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Nigeria’s Sports Industry Holds Key to Economic Development – Fashola

Lateefat Ibrahim
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Nigeria’s Sports Industry Holds Key to Economic Development – Fashola

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.

Lateefah Ibrahim

Babcock University Inducts 101 New Medical Graduates

patience ameh
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Babcock University Inducts 101 New Medical Graduates

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.

READ MORE:Rivers Moves To Tackle Malnutrition With New Council

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.

Ebonyi Governor Sympathises with Flood Victims

Rita Obiora
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Ebonyi Governor Sympathises with Flood Victims

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.

NAF Airstrike Neutralises Armed Bandits In Zamfara Forest

Lantana Nasir
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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.

12 Agencies To Participate In Nasarawa Inter-Security Football Tournament 

Chidi Uduma Nwoke
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12 Agencies To Participate In Nasarawa Inter-Security Football Tournament 

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.

Youth Minister Calls Nigerian Youth To Drive SDGs

Lantana Nasir
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Youth Minister Calls Nigerian Youth To Drive SDGs

The Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, has issued a rallying call for Nigerian youth to take the driver’s seat in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the world races toward the 2030 deadline.

Speaking at a Youth Dialogue with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mohamed Fall, to mark International Youth Day 2025 at the UN House, Abuja, Olawande lauded the creativity, innovation, and resilience of young Nigerians who are already localising the SDGs in their communities.

With this year’s theme, “Youth Action on SDGs and Beyond”, the Minister stressed that it was time to move from token participation to genuine youth leadership, in line with the Pact for the Future.

“Today’s dialogue is not just about speeches; it’s about listening. The Ministry of Youth Development is here to hear directly from you, and I assure you, your voices will be reflected in our policies and programmes,” Olawande said.

Olawande highlighted inspiring examples of youth-led change, from grassroots climate action to tech-driven solutions in education and healthcare.

He also commended global role models like UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed and UN Global Ambassador for Peace, Maryam Bukar, whose work demonstrates how Nigerians can influence international frameworks.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for youth innovation, partnerships, and enterprise, noting that the SDGs are “real commitments to people and communities, not just targets on paper.”

“The time for youth action on SDGs, and beyond, is now. Nigeria’s youth will lead the way,” he declared.

During the Q&A session, Olawande emphasised that youth perspectives are already shaping government policy, and that sustained engagement between young people, government, and development partners will deliver more inclusive and impactful outcomes.

In his remarks, Mohamed Fall reaffirmed the UN’s dedication to partnering with Nigeria’s youth, describing them as “the future happening now.”

Speaking under the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”, he applauded the Minister for championing youth empowerment and celebrated the achievements of young Nigerians making a global impact, including Maryam Hassan’s recent appointment as a UN Global Peace Advocate.

Highlighting Nigeria’s youthful population as a unique advantage, Fall stressed that young people are vital to advancing peace, development, climate solutions, and justice.

“Youth are not just beneficiaries, youth are partners. Youth are leaders,” he said.

Japan supports WFP initiatives in Nigeria’s North-East with $200,000

mazino dickson
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Japan supports WFP initiatives in Nigeria’s North-East with $200,000

 

The Japanese government donated $200,000 to support efforts of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in implementing life-saving nutrition for thousands of displaced women in northeast Nigeria.

Chi Lael, WFP Nigeria’s Head of Communications, said the funding helped to ensure   2,848 pregnant and breastfeeding women in 2024 — providing fortified foods and essential nutrition education.

“This support enabled the delivery of fortified foods and community-based nutrition education to affected populations at a time of record hunger in the region,” Chi Lael said.

“The impact of this partnership represents a renewed sense of hope for women striving to survive amidst adversity.”

Concerted efforts by the Nigerian government have helped stabilise the country’s North-East after years of insurgency.

Effective military operations to eradicate insurgency activities and rehabilitation of repentant combatants have helped to restore peace and concord in the region.

With the support of international organisations like WFP, the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), re-construction of affected public infrastructure has recorded tremendous progress.

In terms of impact, women bore the brunt –  facing hunger, displacement, and lack of access to healthcare. For pregnant women, these hardships heighten vulnerability, making targeted nutrition interventions not just necessary, but critical for survival.

Agenda

The WFP has targeted 5 million people in Nigeria’s North-East – with the goal of tackling extreme hunger – with women and girls being the most at risk.

Despite funding cuts and escalating insecurity, Lael assured that the WFP will continue to stand with affected communities—delivering hope, saving lives, and changing futures.

WFP has held hunger at bay during the first half of 2025, particularly in conflict-affected areas in the North, reaching more than 1.3 million people with life-saving food and nutrition assistance.

IGP Extends Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement To October 2025

Lantana Nasir
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IGP Extends Tinted Glass Permit Enforcement To October 2025

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has authorized an additional extension of the grace period for the enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit requirement for vehicles equipped with tinted windows.

