Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has charged the 4,485 corps members deployed to the state for the 2026 Batch C Stream II National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) orientation course to contribute meaningfully to the success of the 2027 general elections and national development.
Fubara, who gave the charge on Friday at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area, urged the corps members to repay the confidence reposed in them by Nigerians through patriotism, integrity and selfless service.
The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Promise Oguzie, gave the charge while declaring the orientation course open.
He assured the corps members of his administration’s commitment to prioritising their security and welfare throughout their service year. Fubara also urged them to reciprocate the love, support and goodwill of Rivers people by working diligently to make meaningful contributions to the development of the state.
The governor’s charge comes as the 4,485 corps members represent a significant deployment to Rivers State, with the state NYSC Coordinator, Moses Oleghe, describing the batch as the largest number of corps members ever posted to the state.
Oleghe attributed the high deployment to the attractive welfare packages provided for corps members serving in Rivers, but expressed concern over the pressure the increased number had placed on accommodation facilities at the orientation camp.
He appealed to the state government to urgently mobilise contractors to commence work on the approved 1,000-capacity hostels for male and female corps members to address the accommodation challenges.
The NYSC coordinator also urged the corps members to uphold moral values, neutrality, patriotism, integrity, honesty and transparency, particularly in their roles as ad-hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during the 2027 general elections.
He said their conduct would be critical to strengthening the nation’s democracy and ensuring the emergence of credible leaders at all levels.
The 4,485 corps members were subsequently sworn in by Justice Victor Ugorji, who represented the Chief Judge of Rivers State.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has cautioned the judiciary against political interference in opposition parties, warning that court decisions capable of weakening opposition groups could undermine multiparty democracy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The party’s warning followed a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.
The NDC, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, on Friday, said judgments of such nature risk creating the impression that the courts were being used to frustrate opposition parties and weaken democratic competition. “We have noted the Federal High Court judgment derecognising the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress.
“While we respect the judiciary as the last hope of the common man, we are concerned that judgments of this nature, if not carefully handled, risk creating the impression that the courts are being used to scuttle democracy and weaken opposition,” the statement said.
The party also expressed concern over what it described as the pattern of judgments emanating from some High Courts, alleging that they suggested efforts to prevent the ADC from participating in the forthcoming general elections.
“The way some of these judgements are being churned out, especially from the High Courts, suggests a deliberate effort to shut out the ADC from the forthcoming general elections by other means.
“This would amount to further shrinking the chances of multi-party democracy, which is already under a big threat under the APC-led government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” it added.
The NDC urged the judiciary to safeguard its independence, impartiality and integrity, while advising the ADC to challenge the judgment at the appellate court without delay.
It also called on the Court of Appeal to accord any appeal arising from the judgment accelerated hearing, citing the approaching 2027 elections and the need to prevent prolonged legal uncertainty from affecting the party’s participation in the electoral process.
The controversy followed a judgment delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, nullifying the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, violated the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged Mark’s leadership and argued that he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership in accordance with its constitution.
The court also nullified decisions and actions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including the party’s 2027 presidential primary, which produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.
It further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise the affected decisions. The ADC and Atiku have rejected the judgment and indicated plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Joseph Odama(right), presenting an Award to the NDDC MD, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, during the Distinguished Personality Lecture at the NISS in Abuja.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has intensified efforts to secure community buy-in for its development projects through stakeholder engagement, community monitoring committees and partnerships with traditional institutions, youth and women’s organisations, as part of a strategy to achieve lasting peace in the oil-rich region.
The Commission’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said sustainable peace in the Niger Delta would depend not just on security operations but on making communities active participants in development planning, implementation and monitoring.
Ogbuku spoke in Abuja while delivering the Distinguished Personality Lecture at the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), with the theme, “Peace Building Through Development: The Strategic Role of the NDDC in Stabilising the Niger Delta Region.”
He said the Commission had moved away from a transactional approach to development towards a transformational model designed to build public trust, strengthen community ownership and create sustainable economic opportunities. A major component of the strategy, according to him, is the introduction of Community Monitoring Committees, which gives host communities a direct role in monitoring development projects and ensuring that interventions meet their needs.
