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Durojaiye Ogunsanya, a data and public affairs analyst, has asserted that he can vouch for President Bola Tinubu’s attendance at Chicago State University in the United States of America.

Many people have continued to discuss Tinubu’s university diploma because they are perplexed as to why no one has been able to verify the President’s account.

Ogunsanya confirmed that the President did attend Chicago State University and that they both graduated in 1979 in an interview with TVC News on Tuesday.

Ogunsanya said, “We met in the school, Chicago State University and we were in the same department, College of Accounting Business and Administrative, with a major in Accounting and we were in the same class together and we graduated.

“He did attend the university and he graduated in 1979 in the same year as I did. I am here to testify that he did attend university and he was a good student.

“I’m here with my diploma, for the world to see. We graduated together from the university. I just want to set the record straight not for any gain or favour.”

Due to an increase in tuition and other fees for the university’s services, students at the University of Jos in Plateau State blocked the highways leading to campus on Tuesday.

The student protesters demanded an immediate reversal of the increase in school fees and other services provided by the University, which were organized by leaders of the Students Union Government of the institution.

Armed with placards with different inscriptions such as “If your children can afford the money, we can’t”, and “We don’t want to drop out of school”, among others.

The students claimed that the government should refrain from adding even more fee increases because Nigerians were already facing significant hardship.

Scientists at the University of California San Francisco have developed a bioreactor device that uses human kidney cells cultured in the laboratory and mimics some of the key functions of a kidney.

The device, according to the scientists, could one day free people from needing dialysis or having to take harsh drugs to suppress their immune system after a transplant.

The scientists said the device has been successfully tested in pigs for a week with no obvious side effects or issues.

According to the statement on the university’s website, the device can work quietly in the background, like a pacemaker, and does not trigger the recipient’s immune system to go on the attack.

“Eventually, scientists plan to fill the bioreactor with different kidney cells that perform vital functions like balancing the body’s fluids and releasing hormones to regulate blood pressure – then pair it with a device that filters waste from the blood.

“The aim is to produce a human-scale device to improve on dialysis, which keeps people alive after their kidneys fail but is a poor substitute for having a real working organ. 

More than 500,000 people in the U.S. require dialysis several times a week. Many seek kidney transplants, but there are not enough donors, and only about 20,000 people receive them each year. An implantable artificial kidney would be a boon,” it noted.

The scientists engineered the bioreactor to connect directly to blood vessels and veins, allowing the passage of nutrients and oxygen, much like a transplanted kidney would.

“Silicon membranes keep the kidney cells inside the bioreactor safe from attack by the recipient’s immune cells.

“The team used a type of kidney cell called a proximal tubule cell, which regulates water and salt, as a test case. Co-author H. David Humes, MD, from the University of Michigan, had previously used these cells to help dialysis patients in the intensive care unit with life-saving results,” the statement noted.

President Bola Tinubu and US President Joe Biden met on the sidelines of the G20 summit on Sunday in New Delhi, India. According to President Biden, the purpose of the discussion was to reaffirm the US’ commitment to the partnership with Nigeria.

The long-standing friendship between the two nations and peoples, according to Biden, is something his administration is dedicated to.

On the official White House website, a statement with this information was posted.

The Tinubu administration’s efforts to implement economic changes in Nigeria were praised by Biden.

The statement reads, “President Biden welcomed the Tinubu Administration’s steps to reform Nigeria’s economy and thanked President Tinubu for his strong leadership as the chair of the Economic Community of West African States to defend and preserve democracy and the rule of law in Niger and the broader region.”

On Nigeria’s invitation to the G20 summit, the statement reads, “Nigeria’s invitation to the G20 Summit is a recognition of Nigeria’s important global role as Africa’s largest democracy and economy.”

Tinubu attended the two-day summit on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

Tinubu was accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani; Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite.

Tinubu held bilateral meetings with the leaders of Germany, South Korea and India.

Tinubu conveyed to the German helmsman, Olaf Scholz, the importance of not just focusing on creating a financial framework for a broader economic alliance.

In a bid to boost economic growth, Tinubu said the government is introducing new incentives to attract large-scale manufacturers like Volkswagen to establish a presence in the country.

Responding to the economic focus of Tinubu’s proposal, the German Chancellor acknowledged the mutually beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Nigeria.

He said, “Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique, and our companies have a history in Nigeria.

“We acknowledge the business-friendly reforms you have put in place.

