By Abimbola Tooki Owerri did not merely host a celebration; it staged history. Imo State at 50 did not whisper its arrival into golden age, it announced it with a confident roar that echoed beyond its borders, across Nigeria and into the collective memory of a people proud of where they come from and certain of where they are going. From the very first moment, the celebration carried the aura of destiny fulfilled. Glamour dripped from every corner of the venue. Elegance walked the aisles. Power, culture, history and hope converged in one unforgettable spectacle. It was not just an…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The Democratic Republic of Congo President, Félix Tshisekedi is reportedly facing mounting scrutiny following allegations of an affair with the country’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, 43, who is said to be pregnant. According to several reports circulating in recent days, the controversy has stirred political and domestic tensions within the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The allegations, which have not been officially confirmed, claim that the situation has generated unease within the presidential household, with discussions reportedly intensifying over its implications. Sources cited in the reports indicated that First Lady Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi is…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola Nigeria has secured a permanent seat on the Board of the African Central Bank, marking a major diplomatic and institutional milestone at the African Union level. The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the development on Friday,13 February, 2026, in a press statement issued by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, following the just-concluded 39th Session of the Executive Council of the African Union. The session, which reviewed key policy and institutional matters, also highlighted Nigeria’s role in advancing Africa’s economic integration, peace, security, and democratic governance. According to the minister, one of the…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The National Business and Technical Examinations Board and the National Examinations Council have inaugurated a joint technical committee to harmonise operations and deepen collaboration within Nigeria’s public examination system. The development was announced in a statement issued by NABTEB’s Assistant Director of Media and Protocol, Mr Uchechukwu Olisah, and made available on Friday, 13 February, 2026 in Benin. Olisah explained that the decision followed a high-level meeting between the Registrar of NABTEB, Dr Aminu Mohammed, and the Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, held at NECO’s headquarters in Minna. According to him, both chief executives led…
By Daniel Oluwatobiloba Popoola The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has urged Northern Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, citing what he described as the administration’s significant infrastructural investments and capacity-building initiatives across the region. Yilwatda made the call on Thursday,12 February,2026 in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, during a solidarity rally organised to appreciate President Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule for what organisers termed their good works. Addressing party supporters and stakeholders, he commended the President’s leadership style, which he said has fostered unity, inclusiveness, and decisiveness since 2023.…
Purple is the colour of royalty and Princess Sarah Sosan, OFR, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State (2007-2011) left no stones unturned as she painted the town purple yesterday as part of celebrations to mark her 70th birthday. Marquee Hall, Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, played host to the who-is-who is Lagos in a two-part event which started with a Thanksgiving Service and culminated in a star-studded reception party. The event had former Governors of Lagos State: Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN, CON; Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, FCA; former Deputy Governor, Dr. Femi Pedro; Deputy Governor of Lagos, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Senator…
The Emir of Jiwa and Paramount Ruler of Jiwa Kingdom, Idris Musa, has welcomed a major poverty-alleviation push by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, describing it as a turning point for a community long challenged by environmental pressures and limited economic opportunities. Speaking during a high-level engagement with officials of the World Bank-supported initiative in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the monarch said Jiwa stands ready to partner with stakeholders to translate commitments into measurable improvements in livelihoods. “I thank you for considering my community. We have listened to your promises and we are prepared to cooperate…
The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to urgently investigate and arrest former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over what it described as a confession to tapping the telephone lines of the National Security Adviser (NSA). In a statement issued on Saturday, 14 February, 2026, by the Executive Director, Gbenga Soloki, the group said the alleged action by El-Rufai raises serious national security concerns and must not be treated lightly by security agencies. CAIDOV insisted that security operatives should “move swiftly to trap him even if Nigeria will divide,” stressing…
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has assured that the 21-kilometre Ehime-Nguru-Aba Branch-Mpam-Umuokirika-Ekwereazu Road, traversing the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State, and Abia and Rivers States, will be completed in record time. Speaking during an inspection of a section of the road in Ahiauzu Mbaise, Imo State, Ogbuku expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the project, noting that the second phase would soon be awarded. The NDDC boss, who was accompanied by the Commission’s Executive Director Projects, Dr Victor Antai, emphasised the importance of the road, noting that…
Following the successful hosting of the 9th All Africa Music Awards in Lagos, Nigeria, preparations for the symbolic 10th edition have begun in earnest, with the International Committee of AFRIMA, in partnership with the African Union Commission, taking the campaign across key African cities. The train had berthed in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, last month for a similar Media and Stakeholders’ Parley, where artistes, including award winners Juma Jux and Folex, along with industry executives and government officials, gathered to assess the awards’ impact and promote stronger continental collaboration. Now, the focus shifts to Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, where the International…