Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Tributes Pour In As Anike Agbaje-Williams, Africa’s First Television Face, Passes Away At  88. The world of broadcasting has lost a true pioneer with the peaceful passing of Anike Agbaje-Williams, the first person to appear on African television. She died at the age of 88 in her home in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where she spent much of her remarkable life. Her death was confirmed on Thursday by Banji Sokoya, who spoke on behalf of her grieving family. Agbaje-Williams etched her name in history on 31 October 1959, when she appeared on Western Nigerian Television (WNTV) during its…

Starmer And Trump Forge New Bonds In Historic White House Meeting In a landmark visit to the White House, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer met US President Donald Trump yesterday, marking their first face-to-face encounter since both leaders assumed office. The meeting, rich with diplomatic gestures and candid exchanges, offered a glimpse into the evolving relationship between the two nations. Here’s a roundup of the key highlights from their talks. A Royal Invitation Stuns Trump Sir Keir arrived bearing an unexpected gift: a personal letter from King Charles III inviting President Trump for a second state visit to the…

Hollywood Legend Gene Hackman And Wife Found Dead In New Mexico Home. Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, have been found dead in their home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The couple, along with their dog, were discovered on Wednesday afternoon, with authorities stating they appeared to have been deceased “for quite a while.” Hackman, 95, was found in a side room near the kitchen, while his 65-year-old wife, a classical pianist, was discovered in a bathroom. Although no immediate signs of injury were reported, police described the deaths as “suspicious enough” to warrant further investigation. The…

TETFund To Address Electricity Crisis In Universities. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has pledged to tackle the ongoing energy crisis in Nigerian universities, following an increase in electricity tariffs. This commitment aims to enhance research capabilities and improve the global ranking of the country’s higher institutions. TETFund Executive Secretary, Sonny Echono, emphasised the importance of energy stability in universities, stating that the agency is committed to ensuring that research centres are of top quality and self-sufficient. He further assured that research samples would no longer need to be sent abroad, as institutions would be equipped to handle advanced…

Lagos Police Reinstate Speaker’s Security Amid Public Speculation. The Lagos State Police Command has reinstated the security detail of Mojisola Meranda, Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, following a brief withdrawal that stirred public concern. Commissioner of Police Moshood Jimoh made the announcement during a press briefing on Thursday at the command’s headquarters in Ikeja, the state capital. Jimoh clarified that the temporary removal of Meranda’s security team earlier in the day was part of a routine audit exercise conducted by the police. “The withdrawal was administrative and not driven by any ulterior motive,” he told journalists, seeking…

FAAC Distributes N1.703 Trillion To Government Tiers For January 2025. The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has disbursed a total of N1.703 trillion to the three tiers of government for January 2025, following its February meeting chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun. The total revenue was drawn from a gross amount of N2.641 trillion. The allocation breakdown includes N552.591 billion for the Federal Government, N590.614 billion for the States, and N434.567 billion for Local Government Councils. Additionally, N125.284 billion was allocated to oil-producing states as a 13% derivation from mineral…

ICAN Strengthens Ties With Union Bank During Courtesy Visit. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has taken a significant step towards strengthening its relationship with Union Bank of Nigeria following a courtesy visit to Stallion Plaza, the bank’s Head Office. The engagement focused on fostering collaboration and enhancing professional growth within the banking and finance sector. During the visit, representatives from both institutions held productive discussions on potential areas of partnership, particularly in promoting professional excellence and supporting the career development of ICAN members within the bank. The Union Bank delegation was led by Chief Financial Officer…

Olushola Oladoja Elected As NANS National President. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has elected Olushola Oladoja as its new National President following a keenly contested convention held at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja. Oladoja, a postgraduate student at the University of Jos, secured victory with 300 votes, defeating Salauhudeen Suleiman of Yakubu Gowon University (University of Abuja) and Gambo Abubakar from Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State. Suleiman and Gambo polled 40 and 15 votes, respectively. The convention brought together over 358 Senators—Student Union Government (SUG) Presidents—from tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The election was conducted…

Leadership Crisis Deepens as Ousted Speaker Obasa Forcefully Resumes Office. The leadership crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly took a dramatic turn on Thursday as former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa forcefully resumed office, despite his removal on 13 January 2025. Obasa’s unexpected return, which occurred around 11:30 AM, was accompanied by heavily armed security personnel, creating tension within the Assembly complex. His reappearance took place while the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was absent, and despite the Assembly being on an indefinite recess. Reports indicate that Obasa forcibly gained access to the Speaker’s office before declaring, “I’ve resumed, and…

Vice President Shettima To Lead Nigeria’s Contingent To 2025 Hajj. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, has announced that Vice President Kashim Shettima will lead Nigeria’s delegation to this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Speaking during a live programme, Saleh stated that the Vice President would be performing the religious rite as a Muslim while also personally supervising the exercise. He emphasised that Shettima’s direct involvement would provide first-hand insight into the management of the pilgrimage, reducing reliance on third-party reports and curbing misinformation. On the preparations for this…

Liverpool Go 13 Points Clear In Title Race With Resounding Victory Against Newcastle. Liverpool have strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race, extending their lead at the top to 13 points following a 2-0 win against Newcastle on Wednesday. No team in English top-flight history, dating back to 1888-89, has ever been this far ahead at this stage of the season without going on to lift the title. Match of the Day host Gary Lineker described Liverpool’s position as “less of a title race and more of a procession.” The Reds have only suffered one league…

Nigerian Court Rejects Bid To Halt Accountant General Appointment Process. The Industrial Court of Nigeria, presided over by Justice Rekiya Haastrup in Abuja, has declined to grant an interlocutory injunction aimed at pausing the ongoing appointment process for a new Accountant General of the Federation. The decision, delivered on Wednesday, ensures that the selection process will continue uninterrupted while the court prepares to address the substantive issues in the case at a later date. The claimant, Joshua Kadmi Luka, a director in the Federal Civil Service, had sought the injunction to suspend the appointment process until his legal challenge—centred…