Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – A new scientific review warns that regularly eating large amounts of ultra-processed foods could seriously damage heart health and raise the chances of early death. The report, published in the European Heart Journal, brought together findings from major studies on diet and cardiovascular disease. It found strong links between high consumption of ultra-processed foods and increased risks of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and death from cardiovascular conditions. Researchers say people who eat the highest amounts of these foods may have about a 19% higher risk of developing heart disease compared with those who eat…

Manny Ita  – Businessman Tony O. Elumelu and his wife Awele Vivien Elumelu have been listed among TIME Magazine’s 2026 TIME100 Philanthropy honourees, recognising their global impact through charitable and development work in Africa. The couple were honoured for their role in co-founding the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which has become one of the continent’s most influential private-sector-led philanthropy initiatives focused on entrepreneurship. According to the report, the foundation has supported over 27,000 African entrepreneurs with seed funding and mentorship, and has expanded its reach across all 54 African countries. It has also distributed over $100 million in seed capital and…

Manny Ita  – Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has stressed that no economy can achieve lasting prosperity without strong institutions and consistent policy frameworks. Speaking at a business and investment forum in Lekki, Lagos, Obasa said global investors are more likely to commit capital to countries where governance is transparent, laws are clear, and institutions are accountable. He noted that legislative bodies play a central role in creating such an environment by ensuring proper oversight of public funds and enacting investor-friendly laws. He explained that the “power of the purse” held by lawmakers…

Manny Ita  – The Sultan of Sokoto has declared Monday, May 18, 2026, as the first day of Zulhijja 1447AH, marking the beginning of the final month in the Islamic lunar calendar. The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Sunday night by the Sultanate Council’s Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs. The declaration confirms the sighting and official commencement of Zulhijja in Nigeria. Zulhijja is a significant month in Islam, as it leads up to the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca and the celebration of Eid-el-Kabir observed by Muslims worldwide. It is a period associated with prayers, sacrifice, charity,…

Manny Ita  – Bruno Fernandes delivered a record-equalling performance as Manchester United rounded off a strong season with an entertaining victory over Nottingham Forest, highlighting the influence of their midfield leaders both on the pitch and in the team’s resurgence. Fernandes reached a major milestone by matching the Premier League single-season assist record of 20, joining legends like Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne. His creativity was central to United’s attacking play, repeatedly carving open Forest’s defence and setting up key chances, even as teammates missed several opportunities before the record-tying assist finally arrived. The match also marked an emotional…

Manny Ita  – At least 80 people have died in a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo’s Ituri province, according to health authorities, as officials race to contain the spread and intensify contact tracing and screening efforts. The outbreak was first confirmed on Friday, initially reporting 65 deaths and over 200 suspected cases, but the number has since risen as surveillance continues. Health officials say only a small number of laboratory tests have confirmed Ebola so far, but available results indicate the presence of the Bundibugyo strain, a less common variant of the virus in the country.…

Manny Ita  – Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has called on global health leaders and technology companies to take stronger action to protect children from online harm, warning that young people are increasingly exposed to dangerous digital systems built to maximise attention and engagement. Speaking at the opening of the Lost Screen Memorial in Geneva, the Duchess described children’s online safety as a major public health concern. The memorial honoured individuals who died after experiencing digital-related harm. She appeared alongside Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of World Health Organization. Addressing global health officials, ministers, and affected families, Meghan said children are…

Manny Ita  – Twelve years after his conviction over the 2011 bombing of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla near Abuja, suspected Boko Haram member Kabiru Umar, widely known as Kabiru Sokoto, has filed an appeal challenging the life imprisonment sentence handed to him by a Federal High Court. The Christmas Day bombing of December 25, 2011, which Boko Haram claimed responsibility for, killed about 35 worshippers and injured many others. According to court documents, Mr Umar argued that circumstances beyond his control prevented him from filing the appeal within the legally required period. He cited the deaths of his…

Manny Ita  – At least 17 police officers undergoing specialised operational training have been killed after suspected Islamist insurgents attacked the Nigerian Army Special Forces School in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local Government Area of Yobe State. The attack, described as one of the deadliest recent assaults on a security facility in Nigeria’s North-east, occurred in the early hours of 8 May at about 1:15 a.m., according to police authorities. Police spokesperson Anthony Placid, a deputy commissioner of police, said the officers were participating in advanced tactical and counter-terrorism training when gunmen launched a coordinated overnight assault on the military institution…

Manny Ita  – The Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt has upheld a 2007 Rivers State High Court judgment restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating the finances and public accounts of the Rivers State Government, a decision that effectively continues to shield former Rivers governor Peter Odili from EFCC investigation and prosecution. The appellate court, in a judgment delivered on Friday by a three-member panel comprising Justices Ugochukwu Ogakwu, Isah Gafai and Zainab Abubakar, ruled that the earlier High Court decision remains valid and binding because it was never appealed. Delivering the lead judgment in the…