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MKO Abiola’s Wife, Doyin Dies at 82

Fola Badmus1 month ago1 month ago03 mins

Dr. Doyin Abiola, the first woman to become Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of a national daily in Nigeria, has died. She passed away at 9:15pm on Tuesday, August 5, family sources confirmed. She was 82. Doyin, the widow of the late business mogul and politician Chief MKO Abiola, was a media powerhouse in her own right long before her name became linked to Nigeria’s most iconic democratic martyr. She began her journalism journey in 1969 at the Daily Sketch, where her popular column “Tiro” tackled major societal issues including gender advocacy at a time when few dared. In 1970, she left for the United States, bagged a master’s degree in journalism, and returned home to join Daily Times as a Features Writer. There, she rose to become Group Features Editor, and later secured a PhD in Communications and Political Science from New York in 1979. On her return, she served on the Daily Times editorial board, where she worked alongside greats like Dele Giwa, Stanley Macebuh, and Amma Ogan. But history would come calling when the National Concord, owned by MKO Abiola, appointed her as its pioneer daily editor. She eventually became Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief in 1986, becoming the first Nigerian woman to hold such a top role at a national daily. Her career at the National Concord spanned three decades, and she remained a towering figure in Nigeria’s media landscape. Dr. Doyin Abiola and MKO Abiola got married in 1981, and she stood firm through the highs of journalism and the political storms that trailed her husband’s June 12 presidential mandate.

8th African Nations Championship: Nigeria Launch Quest for Another Continental Title

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago07 mins

Days after racing to a 10th triumph in the Women Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeria will on Tuesday begin another serious quest for a continental title when the home-based senior men’s team, Super Eagles B take on Cup holders Senegal in the opening match of group B of the 8th African Nations Championship. Bronze medal-winners in 2014 and runners-up four years later, Nigeria have blown hot and cold in the 16-year-old tournament that is exclusively reserved for footballers plying their trade with valid contracts in the domestic league of their countries on the continent. Ahead of the inaugural edition hosted by Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 and won by the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Eagles squandered a two-goal lead over arch-rivals Ghana in Accra to end up losing 2-3, and then failed to find the back of the net in the return encounter in Calabar. Ghana qualified instead. Two years later, Nigeria also failed to reach the finals in Sudan. In 2014, Stephen Keshi (of blessed memory) coached the Eagles to a bronze medal finish in South Africa, overturning a 3-0 deficit at half-time against Morocco en route. It was a year after the great Keshi had led the ‘A’ to lift the Africa Cup of Nations in the same country. Nigeria failed to make it out of the group stage in Rwanda in 2016, but then went all the way to the Final in the following edition, losing to hosts Morocco on a frosty night in Casablanca. The country failed to qualify for the 2021 edition hosted by Cameroon, and also painfully missed out of the finals staged by Algeria two years ago. In essence, Nigeria will be making only her fourth appearance at the competition. Christened Pamoja 2024, this year’s African Nations Championship promises a lot of thrills and excitement across five venues in three host nations – a novel arrangement in hosting of sports events on the African continent. The Confederation of African Football awarded a joint bid by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda the hosting right for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, and afterwards opted to grant the three nations the opportunity to use the CHAN as a dress rehearsal. The 19 participating countries have been cast into four groups, with groups A, B, and C having five teams, and group D (where Nigeria will feature) having only four, including Cup holders Senegal, as well as Congo and Sudan. Nigeria’s technical and tactical approach to games will be curated by Eric Sekou Chelle, also the gaffer for the ‘A’ team. Chelle has spoken of belief and self-confidence among his 23-man squad, who spent three weeks at a training camp in Ikenne-Remo and another 10 days in Zanzibar (to which was embedded two drawn matches against the Zanzibar National Team). Chelle still has goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, defenders Sodiq Ismaila and Junior Nduka, midfielder Alex Oyowah and forwards Anas Yusuf and Sikiru Alimi – who were in the squad that turned back Ghana’s Black Galaxies 3-0 on aggregate in the qualifiers. However, there have been excellent additions like Steven Mayo and Leonard Ngenge in the defence, Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna and Michael Tochukwu in the midfield, and Temitope Vincent, Shola Adelani and Godwin Obaje in the attack. At the 15,000-capacity Amaan Stadium on Tuesday, Chelle will go for the maximum points to underscore Nigeria’s ambition, as well as to diminish anxiety ahead of the clashes with Sudan and Congo. Joint-host Tanzania took the first three points of the tournament on Saturday, beating Burkina Faso 2-0 in their group B encounter at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. GROUP A: Kenya, Morocco, Angola, DR Congo, Zambia GROUP B: Tanzania, Madagascar, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic GROUP C: Uganda, Niger Republic, Guinea, Algeria, South Africa GROUP D: Senegal, Congo, Sudan, Nigeria SUPER EAGLES B AT 8TH AFRICAN NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP Goalkeepers: Henry Ozoemena Ani (Enyimba FC); Nurudeen Badmus (Kwara United); Lawal Mustapha (Shooting Stars) Defenders: Sodiq Ismaila (Remo Stars); Bankole Afeez (Kwara United); Taiwo Abdulrafiu (Rivers United); Uzondu Harrison (Ikorodu City); Junior Harrison Nduka (Remo Stars); Ngengen Leonard (Ikorodu City); Steven Mayo Egbe (Rivers United) Midfielders: Adedayo Olamilekan (Remo Stars); Hadi Haruna (Remo Stars); Otaniyi Taofik (Rivers United); Akanni Qudus (Remo Stars); Michael Tochukwu (Remo Stars); Alex Oyowah (Remo Stars) Forwards: Anas Yusuf (Nasarawa United); Shola Adelani (Ikorodu City); Sikiru Alimi (Remo Stars); Temitope Vincent (Plateau United); Ijoma Anthony (Abia Warriors); Godwin Obaje (Rangers International); Jabbar Malik (Remo Stars)

