News & Announcements

Music superstar, David Adeleke, A. K. A, Davido, has offered a scholarship to an underprivileged student who aced his O’Level examination.

An internet user had called on well-meaning individuals to come to the aid of the “intelligent student” who had to stop his education at the secondary school level due to a lack of funds.
The student, whose results showed that he had scored A1 in all his subjects, was identified as Morro Suleyman.

Davido, who came across the piece of news in the media, urged his fans to help him find the said student.
In a subsequent tweet, the singer displayed Suleyman’s results and announced that he had offered him a scholarship at Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State.

The singer added that Suleyman’s accommodation and allowance would be covered in the five-year period.

He wrote, “We have contacted Suleyman who lives in Ghana and he has been given a full 4/5 year scholarship to Adeleke University. Accommodation and allowance included! God bless y’all.”

The World Health Organisation Regional Office for Africa, AUDA-NEPAD, AmerisourceBergen, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) is launching a $7 million pan-African initiative to provide 60 promising early and growth-stage companies with risk-tolerant grants alongside commercialization support to power their impact at scale.

The program, termed ‘Investing in Innovation (i3),’ is coordinated by healthcare consulting firm, Salient Advisory alongside SCIDaR, and SouthBridge A&I and is operationalized with CCHub, Startupbootcamp, IMPACT Lab, and Villgro Africa.

The development came on the back of the Salient Advisory report on market intelligence highlighting promising African health tech start-ups in the supply chain.
Speaking on the launch of the report and i3 program, Director of Salient Advisory, Remi Adeseun said, “There has been considerable progress over the past year as supply chain innovations work to enhance access to quality medicines. Our report provides investors, donors, and governments with actionable recommendations on engagement strategies to advance companies’ growth and impact. 

“With funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and our esteemed partners, we are excited to be launching the Investing in Innovation program to connect promising companies to customers who can power their impact and scale.”

Cheikh Oumar Seydi, Director, Africa, at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, commented, “African health innovators have shown increasing capacity to leverage technology to optimize supply chains and advance access to medicines. Such local innovations have the potential to change how supply chains and health systems function – and it is time to support them. We are pleased to be collaborating with strong global and continental partners to jointly strengthen African health systems, and accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.”

Dr. Abdullahi Sheriff, AVP, Global Market Access, Sustainable Access Solutions at MSD also commented, “There has been considerable progress in tech-driven innovation in health product distribution across Africa. Spurring and scaling disruptive innovation in the health supply chain is key to expanding access to medicines for all. That’s why we, at MSD, are excited to collaborate on the i3 program.”

Dr. Janet Byaruhanga, Senior Programme Officer – Health at AUDA-NEPAD also commented, “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the capacity of African innovators to leverage tech-enabled solutions to transform medicine distribution. AUDA-NEPAD will continue to leverage its mandate and comparative advantage to foster partnerships that strengthen the evidence, deploy innovation, enhance policy environments and facilitate critical investments while creating valuable and high-impact jobs across the continent.

A key highlight of the report
67% of innovators based in Nigeria operate in both the rural and urban areas.
18% of innovators are led by either an all-female founding team or a female founder.
Innovators in Nigeria raised $79m in the last 12 months.

14% of innovators domiciled in Nigeria operate in more than one country.
71% of innovators are primarily concerned with facilitating consumer distribution.

Justice Mojisola Dada of a Special Offences Court, Ikeja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of embattled suspected internet fraudster, Ismaila Mustapha alias Mompha on Wednesday, June 22, 2022.
Ismaila Mustapha is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on an 8-count charge bordering on the offenses of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of over an N6billion, along with his company, Ismalob Global Investment Limited.

It will be recalled that Mompha and his company Ismalob Global Investment Limited were arrested on January 10, 2022, by EFCC, arraigned, and granted bail.
However, the defendant has failed to appear in court on two scheduled dates for his trial.
At the last adjourned date, the defendant’s matter could not proceed due to his absence.
At the resumed of proceedings on Wednesday, the judge stood down the matter for a while in expectation of the defendant’s arrival, yet he failed to appear in court again.

The EFCC lead counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo asked the court for further stand down, but the request was turned down by the judge.
She asked, Where is the defendant?

Addressing the court, Oyedepo told the court that the development shocked him.
He urged the court to allow the defense to speak to his client and put him on the speaker to confirm the position of things.

At that point, Justice Dada, said, “The excuse that was given that he tested positive for COVID-19 was found to be false.”

