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In a bold move to inspire excellence, the Rivers State Government has announced unprecedented cash rewards for its athletes competing at the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), the Gateway Games 2024. During a high-energy pre-departure rally at the Alfred Diette-Spiff Sports Complex and the University of Port Harcourt training camp, the Rivers State Administrator, His Excellency Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Lucky Worika, unveiled a game-changing incentive package: ₦2,000,000 for every GOLD medal₦1,000,000 for every SILVER medal₦500,000 for every BRONZE medal. "Rivers State believes in you. His Excellency is investing in your victory because you represent the pride, strength, and future of our state," d...

Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has unveiled the 2025 Carnival Calabar theme. The theme, "Traces of Time," for this year's Carnival, marks the 20th anniversary of the renowned carnival that prides itself as Africa’s biggest street party. The governor who was joined by two former governors of the state, Mr. Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke, leaders of the seven competing bands of the carnival, tourism experts, the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, and a host of other dignitaries, cut the twentieth-anniversary cake for the event, which will be held this December in Calabar, the Cross River capital. Otu in his speech paid tribute to the founding visionaries of the Carnival and Annual festival - former Governors Donald Duke, L...

…Projects $100b investment The newly established Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation has a projected investment of $100 billion and the potential to generate over two million jobs, the Minister of Culture, Art, Tourism and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa has said. Musawa also said the Ministry has set a target of 500,000 new jobs to be created by the sector by 2030. Currently, the minister said that the ministry has been able to attract $300 million investment into the sector. She made the disclosure on Friday at the Ministerial Press Briefing, where she reeled out programmes carried out in the last eighteen months under the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. She briefed alongside the Minister of Works, David Umahi, Minister of State for Water Re...

A bomb explosion outside a California fertility clinic that killed one person and injured four others was an "intentional act of terrorism", FBI officials have said.The blast happened just before 11:00 local time (19:00 BST) less than a mile from downtown Palm Springs, near several businesses including the American Reproductive Centers (ARC). The clinic said no-one from the facility was harmed.The FBI later said it had "a person of interest" in its investigation, but officers were "not actively searching" for the suspect.Rhino Williams, who was at his restaurant nearby, told the BBC he heard the blast, initially thinking a plane or helicopter had crashed.He said he ran to the scene to see if he could help, finding a badly damaged building with walls blown out and the front axle of a car o...

Two people have been killed and at least 19 others injured after a tall Mexican Navy training sailboat crashed into New York City's Brooklyn Bridge, the city mayor has said.Eric Adams said the Cuauhtémoc lost power before the collision on Saturday evening. US officials said 277 people were on board the vessel, which was on a goodwill visit.Footage shows the Cuauhtémoc's towering masts clipping the bridge as the ship was passing under the famous structure on Saturday evening.Crew members were standing on the masts at the time of collision, authorities said, which all snapped and fell to the deck.New York City Mayor Eric Adams said on X that two people died and 19 were injured, including two in of whom were in critical condition. A total of 277 people were on board.The mayor earlier said th...

Christopher Goson Piwuna is a Professor of Psychiatry with the University of Jos, Nigeria. On May 12,2025, he was elected as the new President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) during the 23rd National Delegate’s Conference held at the University of Benin, Benin city. Christopher Piwuna’s emergence as the President of ASUU is perceived by many analysts as historic and phenomenal in at least two ways among others. First, it is the very first time the minority tribes in Nigeria have produced an ASUU President. Second, he is the first ASUU President with a medical background. But over and above all, Piwuna seems to have possessed a good plentiful store of experience in ASUU principles, ASUU struggles, and ,of course, ASUU’s ideology. He served as Financial Secretary of the u...

***Backs Anyanwu in S' East PDP Meeting A former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has said that despite perceptions that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is in crisis and may not recover before the 2027 general elections, the “ghost” of the party remains stronger than most other political parties in Nigeria. He therefore called on all aggrieved factions within the PDP to sheathe their swords and await the outcome of the reconciliation committee led by a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. Ikpeazu expressed the views during a South East PDP stakeholders’ meeting, where he emphasized the need for unity among party leaders in the region. “Even in what some may be called its weakest moment, the ghost of the PDP is stronger than most political parties in this co...

