Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has reiterated his administration’s commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of children, describing them as the foundation of the state’s future. In a statement commemorating this year’s Children’s Day, the governor emphasized the importance of developing policies and initiatives that protect children from harm, neglect, and exploitation. He noted that his government is steadfast in its resolve to ensure every child in the state grows up in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment. “As we mark Children’s Day, we are reminded of our responsibility to nurture the next generation,”…

By Atoyebi Nike U.S. President Donald Trump once more appears to be losing patience with Vladimir Putin’s warfare in Ukraine, but it remains unclear whether he will actually toughen his stand against the Kremlin leader. The Republican billionaire, who returned to office in January vowing to end the war “in 24 hours,” has long appeared to side with his Russian counterpart, frequently speaking of him with gushing admiration. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has been a frequent target of Trump’s ire, as seen with the spectacular dressing down of the Ukrainian leader in a tense Oval Office meeting in March. But the…

By Atoyebi Nike SpaceX is preparing for the ninth test flight of its giant Starship rocket. The launch is set to begin at 6:30 pm (2330 GMT) from Starbase, Texas. The nearby village recently voted to adopt the same name as the facility. Starship stands 403 feet (123 meters) tall, making it the most powerful rocket ever built. It is key to Elon Musk’s vision of making humans a multi-planetary species. NASA also plans to use a version of the rocket for its Artemis 3 Moon mission. The last two test flights failed. The upper stages exploded, scattering debris across…

By Atoyebi Nike Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), has called for transparency in judicial appointments as a key strategy to combat corruption in Africa. Speaking to participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course 18 (EIMC 18) at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) in Abuja, Dr. Aliyu stressed that credible, God-fearing judges appointed through a transparent process are critical in tackling corruption. “The National Judicial Council must make the names of proposed judges public to allow citizens to contribute to the vetting process. Transparency in these appointments…

By Atoyebi Nike United Capital Asset Management Ltd (UCAML), a subsidiary of United Capital Plc, has officially launched the Children Investment Fund (CIF), a naira-denominated mutual fund targeted at helping Nigerian families secure the financial future of their children. The launch event, held at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Lagos, marks the addition of a new investment product aimed at supporting key life milestones such as education, healthcare, and long-term capital needs. Dr. Odiri Oginni, Managing Director/CEO of UCAML, said the fund offers a structured, professionally managed way for parents to begin building wealth early for their children. “Whether it’s for…

By Atoyebi Nike One year after suspending the $300 helicopter landing levy due to stakeholder backlash, the Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has reintroduced the fee, once again placing its collection in the hands of private firm NAEBI Dynamic Concept Ltd. The levy’s reinstatement was confirmed in a circular dated May 15, 2025, issued by the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA). The directive, signed by NAMA’s General Manager of Air Traffic Control Operations, Akut D.S., empowers NAEBI to collect landing fees from helicopter operations involving oil platforms, terminals, rigs, helipads, and aerodromes. Initially suspended on May 30, 2024,…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria’s flagship Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme is receiving major backing from the European Union and the World Bank as the government ramps up efforts to equip young Nigerians with digital skills and connect them to global job markets. The programme, led by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, aims to train three million people by 2027. Minister Bosun Tijjani described it as central to President Tinubu’s plan to create one million tech jobs and boost human capital. Since its pilot launch in 2023, 3MTT has scaled up significantly. The EU has committed…

By Atoyebi Nike President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his administration’s dedication to ensuring the safety, rights, and development of every Nigerian child as the country commemorates the 2025 International Children’s Day. In a nationwide address on Tuesday, President Tinubu hailed children as the “heartbeat of the nation’s future” and called for unified efforts to foster environments where they can thrive free from fear, violence, and neglect. He described the country’s children as “the pride and future of our great nation,” emphasizing the collective moral and constitutional duty to protect them. Reflecting on this year’s theme, “Stand Up, Speak Up: Building…

By Atoyebi Nike The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into a massive cyber fraud involving six major Nigerian banks, where hackers stole billions of naira through insider-assisted breaches. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede revealed the ongoing probe during a televised interview on Sunday, noting that while the names of the affected banks are being withheld to protect their public image, the institutions are among Nigeria’s largest financial players. “As I’m talking to you, we have about six banks—I will not mention names because of their image—that have been hacked into by young people,” Olukoyede stated on…

By Atoyebi Nike The naira surged to N1,579 per US dollar over the weekend, marking its strongest performance in a month amid continued reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This rise came as global markets reacted to renewed US-EU trade tensions, leading to a sell-off of the US dollar and a sharp gain for the British pound. Data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) shows the naira appreciated from N1,583.92 on Thursday to N1,579 on Friday, May 23, 2025. It had earlier hit a low of N1,612 on May 7 but has since maintained a strong rally.…