Economic Growth vs. Public Welfare: Is Nigeria’s Rising GDP Helping the People?

Emi Lokan or Lagos Lakon Tinubu’s Federal Projects Spark Unease Over Regional Equity

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago06 mins

Since the inception of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, one state has clearly emerged as the biggest beneficiary of federal projects—Lagos. While no one disputes the strategic and economic importance of Lagos, many Nigerians are beginning to question the sheer volume—and value—of federal allocations being funneled into the state, raising serious concerns about fairness, equity, and national inclusion. For example, in just the first two years of his presidency, President Tinubu has either approved or initiated the following major infrastructure projects in Lagos: Add to these the ongoing University of Lagos Independent Power Project, the Renewed Hope Housing City, and several other smaller federal interventions, and the numbers quickly climb into the trillions. All of this within just two years. Meanwhile, in other regions—especially in the North and far East—concrete federal projects are either minimal or invisible. Kano State, for instance, has little more than an announced Renewed Hope City and some yet-to-be-executed approvals with no real groundwork on the ground. This trend raises legitimate concerns: Supporters of the president often justify these projects by pointing to Lagos’s profitability and position as the country’s economic nerve center. While that may be true, it ignores a vital principle of federalism—balanced development. No region becomes economically viable without significant investment. If the same kind of infrastructure spending were directed toward Kano, Enugu, Sokoto, or Akwa Ibom, they too would become high-yield economic zones over time. Even within the South West, there’s imbalance. Other states in the zone are not seeing the kind of aggressive development Lagos is enjoying. What is playing out appears less like “South West favoritism” and more like Lagos exceptionalism. More troubling is that appointments under Tinubu are also heavily Lagos-centric. Many key federal positions are occupied by individuals with strong political or personal ties to Lagos, sidelining not only other regions, but even Tinubu’s home region in a broader sense. Equity, fairness, and justice should guide leadership decisions—especially in a country as diverse and historically polarized as Nigeria. Preferential treatment on this scale risks deepening divisions, breeding resentment, and fueling narratives of exclusion. For Lagosians with a sense of national unity and justice, this shouldn’t be a matter of partisan defense or tribal loyalty. It’s a call to introspection: Are we witnessing a presidency for all Nigerians—or just for Lagos? As we move toward 2027, these questions will only grow louder. And if the current trend continues through to 2031, historians may one day look back and ask: Was this the most regionally skewed administration in Nigeria’s democratic history? One thing is certain—prosperity without justice is not sustainable. We must speak now, not just for today, but for the record, and for posterity.

