Nigerian Army Investigates Jos-Based Captain Over Alleged Sexual Abuse

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Nigeria Army Logo 

The Nigerian Army has launched a formal inquiry into an accusation of sexual misconduct leveled against Captain Etim Essien, an officer stationed at the Headquarters of the 3 Division in Jos, Plateau State.

In an official statement released on Saturday by the division's deputy spokesperson, Olumide Olukoya, the military authority emphasized that it treats all claims of sexual abuse with extreme gravity, particularly those involving minors or vulnerable individuals.

“Accordingly, appropriate steps have been initiated to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the reported incident. As the allegation is currently under process of investigation, it would be inappropriate to make definitive comments on the culpability or otherwise of any individual at this stage,” the statement read.

Underscoring its dedication to fairness, due process, and human rights, the army confirmed that relevant civil authorities are collaborating on the case to guarantee a transparent and exhaustive review.

“The Nigerian Army places a high premium on discipline, professionalism and respect for human dignity. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, any personnel found to have acted contrary to the law or established service regulations will be dealt with appropriately,” the release added.

In the meantime, the military has appealed to the public to avoid spreading unverified rumors or engaging in speculation that could compromise the integrity of the ongoing probe or infringe upon the privacy and well-being of the individuals linked to the case.

FG Unveils Free 100MB Daily Data Plan for Nigerian Students Beginning October 1

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Tunji Alausa 

Nigerian students enrolled in public secondary and tertiary institutions will soon receive a daily allocation of 100 megabytes of complimentary internet data, starting October 1, 2026. This initiative is designed to grant learners cost-free access to government-approved educational websites, digital libraries, and e-learning platforms.

Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa revealed the launch date in Abuja during the official introduction of the Initiative for Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content in Nigeria. 

He noted that exorbitant internet costs have historically locked students from lower-income backgrounds out of digital academic spaces, turning mobile phones and personal computers into essential tools that bridge the digital divide.

The rollout is a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the Federal Ministry of Education, and telecommunications network providers, including MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria, and Globacom. 

Participating telecom operators will supply the zero-rated data allowances as part of an initial phase targeting senior secondary and higher education students before future expansions to other academic tiers.

Alongside bridging the affordability gap, the federal government is laying groundwork to regulate online safety for minors. Minister Alausa announced that forthcoming policies will restrict and monitor internet access for children under the age of 16 to ensure that digital academic materials remain secure, credible, and compliant with national curricula.

Furthermore, the government is scaling up its broader digital transformation strategy via the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure and the Digital Nigeria Education Management Information System. 

Over 240,000 schools have already undergone geo-mapping to optimize national education planning, tracking metrics like facility conditions, infrastructure, and student enrollment.

According to Ayuba Shuaibu, the NCC’s Director of Policy, Competition and Economic Analysis, regulatory bodies will carefully curate and whitelist educational repositories, teacher training portals, and technical skills networks to ensure data is used strictly for academics. The framework also incorporates strict adherence to cybersecurity laws, fair competition guidelines, and child protection mandates.

Rimini Makama, the NCC Executive Commissioner for Stakeholder Management, emphasized that the scheme seeks to eradicate geographic and financial inequalities in education. 

Representing the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Adetunji Adeyemo reaffirmed the government’s dedication to driving digital inclusion and expanding affordable connectivity to underserved regions across the country.

Sanwo-Olu Appoints Professor Badejo Ayodeji Olawumi as New LASU Vice-Chancellor

 By: Manoah Kikekon 

Prof. Badejo Ayodeji 

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the appointment of Professor Badejo Ayodeji Olawumi (née Faji) as the new Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo.

The high-profile appointment was made public through an official statement released on Wednesday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso. Professor Badejo takes over the leadership mantle from the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibijoke Olatunji-Bello, who successfully completed her illustrious five-year tenure.

Born on August 4, 1962, Professor Badejo brings decades of wealth in academic excellence and administrative leadership to her new role. She is an accomplished Professor of Guidance and Counselling. 