The prosecution counsel, Oyedepo thereafter, urged the court, “My Lord, should issue a warrant of arrest on the production of the defendant before your lordship,” he said.
Subsequently, Justice Dada revoked the defendant’s bail and ordered his arrest.
She adjourned further proceeding till June 30, 2022.

It was a double celebration for the fast-rising singer, Portable, as he wedded his lover, Feranmi, during their child’s naming ceremony.
The duo welcomed their second child together last week and the naming ceremony was scheduled for Tuesday (today).

During the child’s christening, the couple in matching outfits exchanged wedding bands in the presence of Islamic clerics, their families, and well-wishers.
A video by GoldMyne TV captured the moment when Portable slid the ring on his lover’s finger and she reciprocated the action.

During the exchange of rings, the singer made it rain naira notes on his bride and mother of two kids.
The excited singer brought out bundles of naira notes from his bag and ‘sprayed’ them on his smiling bride.

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja for Kigali, Rwanda, on Wednesday to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled to hold in Rwanda.
The presidential spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the meeting would hold between June 20 and 26.
He said at the meeting, that Buhari would join other leaders to participate in discussions focused on the progress and prosperity of the more than two billion people living in the 54 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific that make up the Commonwealth.

The statement reads, “The theme for CHOGM 2022 is ‘Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming,’ and the Heads of Government are expected to reaffirm their commitment to upholding the Commonwealth Charter, which focuses on democracy, human rights, the rule of law, as well as economic opportunities and sustainable development.

“President Buhari will attend the official opening ceremony on June 24, followed by high-level meetings of Heads of State and Government on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June.
“The leaders are expected to consider a range of topical issues including post-COVID-19 economic recovery, debt sustainability, climate change, poverty reduction, youth entrepreneurship and employment, trade, and food security.

“Prior to this, the Nigerian delegation was drawn from the public, private and youth organizations participated in four forums covering youth, women, business and civil society; and will engage in ministerial meetings and several side events.”
Adesina added that on the sideline of the meeting, Buhari is scheduled to deliver remarks at the high-level session of Malaria and neglected tropical diseases summit and participate in an intergenerational dialogue for youth.

“President Buhari is also expected to hold bilateral talks with some leaders from the Commonwealth countries,” he said.
Buhari would be accompanied by the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; minister of finance, budget and national planning, Zainab Ahmed; minister of health, Osagie Ehanire; minister of environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, and minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ali Pantami.
Others in the president’s entourage are Babagana Monguno, national security adviser; Ahmed Abubakar, director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

The President is expected back in Abuja on June 26.

A nurse, Oluchi Nwoke-Okoi, on Monday told an Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court how an Arabic teacher, Farouk Adam, allegedly fingered his nine Islamic pupils, ages seven to 13 years.
According to reports, Farouk is facing a nine-count- charge bordering on sexual assault.
Nwoke-Okoi, a registered nurse and midwife, while being led in evidence by the State Prosecutor, Olufunke Adegoke, said she was a staff of the Women At Risk Foundation and had 15 years of experience in midwifery.

The witness told the court that she attended to nine survivors and conducted vagina examinations on seven of them after their mothers brought them to the WARIF centre on February 20, 2019.
“The survivors and their mothers were brought to the centre by police officers. We took time to question each of the survivors and also conducted a vagina examination on them.
“Seven of the survivors said that the defendant, who is their Arabic teacher, on several occasions, inserted his fingers into their vaginas.

“The eighth survivor said the defendant only touched her breast while the ninth survivor told us that she was afraid to attend the Islamic class after her sister told her that the defendant inserted his fingers into her vagina.

“Vagina examination was carried out on them. Based on their histories and the vagina examination, the result shows an absence of hymen. [The} conclusion is suggestive of sexual assault of a minor,” she said.
The witness told the court that the youngest of the survivor was seven years while the oldest was 13 years.
In cross-examination by defence counsel, A.O. Okonkwo, Nwoke-Okoi said she was certified by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, adding that the vagina examination she carried out on the survivors was not outside her practice.

She further said that vigorous scratching could not tamper with hymen.
“I have a license to practice as a registered and certified midwife and the vagina examination I carried out is not outside my practice.
“Laceration of the vagina means bruises, injuries, or scars on the vagina. In some cases, when the vagina is tampered with, there may be a laceration or not.
“In the case of sexual assault, laceration can be seen when the survivor struggles or when penis, fingers, or object is being forced into the vagina.

“In the same vein, the hymen cannot be intact when the finger, penis, or object is inserted into the vagina. It is not in my power to decide whose fingers penetrated the vaginas of the survivors and I disagree that scratching can tamper with the hymen,” the nurse said.