NDDC MD, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, and the Commandant, National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Joseph Odama, in a group photograph with NISS Course Participants and NDDC Directors during the Distinguished Personality Lecture at the NISS, in Abuja.
He explained that the initiative, unveiled at the Commission’s 2026 Partners for Sustainable Development Conference in Port Harcourt, was intended to make communities stakeholders and owners of development projects rather than passive beneficiaries.
Ogbuku said the Commission had also presented a Stakeholder Document to strengthen engagement with communities and provide a framework for more inclusive development interventions. “When a community monitors a project, it has a greater stake in protecting that project. When governments listen to communities, they are more likely to trust them. Transparency underpins trust, and trust underpins peace,” he said.
He added that the NDDC had introduced its ‘Rewind to Rebirth’ initiative to recalibrate its engagement with Niger Delta stakeholders and reposition its intervention programmes to deliver more meaningful results.
The managing director maintained that decades of relying largely on security enforcement had shown that lasting peace could not be achieved without addressing the development deficits and economic frustrations confronting the region. “Experience has taught us that you cannot sustainably secure what you have persistently failed to develop,” he said.
He stressed the importance of coordinating development interventions across the region, warning that duplication of projects and perceived inequality in resource allocation could fuel resentment and undermine peace.
Ogbuku said the NDDC was collaborating with the Ministry of Regional Development, under Engr Abubakar Momoh, to harmonise regional development master plans within the framework of a National Policy on Regional Development.
He identified the Partners for Sustainable Development Forum, established under the NDDC Act, as a key platform for coordinating interventions by government agencies, state and local governments and development partners.
The NDDC boss cited the 27-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road in Bayelsa State, which connects 14 communities through 99 culverts and 14 bridges, as an example of the benefits of collaboration.
The project was executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company. He also highlighted the Commission’s memorandum of understanding with the Nigeria LNG Limited for the Bonny Ring Road and the 3.65-kilometre Okrika-Borikiri Road, featuring three bridges, in Rivers State.
On youth restiveness, Ogbuku said the Commission was convinced that providing viable economic alternatives was more effective than relying solely on security measures to discourage criminality.
He argued that young people needed access to jobs, skills acquisition, agriculture, business opportunities and finance to make legitimate livelihoods more attractive than illicit activities.
“You cannot simply tell a young person to drop the arms without providing an alternative pathway to dignity and livelihood. That alternative may be a farm, a skill, a business, access to finance or a job,” he said.
Ogbuku further disclosed that the Commission had strengthened its corporate governance framework through measurable Key Performance Indicators and the digitisation of internal processes, including e-procurement, electronic contract award letters and the Electronic Memo platform.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for directing the NDDC to complete ongoing projects and introducing a performance bond to strengthen accountability in project delivery.
The managing director also announced the completion of the 1.2-kilometre Kaa-Ataba Bridge in Rivers State, linking Khana and Andoni local government areas, which he said would be named the President Tinubu Bridge.
He called for collective responsibility in sustaining peace, urging traditional rulers to serve as peace ambassadors, youth and women’s groups to participate in project monitoring, and state and local governments to work with the Commission as development partners.
He also urged security agencies to recognise development institutions as partners in preventive security, rather than viewing peace-building solely through the lens of enforcement.
Earlier, the Commandant of the National Institute for Security Studies, Mr Joseph Odama, said the lecture brought together members of the intelligence and security community, opinion leaders and analysts to explore a new approach to national development.
Odama described Ogbuku as a pragmatic leader whose contributions to the Niger Delta were informed by experience and knowledge.
The NISS Commandant subsequently presented the NDDC managing director with the Distinguished Personality of the Year Award in recognition of his contributions to peace in the region.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to press ahead with its political activities despite Thursday’s Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of the party led by former Senate President, David Mark, declaring that there is “no shaking” in its determination to pursue its 2027 presidential ambition.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, said the ADC would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, describing the ruling as an attempt to weaken the opposition and derail his presidential ambition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, titled ‘The Panic Is Real — Atiku’, urged party supporters to remain resolute, peaceful and focused, insisting that the campaign to rescue Nigeria from economic hardship would continue. He also questioned the timing of the judgment, which came barely 24 hours after thousands of supporters attended the party’s campaign rally in Sokoto State.
