News Agency of Nigeria
WAFCON: Nigerians in South Africa celebrate Super Falcons
General News

WAFCON: Nigerians in South Africa celebrate Super Falcons

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The Nigerian community in South Africa has hailed the country’s women national team, Super Falcons, for winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nation’s title.

The Super Falcons came from a two-goal deficit to defeat the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco 3-2 to win the title for the 10th time.

The community, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union South Africa (NUSA), said in a statement on Sunday that the team showed the typical Nigerian fighting spirit to win the title.

” The Super Falcons were composed, focused and determined to win the game,” the statement signed by NUSA President, Smart Nwobi, said.

” It is not easy for a team to come from two goals down and win, especially against a home team,” Nwobi, a lawyer, said.

Nwobi also said Nigerians in South Africa were proud of the Super Falcons for accomplishing the Mission X feat.

” We join Nigerians to congratulate the Super Falcons for this feat.

” We also advise that preparations for the defence of the title should commence immediately.

” You will understand that the standard of women football in Africa has improved.

” This implies that opposition will be stronger in future tournaments,” he said.

NUSA also congratulated the Banyana Banyana of South Africa who finished fourth for winning the fair play trophy.(NAN)(www.nanews.ng)
Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Cleric advocates strong moral values to curb youthful vices
General News

Cleric advocates strong moral values to curb youthful vices

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By Joshua Olomu

An Abuja-based cleric, Pst. Rotimi Olugbile, has called for a renewed focus on family values and moral education to combat the rise of youth vices.

He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the First Year Anniversary Celebration and Graduation of the Mountain Top Schools on Friday   in Abuja.

The event held at the Gwarimpa premises of the school, brought together parents, teachers, clerics and other stakeholders to celebrate their children.

According to Olugbile who is the Mega Regional Overseer in charge of North Central Region 5 of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), there is an alarming rate of  moral decadence among youth.

The cleric said the spate of vices like drug abuse, indolence, disobedience to authorities and other harmful behaviours among young people was worrisome and renewed efforts were needed  to curb it.

He said the ugly trend needed to be seriously addressed at the family level to complement  efforts of the schools and churches in order to save the larger society.

“The  issue is that, in bringing up children, you have the parents, because the children practically start from there, then you have the school and you have the church.

“These three have their roles to play, but we have discovered over the years that sometimes the children are taught very well in the church, and unfortunately, some parents fail in their responsibilities

“I think the school platform is very essential, especially a Christian school like the Mountain Top School, to  shape  the children properly.

“However, on the home front, it is very crucial that parents too should imbibe godliness, because if they don’t, all that  are  being done in the schools and the church will be  watered down.

“There is so much moral decadence all over the place but  we won’t lose hope. We know that there is a better tomorrow ahead of us as we imbibe these moral teachings into the lives of the children,” he said.

Earlier , Pst. Emmanuel Ayantuga,Regional Overseer MFM North Central Region 47 and host of the event, said the school was committed to raising Godly children both in learning and in character.

Ayantuga, who appreciated the leadership and members of the church, said the event was  a celebration of vision growth, and of the grace of God in the past one year.

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our Father in the Lord, Prof. Daniel Olukoya, and our Mother in the Lord, Dr (Mrs.) Folashade Olukoya, whose divine inspiration and unwavering vision gave birth to the Mountain Top Schools.

“Their passion for building godly foundations in the lives of young learners continues to inspire us.

“When I was transferred to MFM North Central Region 47 Gwarinpa, as an educationist, I saw the need to align with this great vision.

“It became clear that establishing a Mountain Top School here, rooted in sound academics and strong Christian values, was both a calling and a privilege.

“We have worked diligently to create a nurturing, spiritually sound, and academically excellent environment, one where pupils are encouraged to grow in wisdom, knowledge, and godly character.

“I am proud of the strides we’ve made: the remarkable development of our pupils, the dedication and sacrifice of our teachers, and the overwhelming support from the members of the Church,” he said.

Some parents and stakeholders, who spoke with NAN, attributed the success story of the school in the last one year to discipline, hard-work and godliness.

Mrs Taiwo Elegbede, Head Teacher of the School, said: “The number one thing we are doing differently is godly mentoring because we actually want to shape the lives of our young ones.

