Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

JAMB Raises Standards For Under-16 University Applicants. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has introduced rigorous new criteria for candidates under 16 seeking admission to Nigerian tertiary institutions in the 2025/2026 academic session. The announcement, made by JAMB Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede during a virtual meeting with vice-chancellors and admissions officers in Abuja, sets a high benchmark to ensure only exceptionally gifted young students are considered for early entry. Under the new policy, candidates below 16 must achieve a minimum score of 320 out of 400 (80%) in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), alongside scoring at least…

Foreign Investors Offload N576 Billion In Nigerian Stocks Over Six Months. Foreign investors have sold off equities worth N576.09 billion on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) between January and June 2025, marking a significant 84.97% increase compared to the N311.41 billion withdrawn during the same period in 2024. According to the NGX’s June 2025 Domestic and Foreign Portfolio Investment Report, these outflows surpassed foreign inflows, which totalled N559.25 billion, resulting in a net negative foreign portfolio position of N16.84 billion over the six-month period. The surge in foreign transactions, which reached N1.14 trillion in the first half of 2025—more than…

Nigeria’s U-15 And U-19 Boys Clinch Gold At 2025 ITTF African Youth Championships. Nigeria’s young table tennis stars shone brightly at the 2025 ITTF African Youth Championships, securing gold medals in both the U-15 and U-19 boys’ team events at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium. The victories, celebrated amidst roaring crowds, not only reaffirmed Nigeria’s dominance in African youth table tennis but also earned the U-19 team a coveted spot at the 2025 World Youth Championships in Romania. In the U-19 boys’ final, Nigeria faced a formidable challenge from defending champions Tunisia. Trailing 0-2 after Tunisia’s…

Manchester United, Arsenal, And Liverpool Lead As English Football’s Global Giants. Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool stand unrivalled as the titans of English football, boasting global fanbases and commercial clout that set them apart from their Premier League rivals, including Chelsea and Manchester City. According to industry experts and recent analyses, these three clubs command an unmatched worldwide following and lucrative sponsorship deals, cementing their status as the sport’s most influential brands, regardless of their trophy cabinet fortunes. Manchester United, with a staggering 83 million social media followers, leads the pack as the most popular club in the Premier…

CAF Slaps Kenya With £1.5m Fine After Security Breaches At CHAN 2024 Opener. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a KSh 2.5 million (£1.5 million) fine on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) following multiple security breaches during the African Nations Championship (CHAN) 2024 opening match between Kenya’s Harambee Stars and DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium on 3 August 2025. The thrilling 1-0 victory for Kenya was marred by significant safety violations that have drawn a stern response from the continental football authority. According to the CAF Security Officer’s report, several incidents disrupted the event. A chaotic stampede at…

Ogun State And ARISE IIP Launch $2.4 Billion Garment Hub To Transform Nigeria’s Textile Industry. In a bold move to reshape Nigeria’s textile landscape, the Ogun State government, in partnership with Arise Integrated Industrial Platform (IIP), has announced a $2.4 billion garment manufacturing hub set to produce 550 million garments annually, positioning it as one of Africa’s largest. The initiative, revealed on 6 August 2025, aims to curb Nigeria’s staggering $4 billion annual clothing import bill and revive the nation’s once-thriving textile sector. The ambitious project, located in the Special Agro Processing Zone at Ogun Airport City, is a…

Mason Greenwood Embraces Jamaican Roots With Citizenship And International Switch. Former Manchester United star Mason Greenwood has been granted Jamaican citizenship and issued a Jamaican passport, paving the way for him to switch international allegiance from England to Jamaica. The 23-year-old Marseille forward, who made a single senior appearance for England in 2020, is now poised to represent the Reggae Boyz on the global stage, marking a significant milestone in his career. The announcement, confirmed by the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) on 6 August 2025, follows months of speculation and procedural delays. Greenwood’s eligibility to play for Jamaica stems…

Burkina Faso Celebrates Significant Gains In Fight Against Terrorism. Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso – The Burkinabè government has announced a remarkable milestone in its ongoing battle against terrorism, revealing that it now controls 72.7% of the nation’s territory, a substantial increase from just 40% in 2022. This progress, highlighted by Defence Minister Célestin Simporé, marks a turning point in the country’s efforts to reclaim land from jihadist groups and restore stability. The advance has been attributed to strategic military operations, including the stabilisation of key areas such as the Sourou Valley, Djibo, and Diapaga, as well as the reopening of the…

Five Clubs Barred From UEFA Champions League. The UEFA Champions League, widely regarded as the pinnacle of club football, has seen its share of controversies, with five clubs historically banned from the prestigious competition for various infractions. These sanctions, ranging from match-fixing to financial misconduct, have left lasting marks on the clubs involved and the tournament’s storied legacy. As the 2025/26 campaign kicks off, with Paris Saint-Germain defending their title after a 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the 2024/25 final, the history of these bans serves as a reminder of UEFA’s strict disciplinary measures. English Clubs (1985-1990, Liverpool…

Nigeria’s First Electric Vehicle Plant Challenges ₦1 Trillion Tokunbo Economy. Nigeria’s automotive sector is witnessing a transformative milestone with the launch of the country’s first electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing plant, poised to disrupt the ₦1 trillion second-hand vehicle market. Jet Motor Company, a Nigerian automotive firm, has embarked on a bold mission to produce electric vehicles tailored for African roads, offering a sustainable alternative to the dominant “tokunbo” used car market. The tokunbo market—comprising second-hand vehicles imported primarily from Europe and the United States—has long been a cornerstone of Nigeria’s automotive industry. In 2022, Nigeria imported used vehicles worth…

President Tinubu Orders Swift Rollout Of Free Healthcare For Low-Income Retirees And Pension Reforms. President Bola Tinubu has announced a series of bold reforms aimed at enhancing the welfare of retirees, directing the immediate implementation of free healthcare access for low-income retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Describing the initiative as a cornerstone of social protection, the President underscored its importance in ensuring dignity for those in retirement. The directive, issued following a briefing by Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), also includes the prompt rollout of long-overdue pension increases and the…

President Tinubu Appoints Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat As NERC Director General. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has confirmed the appointment of Engr. Abdullahi Garba Ramat as the new Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), marking a significant step towards revitalising Nigeria’s electricity sector. The announcement, made on Tuesday, underscores the administration’s commitment to driving innovation and reform in the nation’s energy landscape. Engr. Ramat, aged 39, brings a wealth of experience and a forward-thinking approach to the role. With over 15 years in Nigeria’s energy sector, he specialises in regulatory governance, power…