The revised enforcement date is now set for 2nd October 2025.

This extension was articulated in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, Deputy Commissioner of Police DCP Muyiwa Adejobi.

He noted that the decision is a response to a notable increase in applications submitted via the official portal, indicative of enhanced public compliance with the directive.

The statement emphasized the importance of allowing ample time for the thorough review of applications to ensure that permits are granted exclusively to qualified and eligible individuals, in accordance with national security considerations.

DCP Adejobi indicated that the extension would also facilitate the ongoing refinement of both digital and physical verification processes.

This is intended to uphold the integrity of the permit system and prevent any potential misuse.

The Nigeria Police Force reiterates that the designated platform for applications remains https://possap.gov.ng and strongly advises citizens to disregard any unofficial channels.

Furthermore, DCP Adejobi encouraged members of the public to report instances of extortion, hidden charges, or unauthorized processing to the appropriate police authorities. This can also be done via the dedicated hotline: 09169967000.

He concluded by expressing gratitude for the cooperation of the Nigerian populace and reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to maintaining a balance between public convenience and robust security measures to ensure the safety of all citizens.

NGX Equities Resume Week on Bull Run

Victoria Ibanga
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NGX Equities Resume Week on Bull Run

The Nigerian equities market opened this week on a bullish note, as renewed investor interest lifted the NGX

All-Share Index (ASI) by 0.09% to close at 145,880.77 basis points.

The figures pushed the year-to-date (YTD) return further to 41.73%.

This positive start reflects sustained optimism around market fundamentals and earnings expectations.

Consequently, market capitalisation of listed equities rose by 0.09% to ₦92.294 trillion, adding ₦79.6 billion to investors’ portfolios compared to the N92.214 trillion recorded on Friday.

Investor sentiment remained upbeat, with market breadth closing positive as 41 stocks advanced against 36 decliners, underscoring the ongoing tussle between bargain hunters and profit-takers.

Notable among the gainers included Aiico, Sunuassur, Veritaskap, Stanbic, and Tip, each appreciating by 10%. On the flip side, Abbeybds, Abctrans, Uacn, Hmcall, and Vfdgroup were among the top laggards, shedding 10.00%, 9.99%, 9.92%, and 9.70%, respectively.

Sector performance was mixed. The Banking (+0.44%) and Insurance (+9.74%) indices closed in positive territory, buoyed by renewed buying interest and earnings-driven optimism.

Conversely, Oil/Gas (-0.56%) and Industrial Goods (-1.47%) came under mild selling pressure, while the Consumer Goods index ended flat.

Overall market activity moderated, as trading volume and value
declined by 4.52% and 40.17%, respectively, even though the number of deals rose by 15.41%.

A total of 2.115 billion shares worth ₦19.4 billion exchanged hands across 40,435 deals.

Victoria Ibanga

Barcelona, Villarreal To Play LaLiga Match In Miami

Chidi Uduma Nwoke
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Barcelona, Villarreal To Play LaLiga Match In Miami

Spanish football could finally cross the Atlantic after the Royal Spanish Football Federation approved a request for Barcelona and Villarreal to play their December LaLiga match in Miami, a move nearly a decade in the making.

The RFEF board gave the green light for the teams’ matchday 17 game to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on December 20th, in the first step towards the competition playing an official match abroad for the first time in its history.

The proposal now heads to European football’s’s governing body UEFA before requiring final approval from FIFA – the last hurdle in LaLiga President Javier Tebas’ American dream.

“At its meeting on 11 August 2025, the RFEF Board of Directors received a request from Villarreal CF and FC Barcelona to play their match on matchday 17 of the first division in the United States,” RFEF said in a statement.

“… the Royal Spanish Football Federation will submit the request to UEFA to begin the process for subsequent authorisation by FIFA for the match to be played at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on 20 December 2025 …”

LaLiga has been pursuing their transatlantic vision for almost a decade, emulating the strategy employed by the NFL and NBA to establish themselves in other markets.

Tebas’ first attempt came in the 2018-2019 season with a proposed Girona-Barca match in the US that never materialised. A planned Villarreal-Atletico fixture for 2019-2020 also fell through, with the matter ending up in the courts after the RFEF refused authorisation.

The courts sided with the Spanish Federation, then under Luis Rubiales, who was sacked in 2023 for kissing team player Jenni Hermoso on the mouth celebrating Spain’s women’s World Cup victory in Sydney.

There was another near-miss last season, with a Barcelona-Atletico match almost proceeding before LaLiga pulled back at the last minute to better structure the project.

Now, with regulatory barriers cleared and internal conflicts resolved, the Villarreal-Barca clash appears poised to finally deliver Spanish football’s long-awaited American adventure.

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