Her academic pursuits saw her earn a Bachelor of Education degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, before proceeding to the prestigious University of Lagos (UNILAG), where she obtained both her Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees in Guidance and Counselling.

Over the years, she has built a formidable reputation within the tertiary education sector, contributing extensively to research, student development, and psychological counseling structures within Nigeria and beyond.

Professor Badejo’s ascension to the highest office in LASU follows the expiration of Professor Olatunji-Bello’s widely praised tenure, which recorded remarkable milestones, including massive infrastructural expansion, digital transformation, and high accreditation success rates.

As the university community prepares for this smooth transition, stakeholders and academic circles have expressed optimism that Professor Badejo’s visionary leadership and background in counseling and human development will steer Lagos State University toward even greater heights of global competitiveness and institutional stability.

Lagos Cracks Down on Child Theft and Border Trafficking in Badagry

By: Manoah Kikekon

Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin 

The Lagos State Government has announced a major overhaul of security infrastructure in the Badagry division to halt a rising wave of child theft and human trafficking.

Addressing journalists following the state’s bimonthly security council briefing, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, described the trend as deeply distressing. 

She confirmed that law enforcement has already apprehended and arraigned a female suspect operating an illegal clinic alongside her husband, though further details were withheld due to ongoing court proceedings.

Security evaluations revealed that child abduction rings disproportionately target the Badagry axis, a vulnerability officials attribute to its porous border geography, which offers easy escape routes for perpetrators. 

In response, the state plans to dramatically improve visibility by installing additional street lighting across vulnerable flashpoints.

To craft a data-driven counter-strategy, the government has partnered with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to compile precise metrics on active cases, trial outcomes, and geographic hotspots. 

This information will guide targeted interventions executed jointly by the Ministries of Women Affairs and Youth Development.

“When we are talking of children, we are talking about the future of the country, the future of the state. It is very saddening that people will do that to innocent children, and so we are not taking it easy,” Mrs. Salu-Hundeyin stated.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has shifted its high-level security consultations with paramilitary and military heads from a quarterly to a bimonthly schedule to maintain constant situational awareness. 

Concurrently, grassroots safety frameworks are being expanded through direct engagements with local government secretaries, Community Development Associations (CDAs), and the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

Shifting focus to transport infrastructure, Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Corps Commander Kehinde Hamzat, outlined new protocols to mitigate severe gridlock around the Kara Bridge construction zone and the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road corridor. 

The FRSC plans to deploy strategic palliatives, extra recovery tow trucks, and standby ambulances.

Furthermore, the agency is launching a stringent public awareness campaign targeting major traffic violations, including driving under the influence, speeding, and vehicle overloading, to safeguard motorists across the metropolis.

NAN

Badagry Chairman Hunpe Appoints Gboweh Gabriel as Special Adviser

 By: Manoah Kikekon

Babatunde Hunpe and Gboweh Gabriel 

In a move to strengthen youth inclusion and grassroots development, the Executive Chairman of Badagry Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Hunpe, has approved the appointment of Comrade Gboweh Sedowhe Gabriel, the outgoing coordinator National Youth Council Badagry Branch, as his Special Adviser on Youth Organizations.

The official announcement was made on Monday at the council secretariat, marking a significant milestone for youth leadership within the local government area. 

The appointment comes in direct recognition of Gboweh’s dedication, service, and relentless advocacy during his tenure as the outgoing coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Badagry Local Branch. 

Council authorities noted that the decision underscores a deliberate commitment to harnessing the energy, leadership capacity, and mobilization skills of young people to drive community growth.

Reacting to the development, Comrade Gboweh expressed profound gratitude to the executive chairman for the confidence reposed in him. He emphasized that the appointment serves as a vital morale booster for young leaders engaged in grassroots development and volunteerism.

