The Southwest chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has slammed the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, over a threat to ‘take over’ Osun and Oyo states in the forthcoming electoral processes.

Recalls that Ganduje, while speaking in Akure on Sunday following the victory of Ondo State Governor and APC candidate, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had said, “Our next target in the South-West geopolitical zone is Osun and Oyo states. You know we are good at hitting our targets. We will do whatever is necessary to bring them into the fold so that we can gain more political opportunity in the South-West.”

Reacting to Ganduje’s statement, the PDP Southwest Executive Council, in a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, by the party’s Zonal Publicity Secretary, Sanya Atofarati, urged President Bola Tinubu to caution Ganduje over the threat.

Atofarati said, “The PDP urges President Bola Tinubu to rein in the unwarranted threats made by APC National Chairman Ganduje to manipulate the electoral process in Ekiti, Osun, and Oyo states, using the APC’s trademark of rigging.

“We affirm, without equivocation, that Ganduje lacks the moral authority to speak on matters of credibility or democracy.” 

The party also expressed disappointment in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the poor conduct of the Ondo governorship election.

PDP alleged defects in the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and delays in the arrival of election materials in their strongholds and urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate claims of misconduct by security personnel during the election.

He said, “We call on the Inspector General of Police to uphold the integrity of his office by investigating these allegations and ensuring that those responsible face justice.” 

The PDP commended the efforts of Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and the party’s national leadership for their support before, during, and after the Ondo election.

The party further urged its members to remain law-abiding despite alleged intimidation, assuring that it would explore all legal avenues to seek justice.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, on Thursday, arraigned, three men Saka Olubamishe, Omogoye Olusegun and Olumuyiwa Adesina, before the Ikeja Special Offences Court for allegedly obtaining N29,386, 500, under pretence of transferring dollar to Copart Auto Auction in America.

The defendants, who were arraigned before Justice Olubunmi Abike-Fadipe, are facing three counts bordering on conspiracy, stealing and obtaining preferred against them by the EFCC.

The anti-graft agency’s prosecuting counsel, B. M. Isha, told the court that the defendants committed the offences sometime in July 2023 in Lagos.

Isha told the court that the trio conspired amongst themselves and fraudulently converted the sum of N29, 386, 500, property of Awolaja Sherri Ajibola and Akintoye Ganiyu, to their use.

The prosecutor said the defendants allegedly defrauded the victims by obtaining the cumulative sum of N29, 386, 500, under the false pretence that they had the dollar equivalent of the said sum at the rate of N750 per dollar to transfer to Copart Auto Auction in America which pretence they knew was false.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 280(2), of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2015, 1(1) (a) and 1(3), of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act No. 14 of 2006.

However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Given their plea, the prosecutor, Isha, prayed to the court for a trial date.

But, counsel for the defendants, S. T. Ladokun, S. A. Oseni and T. F. Makinde, informed the court about the pending applications for bail on behalf of their clients and pleaded with the court to grant them bail in the most liberal terms.

Consequently, Justice Abike-Fadipe granted them bail in the sum of N10, each with two sureties each in like sum.

The judge said the sureties must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

She adjourned the case to January 23, 2025, for the commencement of trial.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has suspended its National Chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman over an unauthorized statement.

The Forum announced the development in a statement issued by the Chairman of ACF Board Trustees, Bashir Muhammad Dalhatu and National Secretary, Murtala Aliyu on Thursday.

ACF said, “In particular, Mr. Osuman was quoted as saying that the North will back a northern candidate for the presidency, come 2027.”

The statement noted that “Our attention has been drawn to widely reported statements credited to Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman, SAN, OFR, Chairman, ACF National Executive Committee (NEC), which were made during the meeting of the NEC, held on Wednesday, November, 2024, at ACF Headquarters, Kaduna.

“The statements were made by the NEC Chairman without consulting or discussing with other leaders and members of the ACF and thus, reflected Mr. Osuman’s personal opinion only.

“ACF rejects Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman’s statements in their entirety. For this reason, the leadership of the ACF’s Board of Trustees (BOT) and that of its NEC has decided to place Mr. Mamman Mike Osuman on suspension with immediate effect.”

The statement declared, “A Committee has been constituted for further investigations.”