Danjuma Attah, Gombe Members of the Gombe State branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) have resolved to boycott the sittings of the Court of Appeal in Maiduguri over the resurgence of terrorists activities. The Bar in a unanimous resolution during an emergency virtual meeting is therefore calling for the reopening of the Gombe Division of the Court of Appeal. In a statement made available to newsmen and signed by the branch Chairman, Mr Sati Benjamin Esq and Mr Abdulmutallib Babawuro Esq, the Bar expressed dissafection with the closure of the Court of Appeal Gombe Division and the transfer of all appeals to the newly established Court of Appeal Maiduguri Division without any security threats to the court in Gombe State. According to the statement, "the branch resolved th...

By Joan Nwagwu The Wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Nana Shettima, says the future of the nation depends on the empowerment of women. Shettima said this at the closing ceremony of the Women Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI), Inspiration Women’s Summit (WIW’S) 2025, on Sunday in Abuja. The summit has the theme “Bold Moves, Boundless Impact”. WODDI is a nonprofit organisation established in 2008, and dedicated to empowering women, adolescents and young people through mentorship, education and economic empowerment. The wife of the vice president said that it was imperative to empower women as the progress, development, and the future of the nation were closely tied to it. She said that the theme was apt while recognising the crucial role women play in shaping the future o...

By Joan Nwagwu The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the different non academic unions in the Nigerian universities has firmly rejected the Federal Government’s approved formula for disbursing N50 billion to university-based unions. The unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU). The unions made their decision known in a joint statement signed by NASU General Secretary, Mr Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU National President, Mr Mohammed Ibrahim, and made available to journalists on Sunday in Abuja. The unions expressed outrage over the allocation of 80 per cent of the funds to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), leaving only 20 per cent to be shared among SSANU,...

By Mariam Okpe - Abuja The good people of Kusson community in southern Kaduna state recently celebrated their annual cultural festival otherwise known as Khituk Asset Cultural Festival aimed at showering gratitude to the Most High God reminiscent of the good raining season that ushers in bumper harvest. This years celebration done in grand style, with pop and paegeantry was chaired by Kusson's illustrious son Honourable Amos Daniel representing Jama'a./Sanga Federal constituency of Kaduna State. The Khituk Asseit festival is usually cerebrated to thank God for the beginning of Rain fall and the Harvest period of the year. The festival held at the primary school premises Kusson, was graced by dignitaries from the nooks and crannies of southern Kaduna.On his part, the. Senior Legis...

By Joan Nwagwu A former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has called for a strong, independent unions that will protect workers across the country. Wabba made the call at the 42nd National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees(NUFBTE)’s National Executive Council (NEC)’meeting on Sunday in Abuja. The theme of the NEC meeting is, ‘Strategic Partnerships Between Unions and Employers: A Potent Catalyst in Unlocking Exponential Growth Opportunities in a Depressed Economy. Wabba said that it was important for unions to strive to be strong and independent, not depending solely on checkups dues rather investing to generate revenue for their unions. According to him, only strong and independent unions can protect workers’ rights, stressing, “if the...

By Joan Nwagwu A former President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Ayuba Wabba, has called for a strong, independent unions that will protect workers across the country. Wabba made the call at the 42nd National Union of Food Beverages and Tobacco Employees(NUFBTE)’s National Executive Council (NEC)’meeting on Sunday in Abuja. The theme of the NEC meeting is, ‘Strategic Partnerships Between Unions and Employers: A Potent Catalyst in Unlocking Exponential Growth Opportunities in a Depressed Economy. Wabba said that it was important for unions to strive to be strong and independent, not depending solely on checkups dues rather investing to generate revenue for their unions. According to him, only strong and independent unions can protect workers’ rights, stressing, “if the...

