The Speaker of the House of Representatives Mr. Abbas Tajudeen has stressed the need for Nigeria to invest more in its young citizens, especially as they constitute a huge chunk of the population.
Speaker Abbas, in his message to commemorate the International Youth Day, noted that with the youthful population being the majority, the government at all levels must prioritise policies and programmes tailored towards young Nigerians.
The Speaker called for more access to quality and affordable education, while seeking skill acquisition and empowerment of the youth. This, he noted, should be considered as an investment in the future of the country.
He particularly urged the various stakeholders in the public and private sectors to invest more in talent hunts, entrepreneurship, and sports, stressing that this move will shield the youth from crime and other vices.
While urging the youth to be patriotic and law-abiding citizens, the Speaker called on the religious and cultural institutions to continue to mould young Nigerians towards virtues, and against vices.
He emphasised the need for the teeming young population to be morally upright, hardworking, disciplined, and dedicated in their endeavours.
Speaker Abbas wishes young Nigerians a happy Youth Day celebration.
The newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Kwara State, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpe has paid a courtesy visit to the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The visit, which took place at the Commission’s office in GRA, Ilorin, was aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the two agencies in the discharge of their statutory mandates.
Welcoming the REC, the Ilorin Zonal Director of the EFCC, Daniel Isei, commended INEC for its pivotal role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process.
He reaffirmed the EFCC’s readiness to support the electoral body in ensuring free, fair, and credible elections in Kwara State.
He noted that the fight against corruption includes curbing electoral malpractices such as vote buying, bribery, and other forms of financial inducement that undermine the integrity of the polls.
Earlier, Dr. Longpet said that the visit was part of his familiarisation tour to key stakeholders in the state and a demonstration of INEC’s commitment to partnering with anti-graft agencies in the quest to deepen democracy.
He stressed that credible elections require the joint effort of all stakeholders to ensure transparency and accountability before, during, and after the electoral process.
While outlining his vision for electoral administration in the state, Dr. Longpet emphasised the need for citizens to actively participate in the ongoing voter registration exercise.
He disclosed that about 166,800 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) remain uncollected in Kwara as at today.
“I want to boost the voting strength of Kwara, but I cannot do that without people coming out to participate in voter registration,” he said, urging residents to collect their PVCs and register to vote in future elections.
Areas of Collaboration
Both agencies identified key areas of collaboration, including intelligence sharing on electoral offences, joint sensitisation campaigns to educate the public against vote trading, and the prompt prosecution of electoral offenders.
The REC expressed optimism that with the EFCC’s support, incidences of financial inducement during elections could be drastically reduced, thereby enhancing public confidence in the process.
The meeting ended on a note of mutual commitment, with both parties pledging to work closely in the interest of democracy, good governance, and the rule of law.
The Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar is set to host a crucial Group D encounter in the CAF African Nations Championship, tagged (CHAN) 2024, as Nigeria’s Home Eagles face off against Sudan.
Nigeria, considered strong contenders for the title, find themselves at the bottom of Group D with zero points after a disappointing 1-0 loss to reigning champions Senegal in their opener.
Sudan, on the other hand, salvaged a point in their first game with a 1-1 draw against Congo. While a draw isn’t ideal, it gives them a slight edge over Nigeria. The clash kicks off at 6pm (WAT) from the Amaan Stadium.
A win for Nigeria could revive their CHAN journey. For Sudan? It would fuel a campaign built on resilience, belief, and quiet determination.
PREVIEW
Under the guidance of experienced Ghanaian coach Kwesi Appiah, Sudan will be looking to capitalize on Nigeria’s shaky start and build momentum.
For Coach Eric Chelle’s men, this is a must-win fixture for Nigeria to keep their CHAN dreams alive. Anything less than three points would almost certainly spell an early exit from the tournament.
Nigeria, who lost 1-0 in its opening match to defending champions Senegal, are bottom of Group D with zero points fighting for survival, while For Sudan sits third in Group D with one point.
