Author: Akintayo Adams

The National Youth Games officially commenced at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, with Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, emphasizing the event’s significance in revitalizing Nigeria’s sports industry. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Enoh underscored the role of grassroots sports development in nurturing young talent and solidifying Nigeria’s global sports presence. Enoh highlighted the government’s commitment, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to reposition the sports sector through the Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that the lessons from the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games underline the importance of strengthening grassroots programs, calling for a framework that nurtures…

Nigeria’s Under-18 Men’s Basketball team, the J’Tigers, have been eliminated from the 2024 Afrobasket U-18 Championship after an 81-70 loss to Mali in the quarterfinals on Thursday night. Mali took control early, winning the first quarter 23-19 and leading at halftime 40-38. Despite efforts by the J’Tigers to close the gap, Mali secured the win in Pretoria, South Africa. The J’Tigers had previously defeated Uganda 72-61 to reach the quarterfinals, while Mali advanced by overcoming Ivory Coast 73-69. On a positive note, Nigeria’s U-18 women’s team, the J’Tigress, advanced to the semifinals after beating Egypt 61-56 in their quarterfinal clash.…

Super Falcons head coach, Randy Waldrum, has resigned from his position. In a letter dated September 12, Waldrum explained that his decision followed a challenging period, citing his wife’s health concerns as the primary reason for stepping down. In his letter, Waldrum expressed, “It’s been a very difficult few weeks following the Olympics, with my wife’s health issues, and the worries that obviously come with that… I am hereby resigning my position as Head Coach of the Super Falcons.” Waldrum leaves behind a notable legacy, having led Nigeria’s Super Falcons to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16,…

Nigeria’s federal government, on Thursday, signed eight partnership agreements with the United Kingdom (UK) valued at approximately ₦589 billion (£272.6 million) to bolster governance, climate change response, education, health, and the economy. The agreements were signed by Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, and the UK Charge d’ Affaires, Ms. Cynthia Rowe, in Abuja. Bagudu highlighted the significance of these agreements amid challenging global economic conditions, expressing gratitude for the UK’s continued support and partnership. Among the key agreements is the Human Assistance and Resilience Program (HARP), with a three-year budget of ₦324 billion (£150 million),…

The UK’s Minister of State for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson, experienced a theft during a policing conference, as her purse was stolen, according to a Thursday report by the BBC. The incident took place while the minister was delivering a speech at the Police Superintendents’ Association conference on Tuesday, addressing issues such as antisocial behavior, theft, and shoplifting. The conference was held at Chesford Grange Hotel in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. The Home Office confirmed the theft, and Warwickshire Police have launched an investigation. A 56-year-old man from Coventry was arrested on suspicion of burglary but has been…

Football Megastar, Cristiano Ronaldo has accumulated 1 billion followers and subscribers across all Social Media platforms. The multiple ballon d’Or winner announced it in a Twitter post late Thursday evening. “We’ve made history — 1 BILLION followers! This is more than just a number – it’s a testament to our shared passion, drive, and love for the game and beyond,” the post read. “From the streets of Madeira to the biggest stages in the world, I’ve always played for my family and for you, and now 1 billion of us stand together. “You’ve been with me every step of the…

Devakumar V.G. Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, has expressed disappointment over the limited patronage of Dangote Refinery’s products by local marketers. Despite the refinery’s large production capacity, only about 3% of its output is being purchased locally, while the remaining 97% is exported due to a boycott by Nigerian traders who prefer to import refined products instead. Speaking during an X Space session, Edwin highlighted that the refinery was established with the intent of utilizing Nigeria’s local crude oil to reduce dependency on imported petroleum products. He explained that local traders’ refusal to buy from the refinery has…

A student from the Federal University, Lokoja, identified as Jeremiah, has been arrested for the alleged abduction and murder of Damilola, a 100-level Biology student from the same institution. Jeremiah, who hails from Kaduna State, is accused of abducting Damilola and taking her to an uncompleted building. After receiving a ransom of N400,000 from her family, he reportedly killed her and removed some of her vital organs. Following the murder, the suspect allegedly demanded an additional N10 million from Damilola’s family. However, police tracked and arrested him. Jeremiah has since confessed to the crime and led authorities to Damilola’s remains.…

The Swedish government has announced a substantial increase in financial grants for immigrants who voluntarily choose to return to their home countries, set to take effect in 2026. Immigrants will be eligible for up to 350,000 Swedish kronor ($34,000) as part of the new policy. This represents a major shift in Sweden’s migration approach, spearheaded by the right-wing government supported by the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats. Migration Minister Johan Forssell described this as part of a “paradigm shift” in Sweden’s migration policy. Previously, migrants received a maximum of 10,000 kronor per adult, 5,000 kronor per child, with a 40,000 kronor cap…

The Naira saw a significant rebound against the dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Wednesday, September 11, following the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) intervention with the sale of $60 million in forex to select banks. Despite this positive development, the move is expected to slightly decrease Nigeria’s forex reserves, which stood at $36.30 billion as of September 4. The CBN’s action comes as part of efforts to provide more liquidity to the domestic forex market, aiming to strengthen the Naira against major global currencies. The Presidency welcomed the rebound, with Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the…