Your Government Is Partial To Northerners, You Only Carry Igbos Along – Arewa Chair Slams Fubara

Meanwhile,  the Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum in Rivers State and Southern Nigeria, Musa Saidu, has expressed disappointment over the non-representation of northerners in the state.

He lamented that northerners were not represented in the recent appointment of commissioners, with an Igbo man from Abia State being the only non-Rivers State indigene on the list.

Speaking in an interview with The Guardian, Saidu condemned the persistent marginalization of Northerners in the state, and called on Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reverse the trend and ensure inclusivity in his government.

The Northern leader criticized Fubara’s government for being “entirely partial” against Northerners, accusing him of only favouring the Igbo community.

He said: “The biggest problem we are facing is because the government does not give us contracts. They pass through the Muslim community and these people in turn give us small.

“Since Governor Siminalayi Fubara held sway we have not benefited anything, we did not see rice, we did not see appointment and the marginalisation has continued from the Nyesom Wike era.

“We did not do bad to Governor Fubara. What we are seeing is that the policy of Wike has continued. We do not have any representative in the Rivers State Government House on behalf of the North.

“I am the only Elected leader and head of the Traditional Council. What I am saying is that the marginalisation has continued.

“We are calling on Fubara to reverse the marginalization of the Northerns in Rivers State and I have reported this matter to Chief Edwin Clarke that we are still marginalized.”

He called on the Governor not to, by his actions, create a divide in the Northern community, accusing him of sowing “deep animosity” amongst them.

“I am also calling on the governor not to divide our people. We did not stop the governor from appointing Commissioners but he should not do that on behalf North community without meeting the legitimate leadership.

“Until we see the governor and sit with him because we feel that the Governor is not running an all-inclusive government, his government is entirely partial against Northerns. He is only carrying the Igbos along because if he puts an Edo man I would have hope.

“Our position is that we are supporting him as governor because if Rivers State progresses we will progress,” he added.

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has officially delisted companies that failed to file their annual returns for the past 10 years from its register.

The commission had earlier announced, on July 25, plans to remove dormant companies from its database, granting a 90-day grace period for non-compliant entities to take corrective action.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the CAC confirmed it has struck off the names of companies that did not update their records despite the notice.

“The general public may recall that the commission issued a notice of intention to strike off names of companies that are believed to be dormant or not conducting business due to their failure to file annual returns for 10 years,” the CAC stated.

The commission emphasized that companies were given a statutory 90-day period to comply by submitting the necessary annual returns and sending an activation email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Those who adhered to the advisory have been retained on the register, while defaulters were delisted.

Acting under its powers granted by Section 692(4) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act No. 3 of 2020, the CAC published the list of dissolved companies on its website (www.cac.gov.ng).

According to The Cable, the delisted companies are considered dissolved as of the date of publication, and the CAC warned that any transaction or deal with such entities is illegal.

Some of the delisted companies include:

Jolly Food Ind. Ltd

Dantama Biscuits Factory Ltd

Honeycrown Manufacturing Company Limited

Havila Gold Nigeria Limited

Print Express Limited

Hydeson and Avilson Nig Ltd

Innoson “Vinod” International Limited

Apapa Sea Stores Limited

Citigate Limited

Mutbish Guards Security Company Limited

Safol Integrated Ventures Limited

Eko Foods Limited

Myers Klein & Goldsmith Ltd

De-Luxe Colour Productions Limited

Marina Investment Limited

Dunlop Nigeria Industries Sales Limited

Mitsubishi Shoji Kaisha Limited

Other affected companies can be found here.

• IPOB disowns Biafra agitator

The Federal Government will likely apply for the extradition of Simon Ekpa, the leader of the Eastern Security Network, the paramilitary organization of the Indigenous People of Biafra.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, who gave the indication on Thursday, said Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, should be extradited to Nigeria to face criminal charges.

Also, many Nigerians online demanded his repatriation to Nigeria to face terrorism charges.

However, the IPOB dissociated itself from the embattled Biafran separatist, asserting it had no relationship with him.

Ekpa is one of the 97 individuals declared wanted by the Defence Headquarters in March 2024.

The Finland-based Biafran agitator is a close ally of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony, and inciting violence through his Radio Biafra, amongst others.