Home Eagles and Super Eagles coach, Chelle, was blunt about the stakes.
Coach of the Home Eagles and Super Eagles, Eric Chelle.
“I just want to win the game,” he said. “It’s my game project. I know that it’s a game project that rewards a lot of intensity and aggression. To stay ambitious, we need to win this game against Sudan.”
Chelle admitted that the pressure is immense following the defeat to Senegal: “I know there is pressure on us, and it’s normal.”
Home Eagles in training.
“We are a big country, a great football nation, and we need to do better in the next game,” he added.
“The reality now is that we are low, but we are together as a unit. If we get the three points after the game, it will breathe more life into the group.”
Nigeria’s squad news offers mixed fortunes. Left-back Taiwo Abdulrafiu, who limped off against Senegal, is fit to return.
But first-choice goalkeeper Ani Ozoemena remains sidelined with a knee injury, meaning Ebenezer will start between the posts.
In it’s openig encounter at the tournament, Sudan were held to a 1-1 draw with Congo, in a game they could have won, but defensive lapses proved costly.
Sudan had Congo on the ropes but lost their grip in the final minutes. It’s a lesson Appiah doesn’t want repeated and he’s made that clear.
For Sudan’s head coach Kwesi Appiah, the match against Nigeria is not just another match, it’s a chance to set the record straight.
Sudan’s head coach, Kwesi Appiah.
“So far, preparation has gone really well,” said Appiah, speaking with composed confidence. “Our last game against Congo didn’t go entirely our way, but now we have the opportunity to turn the tables.”
Nigeria may have stumbled in their opener against Senegal, but Appiah isn’t buying into any narratives of weakness.
“One game doesn’t define a team,” he cautioned. “Every Nigerian player is dangerous. We must be ready for a physically strong side with serious attacking intent.”
For Sudan, it’s a chance to build momentum in a campaign fuelled by belief and resilience. For Nigeria, it’s pure survival — a “do-or-die” scrap to keep their African Nations Championship hopes alive.
Two different journeys now converge under the same pressure: win or risk an early exit in the competition. With both teams desperate for points, this clash could explode into one of the group stage’s most compelling contests.
Sudan currently sit third in Group D with one point; Nigeria, bottom with none, know a loss would almost certainly send them packing.
A win for Sudan would put them within touching distance of the knockout rounds; a win for Nigeria would drag them back into contention and keep the group’s fate undecided until the final day.
Whatever the outcome, expect intensity from the first whistle — because for both sides, the margins for error have already disappeared.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Jackie Waayas has described the Nigerian Youth as Architects of the Future.
Celebrating the 2025 International Youth Day, which is on August 12, she applauded the boundless potential, creativity, and courage of the Nigerian youth.
Ms Wayaas described the Youth as the heartbeat of the nation, the thinkers, builders, and visionaries whose dreams would shape the destiny of the country.
“Patriotism is more than a feeling; it is an action. It is the decision to rise each day determined to make Nigeria better than it was yesterday. True patriotism is expressed in service, in responsibility, in standing for justice, in choosing unity over division, and in committing to the hard work of nation-building.
“The Nigeria of our dreams will not be handed to us — we must build it. And that responsibility rests on every one of us, especially the youth. We must take an active interest in the leadership of our nation, participate in politics, engage in meaningful dialogue, and hold leaders accountable. Your voice matters. Your vote matters. Your leadership matters,”she said.
Ms Wayaas said when Youths embrace patriotism as a way of life, they can over come the challenges ahead.
She also urged Nigerians, to support the young people, guide them, mentor them, and open doors for their ideas to flourish.
“Together, let us transform our love for Nigeria into action that will build the nation we all dream of,”she added.
A governorship aspirant under the banner of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun state, Mr Kunle Adegoke (SAN), has promised to transform the state if elected as Governor.