“We have   discovered that when you grab them from the foundation, you let them know the right thing to do at the right time in godly ways.

“Then we also have zero tolerance for examination malpractice, even right from the nursery session and that has helped our success story.

“I remember we started with three kids.one of them is on scholarship, because they are our foundation, but today we have pupils in Creche, Pre-School, Nursery and Primary Schools,” she said.

Mrs Victoria Ayantuga, wife of the host pastor, lauded the school leadership for staying true to its creeds of godliness, adding that parents needed such an environment to raise their children.

“My call to parents is that there is a need for us to give our children the foundation of a godly school where the principle of good morals based on the Bible is being taught.

“When you give a child only academics without having God it ends in disaster, most times, so, I want to encourage parents to bring their children to a school like this”, she said.

NAN reports that the event featured Choreography, News, dance and other presentations by the pupils, and then awards to outstanding ones.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Group seeks forensic audit of refineries, disputes bn repairs claim
General News

Group seeks forensic audit of refineries, disputes $18bn repairs claim

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By Lucy Ogalue

The Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has called for a comprehensive forensic audit of Nigeria’s four state-owned refineries covering the period from 2000 to 2023.

 

Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, Chairman of IMPI, said this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

 

Akinsiju also faulted allegation by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that successive All Progressives Congress (APC) administrations had spent 18 billion dollars on refinery rehabilitation.

 

The IMPI chairman dismissed the claim as misleading, insisting that decades of mismanagement and opaque spending predated APC rule and deserves full scrutiny.

 

“We do not object to an audit, but limiting it to the APC years alone is a disservice to transparency.

 

“A credible audit must trace all disbursements from the year 2000 onward, which is when Nigeria’s refinery woes deepened under civilian rule,” he said.

 

Akinsiju provided a historical breakdown of the various Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) contracts awarded since the 1990s, many of which he said delivered little to no improvement.

 

He cited specific cases, including a 1994 contract awarded to Chrome Oil Services Limited for the Port Harcourt refinery, which reportedly yielded poor results in spite a 216 million dollar spend.

 

The IMPI boss recalled how successive administrations spent over 4.6 billion dollars between 2000 and 2015, yet left the refineries in disrepair.

 

He said that this included administrations led by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan collectively.

 

He pointed to a 2015 NNPC internal report which revealed that no proper maintenance had occurred since 2001, with aging infrastructure and untraceable components stalling operations.

 

On the role of the APC administrations, Akinsiju said that while late former President Muhammadu Buhari did commit resources to refinery rehabilitation, the process was fundamentally different from past TAM exercises.

 

He referenced contracts awarded in 2021 for full-scale rehabilitation and quoted former NNPC Group Chief Executive, Mele Kyari to explain the distinction.

 

“We are not doing turnaround maintenance; we are doing rehabilitation of the refineries, and this is very different.

 

“It means that we are replacing certain major components. In rehabilitation, we normally do not shut down the plant completely.

 

“We repair a segment of it, and then it starts working, and then you move to the next segment.

 

“You continue to scale up, which is why, within the four years, the contractor would have completely left your premises,” he quoted Kyari as saying.

 

Akinsiju said that a full-spectrum audit would help Nigeria account for billions of dollars and shape future oil and gas policies, particularly in the midstream sector.

 

“We must clarify history and ensure accountability. This is not about party politics but national interest and public trust.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman

From Legacy to Lifelong Impact: TEXEM’s 15th Anniversary
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From Legacy to Lifelong Impact: TEXEM’s 15th Anniversary

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On July 18, beneath the gleaming skyline of Victoria Island, Lagos, TEXEM, UK commemorated its 15th anniversary not with fanfare, but with purpose. At the event, two power-packed roundtables unfolded—one for CEOs in the morning and the other for HR Directors by evening.

Yet this was no ceremonial milestone. It was a living, breathing testament to TEXEM’s core belief: that leadership is not a title—it is a daily discipline. That legacy is not what you leave behind—it is what you build into people. And that executive learning, when delivered with relevance, rigour and resonance, can reshape not only institutions—but entire economies.