“I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives,” the German leader confided.

Meanwhile, the President will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, the Emirati capital, after his departure from New Delhi, India.

Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s first native chartered accountant, has passed away.

The 104-year-old accounting guru passed away.

Williams passed away on Monday (today), according to an unnamed source, at his home in Lagos.

The University of London accounting graduate was a 1919 baby.

On a UAC scholarship, he attended Yaba Higher College where he graduated with a diploma in commerce. He moved to England in 1944 to attend the University of London. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce in 1946 after studying banking and finance. In England, he finished his education and earned his chartered accountant certification in 1949.

He established Akintola Williams & Co., the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, in Lagos in 1952.

He served as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria’s first president and founding member.

Williams was a key figure in the 1960 establishment of Nigeria’s Association of Accountants, which served the purpose of training accountants. He served as the association’s first president. Additionally, he was crucial in the creation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

The Nigerian government awarded him the Order of the Federal Republic in 1982.

Queen Elizabeth also conferred the title of Commander of the British Empire to him in April 1997.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake has hit Morocco killing at least 1,305 people, injuring more than 1,832, damaging ancient buildings, and sending terrified residents fleeing their homes into the streets for safety.

Troops and emergency services scrambled on Saturday to reach remote mountain villages, the epicenter of the quake, where casualties are still feared trapped, as authorities declared three days of national mourning in the wake of the deadliest quake in decades.

Montasir Itri, a resident of the mountain village of Asni near the epicenter, said most houses there were damaged. “Our neighbours are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village,” he said.

Residents of Marrakesh, the nearest big city to the epicenter, said some buildings collapsed in the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Local television showed images of a fallen mosque minaret with rubble lying on smashed cars.

The Interior Ministry urged calm saying in a televised statement the quake hit the provinces of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.

The temblor hit shortly after 11 pm local time (22:00 GMT) on Friday evening, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS estimated the epicenter occurred in the Atlas Mountains, some 75km (44 miles) from Marrakesh, the fourth largest city in the country.
Search teams frantically scoured collapsed buildings for those trapped.

“The Royal Armed Forces, local authorities, security services, and civil protection … continue to mobilize and harness all means and capabilities in order to intervene, provide the necessary assistance, and assess the damage,” the interior ministry said.

Journalist Noureddine Bazine from Marrakesh described the situation as a “horrific night”.

“It was chaos the moment the earthquake happened, we’re still trying to process what happened because it was so sudden,” he told Al Jazeera.

“In Marrakesh, the most damage was in the old city because the buildings are prone to collapse because of their fragile state.”

Eid al-Tarazi, a professor of seismology in Jordan, told Al Jazeera “Hundreds of aftershocks could happen”.

“People will need to stay away from the buildings that are not strong because they are prone to collapse. We expect the aftershocks could continue for three to four weeks,” he said.

Local media reported roads leading to the mountain region around the epicenter were jammed with vehicles and blocked with collapsed rocks, slowing rescue efforts.

Abderrahim Ait Daoud, the head of a town in the area, told the Moroccan news site 2M that several homes nearby had partly or totally collapsed, and electricity and roads were cut off in some places.

He also said authorities were working to clear roads in al-Haouz province to allow passage for ambulances and aid to populations affected.

Large distances between mountain villages mean it will take time to learn the full extent of the damage, he added.

Moroccans posted videos showing buildings reduced to rubble and dust, and parts of the famous red walls that surround the old city in Marrakesh damaged.

Tourists and others posted videos of people screaming and evacuating restaurants in the city.

Shocked residents in Marrakesh and Casablanca fled out of buildings and onto the streets.

View of debris in the aftermath of an earthquake in Marrakesh, Morocco [Al Maghribi Al Youm/via Reuters]One Marrakesh resident, Brahim Himmi, said he spotted ambulances leaving the city’s historic old town.

He also said building facades had been damaged as the earth shook.

While earthquakes in the region are “uncommon but not unexpected”, one of this magnitude has not been seen in the immediate area in more than 120 years.

“Since 1900, there have been no earthquakes M6 [magnitude 6] or larger within 500km of this earthquake, and only nine M5 [magnitude 5] and larger,” the USGS said on its website.

Most of those previous earthquakes occurred further to the east as well, the agency added.
Friday evening’s earthquake was a relatively shallow one, occurring at a depth of 18.5km (11.5 miles).

The USGS explained that “oblique-reverse faulting” in the Atlas Mountains was the cause of the earthquake.