According to him, the massive turnout demonstrated Nigerians’ growing appetite for political change and confidence in the ADC’s promise to make life affordable.
“The people of Sokoto came out in their thousands because they are hungry for change and believe in our promise to make life affordable again. “What we witnessed in Sokoto is only the beginning. The people of Kebbi will have their say, and so will Nigerians across the country as our campaign moves forward,” he said.
Atiku alleged that the judgment was part of a calculated attempt to undermine his political support in Northern Nigeria and disrupt the momentum generated by the Sokoto rally.
He, however, maintained that his presidential ambition transcended regional boundaries, arguing that the economic challenges confronting Nigerians were not restricted to any particular part of the country.
“My roots are in Northern Nigeria, but my candidacy belongs to all Nigerians. There is a difference between being from the North and being a candidate only for the North. Hunger and hardship do not respect regional boundaries,” he said.
The former Vice-President accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of underestimating the strength of his political support by assuming that his appeal was limited to the North.
On the legal controversy, Atiku faulted the reopening of the leadership dispute, citing an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He said the court had dismissed the challenge to the Mark-led leadership after upholding objections bordering on jurisdiction, standing and failure to exhaust internal party remedies.
Atiku questioned why another suit was instituted to revisit the same dispute, describing the latest development as an attempt to circumvent an existing judicial decision. “We will challenge this judicial manoeuvre at the Court of Appeal,” he declared.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ADC had earlier rejected the judgment and vowed to pursue available legal options, while calling on its members to remain calm and law-abiding.
Reaffirming his determination to sustain the party’s campaign, Atiku said the ruling would not distract the ADC from its mission of offering Nigerians an alternative to the APC-led government.
“Our journey to rescue Nigeria from the hardship imposed by the APC government is a long one. Our Affordable Life campaign will continue because Nigerians deserve relief from this crushing cost-of-living crisis,” he said.
He urged supporters to intensify grassroots mobilisation through house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns, insisting that the party would not be intimidated by the latest judicial setback.
“We urge our supporters to remain resolute, take our message from house to house and door to door, and stay peaceful and focused. There is no shaking,” Atiku declared.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has suspended a Rivers State High Court judge, Justice Sobere Biambo, and two other judicial officers for one year without pay, while sanctioning eight others over various acts of judicial misconduct.
The disciplinary measures followed investigations into allegations of abuse of judicial powers, unlawful detention of litigants, disregard for due process and other breaches of judicial ethics.
Justice Biambo was also barred from elevation for three years over his handling of a civil dispute in which he allegedly ordered the arrest of litigants and imposed fines of N300,000 on each of them without following the prescribed contempt proceedings.
The council found that the judge issued bench warrants against the petitioners for allegedly disobeying an interim injunction and subsequently imposed the fines without serving the mandatory Forms 48 and 49 or instituting proper contempt proceedings.
It held that the alleged contempt occurred outside the court’s presence and could not lawfully be summarily tried and punished.
The other judicial officers suspended for one year without pay are Justice Hannatu Mohammed Kabir of the Nasarawa State High Court and Grand Kadi Mohammed Sani Salihu of the Jigawa State Sharia Court of Appeal.
Justice Kabir was sanctioned for ordering the unlawful detention of a litigant for 58 days over alleged disobedience of court orders without complying with the mandatory contempt procedures.
Similarly, Grand Kadi Salihu was suspended for exceeding his judicial authority by reopening a judgment delivered by the FCT Upper Area Court, constituting a committee to review the decision and subsequently assigning the matter to another judge for fresh proceedings.
The NJC held that the action amounted to an appeal against a valid judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, which was subsequently set aside by the Jigawa State High Court.
The council also sanctioned eight other judicial officers, comprising cautions, warning letters and placement on its Watch List.
Those affected include Justices Kayode Agunloye, Bello Kawu, Danjuma A. Oyigbenu, Isa Ebini Kana, Mohammed Zubairu, C. A. Ogbuagor and Chibuike L. Azuama. Justice Agunloye of the FCT High Court was cautioned over his handling of post-judgment garnishee proceedings involving First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
The council found that he improperly entertained and granted a fresh ex parte application for a Garnishee Order Nisi after an earlier similar application had been withdrawn and struck out, while other pending applications, including a request for stay of execution, were yet to be determined.
