Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has put measures in place on how it can be more united so as to win 2027 governorship and other elections.

The party lamented the activities of some aspirants seeking elective positions, who had been floating and nurturing groups, saying ”this is furthering causing divisions within the party, instead of uniting it.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of its Leadership Summit in Ibadan, the party resolved that its interest must take precedent over and above personal interests, saying every aspirant, who had been floating groups within the party must desist.

The communiqué said the aspirants were enjoined to concentrate efforts on promoting APC, instead of promoting groups’ interests.

‘We note that imposition of candidates for elective and party positions is unhealthy for peace, unity and cohesion within the party. We therefore advocate an all-inclusive, free, fair and transparent processes of electing party candidates and officials without external influence.

‘There is gross misuse of social media platforms by some party members. Such misuse of social media platforms is further causing divisions within the party. We have therefore resolved that the use of social media as a means of passing information concerning the party must be controlled.

‘We note that the absence of a rallying point is negatively affecting coordination within the party. We hereby resolve that in the absence of a sitting governor, who is a member of our party, it is imperative that a collegiate leadership comprising two nominees from the three senatorial zones be immediately put in place.

‘We note that some aspirants have been campaigning and in the process, they are making inflammatory comments capable of further deepening divisions within the party.

‘We therefore resolve that campaign activities are premature at the moment, most especially, taking into cognisance INEC’s guidelines. We therefore caution aspirants against making inflammatory statements and engaging in campaign activities, against INEC’s guidelines.

‘We note that Oyo State is short-changed in respect of appointments from Abuja despite our contributions to the successes of the party in 2023. We therefore resolve that the party needs to make a strong representation to Abuja to address this unfair treatment.’

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has assured foreign investors that Nigerian sea ports are viable and safe for investment opportunities.

Dantsoho spoke yesterday in Japan, on the sideline of the World Port Conference holding in Kobe.

The NPA boss, apart from meeting world-class investors on port development to boost the nation’s economy and seeking partnerships to enhance NPA’s infrastructure and equipment renewal across Nigerian ports, he reiterated the Federal Government’s readiness to cooperate and welcome investments for the development and management of infrastructure in its port system.

The theme of the event is: ‘Reinvention and Prosperity in Turbulent Times and brings together port executives, policymakers and industry leaders from over 89 countries to tackle pressing maritime sector challenges.’

Dantsoho said the government was working to digitise and automate all port processes to reduce human and physical interface to the barest minimum

It was learnt that key discussions on energy transition, decarbonisation, digitalisation, and resilience align with the NPA’s commitment to port automation and its recent MoU with APMT terminal, Apapa, to electrify container freight to reduce the carbon emissions footprint.

Dantsoho is scheduled to tour Kobe’s port facilities, gaining insights into seismic-resilient infrastructure and smart logistics, which are directly applicable to NPA’s ongoing port modernisation programme across the country.

NPA has been actively seeking to attract private investment by emphasising ongoing reforms, a commitment to developing the nation’s maritime sector, and the vast investment potential of Nigeria’s eastern ports, which include opportunities in infrastructure, equipment, technology, and human capital development.

Senator Shehu Buba has commended security agencies for the arrest of the individuals behind a coordinated defamatory campaign that targeted him and others.

Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, urged Nigerians to remain peaceful, verify information before sharing, and focus on issues affecting society.

‘I have always stood for peace and the welfare of our people. I deny these baseless allegations and will continue to work in favour of Bauchi South,’ the lawmaker assured.

Security agents recently apprehended some social media influencers allegedly behind a smear campaign against political office holders, including Senator Buba.

The arrests followed an intensive investigation involving the monitoring of social media posts and accounts linked to the spread of manipulated content and hate speech.

Buba, in particular, was accused of links with banditry. Despite his repeated denials, the attackers continued to malign him across various platforms before the authorities intervened.

The perpetrators used doctored video clips to produce and distribute fake news aimed at damaging the lawmaker’s reputation both in the legislature and ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Following their arrest in northern states, some of the influencers admitted to being misled by persons they had trusted. Those granted bail have issued apologies through videos and written statements on their social media pages.

In a video, one of the influencers, Nasiru Ontop, said: ‘We made a grave mistake by trusting Kibanna, someone we barely knew. His documents were fake. It wasn’t until our arrest that we began to question his authenticity.

