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CHAN: Chelle To Name Super Eagles B Squad

Mosunmola Ore
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CHAN: Chelle To Name Super Eagles B Squad

Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, will name his final squad for the 2024 CHAN tournament on Tuesday (today) after two weeks of training in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The rescheduled continental tournament will take place from August 2 to 30 across three East African countries—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

READ ALSO: Super Eagles B Upbeat In Camp Ahead of CHAN 2024

According to sources within the team’s camp, the final squad will be selected after a concluding test match today, which will mark the end of the team’s preparation phase before departure.

Chelle initially invited 35 home-based players to the provisional camp, but the number has since been trimmed. Five players—Papa Daniel Mustapha, Waliu Ojetoye, Savour Isaac, Abubakar Sadiq, and Philip Adejo—became ineligible after securing moves abroad, while Rangers International defender Ifeanyi Onyebuchi was ruled out due to injury.

As the final selection looms, players in camp have acknowledged the pressure to impress and secure a place in the squad.

“Everybody is under pressure, but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” said Junior Nduka, who captained the team during the qualifying rounds.

Former Flying Eagles and Rivers United forward Aniekeme Okon also admitted to the intensity of the competition. “With 35 players invited, everyone is giving their best in the hope of being selected. So we keep pushing,” he said.

Nigeria, runners-up at the 2018 edition, have been drawn in Group D of the 19-team tournament alongside defending champions Senegal, Sudan, and Congo.

The Super Eagles B will begin their campaign with back-to-back matches against Senegal and Sudan at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar, before rounding off the group stage against Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Despite reaching the final in 2018 and finishing third in 2014, Nigeria has yet to win the CHAN title, a record Chelle and his squad will be eager to rewrite this year.

Governor Yusuf pledges unwavering support for press freedom

Ademola Adepoju
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Governor Yusuf pledges unwavering support for press freedom

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to press freedom, constructive engagement with the media, and the promotion of democratic values across the state.

Represented by his Director General of Media and Publicity, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the governor made the remarks while receiving the newly elected leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kano Correspondents’ Chapel, during a courtesy visit to the Government House on Tuesday.

The chapel’s delegation, led by its new chairman, Murtala Adewale of The Guardian Newspapers, was warmly received by the Director-General, who congratulated the executives on their election and commended the peaceful conduct of the recent elections.

Sanusi Bature underscored the role of the media as a critical pillar in nation-building and democratic consolidation, noting that the Yusuf-led administration places a high premium on the contributions of journalists in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance.

“We sincerely appreciate the role of the Correspondents’ Chapel in bridging the communication gap between the government and the people. Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is media-friendly and will continue to welcome constructive criticism that promotes good governance and public accountability,” Bature said.

He emphasised the importance of mutual trust and professionalism in media-government relations, assuring the chapel of the administration’s willingness to deepen engagement and provide unhindered access to information for all accredited journalists operating in Kano.

In his response, the new Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Murtala Adewale, expressed appreciation to the state government for its continued partnership with the media. He pledged that the new leadership would uphold journalistic ethics and maintain objectivity in its reportage.

He also called for stronger collaboration between the media and the government to ensure the timely flow of accurate information regarding state policies, programmes, and activities.

The visit provided a platform for open dialogue on strengthening government-media relations, enhancing media capacity, and ensuring improved access to credible and official information.

Cameroon: 81 Candidates to run for Presidential Elections

Hauwa Mustapha
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Cameroon: 81 Candidates to run for Presidential Elections

It’s a record number: 81 candidate applications to run in the presidential elections set for October this year were made to Cameroon’s national body in charge of organising elections by the deadline on Monday at midnight.

Among the hopefuls are many second-time runners.

After breaking away from supporting president Paul Biya earlier this year, Bello Bouba Maïgari is running in a presidential race for the second time in his political career.

The same goes for Maurice Kamto and Cabral Libii, with both also changing political party affiliations for the elections.

The flood of applications meanwhile remains dominated by men: out of the 81 total applications, only seven female candidates declared their intention to run in the presidential elections, among them Eliane Véronique Eboutou and independent candidates Mbengono Zouame Epse Ndzie Ngono Guyleine and Géneviève Zeh Amvene.

Among the men, it is incumbent president and oldest head of state in Africa Paul Biya who dominates the list.

The 92-year-old, who has held power for the past four decades, recently declared his intention to run for office again despite growing concerns over his health and ability to lead the country.

According to the report, the number of candidates could point to a growing wish for political change from the population, as well as a fracturing of Cameroon’s political landscape.

