Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has assured teachers, pupils and parents of the safety of schools across Rivers State, pledging continued collaboration with security agencies to prevent attacks and abductions within educational institutions.

The assurance came on Tuesday as members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Rivers State Wing, staged a peaceful protest at Government House, Port Harcourt, in solidarity with colleagues abducted by gunmen during attacks on schools in Oyo State and other parts of the country.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the teachers joined a nationwide action organised by the NUT to draw attention to the worsening insecurity in schools and demand the rescue of teachers and pupils reportedly kidnapped from three schools in Oyo State about two weeks ago.

Addressing the protesters, Governor Fubara said his administration remained committed to ensuring the security of schools and creating a safe environment for teaching and learning across the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, the governor said the state government had been working closely with security agencies to safeguard teachers, pupils and school facilities from criminal attacks.

He assured the union that the government would continue to take proactive measures to prevent incidents of kidnapping and violence in schools, while urging members to remain patient as efforts were being intensified by the Federal Government and security agencies to secure the release of the abducted teachers and students.

“We will continue to do everything within our powers to ensure that schools in Rivers State remain safe and conducive for learning,” he said.

Earlier, the Secretary of the NUT in Rivers State, Comrade Bassey Asuquo, described the protest as a solemn march in honour of a colleague allegedly killed during the attack and in solidarity with teachers and students still being held captive.

He lamented that teachers across the country now operate under constant fear, noting that many leave their homes daily uncertain of returning safely.

“The school is supposed to be a sanctuary where the future of our nation is nurtured and prepared for greatness. What happened in Oyo State is not only an attack on innocent people but a direct assault on education and our collective future as a nation,” Asuquo said.

He argued that the Oyo incident reflected a broader security challenge confronting schools nationwide, citing similar attacks in parts of the North-East and other regions of the country.

According to him, the repeated targeting of educational institutions has transformed schools from centres of learning into places of fear and uncertainty.

The union called for the immediate and unconditional release of all abducted teachers and students and urged the Federal Government and state governments to take decisive action to halt the recurring attacks on schools.

The NUT also demanded the deployment of adequate security personnel to public schools across the country and the implementation of a comprehensive national school safety policy aimed at protecting students, teachers and educational infrastructure from violence, abduction and other security threats.

The protest ended peacefully with the teachers reiterating their commitment to safeguarding education while urging authorities to prioritise the security of schools and those who work and learn within them.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security, warning that the escalating wave of killings, kidnappings, terrorism and violent attacks across the country has reached alarming proportions and now constitutes a national emergency.

The call formed part of resolutions reached at the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026 held in Abuja under the theme, “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward.”

In a communiqué signed by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, church leaders expressed deep concern over what they described as worsening insecurity, economic hardship, declining public confidence in state institutions and growing threats to the lives and dignity of Nigerians.

The summit, attended by leaders of major Christian denominations, church administrators, legal practitioners, security experts and representatives from across the six geopolitical zones, lamented the increasing attacks on communities, churches, schools and farming settlements.

According to the communiqué, participants observed that citizens are being kidnapped from homes, workplaces and highways, while farmers are being driven from their lands and innocent men, women and children killed, displaced or subjected to horrific acts of violence.
“CAN expresses profound alarm over the escalating violence across Nigeria, including killings, kidnappings, abductions, terrorist attacks and the destruction of communities,” the communiqué stated.

The association condemned what it described as “barbaric acts of murder, beheading, torture, rape, abduction and forced displacement” and urged the Federal Government to take urgent and decisive action to halt the bloodshed.

CAN reminded government at all levels that the protection of lives and property remains their foremost constitutional responsibility and demanded measurable steps to restore public confidence in the nation’s security architecture.

The church leaders called for a comprehensive review of existing security arrangements, improved intelligence gathering, stronger inter-agency collaboration and greater accountability in the fight against terrorism, banditry and violent crime.

They also renewed calls for the immediate establishment of state police and other lawful decentralised security structures capable of improving intelligence gathering, rapid response and local accountability.

The summit further demanded the unconditional release of all abducted schoolchildren, teachers and other citizens currently in captivity, urging security agencies to intensify rescue efforts until every victim regains freedom.

Expressing concern over the plight of victims, CAN called for the establishment of a comprehensive compensation, rehabilitation and resettlement programme for families affected by terrorism, kidnapping and violent attacks.

The association also advocated the safe return and protection of internally displaced persons, insisting that displaced communities must be resettled in their ancestral homes under adequate security guarantees.

As part of efforts to draw national attention to the security crisis, CAN declared June 12 to June 14, 2026, as a three-day period of national mourning and designated Sunday, June 14, as “Black Sunday” across churches in Nigeria in honour of victims of violence and in solidarity with bereaved families.

The Christian body urged churches nationwide to strengthen humanitarian support, trauma care, youth engagement and peacebuilding initiatives for victims and affected communities.