‘His TikTok account has now been deleted. We acted on misinformation and forged documents, and for that, we apologise to Senator Shehu Umar Buba and everyone affected,’ he added.

Abdulrashid Abdullahi Kano, who operated under a Facebook page ‘Vanguard Hausa,’ also issued a statement: ‘We have confirmed that the video accusing Senator Shehu Buba Umar is false and malicious.

‘It was fabricated by enemies of peace to tarnish his image. Senator Buba has consistently promoted peace and reconciliation, working with clerics and community leaders to resolve conflicts in Bauchi South.’

ýNigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, is set to return to action in the Italian Serie A next week after serving a suspension for his alleged involvement in a betting-related incident.

ýThe Udinese Calcio shot-stopper was banned in late July after being found guilty of intentionally earning a yellow card during a league match against Lazio – an act reportedly linked to a betting scheme.

ýFollowing months on the sidelines, Okoye has now been cleared to re-join the squad. His teammate and fellow goalkeeper, Daniele Padelli, confirmed the news during ‘Udinese Tonight,’ a weekly football show on TV12.

ýPadelli disclosed that the Nigerian international remained focused and in excellent shape throughout his suspension.

ý’He’s been training hard, as if he was playing every week, maybe even more than before,’ Padelli said. ‘He used the time to work on small details. Now that the suspension is over, it’s up to the coach to decide who starts.’

ýIn a light-hearted comment, Padelli added:ý’The only sure thing is that I’ll drop further down the pecking order,’ he joked. ‘Maduka has a strong personality, he doesn’t let pressure get to him.’

ýOkoye’s return comes as a timely boost for Udinese, who have struggled for consistency in goal since his absence. It also offers renewed hope for Nigeria’s Super Eagles ahead of the forthcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

The Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Benin(UNIBEN), has held its maiden public lecture, marked with series of intellectual engagement to bridge the gap between academic and pharmaceutical sciences.

The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Ighodaro Igben, decried the knowledge gap between ideas generated in academic laboratories and its application in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries in the country. He assured them of using the lecture series in stimulating dialogues that would chart new directions for further practical research.

‘For too long, there has been a disconnect between knowledge generated in our academic laboratories and its applications in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, bridging this gap is not just an academic exercise, it is the moral and professional imperatives.

Speaking on the theme of the lecture: Translational Research in the Pharmaceutical Sciences: Bridging the Gap between Academic and Industries,’the guest lecturer, Prof. Martins Emeje, who is also the Director- General of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), frowned at the restrained collaboration among scholars in the 21st century, which he said originated from hatred and jealousy. He urged UNIBEN lecturers and students to work hand in hand to enhance more innovations in the faculty.

Emeje equally stated that translational research required people with diverse medical skills to work together and team to make real impact.

‘Sadly, most lecturers here do not like themselves, they are envious, jealous of themselves and backbite against one another, how do you want to be innovative? You must be willing to submit to superior argument even though you may be high above.

‘Today we have professors who hide under teaching and have not produced anything, according to Health Strategy Document for NEPAD, Africa remains far too dependent on importation of essential drugs, while Nigeria is the owner of malaria in the world. You can’t have translational research without having people of diverse background. Students should do projects that will make people look for them over an unsolved issue, do things that will make you indispensable,’ he said.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor who is also a professor of Pharmacognosy, Prof. Buniyamin Ayinde, applauded the lecture and urged lecturers in faculty of Pharmacy to sit up and work beyond the laboratory.

‘Medicinal plants are the basics of all the medicines we take, as a professor of Pharmacognosy, there is the need for us to look for short ways to project the utilisation of these herbs beyond the four walls of the university, so that whatever we have discovered that’s of real value to our people, we can find a way of putting them into production and administration by our people, particularly those found not to be toxic to the vital organs.’

The All Progressives Congress (APC) enlarged its coast yesterday as more opposition stalwarts joined the platform ahead of the 2027 general election.

Two opposition governors -one from the Southeast and another from the North – are expected to defect to the ruling party next week, a source said yesterday.

Also, the number of APC senators rose to 73, following the swearing in of Senators Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central) by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and the defection of Senator Kelvin Chukwu (Enugu East) from the Labour Party (LP).