The last major earthquake to strike Morocco occurred in 2004, killing more than 600 people. That temblor dubbed the al-Hoceima earthquake, was positioned on an active plate boundary on the country’s northernmost coast, bordering the western Mediterranean Sea. It clocked in at a magnitude of 6.3.

An even larger earthquake struck neighbouring Algeria in 1980. Known as the el-Asnam earthquake, the magnitude 7.3 event was the strongest seismic activity the region had seen in centuries.

Also originating in the Atlas Mountain range, it leveled houses, leaving 300,000 people on the street and at least 2,600 people dead.
Messages of support began to roll in from around the world on Saturday.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted condolences on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently hosting the Group of 20 summit of the world’s largest economies, wrote, “India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.”

A UN spokesperson said, “The United Nations is ready to assist the government of Morocco in its efforts to assist the impacted population”.

A video has emerged indicating that the Niger Republic’s coupists have started deploying military along its border with neighbouring country, Benin, amidst imminent military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

The development was disclosed by a counter-insurgency expert and security analyst in Lake Chad, Zagazola Makama.

ECOWAS had threatened a possible military action against the junta that seized power in Niger and suspended the constitution.

Last month, ECOWAS ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

The order followed the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup after its extraordinary meeting in Abuja.

However, the regional bloc’s army is yet to invade Niger.

Makama on his social media platform X, on Monday, posted a video that showed Niger’s military deploying at the Beninese border in preparation for the military intervention by the ECOWAS.

“Niger deploys Military to the Niger- Beninese Border amidst eminent Military intervention plans of ECOWAS,” he wrote.

Spanish Football Federation President, Luis Rubiales has resigned following fierce criticism for kissing Jenni Hermoso on the lips at the Women’s World Cup victory ceremony.

The already suspended Rubiales sent his resignation to the federation’s interim president, he said in an open letter and also explained his decision to eventually step down in a television interview.

“I’m going to (resign), yes, because I cannot continue my work,” the 46-year-old told the television show “Piers Morgan Uncensored”.

“(Family and friends) say to me, ‘Luis, you need to focus on your dignity and continue your life. If not you are going to damage the people you love and the sport you love.’’

Rubiales sparked a worldwide backlash after forcibly kissing midfielder, Hermoso during the medal ceremony following Spain’s World Cup triumph in Sydney on August 20.

After he refused to resign, FIFA provisionally suspended him for 90 days, while Spanish public prosecutors have filed a lawsuit against him for alleged sexual assault and coercion.

Hermoso, 33, had filed a complaint at the National Court on Tuesday, formally accusing Rubiales of sexual assault.

In an open letter published by Rubiales on Sunday night, he said he had informed the federation he was also stepping down as a vice-president of the European football governing body, UEFA.

“After the swift suspension carried out by FIFA, plus the rest of the procedures opened against me, it is evident that I will not be able to return to my position,” said Rubiales in the letter.

“Insisting on waiting and clinging to it is not going to contribute to anything positive, neither for the federation nor for Spanish football.

“Among other things, because there are powers that be that will prevent my return.”

Rubiales, who insists the kiss was consensual, said he did not want Spanish football to be hurt by “such a disproportionate campaign” against him.

“I have faith in the truth and I will do everything in my power so that it prevails,” he wrote.

Rubiales said his departure would contribute “stability” to the 2030 men’s World Cup bid in which Spain are involved.

As the pressure ramped up in recent weeks on him to quit, Rubiales’ mother Angeles Bejar went on a hunger strike in protest, locking herself in a church.

Some Spanish politicians hailed Rubiales’ downfall.

“We are with you, Jenni, and with all women,” said second deputy prime minister, Yolanda Diaz on social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Spain’s equality minister Irene Montero wrote “It’s Over” on X, a slogan used by Hermoso and her fellow players in protest against Rubiales.

Over 80 players went on strike from the women’s team in protest after Rubiales’ fierce defensive speech following the incident, in which he had railed against “false feminism” and said he would not step down.

The players said they would not return until the leadership of the RFEF (Spanish football federation) was changed.

Controversial women’s coach Jorge Vilda was sacked on Tuesday in the fallout from the scandal.

The RFEF, under interim president Pedro Rocha, also apologised for the “totally unacceptable behaviour” of Rubiales.

Vilda’s former assistant Montserrat Tome is the new coach — it is the first time a woman has led the team.

Spanish prosecutors’ lawsuit against Rubiales will be analysed by a National Court judge.

