Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has cancelled its Africa Hometown initiative, citing “misunderstandings and confusion” surrounding the programme. JICA announced the decision in a statement on Thursday, weeks after reports suggested Japan planned to create a special visa category for Nigerians and other Africans to relocate to Kisarazu, one of the four Japanese municipalities involved. In August, Nigeria’s State House had relayed that a “special visa category” would be introduced for young, skilled Nigerians to live and work in Kisarazu. However, the Japanese government swiftly denied the claim, clarifying that the initiative was not linked to…

By Atoyebi Nike The Senate Committee on Host Communities has directed the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to sanction International Oil Companies (IOCs) that fail to establish Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs) as required by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Chairman of the committee, Senator Benson Agadaga, issued the warning on Wednesday at the commissioning of seven projects funded by Total Energies through the Obagi Oilfield HCDT in Rivers State. Agadaga said the relative peace in the Niger Delta shows the PIA’s impact, stressing that strict compliance is vital for stability and higher oil output. “Those who have not…

By Bagudu Mohammed Critical thinking is the rarest treasure of the human mind the wealth, resource, and capital of every writer, artist, or thinker. It is the silent engine that powers creativity, imagination, and innovation. As John Dewey once wrote, “The essence of critical thinking is suspended judgment; and the essence of suspended judgment is inquiry.” In our age, where originality defines merit and imagination drives progress, critical thinking is no longer optional, it is the very currency of wisdom, knowledge, and independence. Every human achievement, from groundbreaking inventions to enduring philosophies, is nothing but thought crystallized into form. Consider…

By Atoyebi Nike Seventeen African governments have endorsed Mission 300, a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and African Development Bank to connect 300 million people to electricity by 2030. At the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum, leaders from Benin, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Togo, and others adopted National Energy Compacts, reform blueprints to expand power access, attract investment, and strengthen utilities. World Bank President Ajay Banga called electricity “the bedrock of jobs and growth,” while AfDB President Sidi Ould Tah said affordable power is vital for SMEs, digital work, and industry. Since its launch, Mission 300 has already…

By Atoyebi Nike Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has attracted major foreign investment to Adamawa State with plans to establish a state-of-the-art abattoir funded by Egyptian and Malaysian partners. The facility, designed to process 3,000 cattle daily, will serve as a modern hub for meat production, supplying major Nigerian cities such as Lagos, Ibadan, and Abuja. According to state officials, the project is expected to create thousands of jobs, engaging butchers, cold chain operators, logistics providers, and other professionals in the livestock and agro-allied industries. Governor Fintiri said the abattoir will strengthen Adamawa’s internally generated revenue, reducing dependence on federal allocations…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has reiterated that tuition and approved fees in all Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs) remain free, cautioning principals and administrators against imposing unauthorised levies on students. In a statement issued on Wednesday and shared via the Ministry of Education’s X handle on Thursday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stressed that the government bears the full cost of tuition to guarantee equal access to technical education. “No administrator is permitted to demand extra payments from parents or guardians,” Alausa said, noting that circulars have been dispatched to all schools to reinforce the directive. The…

By Atoyebi Nike As the world marks World Lung Day, health experts are warning about the rising threat of lung cancer, worsening air pollution, and the urgent need for preventive measures to safeguard respiratory health. The lungs often described as the body’s “life engines” are vital for oxygen intake and carbon dioxide expulsion. But they remain under constant attack from smoking, pollution, occupational hazards, and infectious diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, responsible for nearly 1.8 million deaths annually. Doctors note that late diagnosis remains a major problem…

By Atoyebi Nike The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has announced the release of more than 200 improved crop varieties in partnership with Nigerian research institutions and other collaborators. Dr. Simeon Ehui, IITA’s Director-General and CGIAR Regional Director for Continental Africa, made the disclosure at the 3rd International Conference of the Nigerian Plant Breeders Association (NPBA) in Abuja. The meeting, hosted by IITA, focused on “Crop Improvement for Food Security, Sustainable Agricultural Systems and Environment.” Ehui praised Nigerian scientists and plant breeders for their work in advancing food security but stressed that the next phase of agricultural innovation must…

By Atoyebi Nike Close to 100 countries, including nearly 40 Heads of State and Government, have announced or reaffirmed new climate commitments ahead of COP30 scheduled for November in Belém, Brazil. The pledges were unveiled at a Climate Summit convened on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. “The science demands action. The law commands it. The economics compel it. And people are calling for it,” Guterres said, urging nations to close ambition gaps and finalise Nationally Determined Contributions…

By Atoyebi Nike The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has been thrown into deeper crisis following conflicting directives over its state congress to elect a new State Working Committee (SWC). On Wednesday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba, in an unsigned statement, announced the postponement of the congress earlier scheduled for Saturday, September 27, 2025. This followed an earlier directive assigning the South South Zonal Caretaker Committee, led by Emmanuel Ogidi, to oversee the state chapter’s affairs pending fresh elections. But state PDP Chairman, Venatius Ikem, strongly rejected the directive, insisting the congress would hold…