He has been in the custody of the Department of State Services since 2021 when he was arrested in Kenya and brought back to Nigeria.

A presidential spokesman, Daniel Bwala, said President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, have yet to be briefed on the arrest of Ekpa.

“The procedure is that the (Nigerian) Embassy in Finland has to have the information and it would brief the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the minister might brief the NSA or the President,’’ he explained.

Ekpa and four others were arrested in Finland on charges related to terrorism, Finland’s Central Criminal Police said in a statement on Thursday.

A report said the District Court of Päijät-Häme, Finland, ordered that Ekpa be imprisoned “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”

Speaking on the development in a statement on Thursday, Gusau said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chris Musa, was pleased with the trial of the ESN leader.

Gusau wrote, “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.”

Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, was accused of inciting crimes with terrorist intent, while the other suspects face charges of financing terrorism.

He was arrested in February 2023 for his inciting comments and sit-at-home orders to the people of the South-East.

Before his arrest, thousands of Nigerians worldwide signed a petition appealing to the Finnish and Nigerian governments and the European Union to arrest Ekpa.

He had asked the people to boycott the 2023 general poll, insisting there would be no election in the region.

Worried by his activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, over his threats to stop the 2023 general election in the South-East.

The ministry sought the Finnish government’s cooperation to arrest Ekpa over threats to disrupt the exercise.

The Finnish police confirmed on Thursday that Ekpa and his accomplices were arrested earlier this week as part of an international investigation.

Ekpa, who describes himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, is alleged to have used social media platforms to promote violent activities in the South-East, including attacks on civilians and authorities.

The police said the main suspect was arrested “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” while four others were arrested “for financing a terrorist crime.”

The police added: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21. The detention demands are related to the preliminary investigation, in which a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, is suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

“The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria” the statement read in part.

Speaking on the case, Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen stated, “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels,” suggesting that his online actions have fueled violence in Nigeria.

“Four other persons are suspected of financing the aforementioned activity. All five suspects in the crime were arrested at the beginning of the week.

“International cooperation has been carried out during the preliminary investigation,” the statement added.

The four other suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed, are believed to have financed these alleged activities.

The Central Criminal Police revealed that the case involved extensive international collaboration.

The Finnish authorities emphasised their commitment to investigating the case thoroughly as part of their broader effort to combat terrorism.

Expressing delight over Ekpa’s arrest and ongoing trial, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen Edward Buba, said the military was pleased with the news.

The Chief of Defence Staff had severally called for Ekpa’s arrest, accusing him of sponsoring terrorism in the South-East.

Buba noted that the military was glad that the international community was supporting the country in its fight against terrorism.

He stated, “The CDS has always called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa following his deep involvement in fuelling terrorism in SE Nigeria. We are delighted about his arrest, and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism.”

The ESN has been implicated in numerous violent activities in the South-East since its creation in December 2020.

While the ESN was initially formed to counter the activities of armed herdsmen and protect local communities, their operations have reportedly led to significant unrest in the region.

The group has been accused of ambushing and killing troops of the Nigerian Army, police, and other security personnel.

Police stations and military checkpoints in the South-East have been frequent targets, leading to loss of lives and property.

Also, the ESN has been linked to arson attacks on public facilities such as police stations, electoral offices, and government buildings, disrupting governance and public services in the region.

There have been allegations of extrajudicial killings by the ESN, including attacks on individuals accused of opposing IPOB’s secessionist agenda or cooperating with the government.

Some communities have reported being harassed or forced to comply with the group’s directives, including its Monday sit-at-home orders, especially during days commemorating Biafra or protesting the detention of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Defiance of these orders had led to attacks on businesses, vehicles, and individuals, paralyzing economic activities in the South-East.

Conflicts between the ESN and local vigilante groups, including state-backed security outfits like Ebube Agu, have resulted in casualties and instability, escalating insecurity in the South-East.

The situation had led to heightened military operations in the region, sometimes resulting in collateral damage and further alienation of local communities.

The Federal Government labelled the ESN a terrorist organisation and launched several military operations to dismantle it.

On Monday, Anambra Central Senatorial Zone descended into chaos as gunmen enforcing the sit-at-home order attacked Abatete, Abagana, and Ukpo communities, leaving five people dead and several others injured.

