Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Nigeria Partners with Gates Foundation For $7.5M AI Innovation Hub, Honours Bill Gates With CFR. Nigeria has forged a landmark $7.5 million partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to launch the Nigerian Artificial Intelligence (AI) Scaling Hub, a transformative initiative aimed at harnessing AI to bolster critical sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, and education. The agreement was sealed during a high-level meeting in Abuja, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, and representatives from the Gates Foundation. Dr. Tijani hailed the collaboration as a pivotal moment for…

Orji Kalu Accuses Politicians Of Fuelling Boko Haram To Undermine Tinubu’s Government. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North and a former governor of Abia State, has made a shocking allegation, claiming that elements within Nigeria’s political class are sponsoring Boko Haram insurgents in a bid to destabilise President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The explosive accusation was made during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday, 3 June 2025. Kalu asserted that the resurgence of Boko Haram activities is not merely a security issue but a politically motivated campaign orchestrated by power-hungry individuals. “The political class is…

FG Commences Payment Of N44,000 Minimum Wage Arrears To Ex-Corps Members The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun disbursing N44,000 in minimum wage arrears to former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), fulfilling a pledge tied to the recent increase in corps members’ monthly allowance. The adjustment, which saw the stipend rise from N33,000 to N77,000, was implemented earlier this year, and the arrears cover those who completed their mandatory one-year service before the new rate took effect. The payments, confirmed by multiple sources, mark a significant step in addressing the financial expectations of ex-corps members following…

Shake-Up In Ondo State Assembly As Deputy Speaker And Majority Leader Resign. The Ondo State House of Assembly witnessed a significant leadership shake-up on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, as Deputy Speaker Rt. Hon. Abayomi Akinruntan and Majority Leader Emmanuel Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi tendered their resignations from their respective positions. The unexpected moves have sparked widespread speculation about the underlying political dynamics in the state. Akinruntan, who represents Ilaje Constituency 1 and is the son of the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, cited political power-sharing arrangements within Ondo State as the primary reason for his resignation. In his…

FG Assures Rural Communities’ Inclusion In WAEC, NECO CBT Rollout. The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that rural communities are not left behind in the transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. The pledge came from the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in selected schools across Abuja on Tuesday, 3 June 2025. Speaking to the press, Ahmad emphasised that the full shift to CBT, slated for completion…

FG: 95,000 Applications Flood TVET Programme Within One Week Of Relaunch. The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced an overwhelming response to the relaunched Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programme, with over 95,000 applications submitted within just one week of its revival. The initiative, aimed at equipping millions of Nigerian youths with practical, industry-relevant skills, has sparked significant interest nationwide, signalling a renewed enthusiasm for vocational training. Education Minister Dr Tunji Alausa revealed the remarkable figure in a post on X on Sunday, 1 June 2025, following the programme’s relaunch on 29 May 2025. “The Ministry of…

Tragedy In Ibadan: Man Falls From 26-Storey Cocoa House In Oyo. A yet-to-be-identified man has tragically fallen from one of the upper floors of the iconic 26-storey Cocoa House building in Ibadan, Oyo State, sending shockwaves through the bustling Dugbe business district. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, 2 June 2025, has left eyewitnesses and the local community in a state of panic and disbelief. According to witnesses, the man plummeted from a high floor of the historic skyscraper, with some reports suggesting it may have been the 23rd floor, home to the Odua Museum…

Super Falcons Soar Past Cameroon In Commanding 2–0 Victory. The Super Falcons of Nigeria delivered a stellar performance on Tuesday evening, defeating Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses 2–0 in an international friendly at the MKO sports Arena Abeokuta. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade proved the hero, netting both goals in a dominant first-half display that showcased Nigeria’s attacking prowess and defensive resilience. The deadlock was broken in the 28th minute when Ajibade coolly converted a penalty, awarded after a Cameroonian defensive error. Her composure from the spot set the tone for Nigeria’s control of the match. Just before the halftime whistle, Ajibade struck again,…

Lagos State Cracks Down On Illegal Dumping With Hefty Fines And Prison Sentences. The Lagos State Government has introduced stringent measures to combat illegal waste disposal and littering, announcing that offenders will face a fine of ₦250,000 or up to three months in prison. The new penalties, effective immediately, aim to curb the growing problem of indiscriminate waste dumping across the state, particularly during and after the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, emphasised the government’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws to ensure a cleaner and healthier Lagos. “Dumping refuse illegally or littering public spaces…

NCC Mandates Banks To Deduct USSD Transaction Fees From Mobile Airtime Starting 3 June 2025. In a significant shift in Nigeria’s banking sector, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has directed Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) to cease deducting Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) transaction fees directly from customers’ bank accounts. Effective from 3 June 2025, these charges will now be deducted from users’ mobile airtime balances, aligning with the NCC’s End-User Billing (EUB) model. The directive, announced through a statement from United Bank for Africa (UBA) to its customers, marks a pivotal change in how USSD banking services are billed.…

Nigeria To Import Danish Dairy Cattle In Bold Move To Slash £1.2bn Import Bill. In a significant step towards boosting local milk production and reducing reliance on costly imports, the Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled plans to import high-yielding dairy cattle from Denmark. The initiative, announced on Monday, 2 June 2025, aims to address the nation’s £1.2 billion ($1.5 billion) annual dairy import bill, which accounts for approximately 60% of Nigeria’s milk consumption. The Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, revealed the ambitious strategy, which targets doubling Nigeria’s milk production from 700,000 tonnes to 1.4 million tonnes annually…

CBN Extends Bureau De Change Recapitalisation Deadline To Save 3 Million Jobs. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has extended the recapitalisation deadline for Bureau De Change (BDC) operators by an additional six months, setting a new deadline of 3 December 2025. This decision follows urgent appeals from the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), which warned that the looming deadline threatened over three million jobs and livelihoods across the sector. The CBN’s initial directive, issued in May 2024, required all BDC operators to reapply for licences under a new two-tier system. Tier 1 operators, permitted…