Wunmi, the wife of the late Nigerian singer Mohbad, has broken her silence amidst the swirling controversies surrounding her husband’s tragic passing.

In a statement, she addressed the scathing accusations made by her sister, Karimot, who had previously been her staunch defender.

Karimot’s sudden about-face had shocked many, as she accused Wunmi of having a hand in Mohbad’s death, alleging a heated altercation between the couple on the day of his death. Moreover, Karimot claimed that Wunmi had stolen Mohbad’s phone from his mother and refused to return it.

In response, Wunmi vowed to take legal action against her sister, asserting that she would not engage in public debates or defend herself on social media. Instead, she would focus on defending her truth in a court of law.

With a heavy heart, Wunmi expressed her gratitude to those who have stood by her during this difficult time. She emphasized that she has endured false and despicable accusations from various quarters, including family, friends, and strangers. Despite the pain, she has chosen to accept this situation as part of her journey.

Wunmi noted that her primary concern is to protect the memory of her late husband, Mohbad. She implored his friends and loved ones to refrain from speaking ill of him, as it would be a disservice to his entire family. She begged them to remember him with love and respect, rather than tarnishing his memory with negativity.

Her post read in part:

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to each of you for standing by me during this difficult time. As many of you know, I have endured a great deal of despicable and false accusations from various quarters—family, friends, and even strangers.

Despite the pain, I have chosen to accept this unfortunate situation as a port of my journey.

I want to make it clear that I will not engage in public debates or attempt to counter the lies being spread about me. My focus will be on defending my truth in the court of law, not on social media. However, I must speak up on behalf of Ilerioluwa, who is no longer here to defend himself.

friend of mine and Liam’s, to refrain from speaking ill of my husband. I beg you, with all that you hold dear, not to tarnish his memory.

Disrespecting llerioluwa in his death is showing disdain for his entire family. Anyone who truly loved him would……………”

See below:

Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has disassociated himself from campaign posters on social media, claiming he would be contesting for the presidency in 2027.

In a statement on Sunday by Edwin Olofu, chief press secretary (CPS), to the APC national chairman, Ganduje said the campaign posters are “malicious pieces of fake news”.

The campaign poster featured Ganduje as a presidential candidate in 2027, with Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, as his running mate.

The poster also showed the two politicians will contest the presidency on the platform of the APC.

Ganduje said “mischief makers” linked with the Kwakwassiyya movement were behind the posters.

He added that the perpetrators are working to cause discord between him and President Bola Tinubu.

“This is to inform the general public that the poster currently circulating on social media, claiming that the APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is contesting for the presidency in 2027 with Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, as his running mate, is entirely false and a malicious piece of fake news,” the statement reads.

“The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to categorically state that this is the work of mischief-makers, likely in collaboration with certain elements within the Kwankwassiyya movement, who are determined to create disaffection between Dr. Ganduje and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains unwaveringly loyal to President Tinubu and is fully committed to supporting the president’s vision and leadership.

“Dr. Ganduje believes that President Tinubu is on the right trajectory to steer Nigeria towards greater prosperity and unity.

“We urge the public to disregard this fabricated story and refrain from spreading unverified information.”

As the severe petrol shortage in Nigeria extends into its sixth week, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has once again attributed the situation to “distribution challenges.”

This is the third major fuel scarcity episode in 2024, beginning in early July. Initially, the NNPCL explained the shortage as a result of logistics issues involving the transfer of petrol from mother vessels to daughter vessels.

The company cited the disruption of ship-to-ship (STS) transfers due to recent thunderstorms and adverse weather conditions.

These conditions, according to NNPCL, affected berthing at jetties, truck load-outs, and the transportation of petrol to filling stations, disrupting the supply chain.

In a previous statement, the NNPCL highlighted the flammability of petroleum products and compliance with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) regulations, which made it impossible to load petrol during rainstorms and lightning.

However, as the fuel scarcity continues without any sign of resolution, the NNPCL released another statement on Sunday expressing regret over the ongoing crisis.

The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, acknowledged the “tightness in fuel supply” in parts of Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and attributed it to distribution challenges.

He urged motorists to avoid panic buying, assuring that the company is working around the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.

Soneye said: “The NNPC Ltd regrets the tightness in fuel supply witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT, which is as a result of distribution challenges.

“The Company further urges motorists to shun panic buying as it is working round the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.”

Independent marketers have reportedly raised pump prices to ₦950 per liter, up from ₦720 per liter before the shortage began.

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says he receives threat calls from unknown persons who are against the progress in the power sector.

Adelabu spoke on Saturday in Oyo state during Fresh FM’s ‘Political Circuit’ programme.