Apart from Ikpea, who won the recent by-election to replace Senator Monday Okpebholo, governor of Edo State, Senator Emmanuel Chibuzor (Enugu South) was also sworn in to replace Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who passed on last year.

Also today, the fate of a governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Kayode Ojo, whose case was referred to the NWC after he was given a provisional clearance by the Governorship Screening Committee chaired by Tunji Olawuyi, would be decided.

APC warming up for governors’ defection

According to party sources, the planned defection of the governors is on the agenda of the NWC meeting today at the party’s secretariat in Abuja.

In anticipation of the governors’ defection, the NWC may dissolve the State Working Committee (SWC) and appoint a caretaker committee for the chapter.

The setting up of a caretaker committee is to facilitate the harmonisation of structures under the watch of the governor, who according to the APC tradition, automatically becomes the State Party Leader, following his defection.

Confirming the proposed defections of two governors, the source said: ‘Another important issue slated for deliberation at Thursday’s NWC meeting is the formal reception of two governors from the opposition into the party.

‘One of the governors, who is from the Southeast, will be decamping formally next week and the party leadership has been directed to give him a befitting reception, hence, the NWC will be discussing it and perfecting all the necessary arrangements.’

He added: ‘The NWC may soon dissolve the SWC of the state ahead of the governor’s defection. This is to accommodate and create a level playing ground for the governor and the old party members.’

Some months ago, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno and his Delta counterpart, Sheriff Oborevwori, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC.

During the defections in Uyo and Asaba, former APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, disclosed that more opposition governors and other chieftains would join the party.

APC attains two-third majority in Senate

With 73 senators, the ruling party attained a two-third majority in the 109-member Senate where 72 senators could pass any major decision or legislation.

Currently in the Red Chamber, the PDP has 28 senators; LP four, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) two, and Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) have one each.

After the Acting Clerk to the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, administered the oath of office and oath of allegiance on both Ikpea and Chibuzor, both of them shook hands with Akpabio and submitted the certificates of return issued to them by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The ceremony was witnessed by former Delta State Governor James Ibori, former Edo State Deputy Governor and Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shuaibu, and the elder brother to the Edo Central Senator, Dr. Lee Ikpea.

Akpabio said ranking senators would continue to assist the new senators to get used to the nuances of lawmaking.

He said: ‘I must say that we are giving you two items today. One is the Nigerian Constitution, which you must try to imbibe the contents.

‘It’s not just a ceremony. It’s to let you know that that’s the ground norm and that the authority in this hallowed chamber comes through the Nigerian Constitution.

‘The second one that we are giving you, which you must start reading from today, is the Senate Standing Orders 2023 as amended.’

Akpabio added: ‘The contents will show you the proceedings because sometimes, if you are new and you come in, you may not know why we do certain things at certain times and if the Presiding Officer should tell you that you are ruled out of order, please, don’t be angry.

‘It’s because you have breached a section of the Standing Orders of the Senate and that’s what gives us discipline. That’s what gives us order. That’s what makes us distinguished. It distinguishes us from others.

‘If you have been in the House of Assembly before, the Senate is slightly different because what is contained in what we are bringing you now is different from what you were used to. So please, take time to go through it and God will guide you.’

NWC to ratify Ekiti aspirants’ screening

The APC NWC would give its final verdict on the report of the Ekiti APC screening committee that gave Ojo provisional clearance today.

Two of the four aspirants – Governor Biodun Oyebanji and Omolayo Oluremi – were given the nod to participate at the October 27 primary, having ‘satisfied all constitutional and party requirements’

While the third aspirant, Olajumoke Abimbola, was disqualified, Ojo, Pro-Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), was not fully cleared.

The committee referred him to the NWC for final clearance, following petitions against his aspiration by some party members.

According to the panel, ‘this referral is necessitated by the weight of the petitions against him, particularly his failure to satisfy the mandatory threshold of five valid nominators per local government, and is intended to forestall potential litigation(s) that may arise from this deficiency which is inconsistent with Article 9(1) of the Constitution, which provides that only registered and financially up-to-date members of the party have the right to vote and be voted for, and Section 177 )c) of 1999 Constitution (as amended), which requires membership of a political party as a pre-requisite for eligibility to contest the Office of Governor.’