The founder, TEXEM UK, Dr Alim Abubakre (third from the left) with faculty; Bradley Jones and CEO-attendees at the CEO Roundtable held in Lagos Nigeria in commemoration of TEXEM UK’s 15th year anniversary.

The CEO Roundtable, themed Legacy Intelligence – Turning Purpose into Strategic Capital, gathered Nigeria’s foremost corporate leaders for a provocative morning of deep reflection and strategic recalibration.

Bradley Jones, a global diplomat and Executive Director of the UAE–UK Business Council, challenged participants to go beyond succession planning and instead embed purpose as the foundation of enduring strategic capital.

Drawing from global case studies—from the derailment of the UK’s HS2 to the efficiency of UAE’s infrastructure revolution—Jones underscored a sobering truth: great strategies fail without disciplined, courageous execution.

In one breath, participants laughed over “Augustine’s Law” and “a fool with a tool,” and in the next, they wrestled with the ethical and fiscal dilemmas of AI integration, geopolitical disruption, and the perils of complacency.

True to TEXEM’s DNA, learning was deeply participatory—quizzes, peer coaching, scenario challenges, and debate created an atmosphere of intensity and joy. In a world where most executive education is forgettable, TEXEM’s method stands apart: it makes learning fun, but never frivolous; serious, but never stiff; strategic, but always personal.

As one participant observed, “This wasn’t a session. It was a reset.” That’s why over 70% of TEXEM’s clients return again and again—not for certificates, but for transformation. Many emerge from the programmes not only more capable, but more confident—and often elevated to higher roles with more strategic influence.

The evening brought a shift in rhythm but not in impact. The Private HR Directors’ Forum, themed Reputational Architecture – Embedding Prestige into Talent Strategy, drew together CHROs, Talent Directors, and Culture Chiefs across sectors.

Abubakre, TEXEM’s Founder and Chair, opened with heartfelt reflections: “Leadership legacies are not monuments we unveil at retirement; they are muscles we must strengthen daily. In an era where AI, ESG, and digital disruption reshape expectations, lifelong learning is no longer optional—it’s the oxygen of relevance.”

The room absorbed his words like gospel. Bradley Jones returned to challenge traditional HR orthodoxy, urging leaders to stop outsourcing brand equity to marketing, and instead see every recruitment decision, every internal communication, and every policy as acts of strategic branding.

The Forum’s design—steeped in live polling, case simulations, and rapid-fire “Would You Work for You?” exercises—brought issues to life. Tobacco, oil, tech, and banking brands were dissected with forensic candour.

Conversations on employer branding, ethics, ESG and succession planning unfolded not in abstract terms, but grounded in real institutional battles. Once again, the line between workshop and war-room blurred. What emerged was a shared recognition that in today’s talent economy, prestige begins not with the press release, but with the people experience.

Across both roundtables, what pulsed most powerfully was TEXEM’s unique value proposition: global insight, locally adapted; academic depth, commercially applied; learning experiences that are actionable, memorable, and human.

With over 4,000 senior executives trained across 130 institutions—ranging from MTN, Central Bank of Nigeria, NNPC, Shell, and KPMG to ministries and agencies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa—TEXEM has not only become a partner of choice on the continent, but a rising voice in the global executive education arena.

While TEXEM was born in the UK, its mission is unbounded by geography. Whether in Lagos, Leeds, Cairo, Abu Dhabi or London, the organisation remains committed to one aim: empowering leaders to thrive in uncertainty, lead with empathy, and act with strategic foresight.

As the celebration drew to a close, the conversations continued over dinner and strategic toasts. But the true commemoration wasn’t in the clinking of glasses. It was in the commitments made: to build legacies that outlast volatility, to design cultures that attract and retain excellence, and to never—ever—stop learning.

At TEXEM, we know that the future belongs to those who prepare for it and we are proud to walk beside those leaders—wherever in the world they may lead.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Tinubu to honour 210 ex-NYSC members
General News

Tinubu to honour 210 ex-NYSC members

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By Folasade Akpan
No fewer than 210 corps members will be honoured by President Bola Tinubu at the President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Honours Award for 2020 to 2023 service years.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by NYSC’s Director of Media, Mr Emeka Mgbemena.

