Mohammed, Bulus Capture Rainoil Tennis Titles

Christopher Bulus delivered a masterclass performance to win the 2025 Rainoil National Tennis Open yesterday, February 9, 2025, at the Ikoyi Club 1938 Lagos.

The US-based star made light work of homeboy Daniel Adeleye 6-0, 6-4 to cart home his first Rainoil men's singles title.

The win came as a succors'
to Bulus, who spearheaded Nigeria's Davis Cup World Group II Playoffs campaign last week in Pretoria. The country came short against its South African hosts.

Elsewhere in the Rainoil tournament, top seed Khadijat Mohammed came from a set down to lift the lady's singles crown after beating hard-fighting Bright Emmanuel in the final.

The first set lasted almost an hour with Emmanuel stretching her opponent before Khadijat saw off the tie to win the ultimate prize.

This is Mohammed's 2nd national title on the bounce after capturing the Dala Hard Court tournament last November 2024.

.....by Kelechi Bernard(@woramangra)

Grassroots Scrabble Initiative Continues Spread Among Nigerian Universities.

Ahmadu Bello University,  ABU, Zaria, Kaduna, is the latest university to welcome the ongoing 'Take Scrabble To School Initiative.'

Engineer Toke Aka president. of the Nigeria Scrabble Federation NSF spearheaded the project drive to ABU.

He reiterated the importance of the initiative to grassroots Scrabble development.

"The future of the mind game belongs to the teeming youth population and the schools are where you will find and get them on board an experience they will cherish for a lifetime," Engineer Aka pointed out.

He explained that over 75 percent of universities and higher institutions in Nigeria have keyed into the 'Take Scrabble To School Initiative' program, and more will join in the months ahead.

President Aka donated four complete sets of Scrabble boards and tables to the newly created Ahmadu Bello University Club as part of the move aimed at driving the  'Take Scrabble To School Initiative'.

university's 

The Sports Dire,sity Dr. Danlami Isa, presented to receive the equipment,ment and he had some pleasant and thoughtful words for the donor, Engineer Aka.

He said the equipment would go a long way in encouraging more students to take up the sport.

During Engineer Toke Aka's two-day visit to ABU, Zaria, the school's new Scrabble Club staged its first mini-open tournament with 22 players in attendance, while 30,000 Naira was shared as prize money.

The president used the occasion to appeal to Scrabblebble stakeholders to support the 'Take Scrabble To School Initiative, which aims to introduce the sport to schools with high technology.

“Other African countries are developing their game, as the leader in the business, we must expand our player base and portfolio to keep our leadership status,” Aka said.

It's noteworthy to mention that the current African Champion Oluwatimilehin Doko and immediate past African Champion Enoch Nwali ruled the scrabble circuit while in school.

....by Kelechi Bernard @woramangra

NANs changes its decision....promise to work with FRSC.

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has pledged to mobilize its members across the country to support the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, to rid the nation's roads of fake number plates.

This is against the initial decision to reject any attempt by the FRSC to claim down on vehicles that are not compliant with the rules guiding safety on roads. 

The partnership was sealed during a meeting between the national body of the Association and the Corps Marshal in Abuja on Friday 7 February 2025.

Meeting that comprises the President, Comrade Lucky Omonefe, the President of the Senate of the Association, Comrade Akintoye Babatunde, and other Excoswase led by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Affairs, Mr Sunday Ashefon.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Ashefon condemned in totality, the proliferation of fake number plates, describing it as, " a threat to national security and a mockery of the country's transportation system," " Noting that the President Tinubu administration is not ready to fold its arms while unscrupulous individuals undermine the efforts of the FRSC and other law enforcement agencies in enhancing the safety and security of the citizens ".

He affirmed that NANS being a highly reputable and recognized body will not allow its name to be stained by participating in unlawful escapades.

The President of the Association, Comrade Lucky Omonefe, while commending the efforts of the Corps under the leadership of Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed says, that, " the Association is ever ready to support and partner with the Corps towards the actualization of the corporate mandate of the Corps ".