CAN also expressed concern that political defections, power struggles and premature electioneering activities were dominating public discourse while many communities remained under attack.

The association therefore called on political leaders and parties to suspend divisive political distractions and concentrate on restoring security and rebuilding public confidence.

In addition, CAN appealed to organised labour, professional bodies, civil society organisations, student groups and traditional institutions to join efforts aimed at holding government accountable for the protection of lives and property.

The summit noted what it described as the inadequacy of intelligence gathering and coordination mechanisms and criticised the recurring reliance on conciliatory rhetoric in response to grave security threats, urging a more proactive and results-oriented national security strategy.

Reaffirming its commitment to Christian unity, justice and the defence of human dignity, CAN called on Nigerians, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation, to unite against insecurity and work collectively towards national renewal.

The church leaders concluded by pledging continued prayer, advocacy and constructive engagement with government and relevant stakeholders, while expressing hope that Nigeria would overcome its current challenges and attain lasting peace, security and prosperity.

Lagos — Dr Felicia Tamuno, Institutional Banking Lead at The Alternative Bank, Nigeria’s leading non-interest financial institution, has called for a major shift in Africa’s banking system, urging greater adoption of non-interest and ethical finance models to bridge the massive financing gap facing women entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the African Women in Banking and Finance Conference & Awards 2026, Tamuno said traditional interest-based lending models, which rely heavily on fixed asset collateral, property titles, and long credit histories, continue to exclude millions of women operating in the informal and semi-formal sectors.
“Many women-led businesses remain locked out of formal finance despite their enormous contribution to African economies,” she said.

Citing data from the World Bank and the African Development Bank’s Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa (AFAWA) initiative, Tamuno noted that women in Sub-Saharan Africa account for over 80 percent of the self-employed population, yet still face a $42 billion financing gap.
Drawing from her experience at The Alternative Bank, she advocated for alternative credit assessment tools such as cash-flow-based lending, movable asset financing, and partnership-based non-interest banking products.

“Non-interest and ethical finance models provide stronger opportunities for collaboration and shared risk, rather than the rigid, collateral-driven approach that currently dominates conventional banking,” she argued.

Tamuno also highlighted the leadership gender gap in African financial institutions, noting that while women are well represented at entry and middle management levels, their presence drops significantly at executive and board positions.

“Leadership diversity is not a concession. It is a competitive advantage,” she said.

Tamuno called on senior women in the industry to support one another through mentorship and sisterhood, saying: “We are not our enemies. We are a community. We are stronger together.”

She urged policymakers, regulators, and financial institutions to treat the economic empowerment of women not merely as a social goal, but as a serious economic strategy for broader continental prosperity. She pushed for supportive policies, digital innovation, and inclusive financial products specifically designed for the realities of African women entrepreneurs.

Her role at The Alternative Bank adds significant weight to her call. The institution continues to demonstrate that ethical and non-interest banking can work effectively even in Africa’s challenging economic environment.

By Samuel Chukwuka

Hundreds of women entrepreneurs in communities across Rivers and Akwa Ibom states are receiving a new lease of life through a financial literacy and empowerment programme designed to strengthen small businesses, improve household incomes and promote financial independence.

The initiative, sponsored by Sterling Oil Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) and implemented through the Village Community Development Foundation (VCDF), forms part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts aimed at supporting sustainable economic development in its host communities.

The programme, which commenced last year, targeted about 1,000 women drawn from various host communities. Participants were trained in basic financial management and provided with start-up capital to establish micro-enterprises and improve their economic prospects.

According to the organisers, while many beneficiaries successfully utilised the funds and demonstrated measurable growth in their businesses, others failed to make productive use of the support. This informed the decision to focus the second phase of the programme on participants who had shown commitment and progress in their chosen ventures.

As part of the ongoing second phase, SEEPCO and VCDF selected an initial batch of 100 women for advanced training and additional support. Beyond financial education, participants received working tools, equipment, consumables and other essential materials needed to strengthen and expand their businesses.

The latest training, which began on May 22 and is expected to run for two weeks, covers key aspects of entrepreneurship, including business planning, budgeting, savings culture, pricing strategies, customer relations and financial record keeping. Participants are also being educated on responsible spending habits and access to financial services.

Speaking during the programme, the Village Head of Iwofe community, Chief Goodfellow Julius, commended SEEPCO and VCDF for what he described as a transformative intervention capable of improving livelihoods across the host communities.

He noted that the initiative distinguishes itself from conventional empowerment schemes by combining skills development with practical business support and financial knowledge, thereby giving beneficiaries the tools and confidence required to build sustainable enterprises.

“This programme goes beyond skills acquisition. It equips women with the knowledge, resources and confidence needed to establish and sustain businesses. The impact will be felt not only by the beneficiaries but also by their families and the wider community,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries also expressed appreciation to SEEPCO and VCDF, describing the intervention as timely and life-changing.

One of the participants, Peace Emem, said the training had given her a fresh sense of purpose and the confidence to start her own business.