Kemi Badenoch Recalls Harsh Boarding School Experience in Nigeria, Compares It to Prison

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago05 mins

London, UK — UK Conservative Party leader and Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden, Kemi Badenoch, has spoken candidly about her difficult upbringing in Nigeria, describing her time at a Federal Government Girls’ boarding school in Sagamu as comparable to being in prison. In a recent podcast interview recorded at Westminster, Badenoch reflected on her early life in Lagos, Nigeria, where she lived above her father’s medical clinic. She shared vivid memories of her childhood across three countries — Nigeria, the United States, and the United Kingdom — and how those experiences shaped her values, political views, and resilience. Now a rising star in British politics, Badenoch opened up about being sent to boarding school at the age of 11 — a formative period she characterized by hardship and discomfort. “It was very grim,” she said. “There was no running water. We fetched it with buckets. We had to cut the grass with machetes because there were no lawnmowers.” She revealed that about 300 students were housed in the school’s dormitory, with 20 to 30 girls crammed into each room. The living conditions, she said, were physically and emotionally demanding. She recalled swapping her meals for books and losing a significant amount of weight due to the poor diet and her aversion to certain foods, particularly fish. Reflecting on Family, Identity, and Nigeria’s Legacy Badenoch also offered intimate insights into her family history, including how her parents — both medical professionals — met at university. Her father, a doctor, and her mother, Professor Feyi Adegoke, a physiology lecturer, raised their family in Lagos during what she described as a relatively prosperous period for Nigeria. Born in Wimbledon in 1980, Badenoch explained that her birth in the UK was the result of fertility treatment her parents sought abroad, at a time when Nigeria’s oil wealth enabled affluent families to access private healthcare overseas. “Mr. Roberts, a surgeon based in Wimbledon, helped facilitate my mother’s pregnancy,” she said. “It turned out she had endometriosis, which at the time, doctors in Nigeria said only affected Europeans.” The interview also touched on Nigeria’s colonial legacy and how it influenced the social culture of her parents’ generation. She described seeing photos of her parents from the 1970s, surrounded by what she called “funky, jazzy” Western influences — from disco music to fashion trends — at a time when Nigeria was transitioning out of British colonial rule. Politics, Pain, and Personal Growth Throughout the interview, Badenoch credited her challenging upbringing with shaping her conservative worldview and approach to public service. “Those tough experiences made me who I am,” she said. “They gave me the tools to succeed in a country like the UK, where grit, ambition, and resilience are essential.” Badenoch’s comments have sparked mixed reactions, particularly among Nigerians on social media, where some defended the country’s public boarding school system, while others agreed with her depiction of its harsh realities. As she continues to rise within British politics, Badenoch’s dual identity as both British and Nigerian remains central to her narrative — one that fuses personal adversity with political ambition.

ECONEC to Use Nigeria’s 2023 Election Review as Benchmark for West Africa

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

By Kamal Yalwa: August 1, 2025 The ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) says the findings and recommendations from Nigeria’s 2023 general elections will serve as a benchmark for improving electoral processes across the West African subregion. Speaking during a post-election follow-up and needs assessment mission to Nigeria, ECONEC President and Chairperson of Liberia’s National Elections Commission, Mrs. Davidetta Browne-Lansanah, said the recommendations will help guide reforms in individual election management bodies (EMBs) in the region. “We anticipate that during our engagement, we may be able to understand the reasons behind some of the issues that emerged from the 2023 elections and how INEC was able to navigate and find solutions,” she stated during the delegation’s visit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja. Browne-Lansanah emphasized that ECONEC views the Nigerian experience as a learning opportunity for all member states. “We want to understand what happened, learn from your expertise in addressing the challenges, and apply those lessons to strengthen our own electoral systems.” She also expressed gratitude to INEC for its support to Liberia’s electoral commission, noting that Nigeria had provided essential materials and helped set up an ICT facility for her commission. “Through ECONEC’s principles and ideals, Nigeria responded to our needs. This mission is committed to learning,” she said. Responding, INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu acknowledged ECOWAS’ role in deploying both short-term and long-term observation missions during Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. He noted that ECOWAS made 37 recommendations following the polls—13 of which were directed at INEC, while 24 were meant for other institutions including the National Assembly, the Nigeria Police Force, and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC). “The commission has reviewed all 13 recommendations requiring administrative action and has already implemented many of them,” Prof. Yakubu said, adding that other recommendations needing legislative changes are under review by the National Assembly. He noted that INEC had incorporated most of the suggestions into its own set of 142 recommendations for electoral reform, which were developed through broad consultations with stakeholders.

