-friendly initiatives.