He said all problems in the power sector are surmountable.

“There will be resistance, people stand in your way, saboteurs and others. Let me say this for the first time. I receive threat calls,” he said.

“I am the 49th power minister in the country. The past ministers were probably bullied and intimated in their work. It does not take ordinary people to blow up a power transmission substation with dynamites, and pull down a power line.

“It is an organised crime. It is a cabal and cartel. We are all Nigerians but we are all Nigerians, we will not run away from ourselves.”

Speaking further on the significant development attained in his one year in office, he said Nigeria had struggled with electricity generation of 4,000 megawatts (MW). 

He added that in less than a year in office, his development plans have added more than 1,000MW of electricity to the capacity of the national grid.

“We have raised the electricity generated capacity from 4,000MW to 5,155MW recorded on the 8th of August, 2024. In the past, it took the country over 25 years to achieve 2,000MW of power and it took between 1984 and today to achieve additional 2,000MW,” he said.

“When we resumed as minister, the electricity generated was 4,000MW and within a year, we have added over 1,000MW. Our target is to hit 6,000MW with the support of the Federal Government before the end of this year.”

‘IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKABLE PROCESSES’

Adelabu said a comprehensive diagnosis of the entire ministry “with many organised retreats to find workable and practical solutions to the quagmire in the ministry”.

“First we needed an underlining legislation that will decentralise control and make states as players in the value chain,” Adelabu said.

“It took the effort of President (Bola) Tinubu who signed the Electricity Bill into law which allowed states and private sectors to join and invest in the sector.

“We implemented the supportive policies to act as guiding principles. Then we moved to the market where we looked at the cost reflective tariff as well as infrastructural development, enhancement and upgrade. Extension to remote areas with the adoption of renewal energy and power asset security against saboteurs.” 

The minister added that energy consumers must be ready to pay their bills for continuity and sustainability of the many achievements in the power sector.

Adelabu emphasised that, in contrast to the overall cost of running generators, Nigerians can afford to pay their energy bills regardless of cost.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria would have been much better and occupied a place of pride in the world but for its problem of self-centred leadership.

Apart from being self-centred, Nigerian leaders, according to Obasanjo, also have a knowledge deficit.

The former President spoke on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital during the 2024 edition of the Leadership Empowerment International Conference.

The conference featured the conferment of Doctor of Leadership and Theology awards on some Nigerians by South-African-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in conjunction with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc. based in Nigeria.

“There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country,  the continent and the world.

“And if you asked me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit in knowledge and understanding and leadership that does not see service as the centrepiece of what leadership is all about.

“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. That is what Prof. Olusesi Obateye is doing, which is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life,” Obasanjo said.

Obasanjo commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa-based institute, Prof.Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognising and encouraging some Nigerians with leadership capacities.

Earlier,  Obateye, who spoke on the theme of the conference “Responsible And Responsive Leadership,” lamented the dearth of good leaders, saying it was responsible for Nigeria’s under-development almost 64 years after independence.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Obasanjo said  Nigeria’s problems would continue to defy solutions until the country began to feed itself.

He stated this when a delegation from Niger State, comprising commissioners and Special Advisers to Governor Mohammed Bago,  paid him a courtesy visit in his  Abeokuta, Ogun State home at the weekend.

Governor Bago’s Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, made this known on Sunday in a press statement.

“The former President expressed his admiration for Bago’s initiative, likening it to his own ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ policy of 1976. He emphasised that with modern equipment now available, the impact of such initiatives can be even greater than before.

“Obasanjo highlighted the critical importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating, ‘Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb’.

“He urged other state governors to follow Niger State’s lead in agricultural development to ensure that Nigeria can produce the majority of its own food,” Wakaso stated.

The Special Adviser disclosed that the former President encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices, expressing his intention to visit Niger State with his team to learn from their progress and exchange ideas to improve and add value to his own agricultural endeavors.

“Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider investing in soilless farming, warning that with the current rate of land use, Nigeria could soon face a shortage of arable land. He stressed that innovative farming techniques are essential to sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity,” she stated

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued permits to Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation.

The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.

According to a report by the commission, Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states. The total capacity is 100MW.

Also, MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.

Aside from MTN, SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited were permitted to generate captive power.

“Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.

Our correspondent gathered that other licensed companies for mini-grids are Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State. 

Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.

Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.

A permit is issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, maintenance, and where applicable ownership of mini-grids with distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and generation capacity up to 1MW.

The commission disclosed that it issues registration certificates to a mini-grid developer for one or more systems with distribution capacity below 100kW.

“Following the satisfactory evaluation of mini-grid applications, the commission issued three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in 2024/Q1,” the NERC stated.