At Abatete, three vigilantes attached to the town’s president-general were fatally shot. The victim sustained critical injuries and was rushed to a nearby hospital.

Also, vehicles were set ablaze by the attackers who repeatedly warned the people to respect the sit-at-home order.

Witnesses reported further violence in Abagana and Ukpo. At the Ukpo roundabout in Dunukofia Local Government Area, a vigilante member and a motorcyclist were reportedly gunned down.

Meanwhile, IPOB denied any relationship with Ekpa, saying it had publicly asked the people and relevant authorities to stop linking it with the embattled Biafran agitator.

Reacting to the arrest of Ekpa by the Finnish authorities, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, maintained that his organisation had nothing to do with Ekpa and his group, Autopilot.

He said, “We are not interested in his arrest. All we want is for the release of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has not committed any offence and who has been freed by the law courts. That is our concern.

“We have reiterated on several occasions that the Ekpa had no relationship with the IPOB from the formation to date and he had nothing in common with the Biafra struggle.

“For a long time, IPOB has maintained that there is nothing like autopilot in IPOB. More so, the criminal gang leader in Finland has no relationship with ESN from the formation of ESN to date or with IPOB. The authorities should stop linking IPOB with Ekpa and his group and IPOB is not interested in his arrest or whatever.”

“All we want is for the Nigerian government to release our leader who has been detained for no known crime other than fighting for the liberation of his people.”

Spokesman of IPOB’s Political Wing, Nwachukwu Emereonye, called for the immediate extradition of Ekpa to Nigeria to face the consequences of his actions.

While speaking to journalists on the development, Emereonye noted that Ekpa’s actions led to the death of scores of innocent people and destruction of businesses in the South-East.

He said, “We in IPOB Political Wing welcome the arrest of Simon Ekpa. His actions are unbecoming. Scores of people have been killed and properties worth billions of Naira destroyed.

“He should be handed over the Nigerian government for immediate prosecution.”

Also, a chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Dubem Silas, said the apex Igbo socio-cultural group was still studying the details behind Ekpa’s arrest.

Silas said if found guilty, according to the laws of Finland, Ekpa should be made to face the music.

He said, “We heard of the news of his arrest online and we are still studying the details. Ohanaeze, as a body is not in support of anything that is against the law.

“However, what is upper most for us and a top priority is for the Federal Government to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who did not commit any crime, who did not carry gun or arm, but he’s been detained unlawfully despite the fact that the courts of the land have freed him.”

The arrest of the ESN leader has generated various reactions online with many Nigerians demanding his extradition to Nigeria.

A former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, applauded the development on his X handle.

He said, “The arrest and detention of one Simon Ekpa by the Finnish authorities for terrorism-related charges and inciting terrorism in Nigeria is good news.

‘’Not only is this misguided young man a feral psychopath, a hate-filled sociopath, a notorious coward and a man of blood but he is also a religious bigot, an unrepentant racist, an ethnic supremacist and an enemy of humanity.

“He derived pleasure from killing and torturing our people and he waged war on our nation from the safety of Finland. Many innocent Nigerians were killed on his orders and as a consequence of his foul and divisive rhetoric.

“I hope this serves as a lesson to others in our nation who believe that division, violence & terror are the only way forward and who have no respect for the sanctity of human life.”

 Bashir Ahmad, former media aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, proposed that Ekpa should be extradited to Nigeria after serving his jail term in Finland.

Ahmad said Ekpa should be made to face justice for the treasonable offences he perpetrated in the South-East.

He insisted that Ekpa should be punished for his role in the sit-at-home enforcement in the region.

Posting on X, Ahmad wrote: “After serving his jail term in Finland, Simon Ekpa should be extradited to Nigeria to face justice for his numerous treasonable offences, particularly his role in enforcing the unlawful and condemned sit-at-home orders on our brothers and sisters.”

An X user, Nwafresh @nwafresh wrote, “Extradite this son of a thousand fathers called Simon Ekpa back to Nigeria and I’ll use my last kobo to watch his tears in every court session until his last day on earth… A murderer and coward.. Tueh.”

Another X user, Ogechukwu Chime @ogechumwuchime stated, “Hurray!!!! Let me see if Tuesday will be declared as sit-at-home in the east for Simon Ekperima.”