While appreciating the present leadership of NAN for its understanding, highly focused, and ready for fruitful partnership, Comrade Lucky pledged that, " his administration is prepared to engage members across the country and sensitize them on the implications of using fake or unauthorized number plates".

The Corps Marshal, Mr Shehu Mohammed who had earlier given reasons for the ongoing operations and why it is imperative for the enhancement of safety and security, commended the Association for the decision to join FRSC in this regard, describing it as, " a welcomed development.

"We appreciate the support of NANS and we look forward to working together to achieve our common goal of ensuring road safety in Nigeria," said the Corps Marshal. Muhammed

The partnership between NANS and FRSC is to sensitize students and the general public about the dangers of fake number plates and the importance of obtaining genuine number plates from authorized dealers.

NANS has pledged to mobilize its members across the country to support the FRSC in its efforts to rid the nation's roads of fake number plates.

FG scraps JSS, SSS, introduces a 12-year basic education model.

The Federal Government has announced the elimination of all Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) and Senior Secondary Schools in the country, introducing instead a mandatory 12-year uninterrupted basic education model. After completing this model, Nigerian children will be eligible for higher education. 

This initiative replaces the existing 6-3-3-4 education system with a new 12-4 structure. Additionally, the government has sought the approval of the National Council on Education (NCE) to officially adopt 16 years as the minimum entry age for the country’s tertiary institutions. 

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed these developments on Thursday in Abuja during the extraordinary NCE meeting for 2025. The NCE is the highest policy-making body in Nigeria's education sector. 

The event was attended by education commissioners from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), along with various agencies and parastatals under the Ministry, as well as development partners. 

According to the Minister, by integrating secondary education into the basic education framework, students will benefit from an uninterrupted learning experience until the age of 16. 

Alausa emphasized that this new policy aligns with global best practices.

 He stated that the reform aims to reduce dropout rates by eliminating financial and systemic barriers that currently hinder students from completing their secondary education.

 "Extending basic education to 12 years will ensure a standardized curriculum that is uniformly implemented across the nation," Alausa explained. "This will also allow for early exposure to vocational and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for both higher education and employment." 

He noted that many developed nations have adopted similar systems where basic education spans 12 years, allowing students to gain foundational knowledge before specializing in higher education. "This reform also aligns Nigeria's education system with international standards, enhancing educational outcomes and global competitiveness," Alausa added. 

He pointed out that educated youth contribute significantly to national development. 

"When students receive an extended period of compulsory education, they are better equipped to enter the workforce with relevant skills.

 "This reform will also help reduce child labor and other social issues that arise from premature school dropouts."

 Alausa highlighted various implementation strategies to successfully integrate secondary education into basic education, including policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, teacher training and recruitment, funding and partnerships, as well as curriculum enhancement.

NIMR appeals for funds and sends an SOS to FG to rescue it from EKDC

The Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, says, it will resuscitate its outstations in some parts of the country to expand research activities on public health issues.

It also plans to deploy some senior researchers to those facilities and make them fully functional according to the institute's mandate.

The outstations which are in Kainji in Niger State, Maiduguri, and Asaba, Delta State are currently dormant, apart from that of Delta where some collaborative work is being done with support from the State Ministry of Health.  

To achieve this, NIMR wants the government to prioritize funding for research to help address internal health challenges and improve people's quality of life. 

The Director-General of NIMR, Professor Oladapo Obafunwa who made the call during a media chat in Lagos, explained that 95 percent of research works carried out by the institute were funded by foreign donors, thereby limiting its scope of research.

"We have the facility to explore these things, NIMR is that expert at the background that people don’t see, we hope that a forum like this will help us to get across, to not just the average man on the street, but also legislators,  "A lot is said about chronic renal diseases and renal failure with dialysis, kidney transplant in the country, we need to find out if there is anything in our water and food that we need to revisit to know and the genetic predispositions to chronic renal diseases". he explained

The DG who also sent an SOS to the federal government to come to its aid as the Institute is facing difficulties posed by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company, stated that, EKDC has failed to provide a meter or repair damaged panels despite repeated requests but rather, sending heavy bills to the Institute.