During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.

A Meter Service Provider is an entity certified by the commission as a manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or installer of electric energy meters and/or metering systems. 

A Meter Asset Provider is an entity that is granted a permit by the commission to provide metering services with roles that may include meter financing, procurement, supply, installation, maintenance, and replacement.

The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).

The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERC–R–001–2024 — Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023—NERC/2023/033 — Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 — MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.

Other are NERC/2023/035 — Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 — Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 – NERC/2024/014 — Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January – September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 – NERC/2024/036 — February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.

During the quarter, the commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.

The departure of numerous multinational corporations from the country due to the challenging operating environment has raised concerns about the potential exacerbation of youth unemployment, HENRY FALAIYE writes

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, boasts a youthful demographic, with nearly 70 per cent of its population under the age of 30. This demographic advantage is often seen as a potential driver of economic expansion. Yet, the actual circumstances reveal a more complex and challenging reality.

In recent years, Nigeria’s economic indicators have suggested a cautiously optimistic outlook, with data indicating a drop in the unemployment rate and fuelling discussions of economic progress.

However, a deeper investigation uncovers a troubling contradiction: a significant portion of Nigerian youths remain unemployed, and lack requisite skills.

This phenomenon, despite the reported fall in joblessness, is a cause for deep concern, signalling a crisis that could have long-lasting effects on the country’s socio-economic fabric.

Despite recent reports indicating a decline in the country’s unemployment rate from 33.3 per cent in 2021 to 32.5 per cent in 2023, the number of young people who are neither working, studying, nor undergoing training has continued to rise.

The Manufacturing Association of Nigeria reported that 767 manufacturing companies shut down and 335 experienced distress in 2023 due to various economic difficulties, including rising inflation, exchange rate volatility, and a worsening investment climate.

According to an economist and former Director of Research and Advocacy at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Nigeria, Dr Vincent Nwani, the exodus of multinationals from the Nigerian economy has cost the country a N94tn loss of output in five years.

Nwani said, “If things continue this way and I don’t see anything being done to cause insecurity to stop, illegal taxation, corruption, and uncertainty of foreign exchange rendering companies unable to hedge risk, then I see at least 10 more notable names (of multinationals) that will go. We already have five by the end of May.”

Meanwhile, the youth unemployment dilemma stems from several underlying issues. Firstly, a decreasing unemployment rate does not equate to a surge in job opportunities. Instead, it often signals a drop in the number of individuals actively seeking employment, either because of discouragement or a move into informal, underpaid work that is not captured by official statistics.

The underemployment rate, which measures people working less than 40 hours a week or in jobs below their skill level, has remained high, indicating that many youths are stuck in unstable employment that offers little security or prospects for advancement.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics’ ‘Nigeria Labour Force Survey Q2 2023’, in Q2 2023, Nigeria’s labour force participation rate among the working-age population was 80.4 per cent, with an employment-to-population ratio of 77.1 per cent.

It mentioned that the combined rate of unemployment and time-related underemployment stood at 15.5 per cent, while the unemployment rate was 4.2 per cent, a slight increase from 4.1 per cent in Q1 2023. Self-employment remained dominant, with 88.0 per cent of workers engaged in it, and only 12 per cent were in wage employment.

One of the primary causes is the mismatch between the education system and the labour market. Many Nigerian youths graduate from secondary schools and universities with qualifications that do not align with the demands of the modern economy.

Also, the curriculum in many institutions is outdated, focusing on theoretical knowledge rather than practical skills that are in high demand. As a result, graduates often find themselves ill-equipped for available jobs, leading to frustration and a sense of hopelessness.

Moreover, the high cost of education in Nigeria is a significant barrier for many young people. The rising cost of tuition, coupled with the economic hardships faced by many families, means that many youths are unable to afford higher education or vocational training.

The unemployment crisis is worsened by the lack of job opportunities for young people. Although Nigeria’s economy, is heavily reliant on the oil sector, it offers limited employment.

Other sectors like agriculture and manufacturing are underdeveloped, and the private sector struggles with poor infrastructure and limited credit access. As a result, many young people are left with few viable options for meaningful employment.

The lack of purpose and direction can lead to increased involvement in criminal activities, including drug abuse, armed robbery, and internet fraud, which are already prevalent in some parts of the country.

Moreover, the disillusionment and frustration among these youths can fuel political instability and violence, as they become easy targets for radicalisation and recruitment by extremist groups.

The phenomenon in Nigeria is also gendered, with young women disproportionately affected. Cultural norms and gender biases often limit the opportunities available to girls and women, particularly in rural areas.