By News Agency of Nigeria, NAN The Convener of the Presidential Call for Advanced Nigeria (PCAN) Project, Ambassador (Prince) Jeffrey S. Adaralegbe, has called on Nigerians to embrace unity, peace, and cultural understanding as vital tools for the nation’s advancement. Adaralegbe, who made the call, during the official launch of the Presidential Call for an Advanced Nigeria (PEAN) campaign in Abuja, highlighted on Nigeria’s historical journey from colonial rule through civil unrest and military regimes, to the present democratic era. The convener emphasised that despite persistent challenges such as ethnic and religious divisions and economic hardship, Nigeria must chart a new course anchored on peace and patriotism. “As a people with positive mindsets, we must once again embr...

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer A former president of  the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Evelyn Onyilo has urged  women across the country to find time to unwind and dance to checkmate and address mental health challenges. Onyilo gave the charge at a conference/seminar to sensitise Nigerians on  alternative medicine product, ‘Emiral Elixir’ in Abuja. The conference/seminar with the theme: “Promoting Health Well-being Through Alternative Medicine” was organised by Emiral Global and Abuja Women Dance. According to the former NAWOJ president, the government is yet to actively fund research for alternative medicine. Onyilo, who is also a member of the Abuja Women Dance, however, noted that there was nothing wrong with orthodox medicine, except the is...

The Araba and Oluisese of Ibadanland, Ifalere Odegbemi Odegbola II has clarified that the concept of Ela in the Ifa tradition is distinct from references to Ela in other religions. Speaking at this year’s Ela Mimo Day celebration in Ibadan, Odegbola emphasized that Ela’s origins and significance within Ifa predate many world religions. According to him, Ela in Ifa is not a mere spiritual entity, but a unique figure whose coming was foretold in the sacred Odu Ifa corpus, specifically in Ejiogbe. “Ela is a human whose birth was divinely predicted. His mother, Oyigi, was barren for years and, upon seeking guidance from Ifa, was told she would give birth to a gifted child without any union with a man." "This came to pass, as she later conceived and gave birth to Ela in the bush wi...

By Constance Athekame The Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) says it was partnering with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and Haier Technologies to deliver 20 Megawatts (MW) embedded solar generation to support businesses in the Challawa area, Kano. Mr Emmanuel Ojor, Head, Corporate Communications and External Relations, NDPHC said this in a statement in Abuja on Friday. Ojor quoted the Managing Director of NDPHC, Mrs Jennifer Adighije as saying this when she led a high-level management team on a site survey and assessment of the Challawa Industrial District in Kano. He said that she was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director of Generation, NDPHC, Mr Kassim Abdulahi, and the Executive Director of Corporate Services, NDP...

By Joan Nwagwu The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has expressed its sympathy to the candidates affected by the recent errors in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results. Dr Smart Olugbeko, President of the union, said this while reacting to the recent complaints by the affected students and some Nigerians in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, these errors have caused significant emotional trauma to the students and their parents. “We acknowledge that Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has made significant strides in recent years, leveraging technology to enhance the examination process. “However, the recent errors highlight the limitations of technology and the need for diligence and care in its deployment,” he s...

By Jacinta Nwachukwu The Federal Government has pledged to implement sustained youth-centered policies to end irregular migration and its attendant dangers. Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction made the pledge at the closing of the first thematic meeting of the Rabat Process in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Rabat Process is a key Euro-African dialogue on migration and development. NAN also reports that Nigeria, the incumbent chairman of the Rabat Process hosted its thematic.meeting themed, Youth, Education and Innovation - Driving the Future of Migration, with over 100 delegates from 57 partner countries in attendance. Yilwatda assured that the government would prioritise skills, mobility, and dignity, adva...

The Saudi Arabian government has commenced an eye treatment outreach in Yobe to combat blindness.The programme is a renewed demonstration of Saudi Arabia’s commitment to global humanitarian service, under the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), the “Saudi Noor” ophthalmic volunteer program.A cording to a statement y the Saudi Arabian embassy in Abuja, the programme Scheduled from May 12 to 19, 2025, aims to deliver comprehensive ophthalmologic services to underserved populations in the northeastern state.The statement furtehr stated “This mission-driven project encompasses a broad range of clinical interventions, including diagnostic eye examinations, cataract extraction with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, treatment of refractive errors, and distribution of co...