Another X user, Ijaya @samuel10540458 knocked Ekpa stating, “Kirirkiri. The Finland version is good for him.”

Arizona @iam_arizona said, “Brigadier general go turn bricklayer for prison.”

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a Federal High Court ruling that prevented theIndependent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from releasing the voters’ register to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) for the conduct of local government elections, which have since taken place.

In delivering its judgment on Thursday, a special panel led by Justice Onyekachi Otisi declared that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

The appellate court clarified that Section 28 of the Electoral Act applies solely to federal elections, governorship elections, and area council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, not state-conducted elections.

The Court of Appeal further criticized the lower court’s directive, which barred security agencies from performing their constitutional duties during the election process.

Previously, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court had ruled against RSIEC for scheduling the local government elections for October 5 without complying with legal provisions.

He stated that RSIEC violated the local government election law by failing to provide the mandatory 90-day notice before setting the election date.

Justice Lifu also held that the voters’ register must be updated and revised before any valid election date could be determined.

As a result, Justice Lifu had directed INEC not to release the Certified Voters’ Register to RSIEC until all legal requirements were fulfilled.

The appeal heard by Justice Otisi’s special panel was among several appeals challenging the Federal High Court’s decisions on political cases in Rivers State.

The panel had previously reserved judgment on consolidated appeals contesting Justice Lifu’s ruling.

Naija News reports that the rift between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, had escalated tensions before, during and after the LG Election.

The Ogun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has narrated how eight teenagers allegedly gang-raped and filmed a 14-year-old girl in the Ijebu-Mushin area of the state.

The narration was contained in a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Dyke Ogbonnaya, and obtained by PUNCH Metro on Thursday.

Ogbonnaya narrated that the suspects, which included 17-year-old Mathew Omotayo and seven others had taken the victim to a secluded room and had canal knowledge of her without her consent.

He added that the suspects also recorded the scene of the act and had continually used it as blackmail to deter the victim from reporting the incident.

He identified the other suspects as “Mojeeb Solomon, male, 16 years; Olamilekan Adefuye, male, 18 years; Damilola Ismail, male, 19 years; Emmanuel George, male, 17 years; Aborisade Paul Ayomide, male, 17 years; Paul Chukwuchebe, male, 19 years; and Lateef Adeoye, male, 16 years.”

Ogbonnaya said, “The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ogun State Command Headquarters, Abeokuta, has arrested one Matthew Omotayo, male, 17 years and seven other suspected teenagers for alleged conspiracy, sexual abuse, unlawful sexual intercourse, exploitation and assault of a 14-year-old minor (name withheld) at the Ijebu-Mushin, Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State on Friday, November 15, 2024.

“The alleged suspects, who claimed to be students of St. Anthony Grammar School, Esure, Ijebu-Mushin, Ijebu East Local Government Area of the state, took the said minor without consent to a secluded room and had violent sexual intercourse with her and putting the same event in a video form.

“According to the narrative of the assaulted minor, she was sexually abused the first time and was recorded and the alleged suspects threatened to upload the video on social media if she did not allow them to have her again which she also consented to until her resolved to report the matter to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Divisional Office at Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State.”

The NSCDC PRO noted that the victim, however, reported the matter after she was allegedly beaten and verbally assaulted by the suspects.

He added that the victim’s statement led to the arrest of the teenagers while the victim was made to undergo a medical examination.

Upon conducting a preliminary investigation, Ogbonnaya noted that the command sought a remand order which was granted by a magistrate court sitting in Ijebu.

He continued, “The results of the investigations culminated in the application for a remand order by the state command’s legal officer through the Magistrate Court in Ijebu-Mushin, Ogun State.

“Upon the presentation of the matter by the prosecution counsel with several pieces of evidence, the court ordered a 60-day remand of the eight suspects after which the directives of the Department of Public Prosecutions on the matter should have been out.

“The Hon. Magistrate Sotayo granted the prayer of the civil defence legal officer to remand the suspects pending the outcome of the advice from the DPP, and he thereafter adjourned the matter to January 20, 2025.”

Reacting, the Ogun NSCDC commandant, Remilekun Ekundayo, stressed that the command would not tolerate abuse of minors while noting that perpetrators of such acts would be dealt with.

