Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Ogazi shines as third University of Alabama student-athlete to win SEC Runner of the Week File photo: Ogazi Credit: Olympic Nigeria’s Samuel Ogazi has been announced the Southeastern Conference Men’s Runner of the Week, marking the junior’s first conference weekly award of the season, the league office announced on Tuesday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Ogazi becomes the third University of Alabama student-athlete to earn weekly conference recognition in as many weeks. Ogazi won the men’s 400m title in his event-season debut at last weekend’s New Mexico Collegiate Classic, clocking a personal-best 44.85s (44.96a) to break the facility record. The 19-year-old’s…

At the launching of New League of Imams, Alfas to foster growth in North By Elegbede Abiodun At the inauguration of new League of Imams for South West, Edo and Delta States in Iwo, Osun State. Photo: Press Secretary to the Grand Mufti. •  The League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland oversaw issues relating to Islam in the South-West, Edo, and Delta States in the past. A new League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta states has been launched in Iwo, with a promise to work with Muslims in the North for the propagation of Islam.…

NACLFON To Unite Christian Leaders For Political Reformation, Hosts Landmark South-West Summit In Lagos Elegbede Abiodun The National APC Christian Leaders Forum of Nigeria (NACLFON) has made an announcement of its forthcoming South-West Summit, a strategic gathering designed to bridge the gap between spiritual stewardship and transformative governance. The event, scheduled for February 24, 2026, at the Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Lagos, will convene prominent Christian leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders under the theme: ”Divine Mandate for Political Reformation of Renewed Hope Agenda.” The summit represents a significant milestone in NACLFON’s ongoing mission to mobilize Christian leaders within the All…

Court Has Dismissed Shell’s Tertiary Education Tax Suits Against FIRS By Elegbede Abiodun … says court held that the FIRS acted lawfully in assessing the company. A Federal High Court, Lagos, has dismissed suit filed by Shell Nigeria Oil Products Limited and its four sister companies, challenging the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) application of a 3 percent Tertiary Education Tax (TET) rate to its 2023 financial year profits. In dismissing the suits in its entirety, Justice Daniel Osiagor, who presided over the court held that the FIRS acted lawfully in assessing the company at the 3 percent rate…

UBA Unveils New Aggregator Framework to Expand Financial Access Through RedPay Network Elegbede Abiodun United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has introduced a revamped Aggregator Sales Structure for its RedPay POS terminals and agency banking operations, marking a significant advancement in the bank’s drive to expand financial inclusion across Nigeria. The enhanced framework was launched at the inaugural UBA Aggregator Engagement Session held at the bank’s Lagos headquarters on Tuesday. Under the theme “POS-itive Impact: Connecting Agents, Merchants, and Customers,” the event brought together industry aggregators, POS partners, and network managers to align strategies for scaling the UBAMONI Agency…

Manny Ita  – The Lagos State Government has directed the full-scale, immediate enforcement of traffic regulations across the metropolis, specifically targeting motorists operating without valid certification and those driving under the influence of alcohol. This directive, issued following a review of recent road safety data, marks a significant escalation in the state’s “Drivers’ Care Initiative,” which recently flagged off health and safety screenings for over 10,000 professional drivers. ​Authorities have confirmed that the enforcement drive will utilize the newly deployed Traffic Management Solution (TMS) cameras and the e-police system to track and penalize offenders with minimal human contact. The Senior…

Manny Ita  – In a major bid to revitalize Nigeria’s crumbling sports infrastructure and human capital, the National Assembly has moved to increase the 2026 budget proposal for the National Institute of Sports (NIS) from an initial ₦2.8 billion to ₦60 billion. The development, which emerged during recent budget defense sessions in Abuja, marks one of the most significant fiscal interventions in the institute’s 52-year history. ​Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu, confirmed the upward review, stating that the decision followed extensive consultations with the Budget Office of the Federation and the institute’s management. Ahmadu noted…

Manny Ita  – A growing wave of returnee entrepreneurs is reshaping Nigeria’s technology ecosystem in 2025 and 2026, as professionals who built careers at global technology giants such as Google, Meta and Amazon relocate to Lagos or establish remote-first companies that tap into Nigerian technical talent. The trend, widely described within industry circles as a “reverse brain drain,” reflects a shift from the long-standing migration of skilled professionals abroad to a movement of experienced founders bringing global exposure back to the local market. Several of the returning founders previously held senior engineering, product and operations roles in Silicon Valley and…

Governor Fubara Fires State Cabinet After Talks with Tinubu, Wike Elegbede Abiodun Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has dissolved the State Executive Council, ordering all commissioners and special advisers to be relieved of their positions with immediate effect. The dissolution comes in the wake of a meeting between Governor Fubara, President Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. According to a statement released Thursday evening by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, Fubara ordered the affected officials to hand over their responsibilities to permanent secretaries or the most senior officers in their…

Manny Ita  – Residents of Ogun East Senatorial District have pushed back against an endorsement of Governor Dapo Abiodun for the district’s Senate seat in 2027, describing the move by Remo Division political officeholders as unrepresentative of the wider electorate. At a meeting held on Tuesday, party functionaries, local government chairmen, commissioners and special advisers under the platform of Remo stakeholders declared Governor Abiodun as their preferred candidate for the Ogun East Senate seat in 2027. Motions were moved and seconded at the gathering, where speakers cited the governor’s record in office and pledged support for his prospective candidacy. However,…