Despite Biya’s age, the president’s grip on power is unlikely to loosen through elections whose democratic nature is doubted, according to analysts.

Last week, Biya also reshuffled top military ranks in what was seen as a way to ensure his renewed run for the presidency would have the army’s backing.

The country now waits for the decision of the electoral council, set to approve or reject each application in the coming weeks.

The final list of candidates can be published at the latest 60 days before the elections.

Africanews/Hauwa M.

WTT Contender Lagos Championship To Attract 126 Players

Mosunmola Ore
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WTT Contender Lagos Championship To Attract 126 Players

Over 126 players will compete in the 2025 WTT Contender Championship from July 22 to 26.

The President of the Africa Table Tennis Federation, Wahid Oshodi confirmed this during a media briefing held on Monday in Lagos.

READ ALSO: WTT Champions: Quadri Aruna Crashes Out In First Round

He said the event aims to promote excellence, offering top players a chance to compete and showcase their talents.

The tournament will take place at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

“It will attract global talent, fostering the sport’s growth and development worldwide,” Oshodi said.

He added that the competition provides players with experience and exposure to high-level contests.

“It also offers ranking points to help players boost their global standings,” he noted.

The WTT Contender series aims to bring innovation and excitement to table tennis, raising the sport’s global profile.

Oshodi stated it would give Nigerian players a chance to display their skills and inspire new talents.

Participation in the event will help Nigerian players improve through matches against elite international opponents.

He said the tournament could draw greater investment and support for table tennis in Nigeria.

“This could lead to better infrastructure, improved training programmes, and more resources for athletes,” he said.

According to him, the WTT Contender will boost table tennis popularity and create fresh opportunities locally.

The Nigerian table tennis community remains optimistic about the sport’s growth prospects in the country.

Kweku Tandoh, the Tournament Director, also reaffirmed their commitment to a successful championship.

He said top-ranked players’ involvement would enhance the event’s reputation and competitiveness.

“This WTT Contender Lagos is vital for Olympic preparation, helping players sharpen their skills,” Tandoh stated.

This year’s tournament features a prize pool of $100,000, up from $75,000 in the previous edition.

The event highlights table tennis excellence and provides a global platform for players to shine.

top players like Taiwo Mati and Mathew Kuti will be participating in the tournament.

The WTT Contender Lagos begins on Tuesday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos

 

NAN

Nigeria Launches New Digital Hub for Teacher Training, Collaboration

Oluchi Okwuego
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Nigeria Launches New Digital Hub for Teacher Training, Collaboration

The Federal Ministry of Education has launched a new digital platform under the Committee of Practice (CoPs) to support continuous professional development for teachers across Nigeria. The initiative aims to keep educators up to date with developments in the education sector, fostering innovation and capacity building in schools nationwide.

READ ALSO: GEFAS Unveils Digital Hub To Drive Soludo’s Re-Election Campaign

Speaking at the launch and opening of a four-day workshop in Abuja, Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, described the platform as a key step in revitalizing Nigeria’s education system. She said it will provide access to teaching resources, mentorship, collaborative learning, and experience sharing among educators.

“This platform promotes innovation, collaboration, and professional growth. For instance, a biology expert can share new teaching methods with peers. The platform ensures that teachers stay informed and supported by DECS officers and coordinators,” she explained.

Initially hosted on the Telegram social media platform, the programme will begin with 80 selected teachers from six Federal Unity Colleges. These teachers, trained as coordinators and subject experts, will later help onboard others from both public and private schools nationwide.

“This isn’t just for federal schools. Every teacher from state to private institutions will have access. We’re creating an inclusive community for all educators,” the Minister added.

Professor Mustapha Mohammed Tajordeen, Project Lead for CL4STEM, emphasized that the platform will enable teachers across different regions to connect, share knowledge, tackle challenges, and enhance teaching strategies using ICT.

“It’s designed to foster equity and inclusion while encouraging teachers to exchange experiences and classroom innovations,” he said, noting that teacher participation will be monitored for impact and progress.

Director of ICT at the Ministry, Zainab Abubakar, said the initiative signals Nigeria’s commitment to a more collaborative and tech-driven education system. She encouraged the participants to lead the transformation in their schools and zones.

“You are the torchbearers of this initiative. Take ownership, build communities, and create a ripple effect of excellence,” she said.

One of the participants, Emojiri Rabokletus from the Federal Technical College, Uromi, Delta State, said the platform will better prepare teachers for visual and tech-based teaching methods.