Justice Kawu, also of the FCT High Court, was directed to receive a warning letter and placed on the council’s Watch List for granting interim bail to former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, despite being aware of a subsisting remand order issued by another judge of the same court.
The council found that Justice Kawu granted the bail on December 23, 2025, a day before the remand order was due to expire, thereby acting in conflict with the subsisting order.
Two Nasarawa State High Court judges, Justices Danjuma A. Oyigbenu and Isa Ebini Kana, were also directed to be issued warning letters for failing to deliver judgment in an appeal within the constitutionally prescribed 90-day period.
The NJC rejected their argument that the constitutional provision did not apply to appellate courts, noting that they had admitted delivering judgment outside the stipulated period without providing satisfactory explanations for the delay.
Justice Zubairu of the FCT High Court was cautioned and placed on the Watch List for entertaining an application and making orders after being informed that an appeal had already been entered at the Court of Appeal. The council held that his conduct amounted to disregard for the appellate court and bordered on insubordination.
Similarly, Justice Ogbuagor of the Enugu State High Court was cautioned for continuing proceedings despite a pending appeal and an application for stay of proceedings.
The council found that his actions undermined fair hearing, disregarded due process and violated the hierarchy of courts. Justice Azuama of the Imo State High Court was also cautioned, placed on the Watch List and advised to take his judicial responsibilities more seriously.
The NJC found that he granted an ex parte Garnishee Order freezing the bank accounts of Puma Energy, a company that was not a party to the substantive suit, thereby causing it substantial losses.
The decisions were taken at the council’s 112th meeting held on November 3, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe, said the council also considered reports on 35 petitions submitted by its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committees.
Of the petitions, 24 were dismissed for lack of merit, four were recommended for further investigation, while one was placed in abeyance because the matter was sub judice.
The council further directed that investigations into a petition against Justice G. N. Ugbala of the Ebonyi State High Court should continue despite the petitioner’s notice of withdrawal.
Rivers State University (RSU), Port Harcourt, has deployed an advanced Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) research platform developed by United States-based MOC-LLC to strengthen interdisciplinary research, promote technological innovation and equip staff and students with practical skills in emerging technologies.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at the University’s Information and Communication Technology Centre (ICTC), includes the donation of a dedicated server by MOC-LLC to facilitate the establishment of ML/AI research laboratories and support hands-on scientific training and collaborative research.
Speaking at the unveiling, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the deployment as a major milestone in the University’s digitalisation drive, noting that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning had become essential tools for institutions seeking to remain relevant and competitive in the evolving global knowledge economy. Zeb-Obipi commended the resource person and donor, Dr Mfon Okpok, for his commitment to advancing research and technological development in Nigerian universities.
He said the practical orientation of the training would enable participants to acquire skills applicable to their various academic disciplines, urging them to share the knowledge with other members of the university community.
Earlier, the Director of ICTC, Prof. Sunny Orike, described the programme as an important opportunity for continuous learning and professional development.
Orike observed that Artificial Intelligence had evolved beyond a mere technological tool to become a strategic resource for improving productivity, enhancing efficiency and simplifying professional processes.
He urged participants to remain actively involved in the training to acquire practical competencies in Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. In his remarks, Okpok said the initiative was designed to move the application of emerging technologies beyond theoretical discussions and introduce practical experiences into classroom teaching and scientific research.
He expressed optimism that the platform would strengthen research activities, stimulate innovation, facilitate prototype development and encourage the production of research outputs with potential for patent registration.
Eronu also applauded Okpok for donating the Dell Edge Starboard, expressing confidence that the partnership would produce tangible research outcomes and strengthen technological development across the participating institutions. The RSU deployment follows the installation of the same research platform at Hawassa University, Ethiopia, on October 16, 2026, while the University of Abuja is preparing for a similar deployment.
The initiative is expected to deepen collaboration among RSU, the University of Abuja and Hawassa University through joint research publications, grant applications, postgraduate supervision, academic exchanges and international conferences.
The partnership is also expected to strengthen institutional research capacity, promote knowledge sharing and enhance the contribution of the participating universities to scientific advancement, technological innovation and sustainable development.
