Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has pledged to withdraw from the 2027 presidential race if a younger candidate defeats him for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential ticket. He also said he would support and mentor such a winner. In an interview with BBC Hausa on Wednesday, Atiku said he could not yet confirm whether he would contest the presidency again. “This is only the beginning. Our priority is to establish the party and gain a strong following,” he said. “If I run for office, and a young man defeats me, I will accept that. The party…

By Bagudu Mohammed It was the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel who once declared that the state is “the march of God on earth.” In those words, government became something more than a bureaucracy; it was elevated to a near-divine agency of history, the vessel through which rationality unfolds. Martin Luther, in his own turn, described secular authority as “God’s mask” in the world. Both thinkers, though writing centuries ago, imagined rulers as guardians of morality and legitimacy, entrusted to reflect something higher than the whims of ordinary men. But when that same “mortal god” begins to patronize the…

By Atoyebi Nike Artificial intelligence has designed complete viral genomes for the first time, producing 16 bacteriophages capable of attacking E. coli, according to a September 17 preprint on bioRxiv.org. The AI-generated viruses even overcame bacterial strains resistant to natural phages, raising prospects for phage therapy against antibiotic-resistant infections. Led by Stanford’s Brian Hie and colleagues at the Arc Institute, the models “Evo 1” and “Evo 2” generated hundreds of potential genomes after being trained on billions of genetic sequences. Sixteen proved viable in the lab, with some killing E. coli faster than the benchmark ΦX174 phage. Experts caution that…

By Atoyebi Nike The University of Abuja has flagged off a free rabies vaccination campaign targeting at least 500 dogs and cats as part of activities marking the 2025 World Rabies Day. The Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Prof. Enem Ikechukwu, said the initiative underscores this year’s theme, “Action Now: You, Me, Community,” which calls for collective action to eliminate rabies by 2030. “Rabies causes over 59,000 deaths globally each year, mostly in developing countries like Nigeria. Mass vaccination of pets is the surest way to end this deadly disease,” he said. The one-week exercise will run at…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has called on Nigerian youths to embrace innovation, pursue big dreams, and excel in diverse fields, assuring them of his administration’s backing through policies and financial support. Speaking in a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Day, Tinubu said: “You must continue to dream big, innovate, and conquer more territories in your various fields. Our administration, through policies and funding, will continue to give you wings to fly sky-high.” The President highlighted the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said has already supported about 510,000 students across 228 institutions, with…

By Atoyebi Nike Netflix has taken a major hit after a mass boycott led by Elon Musk triggered a wave of subscription cancellations and a sharp 31% drop in its share price, now trading at about $1,167. The backlash erupted on X (formerly Twitter) after Musk posted, “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids,” while confirming he had cancelled his own account. The criticism centered on Dead End: Paranormal Park, an animated series featuring a transgender main character, whose creator, Hamish Steele, previously made controversial remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Within hours, #CancelNetflix became a top trend on…

By Atoyebi Nike The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has brokered peace in the labour dispute that forced the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe in Bayelsa State, to remain closed since July 11. At a mediation meeting in Abuja on September 29, attended by the institution’s Governing Council, management, and leaders of the three staff unions  NASU, SSANIP, and ASUP  the minister directed that academic activities resume on October 6. Dr Alausa also instructed the Governing Council to set up a fresh investigative panel into allegations against the Rector, Dr Agbabiaka Lukman, with a three-week deadline to submit its report. The…

By Atoyebi Nike A coalition of 130 Pan-Yoruba organisations has petitioned United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, warning of what they described as a looming genocide against the Yoruba people in Western Nigeria. The petition, signed by Popoola Ajayi, Secretary-General of the Alliance for Yoruba Democratic Movements (AYDM), alleged that terrorist groups within and outside Nigeria were plotting to invade Yoruba territories. The groups cited the September 17 killing of 15 residents, including women and children, in Oke-Ode, Kwara State, by suspected Fulani militants as evidence of an unfolding crisis. AYDM described the attack as “a prelude to mass invasion,” accusing…

By Atoyebi Nike Women farmers in Northern Nigeria have been encouraged to take on a more strategic role in boosting food security by shifting from subsistence farming to agribusiness. At a one-day workshop in Kano, themed “Ready to Take Your Agribusiness to the Next Level” and organised by Micro Development Consulting Limited (MDCL), participants were introduced to financing options and success stories of women-led agricultural enterprises. Representatives from the CBN, Bank of Agriculture, Bank of Industry, NIRSAL, and Jaiz Bank showcased funding schemes available to women in agribusiness. Experts also spoke on entrepreneurial mindset, agribusiness scaling, and value-chain opportunities. MDCL…

By Atoyebi Nike The African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO) and Afreximbank have confirmed progress on the planned $5 billion Africa Energy Bank, designed to address Africa’s persistent energy financing challenges. Speaking at the AEW: Invest in African Energies workshop on September 29, APPO Secretary General Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim said the bank has already secured a significant portion of required funds. “We have achieved in two to three years what no other development bank has done in this timeline,” he noted. Ibrahim stressed that Africa must lead its own energy financing, warning that over 600 million Africans still lack electricity,…