Author: Editor

Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki Greenfields Metal Limited, operators of the Ekubara mining site in Amaonye, Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has commenced the installation of 50 solar-powered streetlights in the community. The project, valued at ₦20 million, was announced on Wednesday by the company’s Chairman and Managing Director, Henry Ahanotu, in the host community. The firm also announced that all lingering disputes between the company and the community had been resolved, describing it as a “new dawn of peace and partnership.” Ahanotu said the gesture was aimed at appreciating the people of Amaonye for embracing dialogue and cooperation.…

Our Reporter, Abuja  Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has raised doubts over the Development Bank of Nigeria’s (DBN) claim that it has disbursed more than ₦1 trillion to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across the country since 2015. In a statement on Wednesday, Obi said his independent checks and interactions with small business owners across Nigeria revealed that most were unaware of the bank’s existence, let alone its reported disbursements. According to him, over 80 percent of entrepreneurs he encountered had no knowledge of the DBN. “If indeed such an amount was…

Ben Ezechime, Enugu Governor Peter Mbah has pledged strong economic cooperation between Enugu State and the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire. He made the pledge when the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Côte d’Ivoire to Nigeria, Kalilou Traoré, paid him a courtesy visit in Enugu. Ambassador Traoré, who was accompanied by the Chairman and CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd., Chief Innocent Chukwuma, underscored the strong bond between Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. He expressed appreciation for the invitation by the Chairman of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing to tour their world-class facilities in Enugu and commended Governor Mbah for making Enugu welcoming to…

Our Reporter, Abuja Former Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi, says the campaign for special reserved seats for women in the National Assembly has gained unprecedented momentum, with the House of Representatives showing leadership in advancing the bill. Speaking on The Morning Show on Arise Television on Wednesday, Obi said never in Nigeria’s history has there been such strong commitment from lawmakers themselves in championing women’s representation. “The Sixth Assembly debated women’s inclusion, but the bill died at the third reading because no one wanted to lose their seat. The Ninth Assembly threw out five gender bills, despite significant…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, representing Abia South senatorial district, may have courted the wrath of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), following a 24-hour ultimatum issued to him by the Abia State Chapter of the party. He was asked to clear his name over alleged fraternity with the coalition African Democratic Congress (ADC), or face sanctions. Arising from its caucus meeting on Tuesday night, APGA challenged Senator Abaribe to declare where his loyalty lies and stop political polygamy. The party also accused Senator Abaribe of abandoning the party and treating its leadership with disdain after using…

By Valentine Somtochukwu There was a time when some politicians in Anambra State boasted openly that they had the power to write the results of the November 8 gubernatorial elections, not minding how the people voted. Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, had cause to stress that a rat cannot steal from a man who is wide awake. It is against this background that one views the spurious written ratings being published on social media, in which every effort is made to portray Anambra State as coming last in all the indices. As they say, “Fools rush in where angels fear…

By Press Release  The Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters (NBRP) has announced the date, venue, and programme of activities for its 5th National Conference on Reading and Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled to hold on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Abuja. Themed “Reading, A Unifying Factor,” the 2025 edition will bring together educationists, cultural leaders, policymakers, and advocates of literacy from across Nigeria to examine practical strategies for reviving the nation’s reading culture. Distinguished Guests Among the high-profile guests expected at the event are: Professor Udenta O Udenta, a specialist in African and comparative literature, cultural studies…

Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia In a bid to contain cases of building collapse, the Abia State Government has established a material-testing laboratory in the state. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press briefing in Umuahia, said the laboratory “is fully operational.” He said: “The lab has the capacity for the following services: Concrete Testing, Soil Testing, Aggregate Testing, Asphalt Flexible Pavement Testing, Steel Reinforcement Testing, Non-Destructive Testing, and Field Testing, among many other capabilities. “The installation of this lab will ensure very high quality of engineering and building projects in the state,” he said. The Commissioner…

…Says he was a patriot, brilliant mind Our Reporter, Abuja  Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has paid glowing tributes to the late Chief Audu Ogbeh, describing his death as a personal loss and Nigeria’s loss of a remarkable patriot. Atiku, who joined other leaders on Monday evening at the Night of Tributes and Service of Songs held in honour of the late elder statesman at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, recalled his close working relationship with Ogbeh, particularly in the formative years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999. He…

Our Reporter, Abuja  Founder of Women Aid Collective (WACOL) and former United Nations Special Rapporteur, Professor Joy Ezeilo, has lamented the poor representation of women in Nigeria’s parliament, noting that women occupy less than 5 percent of seats at both national and state levels. In a social media post on Monday, Ezeilo described the situation as “alarming,” stressing that Nigeria still has a long way to go in achieving gender parity in governance. She spoke against the backdrop of comparative data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s 2023 database, which shows that many African countries have already surpassed the 30 percent benchmark…