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Atiku Abubakar, has pledged to tackle insecurity, hunger and the rising cost of living if elected president in the 2027 general elections.
Atiku made the pledge on Wednesday during the launch of his presidential campaign in Sokoto State, where he called on Nigerians to unite behind his ambition to rescue the country.
In a statement posted on his X handle, the former Vice-President said Nigerians were increasingly frustrated by hunger, insecurity and unfulfilled political promises, insisting that his campaign would offer a clear plan to address the nation’s challenges.
Expressing gratitude for the reception accorded him in Sokoto, Atiku described the state as a historic centre of faith, scholarship and leadership.
“Sokoto, I am here! I am deeply grateful for the rousing welcome as I formally launch my campaign for the presidency from this historic seat of faith, scholarship, and leadership,” he said.
He promised to end insecurity across the country, restore hope to young Nigerians and make the country affordable for citizens.
“Nigerians are tired of hunger, fear, and broken promises. Today, they have a choice, a plan, and a leader ready to deliver. I will end the insecurity that haunts our communities, restore hope to our young people, and make Nigeria affordable again,” Atiku stated.
Describing the Sokoto event as the beginning of a broader campaign to reclaim the country’s fortunes, he urged supporters to remain united and committed to his presidential bid.
“The journey to rescue Nigeria begins here. Together, we will win,” he added.
L-R: NDDC Corporate Affairs Director, Seledi Thompson-Wakama; the NDDC Director, Project Monitoring and Supervision, Engr. Gbenga Omowanle; the Director, Rivers State Office, Engr. Okezie Ule; the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku; the NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Dr Victor Antai; and the Managing Director, Jilian Group, Christian Emeozor, during an inspection of the Kaa-Ataba Road Bridge in Khana LGA, Rivers State.
Community leaders and stakeholders in Ataba Kingdom, Andoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, have hailed the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the construction of the Kaa-Ataba Road and Bridge project, describing it as a landmark intervention that will transform the socio-economic fortunes of riverine communities.
The project, which connects Kaa in Khana Local Government Area to Ataba in Andoni, comprises a 1.2-kilometre main bridge, a 250-metre secondary bridge and a two-kilometre dual carriageway linking the two local government areas.
Speaking during an interview in Ataba, the Head Chief of Ogogo Village, Chief John Ekwang, said the community was overwhelmed with joy over the project, which he described as the longest bridge in the Niger Delta. Ekwang said the people of Ataba and neighbouring communities had endured decades of hardship, relying exclusively on wooden boats to access markets, schools, healthcare facilities and other essential services.
He recalled that the absence of a road link had exposed residents, particularly schoolchildren and women, to dangerous river crossings, while traders frequently lost their fish and agricultural produce during transportation.
“For many years, we cried for this bridge. Our children risked their lives crossing the river to go to school. Our women lost their fish and farm produce because there was no road. Today, NDDC has wiped our tears. This is the first time government has truly remembered us,” he said.
The community leader pledged the people’s support for the NDDC, assuring that youths in the area would be mobilised to protect the infrastructure against vandalism and other forms of damage. Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ataba Elders Forum, Mr ThankGod Egart, said the bridge would significantly improve transportation, stimulate commercial activities and strengthen security across the area.
Egart recalled the human and economic losses associated with the community’s dependence on boat transportation, expressing optimism that the new road connection would ease the movement of people and goods.
“We have buried people waiting for boats. We have lost perishable goods. With this bridge, our children can now go to school and return safely. Our fish will reach Port Harcourt and Bori fresh. We thank President Bola Tinubu and the NDDC Board and Management for giving us this hope,” he said.
A fish trader, Mr George Okop, said the project had rekindled hope among traders, particularly those in the fishing business, who had faced high transportation costs and difficulties preserving their catches.
He noted that direct road access would reduce dependence on boats and the cost of purchasing ice to preserve fish during transportation to major markets.
Similarly, a teacher from Ataba, Mrs Sarah Johnson, said travelling from the community to Port Harcourt had been a major challenge, with residents sometimes spending about two hours waiting for boats to cross the river to Kaa.
She expressed gratitude to the NDDC, saying the bridge would ease the transportation burden on residents, improve access to essential services and create better economic opportunities.