"The problem NIMR has is with the Eko electricity distribution company, " When you hear statements like, ‘we will shut you down, we will disconnect you,’ you will start wondering, is it that people don’t understand what it means? NIMR has no meter up till now. Letters have been written four times asking for the so-called damaged panel to be repaired but nothing has happened,” Prof. Obafunwa explained.

To mitigate this issue, he said NIMR is exploring alternative energy sources, including solar power. Prof. Obafunwa thanked one of the institute’s principal investigators who has sourced funds to install inverters with solar panels.

Professor Obafunwa who said, NIMR has the facility and human capacity to handle some of the health challenges and proffer solutions said, it is also ready to investigate the Human Metapneumo Virus, HMPV, but reassured Nigerians that so far, no outbreak has been reported.

The Director of Research, Professor Stella Smith who gave reasons for the Malaria resistance strain currently being experienced in the country to include, improper diagnosis and non-adherence to drug prescriptions, advised members of the public to present cases early, complete their medication and follow up cases to get the desired results. 

“This is why the government and legislators need to approve more funding for local research, focusing on pressing health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and other non - communicable diseases.

Professor Smith said, " We need to recalibrate and focus a lot more on issues about our health conditions ".

FRSC calls for peace as NANs threaten to close FRSC Command.

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC has called on the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS  have been urged to reconsider its stand and withdraw the reported threats to the Corps. 

In a statement signed by the Assistant Corps Marshal, Corps Public Education Officer, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide,

the Special Operations which is a fallout from the increasing abuse of the Nigerian number plates by organizations and faceless individuals who desire to drag the nation back to the old days of indiscriminate, unregistered, and irregular use of number plates. 

This he said, undermines the gains of enhanced security uniformity, data storage, and retrieval under the National Uniform Licensing Scheme (NULS).

According to the statement, " Commanding Officers nationwide have been directed not to succumb to any intimidation or threats by individuals or organizations in the guise of promoting acts likely to compromise the objects of the National Vehicle Identification Scheme and national Security while carrying out their statutory responsibilities of keeping the nation highways safe and secure for all road users ".

In addition, the Special Operations were necessitated by reports of forgery and duplication of number plates by some reputable Nigerians and organizations hence if immediate remedial actions are not taken, Nigeria'sa security could be compromised knowing that the majority of crimes are vehicles-related. 

FRSC management expressed dismay that, Nigerian students who ought to be at the forefront of a law-abiding nation would resort to issuing such threats to FRSC, an organization committed to bringing sanity and regularity to the vehicle registration system.

The statement says, the duty of the Corps also involves the resolution of vehicle-related crimes and the enhancement of National security, which is pivotal to proper vehicle identification and resolution to the insanity and chaos that characterized the number plates system in the past. 

It advised the Leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANs, to toe the path of peace by seeking more information and understanding of the ongoing operations.

Police hand over 165 suspected Immigrants to NIS in Kebbi.....says investigation continues

The Kebbi State Police Command has arrested 165 immigrants said to be from Francophone countries and handed them over to the State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service for further investigation. 

A statement by the Police Command image maker, SP Nafiu Abubakar, made available to Radio Nigeria in Kebbi state says an intelligence report revealed that over Two Hundred persons were discovered in a Three-Bedroom Flat in the Kuwait area of Birnin Kebbi metropolis. 

The statement said the residents were raided by a team of Detectives attached to the Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) and successfully arrested One Hundred and Sixty-Five (165) occupants.

It stated that" while on the investigation, it was discovered that, all of the arrested suspects were from Francophone countries of Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Mali, and Ivory Coast " 

" Investigation further revealed that the suspects are residing in Nigeria without any valid documents and allegedly involved in Qnet Ponzi Scheme ". 

The statement said, on conclusion of the preliminary investigations by the Command, the arrested suspected immigrants have been transferred to the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kebbi State Command, for the continuation of the investigation and further necessary action.

Story by  Abdullahi Tukur