“Commandant Ekundayo has noted that the Corps will not tolerate any act of abuse on the girl child nor a minor either by teenagers, caregivers, guardians, and/or parents.

“She emphasised that anyone caught in such an indecent act would be dealt with decisively according to the dictates of the law,” Ogbonnaya concluded.

The House of Representatives is currently advancing a bill aimed at eliminating the disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and Bachelor’s Degree (BSc) holders, according to Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas.

Speaking on Thursday at the 36th convocation ceremony of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos, Abbas, represented by Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, the Speaker emphasized the importance of promoting vocational and technical education in the country.

Abbas stressed that increasing the funds allocated to these sectors is essential for driving technological progress and raising the nation’s profile.

He also pointed out that the bill being worked on would make it a criminal offense to discriminate between HND and BSc holders, ensuring equal opportunities for all.

“We know the importance of education and what the country would gain by promoting vocational and technical education. The country needs people with the skills needed to take it to a higher level. Those who are going to raise the nation’s profile technologically. In view of that, we are increasing funds to the sector.

“Also, we are taking steps by working on the necessary legal framework to criminalise the dichotomy between HND and BSc certificates. There should be equal opportunity for all,” he said.

The Speaker further urged the graduating students to seize every opportunity to make a positive impact in the world, acknowledging that they have a crucial role in the nation’s advancement.

During the ceremony, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Remi Tinubu, also honoured as a Fellow of the College, expressed her firm belief in the transformative power of education.

She recounted her efforts in founding the New Era Foundation in Lagos to support educational initiatives.

Represented by Hon. Wahab Alawiye King, Mrs. Tinubu announced a N50 million Endowment Fund for YABATECH, aimed at supporting the best female graduates.

She stressed the importance of removing barriers to the education of girls and making life easier for the younger generation, as they hold the country’s future.

“The Fund is to support female best-graduating students. We need to support education and we should support the education of the girl child and remove all the barriers on her path. Even when I was in the Senate, my focus was on how to make life better and easier for our young ones. They are our future,” she stated.

Dr. Suwaiba Said Ahmed, Minister of State for Education, read a speech on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, highlighting the steps his administration has taken to improve the education sector, including the introduction of a student loan scheme and the ongoing needs assessment of tertiary institutions.

He encouraged the graduates to be exemplary ambassadors of their alma mater.

In his welcome address, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, reflected on the institution’s 77 years of contributions to Nigeria’s education sector and called for support from individuals and corporate bodies to replace and upgrade aging facilities on campus.

The Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Funso Afolabi, commended the College’s management for the significant strides they have made since assuming office.

Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday, handed over 76 minors arrested during the August #EndBadGovernance protests to their parents.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Sagagi, the governor oversaw the handover at the Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, where the children had been accommodated and treated for ailments they suffered during their remand.

The minors were arrested following their participation in the protests that highlighted governance concerns in the state and across the country. Their release followed an order by President Bola Tinubu.

Governor Yusuf expressed gratitude to the president for his intervention and called on parents to support the state’s efforts to provide quality education for their children.

“I want to call on parents to complement the government’s efforts towards ensuring these children are properly educated to enable them to contribute towards the development of the state and the country.

“Both the Federal and state governments have to also wake up to ensure that our children are educated,” Yusuf said.

He warned the parents who have an association to desist from using it to solicit any financial assistance from any individual, group or organisation, as the state government would not condone such an act.

The governor assured the parents that the state Commissioner for Education would ensure that the children are given the necessary support to return to their respective schools.

In his remarks, the state Commissioner for Education, Haruna Doguwa, said one of the protesters, who is a final-year undergraduate, would be supported in completing his studies. At the same time, another one who holds a National Certificate in Education would be employed.

“We have provided (cambus) shoes, two sets of uniforms for the 50 others to be supported to complete their secondary school education,” he said.

On his part, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Yusuf, said all the sick minors had been treated during the period of their stay at the hospital.

“The 76 minors who had been accommodated in this facility, underwent a medical evaluation and received necessary treatment before being reunited with their families today,” he said.

A cross-section of parents who spoke to newsmen commended the state government for the gesture and thanked all those who contributed to ensuring the children’s release.

During the occasion, former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa donated N50,000 to each of the children in support of their education.