According to him, the award ceremony will hold on Tuesday at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa at 11 a.m.

Mgbemena said that the awardees are made up of 200 ex-corps members who excelled meritoriously in all the four cardinal programmes of the NYSC.

The programmes, he said, are Orientation Course, Primary Assignment, Community Development Service and Winding -Up/Passing-Out in the course of service in the 2020 to 2023 Service years.

“Others that will also be honoured by the president under the NYSC Hope Alive Initiative are 10 ex-corps members that suffered various degrees of permanent disabilities while serving their fatherland,” he said.

He said the Minister of Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande, Director-General of NYSC, Brig.-Gen. Olakunle Nafiu and NYSC Management were looking forward to welcoming the award beneficiaries and guests to the event.
(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Mufutau Ojo

Our youth workshop embodies normative CSR in Action- TEXEM CEO
General News

Our youth workshop embodies normative CSR in Action- TEXEM CEO

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In a world too often defined by transactional giving and optics-driven interventions, something extraordinary happened at Greensprings School, Lagos. Over a hundred senior secondary students gathered not for entertainment, nor for tokenistic exposure, but for something deeper—a genuine invitation to lead.

What made this event exceptional was not the calibre of the speakers or the prestige of the organisers, though both were impressive. What set it apart was the moral clarity underpinning its existence. It was a masterclass in normative corporate social responsibility—a manifestation of giving as duty, not as a tactic.

TEXEM, a UK-based leadership development organisation, convened this youth leadership workshop to mark its fifteenth anniversary. But unlike many commemorative events that serve as vanity milestones, this was a profoundly human declaration: that leadership development should not be reserved for boardrooms and ministries. It must start where the future lives—in our schools, in our youth, in the raw courage of untapped potential.

Dr Alim Abubakre, the founder of TEXEM, framed the day with one simple but urgent truth: leadership does not begin with a job title. It begins with awareness, with action, and with the courage to serve. This sentiment was not rhetorical. It was a call to conscience that wove through every panel, every breakout session, and every question asked by the students who had never before seen themselves as stakeholders in national transformation.

From John Momoh’s passionate reflections on media integrity to Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat’s poignant plea for values-driven public service, each contributor affirmed a shared moral belief: that society has a sacred responsibility to equip its youngest members not only with skills but with vision, empathy, and agency.

This was not about developing human capital for future corporate gain. It was about honouring the intrinsic worth of every young person and reinforcing that their dreams are not naive—they are necessary.

Group Photograph with the Students from invited schools within Lagos State Education District II; Immaculate Heart Senior High School, Mende Senior High School, Anthony Village Senior High School, Baptist Senior High School, Gbagada Senior Grammar School, and Lanre Awolokun Senior High School.

 

The workshop’s design echoed this ethos. Students were not passive recipients of wisdom; they were co-creators of dialogue. They posed hard questions to public leaders, shared their perspectives on national issues, and committed to specific actions they would take in their communities.

One student pledged to advocate for mental health awareness among her peers. Another set out to build a small recycling initiative in her neighbourhood. These were not exercises in branding or PR—they were acts of conviction, sparked by a sincere encounter with responsibility.

The difference lies in intention. Normative CSR does not measure success by future ROI or long-term market positioning. It asks instead: What is right? What is just? What contribution do we owe to those who have no platform, no privilege, and yet every right to flourish?

In choosing to invest time, talent, and resources in young Nigerians who hold no purchasing power, TEXEM made a statement of values—not strategy. And in doing so, it reclaimed the moral centre of leadership development.

Winners of the Quiz Competition (L -R): 2nd Runner Up, Marcus Ofure – Gbagada Senior Grammar School; Winner, Daudu Abdul – Anthony Village High School; 1st Runner Up, Bakare Titilope – Immaculate Heart Senior High School

This initiative reminds us that CSR need not be tethered to metrics of brand equity or talent pipelines. Sometimes, the purest form of impact is that which expects nothing in return but the possibility of a more just world.

For the students who walked into that room uncertain and walked out emboldened, no KPI could capture what was awakened in them. They were seen, they were heard, and they were trusted with responsibility.

As nations wrestle with uncertainty and institutions search for legitimacy, this kind of intervention is no longer optional—it is essential.