“With the pace at which today’s students learn, teachers must stay ahead. This platform equips us to teach more effectively in this digital age,” he said.

The four-day workshop is aimed at equipping the selected participants with the tools and skills required to navigate and utilize the platform effectively.

Egypt Offers Free Train Rides to Sudanese Refugees

Hauwa Mustapha
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Egypt Offers Free Train Rides to Sudanese Refugees

Hundreds of people gathered at Cairo’s central train station on Monday to start the journey back home to war-torn Sudan.

The travel is part of a campaign by the Egyptian government providing free train rides back to Khartoum, the capital, which has been recently recaptured by Sudanese Armed Forces from its rival the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF.

Sudan has experienced a civil war since April 2023.

The battle for power between the military and the RSF has caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Over 40,000 people have been killed, and the war has caused one of the world’s largest displacement crises.

People have already started returning back to the capital as its slowly rebuilds since its recapture a couple of months ago.

Egypt hosts the largest number of Sudanese refugees from the war, with over 1.5 million people fleeing across to its border.

Africanews/Hauwa M.

ABU Secures 5M Euros Grant To Develop AI-Powered Microscope

Jide Ibitoye
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ABU Secures 5M Euros Grant To Develop AI-Powered Microscope

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria has secured a 5 million euros grant to develop an AI-powered microscope for diagnosing parasitic diseases.

The Director of Public Affairs, Directorate of the university, Auwalu Umar, made this known on Monday in Zaria.

Umar said that the microscope would be able to detect diseases such as African trypanosomiasis, malaria, leishmaniasis, and filariasis.

He said that the grant was won through MultiplexAI, the first Horizon Euro-funded project to be hosted at ABU’s Africa Centre of Excellence for Neglected Tropical Diseases and Forensic Biotechnology (ACENTDFB).

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, congratulated ACENTDFB on the feat.

Ahmed also commended Dr Gloria-Dada Chechet, the Scientific Project Leader of the MultiplexAI project, for the great role played in securing the grant.

According to Umar, the MultiplexAI project was designed for use in rural and hard-to-reach areas.

It said that the tool also enables health workers to accurately detect multiple infections at the point of care, using only a microscope, smartphone, and app.

NAN/Jide Johnson.

Senegal: Tensions Persist Between Sonko, Faye

Hauwa Mustapha
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Senegal: Tensions Persist Between Sonko, Faye

The assurances given by the Senegalese president have failed to ease tensions at the top of the country.

Bassirou Diomaye Faye may have felt that there was no problem with his prime minister, but Ousmane Sonko’s criticism continue to fuel controversy.

Supporters of the head of government continue to denounce the president’s attitude, with some going as far as to remind him that he owes his presidency to Ousmane Sonko.

They do not hesitate to express scathing criticism, whether on social media or in various media outlets.

On the other hand, people close to the President are trying to defuse the bomb, like the Head of State himself, who said he still considered Ousmane Sonko to be his friend.

This episode has put Pastef under pressure and raised a few questions about the relationship between the two men.

Some believe that divorce is just around the corner, in any case, the prime minister and the president no longer seem to be living in blissful love.

In a speech on 10th July, Ousmane Sonko argued that Senegal had one problem: a lack of authority.

He even spoke of an absence of authority, implying that he did not have enough powers to govern.

He also criticized President Bassirou Diomaye Faye for his failure to support him in the face of the personal attacks he claims to have suffered.

The relationship between the two men had long been perceived as a key element to guarantee a united front at the head of the state.

Its apparent crisis puts pressure on the government and fuels questions about the country’s political future.

Africanews/Hauwa M.

Women Affairs Minister Affirms Child Rights Action

Manomsi Mallum
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Women Affairs Minister Affirms Child Rights Action

The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has affirmed that the Nigerian government is actively addressing recent allegations of child rights violations in parts of the country.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by EmemMaria Offiong, Head of Press and Public Relations at the ministry, efforts are underway to safeguard children, support families, and strengthen legal protection frameworks.

The statement followed a courtesy visit by the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), led by Mr Robert Nanima, Nigeria’s Country Rapporteur and head of the delegation.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to the protection and well-being of every child under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“Child protection, development, and family cohesion are not just policy objectives; they are national imperatives,” she stated.

While investigations into the allegations are ongoing, the minister emphasised that Nigeria continues to take proactive, systemic steps to ensure a safe, just, and nurturing environment for every child.

She highlighted several ongoing reforms and programmes focused on protecting vulnerable children and strengthening family structures.

