Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria’s Beach Handball: A Sport On The Brink, Starved Of Funding And Vision. In Nigeria, a nation blessed with a sprawling coastline and a passion for sports, beach handball—a dynamic, sand-based variant of the traditional game—should be thriving. Yet, this Olympic sport, governed by the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) since at least 2003, teeters on the edge of obscurity. The promise of international glory, youth development, and socio-economic impact is being choked by a chronic lack of funding and what some call a “lackadaisical attitude” from those tasked with its growth. If urgent action isn’t taken, beach handball risks…

Spurs End 17-Year Drought With Europa League Glory: Tottenham Triumph Over Manchester United In Bilbao!. In a heart-stopping UEFA Europa League final at the electric San Mamés Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur etched their name into history with a gritty 1-0 victory over Manchester United, ending a 17-year wait for silverware. Brennan Johnson’s first-half strike, a deft finish from Pape Sarr’s pinpoint cross, proved the difference in a tense all-English showdown, securing Spurs’ third Europa League title and a coveted spot in the 2025-26 Champions League. A Night to Remember The 49,924 fans packed into Bilbao’s iconic stadium witnessed a…

Federal Government Launches Nationwide Monitoring To Boost Secondary School Education Quality In Nigeria. As part of process towards enhancing the quality of education across Nigeria, the Federal Government has officially launched a nationwide monitoring initiative for secondary schools. The programme, inaugurated on Monday at the Federal Government College (FGC) in Malali, Kaduna, aims to assess and elevate educational standards in senior secondary institutions, ensuring students receive a high-quality learning experience. The National Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) is spearheading this ambitious 2025 Quality Assurance Monitoring and Evaluation exercise. Dr Iyela Ajayi, the Executive Secretary of the NSSEC, announced that…

Unverified Reports Of Coup Attempt In Ivory Coast Spark Concern. Rumours of a possible coup attempt in Ivory Coast have surfaced, prompting widespread concern and speculation across the West African nation. Unverified reports on social media platform X formerly Twitter claim that a coup is underway, with allegations of significant unrest, including protests, government buildings set ablaze, and disruptions to internet and media services. However, no verified outlets, including BBC, Reuters, or Al Jazeera, have confirmed these claims as of 21 May 2025. According to posts circulating on X, the alleged coup began on 19-20 May 2025, with some…

Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi Proposes Relocation Of Old Communities Near Abuja Airport. Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi, representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, has stirred controversy with a proposal in the Nigerian Senate to relocate communities near Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. During a plenary session on 14 May 2025, aired live by NASSTV, the Deputy Chief Whip argued that the sight of old houses and informal settlements when landing at the airport portrays a negative image of Nigeria to international visitors. The proposal, however, faced strong opposition from Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other senators, igniting a broader discussion about urban development…

Nigerian Billionaire Aliko Dangote Named In TIME100 World’s Most Influential Philanthropists List For 2025. Nigerian billionaire and business magnate Aliko Dangote has been named among the world’s most influential philanthropists in TIME Magazine’s inaugural TIME100 Philanthropy List for 2025, released on Tuesday. As the only Nigerian honouree, Dangote joins global icons such as Michael Bloomberg, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffett, and Melinda French Gates in the prestigious “Titans” category, recognised for his transformative contributions to social impact across Africa. Dangote, Africa’s richest man with a net worth of £18.8 billion (approximately $23.9 billion), built his fortune through the Dangote Group,…

Senate Advances Bill To Streamline Asset Recovery, Stripping EFCC And ICPC Of Management Powers. The Nigerian Senate has passed the Proceeds of Crime (Recovery and Management) Amendment Bill 2025 for its second reading on Tuesday, 20 May 2025. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Idiat Adebule (APC, Lagos West), seeks to strip the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and other anti-graft agencies of their authority to manage assets recovered from unlawful activities, proposing instead the creation of a centralised, independent agency to oversee the process. The bill aims to…

Tinubu Appoints Ronke Soyombo As New TRCN Registrar, Replacing Ajiboye. In a significant shake-up within Nigeria’s education sector, President Bola Tinubu has sacked Professor Segun Ajiboye as the Chief Executive and Registrar of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), appointing Mrs Ronke Soyombo as his replacement. The announcement, made on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, marks a new chapter for the agency tasked with regulating the teaching profession across the country. Professor Ajiboye, who was re-appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 for a five-year term set to conclude in September 2026, has been relieved of his duties…

Miyetti Allah Embraces End To Open Grazing In Benue, Signals New Era Of Peace. In a landmark move towards resolving the long-standing conflicts between herders and farmers in Benue State, the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has declared that open grazing is no longer sustainable in the region. The association has pledged to support initiatives aimed at phasing out the practice and fostering peace in rural communities, marking a significant step forward in addressing one of Nigeria’s most pressing security challenges. The announcement, made on Tuesday, 20 May 2025, comes as a beacon of hope for…

Shell Tackles Surge In Nigerian Oil Spills With Robust Action Plan. Shell Plc has reported a 122% rise in operational oil spill incidents in Nigeria for 2024, attributing the increase to equipment failures and persistent sabotage, as detailed in its 2024 Annual Report and Accounts. Despite the challenges, the company’s Nigerian subsidiary, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), is taking decisive steps to address the issue, reinforcing its commitment to environmental stewardship and operational resilience. The SPDC Joint Venture (JV) recorded 20 oil spill incidents exceeding 100 kilograms in 2024, up from nine in 2023. The surge…

NARD Raises Alarm As 19,000 Doctors Leave Nigeria In 20 Years, Urges Action To Curb Brain Drain. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has disclosed that nearly 19,000 doctors have emigrated from Nigeria over the past two decades in search of better opportunities abroad, exacerbating the country’s healthcare crisis. The revelation, announced on 20 May 2025, highlights the severe brain drain impacting Nigeria’s medical sector, with 3,974 doctors leaving in 2024 alone, a record high. NARD’s data, shared via recent posts on X and reported by outlets such as The Guardian and TheCable, paints a grim picture of…

Saudi Authorities Arrest Wife And Mother Of Notorious Nigerian Bandit Leader Ado Aliero In Medina. In a significant development in the fight against transnational crime, Saudi Arabian authorities have apprehended two women believed to be the wife and mother of Ado Aliero, one of Nigeria’s most infamous bandit leaders. The arrests, which took place in the holy city of Medina, mark a crucial step in disrupting the networks supporting armed banditry in Nigeria’s Northwest region. According to reports from credible Nigerian sources, including Daily Trust and Sahara Reporters, the women were detained during an intelligence-led operation targeting a network…