Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Microsoft To Shut Down Skype In May 2025, Ending An Era Of Video Calling. Microsoft has announced that it will permanently shut down Skype, the pioneering video calling service, in May 2025. The decision, revealed today, brings to a close over two decades of connecting people across the globe, with the tech giant urging users to transition to its Microsoft Teams platform instead. Launched in 2003, Skype quickly became a household name, revolutionising how people communicated by offering free voice and video calls over the internet at a time when international phone charges were steep. Microsoft acquired the service…

NPFL Pledges To Boost Players’ Futures With Sports And Education Initiative. The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) has unveiled an ambitious plan to enhance the prospects of its players by integrating sports with educational opportunities, marking a transformative step for Nigerian football. In a landmark announcement, NPFL Chairman Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye outlined the league’s commitment to supporting young footballers in balancing their athletic careers with academic development. The initiative, revealed following a meeting in Abuja with representatives from the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, aims to secure a brighter future for players beyond the pitch. Speaking…

Senator Natasha Accuses Senate President Godswill Akpabio Of Sexual Harassment In a shocking revelation, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. The allegations, aired during an interview with Arise Television on Friday, have sparked controversy within Nigeria’s political circles. Akpabio, through his media consultant Kenny Okulogbo, has vehemently denied the claims, dismissing them as baseless. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan alleged that the Senate President made inappropriate advances towards her, which she rejected, leading to what she described as persistent harassment and professional sabotage. She recounted a specific incident on 8 December 2023, when she…

Supreme Court Halts Funding To Rivers State Government In Landmark Ruling. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Accountant General of the Federation to immediately cease releasing financial allocations to the Rivers State Government. The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, mandates that the directive remain in effect until Governor Siminalayi Fubara halts what the court described as “illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional activities.” The apex court’s five-member panel, led by Justice Musa Uwani Aba-Aji, issued a scathing rebuke of Governor Fubara’s actions, accusing him of undermining the rule…

NAFDAC Halts Registration Of Multi-Dose Anti-Malarial Suspension Artemether/Lumefantrine. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the discontinuation of the registration of Multi-Dose Anti-Malarial (Artemether/Lumefantrine) dry powder for oral suspension. The decision, detailed in Public Alert No. 01/2025 published on the agency’s website on Thursday, comes after evidence revealed instability in the reconstituted formulations, posing risks to their effectiveness. The suspension applies to all locally produced and imported versions of the Multi-Dose Artemether/Lumefantrine dry powder for oral use. NAFDAC has confirmed it will no longer process new applications, renewals, or variations for this product.…

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…