The NDDC said the Kaa-Ataba Bridge was among several legacy projects being delivered by its current Board and Management, led by Chairman, Mr Chiedu Ebie, and Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, in alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The project is expected to open up previously inaccessible communities, facilitate the movement of agricultural and fishery products, improve access to education and healthcare, and strengthen economic integration between Andoni and Khana.
President Bola Tinubu has recounted how he worked as a taxi driver and took up other jobs in the United States to finance his university education, saying the experience has strengthened his commitment to expanding access to education in Nigeria.
Tinubu disclosed this in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, recalling that he had to delay his admission for several months after arriving in the United States to save enough money to begin his studies.
He said he eventually moved to Chicago, where he combined different jobs with his academic pursuits to meet the cost of tuition, accommodation and other expenses.
“When I first arrived in the United States as a young man, I drove a taxi to earn money for my education. I even had to postpone starting school for several months to save enough,” he said.
“When I eventually got to Chicago, I worked different jobs to support myself and pay my way through university. I know what it means to worry about tuition, accommodation and how to make ends meet while pursuing an education.”
The President said his personal experience had reinforced his belief that every Nigerian child should have access to quality education, irrespective of family background or financial circumstances.
Highlighting his administration’s education reforms, Tinubu said more than N372 billion had been disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support students with institutional fees and upkeep.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government’s technical and vocational education programme had received more than 2.8 million applications, while 38 technical colleges had been rehabilitated.
According to him, students in federal and selected state technical colleges now enjoy free tuition, boarding, textbooks and uniforms.
On university education, Tinubu said his administration had reached a new agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which provides for a 40 per cent increase in academic staff remuneration and measures to promote stability in the university system.
He stressed that the government was determined to address disruptions to the academic calendar, insisting that students should complete their programmes within the stipulated period.
“A four-year course must take four years. Our young people deserve to complete their education on time and get on with their lives,” he said.
The President further disclosed that the Federal Government was investing N110 billion in the rehabilitation of 24 medical schools, while annual nursing enrolment had increased fromOf 28,000 to 115,000.
He said enrolment in medical and dental programmes had also risen from 5,000 to 12,000 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to train healthcare professionals locally.
Tinubu added that more than one million children who were previously out of school had returned to the classroom, while his administration was investing in teacher development, promoting girls’ education and implementing a revised national curriculum that restores Nigerian history to classrooms.
He commended the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad; and other members of the education team for their contributions to the reforms.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians to explore the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative through an interactive A–Z platform developed by the Federal Ministry of Education to provide information on government programmes and opportunities for parents, students and teachers.
He encouraged citizens to report challenges affecting schools and educational facilities in their communities, saying public feedback would help the government identify gaps and improve service delivery.
The President described education as central to his administration’s development agenda, insisting that a child’s background should not determine the limits of their aspirations.
“Our journey from reform to opportunities and shared prosperity must begin with education.
“The circumstances of a child’s birth should never determine the limits of their ambition. Our responsibility is to give every Nigerian child a fair chance to fulfil their potential.
“We have more work to do, and I am determined to see it through,” he added.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has dissociated itself from a cleric allegedly linked to the endorsement of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, declaring that it has not authorised any political campaign or endorsement in its name ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, said Archbishop Chivir Chianson, who allegedly presented himself as the association’s General Secretary, had no official mandate to speak or act on behalf of the Christian body.
In a statement, Okoh also disowned a group reportedly using CAN’s name to mobilise support for a political candidate, insisting that neither Chianson nor the organisation had any institutional affiliation with the association.
The clarification followed public reactions to the endorsement of Tinubu’s second-term ambition by the Charismatic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), whose Secretary-General is Chianson.
The conference had reportedly declared its support for the President’s re-election during its 2026 synod held in September.
However, CAN stressed that the endorsement was entirely the position of the conference and should not be interpreted as the official stance of the association or an authorised political decision.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Archbishop Chivir Chianson is not the General Secretary of CAN and has no authority or mandate to speak or act on its behalf,” the statement said.
The association urged Christians, members of the public and media organisations to disregard any claims suggesting that Chianson or his group officially represented CAN, reaffirming its position that it had not endorsed any political candidate for the 2027 elections.