TEXEM’s workshop serves as a powerful example that when organisations lead from a place of conscience, they do more than fulfil a mandate. They honour a legacy of shared humanity. And in doing so, they remind us all that leadership—true, inclusive, compassionate leadership—must begin not at the top, but with the next generation.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

TEXEM champions strategic governance in digital era
General News

TEXEM champions strategic governance in digital era

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In an age marked by geopolitical shocks, institutional distrust, and digital acceleration, governance can no longer afford to be performative. Leadership must be principled. Strategy must be people-centred. And transformation must be inclusive.

These were the resounding themes at the recently concluded executive development programme—Strategic Governance and Leadership: Steering Excellence in Turbulent Times—designed and delivered by TEXEM, UK, in Lagos on July 16–17.

The programme brought together senior executives from Nigeria’s public and private sectors to co-create insights, strategies, and actionable tools for leading through uncertainty and shaping a resilient future.

Anchored by world-renowned faculty—including Bradley Jones, Executive Director of the UAE–UK Business Council, and Dr Alim Abubakre, Founder and Chair of TEXEM, UK—the initiative delivered not just knowledge, but catalytic impact.

“At TEXEM, we don’t design programmes for applause—we design them for transformation. True leadership is not a function of title or tenure, but the ability to steward trust, inspire action, and govern with integrity. In these turbulent times, that is not a luxury; it’s a necessity,” Dr Alim Abubakre, Founder and Chair, TEXEM, UK

Reimagining Governance as Stewardship

Day One unfolded as a bold redefinition of governance itself. Participants were immersed in sessions on VUCA thinking, crisis leadership, and managerial agility.

Bradley Jones, drawing on decades of diplomatic experience, painted a compelling picture of adaptive leadership—where paradoxes such as control vs. flexibility and legacy vs. disruption are not contradictions, but twin engines of innovation.

The thematic underpinning of paradox theory and temporal work theory was expertly woven into practical case discussions—highlighting how Nigerian organisations, much like their global counterparts, must shift from linear thinking to systems strategy. As the session on Public–Private Synergy demonstrated, the future of excellence lies in orchestrated collaboration, not isolated genius.

 

Values-Driven Governance in the Digital Age

The most powerful moments of Day Two emerged during Dr Abubakre’s session on Values-Driven Governance in a Digital Age.

Participants explored the evolution from Governance 1.0 (compliance) to Governance 3.0 (societal stewardship), using an integrated lens of ESG, stakeholder capitalism, and strategic CSR.

Using frameworks grounded in thought leadership from Academy of Management Discoveries, Harvard Business Review, and Journal of Business Ethics, the session emphasised how boardrooms must embed stewardship KPIs, scenario foresight, and stakeholder empathy into their charters.

From Access Bank Nigeria’s gender equity policy to Safaricom Kenya’s $600 million in shared value from M-Pesa, participants learned how digital innovation and ethical purpose are no longer mutually exclusive.

“I’ve learnt that in terms of CSR, it’s not just about the shareholders, but about all stakeholders. Going forward, my organisation is going to look at not just how to impact the communities, but how to assess the impacts of the CSR on our communities…”

The Boardroom Hackathon—a dynamic team exercise—challenged executives to redesign their governance structures for the digital era, resulting in tangible 90-day action plans and 12-month transformation roadmaps.

 

From Legacy to Future Generations

As the afternoon turned to Future-Focused Governance, delegates examined how visionary institutions—such as the Welsh Future Generations Commission and the UAE’s Digital Government Strategy 2025—are enshrining the rights of the unborn and embedding resilience as a cornerstone of leadership.

Bradley Jones’ insights on institutional logics—from market to family logic—underscored how balancing short-term investor demands with long-term societal imperatives is now the new boardroom imperative. In a country like Nigeria, where demographic bulges, climate risks, and infrastructure gaps intersect, the need for courageous, pragmatic leadership is urgent.

President Bola Tinubu’s recent declaration that Nigeria must stop “spending the money of generations yet unborn” found resonance in the room. TEXEM’s programme challenged delegates not just to reflect—but to redesign.