A source in the NWC said the Pro-Chancellor of University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) is likely to scale the hurdle.

He also said APC may adopt ‘direct mode’ of primary for Ekiti in line with the recommendations of its Directorate of Organisation.

The source added: ‘The Thursday (today’s) NWC meeting will be crucial, as final decision will be reached on Ekiti State governorship primary. The clearance of Engr. Kayode Ojo will be resolved at the meeting. Feelers among NWC members revealed that he (Ojo) would be cleared to contest at the primary.

‘The committee will also ratify the direct mode of election as recommended by the Directorate of Organisation after wide consultations with party stakeholders in the state.’

The Federal Government has said it is developing a framework for bonding students sponsored abroad, to ensure they return to contribute to Nigeria’s development after completing their studies.

Mr. Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering his welcome address at a maiden edition of TETFund National Town Hall Meeting.

Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa recently raised the concern that 85 per cent of Nigerian students sent abroad on government scholarships never returned to contribute to national development.

Echono said this move would encourage Nigerians on government scholarship to come back and make meaningful impact to the progress of the country.

He described the trend as a major setback to national development.

Echono highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing reforms to strengthen the education sector and retain skilled manpower within the country.

He said the President had directed the relevant ministries and agencies to develop a framework to check the ‘brain drain’ phenomenon, particularly among beneficiaries of government-sponsored academic training overseas.

‘Mr. President complained that so many of the people we send abroad for studies do not return, and he felt it was unfair.

‘He has therefore instructed that we must put measures in place, not to stop training abroad entirely, but to ensure that those who go are properly bonded and return to contribute their knowledge to national development,’ he said.

The TETFund boss explained that the government would identify critical sectors where Nigeria needs to compete globally and ensure that scholars trained in those areas return to apply their expertise locally.

He stressed that the initiative was not meant to punish beneficiaries but to safeguard national investment in human capital.

‘When we train people, they must come back to put their knowledge to use here and help build our economy,’ he said.

He also highlighted the President Bola Tinubu’s decisive actions, including the increase in education tax from 2.5 per cent to 3 per cent.

Echono added that the President’s firm rejection of proposals to reverse the increment was a demonstration of his priority for human capital development.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a week’s extension to the medical panel set up by the President of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to assess the health status of detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The time extension is meant to enable the panel to conclude its assignment.

The extension of time became necessary owing to the panel’s inability to conclude its assignment within the eight days allocated to it by the court.

In a ruling on September 26, Justice James Omotosho ordered the NMA president to, among others, set up a team of medical experts to examine Kanu’s health status and ascertain whether or not he is still fit to undergo his ongoing terrorism trial.

The judge said it was necessary to require the NMA, which is the body of medical practitioners in the country, to nominate experts to ascertain the defendant’s health status in view of the conflicting claims by the defence and prosecution on the state of Kanu’s health.

At the mention of the case yesterday, counsel to the prosecution, Suraj Sa’ada (SAN), told the court that he was informed that the medical panel was yet to conclude its assignment.

Sa’ada said the panel planned to do a thorough job and should be given adequate time.

He suggested that the panel be given another week to enable it to conclude its task.

The defence lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), did not object to the one-week adjournment the lawyer to the prosecution sought.

Justice Omotosho adjourned till October 16 for the NMA team to submit its report and determine what next steps to take on the case.

In the September 26 ruling, Justice Omotosho had ordered the NMA president to set up a team of between eight to 10 members to determine whether or not Kanu’s health status made him unfit to continue to stand trial.

The ruling was on Kanu’s application in which he sought to be transferred to a private ward in the National Hospital for urgent medical attention for alleged life-threatening ailments.

The judge ordered that the team, to be constituted by the NMA’s president, should assess the health facilities of the Department of State Services (DSS) to determine if they were adequate to effectively take care of Kanu’s ailments.

According to the judge, the team is also to determine whether or not it was necessary to transfer Kanu to the National Hospital, as he requested, and if Kanu’s medical status was such that could make him unfit to continue to stand trial.

Justice Omotosho also ordered that the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the National Hospital or his representative be made a member of the team because the National Hospital is the defendant’s choice.