These include a review of the Child Rights Act to ensure full domestication across all 36 states and updates to the National Child Policy.

Read Also: ICRC Raises Alarm Over Worsening Northeast Food Insecurity

Further initiatives mentioned were the amendment of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the establishment of a Child Protection and Development Agency.

She also outlined the implementation of the EVAC Costed National Action Plan and the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children.

The minister unveiled a newly launched national campaign titled “See Something, Say Something, We Do Something,” designed to provide citizens with accessible platforms to report abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

The campaign, she noted, aims to enable real-time responses and justice for affected children.

Additional efforts include the expansion of child-friendly courts, provision of legal aid for vulnerable children, and capacity building for justice sector professionals on child protection laws and protocols.

She also noted the rollout of alternative care guidelines prioritising family-based reintegration over institutional placement.

To strengthen family systems, the government will inaugurate the National Family Cohesion and Development Programme, which targets over five million Nigerians to help build resilient and stable family units.

“To track real-time improvements and guide policies, the government is establishing a National Child Protection Database and a Child Well-being Index,” she added.

The minister also disclosed plans to operationalise a Child Protection Research and Information Centre, with technical support from UNICEF and other development partners, in collaboration with state governments.

In his remarks, Mr Robert Nanima expressed appreciation for Nigeria’s hospitality and transparency during the ACERWC’s visit.

“We are not here to indict but to collaborate. Nigeria’s willingness to engage and share its efforts shows true leadership in child rights.

“Africa must work as a community to give its children the future they deserve,” he said.

Other members of the delegation included Joseph Sunday-Sinnah, ACERWC Member; Dr Ayalew Getachew-Assefa, Acting Executive Secretary of the ACERWC Secretariat; and Ms Adiam Zemenfes Tsighe, Senior Legal Researcher.

Also in attendance were Ms Opal Sibanda Masocha, Legal Researcher; Mr Solomon Onsase, Senior Finance Officer; and several other technical experts.

 

 

DRC Peace Deal with M23 Rebels, Experts Remain Skeptical

Hauwa Mustapha
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DRC Peace Deal with M23 Rebels, Experts Remain Skeptical

Weeks after signing a peace deal with Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has reached an accord with M23 rebels operating in the country’s North Kivu region.

But long-time observers of the DRC’s attempts to restore peace within its borders aren’t ready to celebrate.

Following an initial peace deal with Rwanda last month, the DRC signed a ceasefire agreement with M23 rebels on Saturday in Qatar.

In this Statement of Intent, the parties agree to protect civilians and respect Congolese sovereignty.

But on the ground in Goma, provincial capital of North Kivu and under the control of Kigali-backed insurgents, observers are sceptical.

For Congolese journalist and Pan-African civil rights activist Maude-Salomé Ekila, this latest agreement is reminiscent of many others that raised hopes when they were signed but were trampled underfoot on the altar of the interests of each stakeholder:

“What’s dramatic is that we’ve been systematically reproducing the same patterns for all these years. There’s a system of international predation organized to exploit Congolese resources. And we forget that this is the heart of the matter. And every possible tool is being used so that this predation and this plan, which has been going on for decades now, can achieve certain objectives.”

Like many local observers, Ekila is frustrated by an agreement that demonstrates the inability of the Congolese government to ensure the integrity of its territory.

“You see, we’re once again in a position of great weakness, because we’ve had a defense apparatus that’s been corrupted in every sense and that hasn’t allowed us to face up to the hyper-sophisticated army we had in front of us, an army completely supported by the Rwandan army in reality, which supports the M23, which supports the AFC politico-military platform,” Ekila.

“And so we found ourselves in a weak position to negotiate. What did we negotiate? That’s the question: are we going to be able to meet the deadline set in this communiqué?”

The problem, Ekila says, is justice:

“From the moment when the protagonists know that they can do it again, that in any case, there will be agreements that will not be kept and that will reproduce other militias, because there has been no justice, because justice has been bartered on the altar of so-called peace, just as justice is bartered on the altar of pseudo-democracy every time, we find ourselves in a situation where the facts are repeated. It’s cyclical and, as a result, a system of predation quietly goes on its way.”

The Statement of Intent will come into force immediately upon signing and must be implemented by 29 July.

It provides for the opening of direct negotiations for a comprehensive peace agreement by 8 August.

These discussions will be based on the agreement signed last month in Washington between the DRC and Rwanda.

The aim is to conclude and sign this comprehensive peace agreement by 18 August.

Experts, however, doubt that the timetable will be met.

Africanews/Hauwa M.

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