Also, many young women are forced into early marriages or domestic responsibilities, which curtail their access to education and employment.

Experts have warned that the consequences of the growing NEET (not in education, employment, or training) population are dire. Youths who are not engaged in productive activities are more likely to experience poverty, social exclusion, and mental health issues.

Speaking with The PUNCH, a human resources consultant, Mr Tolu Adedayo, said, “As the former President Buhari Muhammadu stated, Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gunpowder. We have a high level of unemployed youth coupled with a high inflation rate, especially food inflation. It is a big problem and we have not seen a definite plan from the government to roll out an employability plan so that these youths can be absorbed and given meaningful employment.”

He stated that one of the cushioning effects would be the entertainment industry, which has engaged thousands of youths to keep them busy and that religious organisations were also providing a cushioning effect to reduce the spate of restiveness.

According to Adedayo, these are not solving the unemployment challenge, they are just cushioning their restiveness.

He explained that the macroeconomic factor regarding the number of youths is a major concern. “It is a red flag that, if not addressed, could lead to more serious consequences such as a high crime rate, fraud, and insecurity, among other things,” he stated.

He noted that though the Federal Government was trying to provide palliatives, they would not go a long way because they were just a temporary measure.

“Unfortunately, the palliatives are not even going around and even if they get to the right people, how long will they last? Which is not realistic, sustainable and effective considering the long-term effect.

“The government should just declare a state of emergency when it comes to unemployment so that all hands will be on deck. Many of our youths are quite enterprising, so the government can start supporting them with soft loans and grants to engage them and enable them to start something,” he posited.

He added that the government should roll out a comprehensive employment plan or train them with skills acquisition, which are in demand right now, like technical skills and vocational skills. A lot of graduates who have a basic foundation will require some of this training to upskill and be able to get employed and generate income.

“Many of the training and courses received from schools are no longer relevant to what the job market demands right now. At the same time, the government must rejig and review our curriculum across the board, starting from primary schools to tertiary institutions and make it contemporary to meet global best practices because Nigeria is far behind looking at the community of nations,” Adedayo remarked.

Experts have also suggested that youths could be deployed to areas like sports, agriculture, and manufacturing, where the country has strengths to make them productive and contribute to the economy.

The rising number of Nigerian youths who are not in employment, education, or training is a ticking time bomb that requires urgent and comprehensive action. Addressing this crisis will require a multi-pronged approach that involves government, the private sector, civil society, and international partners.

First and foremost, there is a need to reform the education system to make it more relevant to the needs of the labour market. This includes updating curricula, promoting vocational and technical education, and fostering stronger links between educational institutions and industries. By equipping young people with the skills required in the modern economy, they will be better prepared to secure decent jobs and contribute meaningfully to society.

Furthermore, the government must prioritise job creation, particularly in sectors that have the potential to absorb large numbers of workers, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and information technology. This will require investment in infrastructure, improving the ease of doing business, and providing incentives for private sector growth.

Additionally, expanding access to education and training for all youths, regardless of their socio-economic background, is crucial. This can be achieved through policies that reduce the cost of education, provide financial aid, and create more opportunities for vocational training and apprenticeships.

More so, it is essential to address the gender disparities that contribute to the NEET crisis. Empowering young women through education, skills development, and access to economic opportunities will not only reduce the NEET rate but also drive broader societal progress.

Also, HR Analyst Victor Oyesina, said, “Nigeria must urgently address youth unemployment by revamping its education system to focus on practical skills that match market demands. The government should aggressively promote entrepreneurship by providing easier access to funding, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and fostering innovation hubs across the country.”

According to Oyesina, massive investment in digital infrastructure and technology-driven industries is essential to creating sustainable, high-impact jobs.

Meanwhile, he explained that establishing strong partnerships between the government, private sector, and international organisations could help scale up efforts and ensure the long-term success of those initiatives, providing a clear pathway to economic stability for the nation’s youth.

He asserted that tackling corruption and creating a business-friendly environment would attract significant investment, driving large-scale job creation for the youth.

“Tackling youth unemployment in Nigeria also demands implementing extensive public works and infrastructure projects that can quickly employ a large number of young people,” he added.

However, Oyesina mentioned that the rising youth population in Nigeria, despite a falling unemployment rate, is a clear indication that the country’s youth were being left behind in the march toward economic development.

“If left unaddressed, this crisis could have severe consequences for Nigeria’s future, threatening social cohesion, economic growth, and political stability.

“All stakeholders must come together to tackle this issue head-on, ensuring that every young Nigerian has the opportunity to build a better future for themselves and their country,” he emphasised.