 

Strategic Pedagogy, Enduring Impact

What distinguishes TEXEM, UK’s offering is not just academic rigour—it is strategic relevance. With a methodology anchored in experiential learning, peer-to-peer dialogue, and African contextualisation, TEXEM consistently delivers executive education that is not just informative but transformational.

“It has been an interesting time sharing with colleagues and I have learnt a lot…The faculty has been very interested in the team…ensuring that we learn and go back with something practicable. I hope to be back again.”

Over 70% of TEXEM’s clients return—a testament to the trust it has built and the value it delivers. The Lagos cohort left not only with certificates but with renewed courage, practical frameworks, and a broader sense of moral purpose.

“Our goal is to prepare leaders not just for today’s challenges—but for tomorrow’s responsibilities. At TEXEM, we honour the future by equipping leaders who will build it,” said Dr Abubakre.

“What I like most about the programme is the crop of participants that they have, so that we’re able to exchange views, opinions…”

A Call to Purpose

As delegates received their certificates amid applause and spirited conversations, the sense was clear: something meaningful had happened. Strategies had shifted. Perspectives had deepened. Networks had expanded.

But more than that—leaders had been reminded that in turbulent times, governance that only serves shareholders is obsolete. Governance that serves society is unstoppable.

With programmes curated in partnership with global faculty and delivered across London, Lagos, Dubai, and Cairo, TEXEM, UK continues to shape the next generation of strategic African leadership—one values-driven decision at a time.

The journey continues. And for those who attended, the mandate is clear: lead boldly, govern wisely, and build legacies that outlive you.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

Drugs: NGO, NDLEA urge early prevention among youths
General News

Drugs: NGO, NDLEA urge early prevention among youths

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By Daniel Obaje

Drug prevention advocates and law enforcement officers have urged parents, teachers, and community leaders to intensify efforts toward guiding teenagers away from drug abuse and harmful peer influence.

 

They made the call  at a two-day workshop on substance use prevention, organised by the Siki Springs Foundation in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), FCT Command.

 

The event focused on educating secondary school students about the dangers of drug abuse, how to identify harmful substances and ways to resist peer pressure.

 

According to the  stakeholders, prevention is cheaper and more effective than rehabilitation, which often comes too late.

 

Joy Onatoyinbo, Chief Executive Officer of Siki Springs Foundation, stressed that awareness alone was not enough, but more practical training was needed for students on the dangers of drugs abuse.

 

“We need to educate the students, like a training workshop, to see this substance being shown to them so that they can recognize it and protect themselves from being influenced by their peers or even older ones who may take advantage of them.’’

 

Onatoyinbo noted that the foundation focuses on government secondary schools where exposure to negative influences is high.

 

She therefore highlighted funding as challenges while emphasizing on the importance of offering the training free of charge.

 

She called on individuals and organizations to support early prevention initiatives, describing them as cost-effective and essential for national security.

 

“Getting funds is basically the challenge because we would not want the students who will be trained for this two-day workshop to pay a dime so that they can be encouraged. Already they are having challenges paying tuition fees.

 

“My focus is actually government secondary schools because these are children from backgrounds where a higher percentage of them may not be able to afford tuition fees, not to talk of a training like this.

 

“We would say it’s less costly preventing substance abuse compared to when you have to rehab the person. We shouldn’t wait for rehabilitation.

 

‘’We shouldn’t wait because they become a threat to national security. It is time now for them to assist us so that we can help these children, train them during this summer class,” she added.

 

Similarly, Augustine Nduka, Chief Superintendent of Narcotics, NDLEA FCT Command, underscored the role of families, schools and religious institutions in curbing drug abuse among teenagers.

 

“The advice we keep giving to teenagers is that they need to open up to their teachers, they need to open up to their parents, they need to avoid peers that are into drug use, and they need to get involved in religious activities inside their worship places.

 

“They need to understand that drug use affects their brain, affects their emotions, and they will not be able to achieve their life dreams if they continue in that direction.”

 

Participants at the workshop highlighted the knowledge and practical skills gained from the sessions broadened their perspectives on key issues discussed, they equally appreciated the interactive approach and expert facilitators.

 

Mercy Nnamele, a participant at the workshop, said that early detection was key in tackling drug abuse.