According to reports, the prosecuting counsel informed the court that the witness was the last prosecution witness in the case and prayed the court to order the defendant to open his defense.
The alleged offense contravened Section 261 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, (2015).
Justice Abiola Soladoye adjourned the case until October 5 for the defendant to open his defense.

About 22 percent of adults in South Africa are cryptocurrency investors according to a study by Kucoin.
This translates to 7.6 million people aged between 18 and 60. The study also found that 65 percent of crypto investors in the nation ‘consider crypto to be the future of finance.’
According to the report, South Africa is the most advanced African country in financial terms, making its economic environment favorable for the development of new technologies. It said a large percentage of users seem to prefer lower-risk products, such as digital assets as a means of savings to earn stable returns.’

 Social media is the main source of crypto-related information for South Africans as the report revealed that 72 percent of those surveyed rely on social media for information regarding the decentralized market.
 A Twitter influencer in South Africa, Matlala Rathabeng, said, “social media is the most powerful c
22% of adults in South Africa invest in crypto
About 22 percent of adults in South Africa are cryptocurrency investors according to a study by Kucoin.
This translates to 7.6 million people aged between 18 and 60. The study also found that 65 percent of crypto investors in the nation ‘consider crypto to be the future of finance.’

According to the report, South Africa is the most advanced African country in financial terms, making its economic environment favourable for the development of new technologies. It said a large percentage of users seem to prefer lower-risk products, such as digital assets as a means of savings to earn stable returns.
 Social media is the main source of crypto-related information for South Africans as the report revealed that 72 percent of those surveyed rely on social media for information regarding the decentralised market.

 A Twitter influencer in South Africa, Matlala Rathabeng, said, “social media is the most powerful channel introducing people to new things and allowing them to build networks. Now, it grows people’s hope and trust in crypto.”
 The report titled, ‘Into The Cryptoverse,’ said, “The findings of the report also shed light on the overall attitude of South Africans regarding cryptocurrencies, highlighting their trust in crypto in matters related to money.

“Many of the surveyed prefer crypto to banks, largely because of higher yields on the cryptocurrency market, which outstrip bank interest rates.
“The demographics of South African crypto investors are skewed towards male and younger generations. Men account for 60 percent of crypto investors, with 42 percent of crypto investors being aged 18 to 30. The unequal distribution of wealth in the country is well illustrated by the findings of the report, as 22 percent of crypto investors earn less than $5,000 a year, while 16 percent earn more than $50,000 during the same period.

 “Another indicative factor is the experience in the crypto market. Of the crypto investors surveyed, 22 per cent have less than three months of experience in crypto investment, while 24 percent have been trading crypto for more than two years.”

 According to the report, South African crypto investors are maintaining a positive attitude despite local regulations and laws since crypto is proving to be capable of improving people’s standing financially.
 It added that this adoption is having a favourable impact on the local crypto market because it removes fraudulent individuals and players. The report stated that the low percentage of employment in Africa is stimulating people to look for alternative ways of making money and crypto investments are one of them.

The mutinous soldiers who ousted Burkina Faso’s democratically elected president early this year vowed they would do a better job at stopping the jihadi violence rocking the country. Five months later, however, attacks are increasing and patience with the junta appears to be waning.

Many in Burkina Faso supported the military takeover in January, frustrated with the previous government’s inability to stem Islamic extremist violence that has killed thousands and displaced at least 2 million. Lt. Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, who led the coup and was later installed as interim president, vowed to restore security.

But violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State increased by nearly 7% during the junta’s first three months of rule compared with the three months prior, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

“Beyond the immeasurable suffering, the effects of the violence and conflict — which show no signs of abating — are likely to lead to renewed popular discontent,” said Heni Nsaibia, senior researcher at ACLED.
Nearly 5,000 people have died in the last two years in Burkina Faso and conflict experts say there will be far-reaching consequences if the violence continues to worsen.

“The decline in Burkina Faso will absolutely fuel the spread of jihadist activity in the Gulf of Guinea states — Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Togo — where there already is jihadist recruitment and violence,” said Michael Shurkin, director of global programs at 14 North Strategies, a consultancy based in Dakar, Senegal.

Damiba has asked citizens to give him until September to see improvement. He’s promoted younger officers with field experience and created a central coordination unit for military operations. His government also has supported local dialogues with jihadis to try to convince the fighters to put down their arms and return to their homes.