If the judge accepts the request, a magistrate will be assigned to head an investigation which will end either with a recommendation for the case to go to trial or be dismissed.

Australian police told AFP on Monday they were willing to help with an investigation, but that a report had not yet been referred to them.

Hermoso, who plays for Mexican club Pachuca, has said the unwanted kiss left her feeling “vulnerable and like the victim of an assault”, with a statement on social media describing it as “an impulsive, macho act, out of place and with no type of consent on my part”.

She has also accused Rubiales of pressuring her to speak out in his defence immediately after the furore over the kiss erupted, which prosecutors said could be considered a crime of coercion.

Friends and family members of the late Founder of the Fountain of Life Church (FOLC) Lagos, Pastor Taiwo Odukoya, on Saturday celebrated and bade farewell to the preacher as he was laid to rest.

The event, spiced up with solemn renditions by the church choir, afforded people opportunities to testify the good works of the respected pastor.

Bishop David Abioye of the Living Faith Church, Lagos, in his sermon, admonished people to draw closer to God to make eternity, just as Odukoya had done.

Abioye described the late preacher as a man of strong character: whose practical Christ life had depopulated hell by winning souls to God’s kingdom.

He said that the development of a personal character with God, as exemplified by Odukoya, could help people to discard sinful lifestyle that alienates one from God.

According to him, Odukoya started and ended well in the heavenly race.

“The multitude at this funeral cannot come to pay their last respect to the deceased if not that he positively impacted their lives.

“We are celebrating and mourning the exit of God’s General because his life and good name which he maintained to the end tells a lot of the man whom God blessed, and he made good of the blessing to change mankind,” he said.

Abioye advised people to turn to God, saying anyone that does not have salvation is a “living fool” destined to eternal damnation.

Speaking at the event, Yewande Jacob, a member of the church, said that the congregants knew that their pastor had gone to heaven, which was the reason that, instead of mourning, they celebrated him.

Jacob described the late preacher as a mentor, teacher and counselor, who taught younger ones how best to relate with the opposite sex without compromising Christian values as singles.

She said that as a philanthropist, the pastor aided many families both within and outside the church, with many indigent students under his scholarship.

Jacob said that though he had gone, the Lord of hosts that he served would keep the church going with a fresh anointing to steer worshippers.

Also speaking at the event, son of the late Odukoya, Pastor Jimmy Odukoya, said that his father planned as if he would live forever, but lived as if he would not see tomorrow.

Jimmy said that his father was, and still remained a role model who maximised his lifespan to acquire lasting glory.

According to him, he lived for others and invested in people’s lives, therefore, his legacy would remain indelible in the minds of people.

The young Odukoya thanked the faithful for their support, and urged people to look and work toward eternity where his father had gone to.

The remains of the pastor was interned at a private cemetery in Lagos.

Odukoya died on August 7 in the United States of America at the age of 67.

The African Union looks set to become the newest member of the G20, officials said on Friday, as the bloc’s bid won backing from existing members gathered for a summit in India.

G20 host and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, called for the pan-African organisation to become a permanent member, arguing that developing nations need a greater say in global decision-making.

The proposal has won backing from Washington and on Friday, the European Union said it would also back the move.

“I look forward to welcoming the AU as a permanent member of the G20”, European Council president Charles Michel told reporters in New Delhi, where the two-day G20 summit begins on Saturday.

The Group of 20 major economies currently consists of 19 countries and the European Union, making up about 85 per cent of global GDP and two-thirds of the world population.

But South Africa is currently the only G20 member from the African continent.

The Ethiopia-headquartered AU was created in 2002, following the disbanding of the Organisation of African Unity.

At full strength, it has 55 members, but six junta-ruled nations are currently suspended. Collectively it has a GDP of $3trillion with some 1.4 billion people.

India’s top foreign service officer, Vinay Kwatra, said it expected a decision on AU membership would be made at the summit on Saturday morning.

In December 2022, U.S. President, Joe Biden, said he wanted the AU “to join the G20 as a permanent member”, adding that it had “been a long time in coming, but it’s going to come”.

On Tuesday, Biden’s national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, reiterated the stance while discussing the U.S. priorities for the New Delhi summit.

“We’re also looking forward to warmly welcoming the African Union as a permanent member of the G20 — the newest permanent member. We believe that the African Union’s voice will make the G20 stronger,” Sullivan said at a White House briefing.

AFP