 

“Drug abuse is really increasingly becoming a problem among youths and one thing I learnt is that, you don’t wait to catch your child, try your best.

 

‘’If you even suspect,  you can take them for the drug test. And once you do that, you can pick the symptoms early or if they find those traces, they can deal with it early.

 

Another participant, Deborah Sen, urged schools to invest more in preventive programmes without waiting for government.

 

“I advise schools to invest in programmes like this, to invest in workshops like this because sitting down here and listening have changed my perception a lot.

 

According to Aisha Haruna, the workshop was an eye-opener on the harmful effects of drug use, adding that “I learnt that drugs are very harmful to the health and it can easily cause damage to the health if we take them.(NAN)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

LG chairman sues Niger Govt. over alleged tenure reduction
Judiciary

LG chairman sues Niger Govt. over alleged tenure reduction

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By Taiye Agbaje

Alhaji Aminu Yakubu-Ladan, the Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger, has sued the state government over alleged reduction of tenure of local government chairmen and councillors.

 

Yakubu-Ladan, in the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, sought an order restraining the Niger State Independent Electoral Commission (NSIEC) and its co-defendants from conducting the scheduled LGAs’ election until the expiration of their tenure.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NSIEC had fixed Nov. 1 for the conduct of the local government poll across the state.

 

However, the plaintiff, in the suit, named the Attorney-General of Niger State, the house of assembly, NSIEC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Inspector-General (I-G) of Police as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.

 

The chairman is challenging the constitutionality of the Niger State Local Government Law, 2001 which seeks to reduce the tenure of local government chairmen and councillors from four years to three years.

 

Yakubu-Ladan, in the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1370/2025, dated July 10 but filed July 11 by his counsel, Chris Udeoyibo, sought eight questions for determination.

 

The chairman questions whether the state government can enforce inconsistent local government law, 2001 (as amended) which clashed with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

 

“Should Niger State Local Government Law Section 29 (2) be declared unconstitutional for clashing with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022,” he said.

 

The plaintiff seeks a declaration that four years tenure for local government chairmen and councillors is constitutionally guaranteed by virtue of the constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.

 

The suit also challenged NSIEC preparation for local government elections slated for Nov. 1.

 

The plaintiff, therefore, seeks an order restraining the defendants from the elections on Nov. 1 until the expiration of four years tenure for chairmen and councillors.

 

The suit also seeks to restrain INEC and the I-G from providing logistical support and security protection for the election.

 

Yakubu-Ladan argued that the state’ local government law, 2001 is inconsistent with Section 7 of the constitution and Section 018 and 150 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

 

The suit is yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of the report.(NAN)(www.nannews.com.ng)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

FG has retrieved passports, to repatriate stranded Nigerians in CAR
Foreign

FG has retrieved passports, to repatriate stranded Nigerians in CAR

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By Fortune Abang

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has made contact with the stranded Nigerians in the Central African Republic.

 

This is contained in a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesperson of the Ministry on Friday in Abuja.

 

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the affected Nigerians have been contacted by the hardworking officials of our Mission in the Central African Republic.

 

“The Embassy of Nigeria in Bangui is actively engaging with relevant authorities to ensure the safety, protection and swift repatriation of the affected Nigerian nationals.

 

“Their passports have been retrieved successfully and a vehicle has been sent to Bambari to evacuate the stranded Nigerians to Bangui.

 

“They are likely to arrive in the capital city with a military escort on Saturday, July 26, 2025,” Ebienfa said.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that this is coming against backdrop of a trending video about stranded Nigerian nationals in Bambari region of the country.

 

The workers were reported in the video to have been abandoned by their employers and facilitators within the region that is about 850 kilometres from the capital, Bangui.

 

Ebienfa said that discussions are also ongoing with the company for their accommodation and welfare while in Bangui and their subsequent repatriation to Nigeria.

 

He reiterated the ministry’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of its citizens everywhere in the world.

 

Ebienfa urged Nigerians travelling abroad for work to always verify the credibility of their employers and ensure proper documentation before departure.

 

‘’Nigerians are also advised to register their presence and that of their employees with the Embassy of Nigeria whenever they are in any foreign country, to avert unpleasant experiences in event of consular issues.’’(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

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