Yet violence is intensifying. Since April at least 30 security forces have been killed and two foreigners kidnapped: an American nun and a Polish citizen. Last week, 11 gendarmes were killed by jihadis in Seno province in the Sahel, said the army in a statement.

The government is losing control of swaths of land, particularly in the Center North and Sahel regions, as jihadis have increased their use of roadside bombs and use more sophisticated weapons.
Government soldiers say they lack equipment and must resort to stealing guns and ammunition from jihadis they kill. Seeing so many of their colleagues die also has taken its toll, the soldiers say.

“Our situation is very difficult. Sometimes the enemy kills us because we’re regularly exhausted,” said a soldier, who spoke on condition of anonymity as he wasn’t authorized to speak to journalists.
Jihadis are changing strategy. They are targeting water sources, destroying 32 facilities this year which has reduced access to nearly 300,000 people, said a group of aid organizations operating in the country.

“The conflict is now putting at risk the very thing no one can live without clean water,” said Rebecca Bouchet-Petersen, country director for Solidarity International in Burkina Faso.
Most of the destruction of water sources has been around Djibo in the arid Sahel region, which hosts the largest number of displaced people in the country and has been under siege for months. Last month local leaders in Djibo tried to negotiate an end to the blockade with the top jihadi in the country, Jafar Dicko, according to government officials.

It was the first time the government gave logistical support for local dialogues, which have been ongoing for years. While the talks partially succeeded in allowing freer movement in and out of Djibo, community leaders say it’s a small improvement.

”I think it’s when the government negotiates that we’ll see more significant results,” said Boubacari Dicko, the Emir of Djibo who led the talks.

But it’s unclear if Damiba’s government is prepared to take that step. The previous government was publicly against such negotiations, although it did hold some in secret around the November 2020 presidential election.

There’s also growing discontent about Damiba’s crackdown on civic freedoms. The junta has restricted political demonstrations that could “disturb public order or mobilize security forces who will be more useful for combat.”

Yet locals in hard-hit parts of Burkina Faso see few alternatives to the junta and say they’re willing to give it a little more time. In August last year, 45-year-old Awa Komi tried to return to her village to farm because her family had no food, but fled when jihadis started killing people, she said.

“He said things would change in five months,” the outspoken mother of 11 said, pumping her fist for emphasis. “If it’s not better in five months, we, the women, will kick him out.”

The Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry Enugu, Nigeria, Rev Fr. Ejike Mbaka, on Friday apologized to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, for calling him a stingy man.
Recall that the cleric had on Wednesday said Obi would not become Nigeria’s President because ‘he is stingy.’But the Catholic Diocese of Enugu State had disowned him.
However, Mbaka on Friday apologized to Obi and his supporters in a letter he personally signed.
In the letter, the controversial Catholic priest asked for understanding and forgiveness.
Mbaka prayed for the former governor of Anambra State, that God would grant him his heart desires and other presidential candidates.

He decried the increasing insecurity in Nigeria which he attributed to bad leadership and appealed to Nigerian youths to also pray that God in his mercy will give Nigeria man after his heart as the next president.
The statement read partly, ”I assure the people of God and Nigerians that I am praying for Good Governance and Good Leadership in this country and that God will give us leaders after His own Heart.
“As it stands right now, it is obvious that Nigeria is passing through indescribable insecurity challenges, an inestimable unemployment crisis, massive corruption, heinous crimes, and unbearable suffering engendered by bad leadership. 

“I bear with my fellow countrymen and women in whatever we are passing through in this trying time. I call on the adorers and the entire people of God to join hands in praying that God will deliver us from the plans of the devil and its wicked agents.

“I am a servant of God and my intention is not to malign His Excellency, Peter Obi’s image, but to pray for him. May God’s will be done in his life. I pray to God whom I serve to give our beloved people good and excellent leaders who will take care of them and lead them to the promised land. 

“Anyone who God wishes to make our leader is my choice. In this vein, I give my blessings to His Excellency Peter Obi and his supporters, I also give my blessings to the other candidates and their supporters whose intention is also to give Nigeria good leaders. In any way, the supporters of Mr. Peter Obi feel offended by my utterances or however I was misunderstood by them, I ask for their understanding and forgiveness.”

As the funeral service for victims of the June 5, 2022, attack on St Francis Catholic Church, Owo, holds today, pictures of the 40 worshippers who lost their lives have been revealed.
The pictures were released by the Church in the printed copy of the program of the event of the funeral service.

The mass burial for the victims will hold immediately after the service.
SEE the picture and names of the victims below