The judge also ordered that the report of the team’s findings be signed by both its Chairman and Secretary and should be filed in the court’s registry within eight days from today, which became impossible yesterday.

Omniversity Imperial College, Missouri, USA has conferred Doctor of Practice and Professor of Practice degrees, on some multi-talented, highly resourceful, erudite and impact -making innovators .Appointment of the President, Chairman Board of Trustees of the Governing Council was also made by Prof. Tokunbo Akeredolu-Ale

The event which was held at the De Rembrandt Hotel and Suites, Ikeja, Lagos, was tagged: ‘2025 African Education Roundtable and Qualifications Conferment’.

It had as its thought-provoking theme: ‘Recognizing Competence: Practice -Based Qualifications, Accreditation of Prior Experimental Learning ( APEL ),Skill Recognition ( SR ) and ISO-Certified Credentials (ICC) as Tools for African and Economic Revamp’.

The event doubled as a gathering of intellectuals and a call to action for educational reform, economic advancement and the recognition of Africa’s unique contribution to global development.

Akeredolu -Ale, highlighted the vision of the university in creating platforms where knowledge, leadership and practical experience converge to inspire excellence.

‘That brings to the public sphere the importance and imperative of the new narrative of what true knowledge should entail, outside the four walls of the citadels of theoretical knowledge so that its practical demonstration and more so, the impact such makes on the human development index or the quality of life of the beneficiaries and eventually the Nigerian nation and the society at large.

‘Incidentally, these defined the core values and prime objectives of the Omniversity which includes to promote the recognition of competence and experiential learning. Others encapsulate the advancement of ISO-certified educational practices across Africa, fostering discussions on leadership, certification and of course, innovation in education. Not left out are that of creating opportunities for professional recognition through honorary awards and practice based titles, as was brilliantly done today. And the larger picture is to contribute to Africa’s economic and educational revamp through competence validation,’ he stated.

Akeredolu -Ale noted that all the awardees successfully went through a rigorous evaluation process as conducted by the Accreditation Committee that verified the educational quality and equivalency, through the required framework for quality evaluation and assessment assurance and they were able to defend their new qualifications with brilliant submissions and empirical evidence.

In a similar vein, others who bagged Professor of Practice include, Dr Anthony Abiola Allen in Forensic Criminology and Investigation, Dr Happiness Ndidi Obioha in Cybersecurity, Dr Priscilla Ndu in Management Finance, and Ladi Akeredolu-Ale in Broadcast Journalism.

Others include Celestine Achi, who bagged Doctor of Practice in AI-powered Public Relations; Samson Sokoya in Integrated Marketing Communications; Oginaike Adedayo in Security Administration and Management; Adedamola Olubode in Environmental Management and Water Innovation Jerome Obada in AI, Data Science, Enterprise Systems and Strategic IT Management and Daisy Ibalafa Jaja in Global Business Leadership and Decision Making.

Former Super Eagles defender Taribo West has challenged Nigeria’s U-17 women’s national team, the Flamingos, to remain disciplined and focused as they begin their quest for glory at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco.

The ex-Inter Milan and AC Milan centre-back met the team at the airport yesterday, where he delivered a heartfelt message of encouragement.

‘You girls have great potential. Stay united, follow your coaches’ guidance, and play with one heart. If you do that, you can go far and even grow into the future Super Falcons,’ West reportedly told the players.

He urged the team to pay attention to details and execute their coaches’ instructions with precision, stressing that discipline and teamwork would define their success on the world stage.

He expressed optimism about the team’s quality and predicted that with consistent development, many of the current players could graduate to the Super Falcons in the future.

The Flamingos departed Abuja yesterday morning aboard a flight to Casablanca, arriving at Mohammed V International Airport after a smooth 4-hour, 20-minute journey. On arrival, they checked into Ibis Hotel, Casablanca, where they later held a light training session to shake off travel fatigue.

While in Morocco, the team will play two friendly matches – against New Zealand and Paraguay – as part of their final build-up to the tournament.

Drawn in Group D alongside Canada, France, and Samoa, the Flamingos will open their campaign on October 17.

The Nigerian girls are in fine form, having scored 44 goals and conceded none in 10 preparatory matches – a record that has boosted confidence ahead of the global showpiece.