Osimhen Completes Galatasaray Move

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen on Thursday completed his permanent move to Turkish champions Galatasaray in a 75 million euro ($87.5 million) four-year deal. A key figure in Napoli’s 2023 title triumph, Osimhen spent last season on loan at Galatasaray, scoring 26 goals in 30 league games as the Istanbul club claimed their 25th Super Lig crown. He was absent as Napoli, the freshly crowned Serie A champions, resumed training at the start of the week as the finer details of the deal were concluded. Napoli coach Antonio Conte seemingly did not have the 26-year-old in his plans for his side’s Scudetto defence next term. Negotiations with Galatasaray had been ongoing for several weeks but up to Thursday had stalled over the terms of payment for the transfer. Napoli recently recruited Kevin De Bruyne from Premier League club Manchester City. Osimhen becomes Galatasaray’s most expensive ever player.

8th African Nations Championship: Eagles B Seek Win against Zanzibar in Second Friendly Match

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago03 mins

Nigeria’s home-based senior men’s team will seek victory over hosts Zanzibar on Thursday in the second of a two-match programme arranged to put the Super Eagles B in competition mood ahead of the 8th African Nations Championship kicking off on Saturday. The 2018 silver medallists were held to a scoreless draw in the two teams’ first game played at the Mau Stadium – located in the centre of Zanzibar – on Monday. Nigeria, also bronze medal winners in 2014, dominated Monday’s game all-round, with superior ball possession and attempts on goal. They created a plethora of chances but the Zanzibar rearguard worked overtime to keep the scoreline barren. Adedayo Olamilekan, Hadi Haruna, Sikiru Alimi and Harrison Tochukwu were impressive in a game in which goalkeeper Ozoemena Ani, captain Nduka Junior, Leonard Ngenge, Abdulrafiu Taiwo, Sodiq Ismaila, Ijoma Anthony, Harrison Ozondu, Akanni Qudus, Taofeek Otaniyi, Godwin Obaje, Jabbar Malik and Shola Adelani also featured. Thursday’s encounter, also scheduled for the Mau Stadium, comes five days before Nigeria’s first match of the competition – a clash with Cup holders Senegal – at Zanzibar’s 15,000 -capacity Amaan Stadium. The Eagles will then confront Sudan in their second match of the group phase (also at the Amaan Stadium) on Tuesday, 12th August before concluding their group D campaign against Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, 19th August. The four-week, 19-nation finals have encamped five teams in groups A, B and C, with only Nigeria’s group D having only four teams. Other venues for the competition are the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and the Nyayo National Stadium (both in Nairobi, Kenya), and the Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.

NNPCL Restates Commitment to Oil, Gas Development in Northern Nigeria

Fola Badmus2 months ago2 months ago01 mins

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reaffirmed its commitment to the exploration and development of oil and gas resources in northern Nigeria. Yusuf Usman, a director at NNPCL, gave the assurance on Wednesday during a government-citizen engagement session organized by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation in Kaduna. Usman disclosed that the company has drilled four wells in the Kolmani area of Bauchi State and is currently assessing the appropriate technology for the next phase of drilling operations. He also announced that five Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plants are under construction in Kogi State as part of President Bola Tinubu’s CNG Initiative. The plants are expected to improve gas supply and accessibility across the northern region.