“I appreciate the Executive Chairman for deeming it fit to appoint me as his Special Adviser on Youth Organisations. This appointment is an encouragement to young people, who will find themselves in leadership positions to be more proactive in the course of voluntary service to humanity,” Gboweh stated.

CEOAFRICA and GHC Celebrates Geneith Pharmaceuticals Chairman’s Birthday

 By: Manoah Kikekon

The corporate headquarters of Geneith Pharmaceuticals Limited buzzed with vibrant energy and goodwill as staff, business associates, and key health stakeholders gathered to celebrate the birthday of the company’s Executive Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Umenwa.

Leading the celebration were the Managing Director of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), Prince Cletus Sunday Iloabanafor, alongside members of the GHC activation team. The event served as a dual celebration of Chief Umenwa’s milestone and his immense contributions to Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, youth development, and community healthcare delivery.

Speaking during the grand reception, Prince Iloabanafor lauded the celebrant as a towering pillar of excellence whose lifelong dedication to the pharmaceutical space has profoundly transformed healthcare standards and saved countless lives across the nation.

“Chief Emmanuel Umenwa is a beacon of excellence whose contributions to the pharmaceutical sector have saved countless lives and elevated standards of healthcare delivery,” Prince Iloabanafor stated.

Iloabanafor further underscored Umenwa’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey, noting that his leadership style over the past two decades has been defined by uncompromising integrity, groundbreaking innovation, and a relentless drive to bridge healthcare gaps for everyday Nigerians.

Echoing these sentiments, Geneith Health National Coordinator, Pharm. Blessing Ghensel, praised the Chairman for his profound passion for youth empowerment and equitable healthcare access.

As the founder and CEO of Geneith Pharmaceuticals, Chief Umenwa’s impact stretches far beyond corporate success. A member of the Institute of Directors and an active Rotarian, his career has earned him prestigious industry accolades, including the Pillar of Pharmacy Award from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State Branch) and the National Outstanding Leadership Performance Award from the National Association of Polytechnic Students.

Under his dynamic stewardship, Geneith Pharmaceuticals has spearheaded targeted health interventions, most notably robust public awareness campaigns and medical support frameworks aimed at fighting preventable diseases like malaria. 

His academic background, featuring a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Lagos, coupled with board memberships spanning telecommunications, hospitality, and pharmaceuticals, positions him as a multifaceted corporate leader.

Deeply moved by the outpouring of love and tributes from well-wishers including key management staff such as Blessing Ada Cosmas (Head of HR/Admin), Abimbola Bowoto (AGM Sales & Marketing), Obinna Agunye (Special Assistant to the Chairman), Umeh Chidozie (PA to the Chairman), and Goodluck Chioma (Procurement Officer) Chief Umenwa steered the celebrations toward national service.

In a passionate birthday appeal, the Chairman urged healthcare stakeholders and citizens to treat public health eradication as a personal duty, highlighting malaria as a critical hurdle that requires unified action.

> “The best way to celebrate my birthday is to join the fight against malaria and let us make Nigeria a malaria-free nation,” Chief Umenwa urged.

The event concluded with renewed commitments from the CEOAFRICA leadership, the GHC team, and Geneith staff to expand health literacy through initiatives like the Geneith Health Competition, ensuring Chief Umenwa's vision of a healthier, malaria-free Nigeria becomes an enduring reality.

INEC Schedules September 19 for Legislative By-Elections Across Four States

 By: Manoah Kikekon

Balot Box

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced September 19 as the official date for five legislative by-elections spanning Gombe, Kano, Bauchi, and Delta states.

The electoral body's schedule was made public by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, during a media briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.

According to the commission, the upcoming electoral exercise will fill vacancies across one federal constituency and four state constituencies.

The specific areas designated for the polls include: Gombe State: Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency.

Bauchi State: Disina and Sakwa State Constituencies.

Delta State: Udu State Constituency

Kano State: Dawakin Kudu State Constituency

INEC is expected to roll out operational guidelines shortly to ensure a seamless voting process for the electorate in the affected regions.

NAN