Due to the current economic crunch in the country, payments by Nigerian students for the new academic session starting in September, this year, in universities in the United Kingdom have dropped by 65 per cent compared to last year, a report by the Financial Times of London has said.

The report also indicated that payments by students from India also dropped by 44 per cent, compared to last August.

The two nations are among the top three contributors to the League of International Students in the United Kingdom.

The paper, quoting data from Enroly, a web platform used by one in three international students for managing enrolment, said there was a 35 per cent drop in deposits for places on UK university courses overall by foreign students this month, compared to August 2023.

‘’Some will likely need to take further significant action to secure their financial sustainability,’’ said Paul Kett, senior education and skills adviser at PwC UK.

The number of international students applying to UK universities has remained far below recent levels, despite signs of a slight recovery this month, leaving some institutions facing financial crisis.

This shows a slight improvement in May when the drop was 57 per cent, compared with a year earlier.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said last month that the new Labour government wanted to welcome international students.

She criticised the negative rhetoric of the previous Conservative administration which successive Tory ministers had deployed as they tried to cut overall migration figures.

The data showed a significant decline in students from Nigeria and India, two of the three largest international markets for UK universities.

Deposits from Nigerian students fell by 65 per cent, and from Indian, students were down by 44 per cent, when compared to August 2023.

Smaller markets, such as Kenya and Nepal, showed increased demand against a year ago.

Jeffrey Williams, Enroly’s Chief Executive, said the “early signs” of recovery reflected efforts by the new government to stabilise immigration policy.

“Concerns regarding the potential elimination of the postgraduate route work visa have been assuaged,” he said, adding that this had been helped by “continued political uncertainty” in other markets such as Australia and Canada.

Harry Anderson, Deputy Director of Universities UK International, the sector lobby group, said the international environment remained volatile for universities as they continued to look to diversify the range of countries from which they recruit students.

Labour has so far retained the Conservative’s ban on most graduate students bringing family members, which Anderson said would still present competitive challenges for UK institutions.

“Most of our competitor destinations do allow students to bring their family members, and most of the growth in recent years has been in postgraduate taught courses where students typically tend to be older and have family members.

“Still, the hope is that stability signalled by the new government will benefit the next admissions cycle after the turbulence of the last 18 months. But the sector needs to be working hard with embassies to communicate this,” Anderson added.

The regulator, the Office for Students, has already started to prepare for a potential wave of university insolvencies, advertising for a contract of up to £4million for professional services companies to handle restructuring programmes.

It made the move after financial accounts revealed over-optimistic assumptions about the growth of overseas’ recruitment in the next few years.

In its annual report this May the OfS accused universities of “optimism bias” for using projections of 35 per cent growth in international entrants in 2022-26.

Meanwhile, a recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s balance of payment compilation spanning the first six months of 2023, showed that Nigerians spent $896.09million on foreign education, with a large chunk going to the UK.

Foundation courses in the UK go for between £10,000 and £15,000 and an average student would need about £8,000 for other expenses yearly.

Adedeji Adeleke, father of Afrobeats star Davido, has made a whopping contribution of N1 billion to the Centenary Endowment Fund of a Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church in Lagos.

The announcement was made during a thanksgiving service on Sunday at the church’s headquarters in Lagos, held in memory of his late mother, Esther Adeleke.

Adeleke expressed that the donation was made in honor of his mother, the late Mrs. Esther Adeleke, who was a revered figure in the C&S Church.

“On behalf of our late mother, senior mother in Israel, late Mrs. Esther Adeleke, we want to contribute to the centenary endowment fund, the sum of N1 billion,” he stated.

Esther Adeleke, originally from Akwete in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, was the founder of a C&S Church in Ede, Osun State. She held the esteemed title of Senior Mother-in-Israel within the church, a role now carried on by her daughter, Modupe Adeleke-Sanni.

This generous donation underscores the Adeleke family’s deep ties to the church and their continued commitment to preserving Esther Adeleke’s legacy.

Pastor Abel Damina has described as false the popular Christian slogan of ‘What God cannot do doesn’t exist’.

This is just as he said that he is not jealous of Pastor Jerry Eze, who is famous for having come up with the slogan.

He said this in a teaser for the upcoming episode of the Honest Bunch Podcast.

“What God cannot do does not exist is not the truth. People think that I am jealous of Jerry Eze. It is not about sentiments, it is about knowing what the truth is.

“I believe in miracles, I believe in healing, but not this ‘arrangee’ that we are seeing today. Most of those crutches are the same.

Damina also touched on the topic of tithes, noting, “Why are you asking for tithes? If you read the book of acts, nobody paid tithes to anybody, Jesus didn’t pay tithes, Jesus didn’t receive tithes.”