Novak Djokovic admitted he got lucky after opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt on Wednesday to send the Serbian great into a semi-final against either two-time reigning champion Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton. Earlier on day 11 in Melbourne, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina both won in straight sets and will meet for a place in the final. The 38-year-old Djokovic, chasing an all-time record 25th Grand Slam crown, has the tennis gods smiling on him. His last-16 opponent Jakub Mensik pulled out without a ball being hit and now Musetti was forced to retire with the Italian leading 6-4, 6-3,…
Author: Abimbola Ogunaike
Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc (owners of African Independent Television, owners of AIT and Raypower Radio, Raymond Dokpesi Jr., has declared his intention to run for the Chairmanship of the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON), outlining plans to modernize the country’s broadcasting sector through regulatory reforms, industry support, and collaborative growth. Speaking at DAAR Communications’ headquarters in Abuja, Dokpesi Jr. described Nigeria’s broadcasting industry as being at a “critical crossroads,” facing economic pressures, digital disruption, and regulatory challenges. He stressed the need for unity among broadcasters to ensure the sector’s sustainability. Dokpesi Jr. highlighted the importance of BON’s principle of…
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has voiced serious concerns over recent forced evictions in Lagos State and the enforcement of sit-at-home directives in Anambra State, warning that both actions threaten citizens’ fundamental rights. Executive Secretary of the Commission. Dr. Tony Ojukwu expressed alarm over the ongoing demolition of waterfront and informal settlements in Makoko, Lagos, which has reportedly displaced thousands of residents. According to him, the demolitions were carried out without adequate notice, compensation, or resettlement plans, leaving many families homeless and livelihoods destroyed. He said: “These actions contradict constitutional protections for dignity, housing, and family life, as well…
Nigeria is at a pivotal moment in its engagement with the global order, as rising security threats, economic volatility and technological disruptions demand a shift toward strategic autonomy, cooperation and smarter diplomacy, experts warns at a seminar convened by the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution. The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, explained that the event was organized to deepen Nigerians’ understanding of evolving global dynamics and Nigeria’s efforts to reposition itself through strategic autonomy and cooperative foreign policy, noting that Nigeria is leveraging multilateral and bilateral platforms to advance its security, economic,…
The Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), in an effort to present a formidable and medals winning team for the forthcoming 2026 Commonwealth Games holding in Glasgow, Scotland, has line-up various programmes to keep the boxers ready and in combative mood, thegazellenews.com reports According to the Vice President of the Federation, Honourable Omoniei Imadu, an international friendly against Rwanda and Madagascar, will hold in February with the National Open trial to select the outstanding boxers holding in February. In March, the Federation will present boxers for the World Boxing Under-19 Future Cup, and another International boxing friendly match against Ghana will be held, Honourable …
The former Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Kayode Oladele, on Tuesday, 27 January, 2026, formally handed over the affairs of the Commission to the newly appointed Executive Chairman, Hon. Ayo Hulayat Omidiran, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The handover ceremony came few days after Hon. Omidiran was sworn-in by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Hon. Oladele had served as Acting Chairman since July 2, 2025, following the exit of the immediate past substantive Executive Chairman, Muheeba Farida Dankaka. In her acceptance remarks, Hon. Omidiran expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and commended Hon. Oladele for…
The Nigerian Railway Corporation is among top 10 contributors to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the year 2025, the Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr Kayode Opeifa has said. Quoting the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) latest report for 2025, Dr Opeifa said the corporation came tops among revenue generating Federal MDAs that is contributing to the growth of the nation’s GDP, Opeifa speaking during an interview, listed vandalism, washouts and poor funding as the biggest challenge of the corporation in the outgone year, insisting that though the Federal Government has been very magnanimous in giving the NRC more…
First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has hailed Nigerian teachers as the “quiet architects of great nations” while charging them to embrace innovation amid government pledges to revamp education under the Renewed Hope Agenda. Delivering the keynote address at the National Teachers’ Summit 2026, themed “Empowering Teachers; Strengthening the Education System,” at the State House Conference Center, Abuja, Senator Oluremi Tinubu emphasised that “meaningful educational and national progress can only be achieved when teachers are adequately equipped, motivated, and supported.” As a former classroom teacher and educationist, the First Lady drew from personal experience to underscore teachers’ pivotal role. …
One of Nigeria’s notable policy groups, the Independent Media and Policy Initiative (IMPI) has said that the new economic model deployed by the President Bola Tinubu administration is bound to drive the country’s GDP higher in 2026 and beyond. In a policy statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Omoniyi Akinsiju, IMPI projected that the economy would hit 5.5% in 2026, higher than the forecast of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) It said: “We made it clear in that statement that the Nigerian economy under the current administration had engendered a paradigm shift from perennial dependency on…
The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully issued a ₦501 billion inaugural bond under the Presidential Power Sector Debt Reduction Programme (PPSDRP), recording 100% subscription from pension funds, banks, asset managers and other investors, and marking a significant step towards resolving legacy debts, restoring liquidity, and strengthening confidence in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). The Programme, championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is designed to address long-standing payment arrears owed to power generation companies, which for over a decade constrained liquidity, weakened balance sheets and discouraged investment across the power sector value chain. Speaking at the bond issuance…