Adegoke was speaking at the APC Party Secretariat in Osogbo while declaring his intention to join the 2026 governorship race in the state.
He noted that the challenges of Osun state were many, and only a responsive, proactive, well meaning and pragmatic leader could make all the difference for the state.
The aspirant explained that his declaration of intent was not a fluke but a product of years of planning and deep research, aimed at understanding the problems of the state and ways to solve them.
“So I have perfected plans to ensure that the economy of Osun is completely re-engineered and overhauled. And to this extent, we are looking at things that we have, not only in terms of natural resources, we are equally looking at human resources.
“And we have done a lot of work. We have done a lot of preparation since 2011 when I first came upon the idea that I would like to be governor one day in Osun State.
“I have been working seriously to ensure that what we call land management, what we call Agric revolution will be brought to bear in Osun State.
“And we are going to reinvent our financial policies that it will become possible for the state to survive with or without allocations from the federal government.” he said.
Action Plan
Adegoke also stated that his action plan would be strategic in purpose, based on four core pillars of economic revival, transformation of education and healthcare, infrastructural development and enhanced security.
According to him, the economy of the state would be revived through revolution in agriculture, industrialisation, mining and tourism, while education and healthcare would be modernized in a safe and secured environment attractive to investors.
He said nothing would be impossible to achieve in such a state as Osun, where people are diligent, resilient and positive about life.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria then called on all citizens and residents of the state to join hands with him to build a better Osun state, where good governance and followership make the most for all and sundry.
Former Minister of Works and Housing in Nigeria, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has said that Nigeria’s sports industry has the potential to drive economic development and create jobs for millions of Nigerians.
Speaking at the public presentation of a media icon of over three decades, Dr. Mumini Alao’s autobiography, Fashola emphasised the need for a new approach to sports development in the country.
According to Fashola, the sports industry globally has become a major driver of economic growth, with many countries leveraging on it to create jobs, generate revenue, and promote national development.
He cited examples of countries like the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and others that have successfully harnessed the potential of sports to drive economic growth.
In Nigeria, Fashola said, the sports industry has been underutilised, despite its vast potential, attributing this to a lack of focus on sports development as a key sector of the economy, inadequate infrastructure, and poor governance.
To unlock the potential of the sports industry, Fashola called for a multi-faceted approach that includes investing in sports infrastructure, developing manpower capacity, and promoting sports as a business and profession.
Fashola’s remarks have sparked hopes that Nigeria can unlock the vast potential of its sports industry and create new opportunities for economic growth and job creation.
He also emphasised the need for proper governance, regulation, and safety measures to ensure the growth and development of the industry.
Nurtured to the peak
The legal practitioner also emphasised the importance of safety and security at sports events, proper governance, and regulation of the industry.
”We must develop a new generation of officials, umpires, referees who administer the rules of various sports with utmost integrity and we must have no tolerance for hooliganism or violence under any guise.
…We must ensure, amongst many other things, that there is absolutely no space for drug use, abuse or cheating in our sports, or in any sports facility in Nigeria.
With the global epidemic of drug abuse the prime objective of our sports programme must be to find the best talent, and keep it untainted as it is nurtured to the peak of its most natural ability.”
As the country continues to explore new ways to drive economic development, the sports industry is increasingly being seen as a key sector that can play a major role in shaping the nation’s economic future.
One hundred and one graduates from Babcock University’s Benjamin Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences have been inducted into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) during the institution’s 10th medical graduation ceremony.
The event marked a major milestone, formally transitioning the graduates from students to practicing healthcare professionals.
President/Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ademola Tayo, represented by the Senior Vice President of Academics Prof. Philemon Amanze, reiterated the importance of ethical conduct and confidentiality.
He framed the MBBS degree not as an end, but as the beginning of a journey of lifelong learning and impactful service urging the students to pursue purpose over popularity.
“You have to pursue purpose over popularity. Seek service, not status,” and outline five pillars for success including: competence, compassion, integrity, collaboration, and faith.”He advised
On his part, Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, emphasized the challenges ahead but encouraged the graduates to remain focused and leverage their potential to positively impact lives.
She highlighted the significant contribution they could make to the Nigerian healthcare system.
“The path you have chosen is not an easy one. To achieve greatness, you must diligently utilise every opportunity and commit to making a lifelong impact on the Nigerian healthcare system and the lives of each person you come across.”She stated
The Provost of the College, Prof. John Sotunsa, re-emphasized the graduates’ multifaceted roles as caregivers, system reformers, policy influencers, and technology adopters, urging them to contribute to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.Chisom Okafor, the top-performing graduate with 10 distinctions in her final MBBS exams, received numerous accolades, including cash prizes totaling N400,000 from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State and anonymous donors.
Dr. Tijjani Ali Mandaka, representing the MDCN Registrar, Dr. Fatima Kyari, advised the new doctors to learn from experienced professionals, acknowledge their limitations, and collaborate effectively to positively impact the healthcare sector.
The Governor of Ebonyi State, Mr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has sympathised with victims of flood disasters in Enohia Itim and Kpoghirikpo communities in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi, Southwest Nigeria.
The Governor is also saddened by reports of the disaster in Azuoto Okpuitumo, Abakaliki LGA.
The flood, which began penultimate Friday and started receding on Monday, left deaths and destruction in its wake.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Monday Uzor, in Abakaliki, the state capital.
Governor Nwifuru said: “I received with deep sadness the news of the devastating flood that recently affected the Enohia Itim and Kpoghirikpo communities in Afikpo Local Government Area and Azuoto Okpuitumo in Abakaliki LGA.
“I sincerely condole with the families who lost loved ones, as well as all who suffered losses during this unfortunate incident.
“As government, we stand with you in this moment of grief, and I assure you that my administration will provide the necessary support to help you recover and rebuild.”
The Governor promised to work closely with the affected communities, local authorities, and relevant agencies to ensure that relief materials, rehabilitation efforts, and preventive measures are promptly and effectively delivered.
He urged residents of the state to factor the reality of climate change into their daily activities, especially during future rainy seasons.
“This tragedy is a sober reminder of the urgent need to integrate climate change considerations into our flood risk management strategies,”Nwifuru advised.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under Operation FASAN YAMMA, has recorded another major victory against armed bandits in Zamfara State, neutralising several terrorists in a coordinated air and ground assault on Makakkari Forest.
In a statement, the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said that “intelligence Surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) had confirmed movements of over 400 bandits, planning to invade a farming community.”
According to him, the operation involved precision airstrikes and ground assaults, resulting in the deaths of several notorious kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers.
The synergy between air and land components made the operation exceptional.
Twelve (12) Security agencies are set to participate in the 4th edition of the Nasarawa State Inter Security Agencies football tournament.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Development, Hamza Ibrahim Moyi, stated this during a press briefing in Lafia the State Capital.
He said the purpose of the tournament is to bring together all the security agencies for more peaceful coexistence and harmonious relationship between them.
“This year tournament is going to be different because the tournament will be chaired by the National Security Adviser to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Mallam Nuhu Ribadu,” Moyi said.
Ibrahim Moyi explained that the fourth edition would be successful, as 12 security agencies would be participating.
“The twelve participating Security Agencies: Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Correctional Services and Nigerian Immigration Service,” he added.
“Others are: Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Agency, Federal Fire Service, Department of State Services, Federal Road Safety Corps, Vigilante Group of Nigeria and National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency – NDLEA.”
He said that giving Governor Abdullahi Sule’s love for sport, Nasarawa State was the first to organise the Inter-Security Unity Football Tournament in the country.
Chisom Okafor, the top-performing graduate with 10 distinctions in her final MBBS exams, received numerous accolades, including cash prizes totaling N400,000 from the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Ogun State and anonymous donors.