According to her, the knowledge acquired and the starter-pack support would enable her contribute more meaningfully to her family’s welfare while pursuing financial independence.

Observers say the programme reflects a growing recognition of the role women-owned micro and small enterprises play in driving grassroots economic growth, particularly in oil-producing communities where sustainable livelihood opportunities remain a critical development priority.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, to invoke Article 99 of the UN Charter and formally bring Nigeria’s escalating insecurity before the UN Security Council.

In an open letter dated May 30, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP argued that the scale of abductions, killings, attacks on civilians and mass displacement across several parts of Nigeria now poses a threat to international peace and security.

The organisation cited recurring violence in Oyo, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Kaduna, Zamfara and other states, warning that the persistent attacks by armed groups and criminal networks have created widespread human suffering, destruction and collective trauma.

According to SERAP, Article 99 empowers the UN Secretary-General to draw the Security Council’s attention to situations that may threaten global peace and security, stressing that Nigeria’s security crisis has outgrown the limits of a domestic law-enforcement challenge.

“The crisis in Nigeria is not merely a domestic law-enforcement issue. Its effects increasingly implicate regional peace and security through cross-border movement of armed groups and weapons, large-scale displacement, growing instability beyond Nigeria’s borders, and weakening human rights and rule-of-law institutions,” the group stated.

SERAP pointed to the recent abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, where at least 25 pupils and seven teachers were reportedly kidnapped, while two education workers lost their lives during and after the attack.

The rights group also referenced reports of students travelling to sit university entrance examinations being abducted in Benue State, as well as deadly attacks in Borno, Katsina and Adamawa states that left scores of civilians dead and many others displaced.

It noted that recent bomb explosions in Maiduguri reportedly killed at least 23 persons and injured more than 100, while attacks on military formations, internally displaced persons’ camps and rural communities have continued unabated.

SERAP recalled that the UN and its agencies have repeatedly expressed concern over Nigeria’s worsening security situation. It cited Guterres’ condemnation of killings in Benue State in 2025, his reaction to a terrorist attack in Kwara State earlier this year, and warnings by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights over rising cases of mass abductions.

The organisation argued that the humanitarian and regional implications of the crisis warrant urgent international attention, noting that insecurity has displaced millions, disrupted livelihoods and worsened food insecurity across affected communities.

SERAP urged the UN chief to place Nigeria’s security situation on the Security Council’s agenda, encourage regular briefings on insecurity and its humanitarian consequences, and support stronger international monitoring of attacks, displacement and human rights violations.

The Atlantic Bell reports that the organisation also called on Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to protect civilians, secure the release of abducted persons, investigate attacks independently and effectively, and ensure accountability for perpetrators and their sponsors.

According to SERAP, sustained international scrutiny and coordinated action are necessary to prevent further deterioration of the security situation and safeguard peace and stability in Nigeria and the wider West African region.

As Nigeria’s political class gradually shifts attention to the 2027 presidential election, no single figure has generated as much intrigue, uncertainty and quiet anxiety across party lines as former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Unlike many politicians already openly positioning themselves for the next contest, Jonathan has neither declared interest nor publicly ruled himself out.

Yet his name continues to dominate conversations within the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly among factions determined to present him as a consensus candidate capable of challenging President Bola Tinubu.

The latest development came when the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the PDP reportedly moved to adopt Jonathan as its presidential candidate, despite the former president neither attending the congress nor issuing any statement acknowledging the decision.

That silence has become the most powerful statement in Nigeria’s evolving political equation.

Only days ago, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a suit seeking to bar Jonathan from participating in the 2027 presidential race and effectively affirmed that he remains constitutionally eligible to contest.

Ordinarily, such a judgment would have prompted a clear political response from the man at the centre of the controversy.

Instead, Jonathan has maintained the same studied silence that has characterised his public posture for months.
Political observers say that silence is precisely what has kept speculation alive.
Across Abuja, party offices and political gatherings, three dominant interpretations have emerged.

The first is that Jonathan may genuinely be considering a return but is carefully weighing the political terrain before making any commitment. Supporters of this view point to reports that consultations have intensified around him and that influential figures within the PDP and other political blocs see him as a unifying figure capable of attracting support across regional and religious divides.

The second interpretation is that Jonathan is deliberately allowing various groups to test public sentiment on his behalf. In Nigerian politics, prospective candidates often prefer to appear “drafted” into contests rather than openly ambitious.

By remaining silent while supporters campaign for him, Jonathan avoids the risks associated with an early declaration while benefiting from constant media attention and political momentum.

A third school of thought argues that the former president may ultimately have no intention of running at all.

According to this view, his reputation as an elder statesman, election observer and international diplomat may make a return to partisan politics less attractive than many assume. Such analysts note that Jonathan has repeatedly cultivated an image above everyday political battles since leaving office in 2015.

Yet even among sceptics, one question persists: if he has no interest whatsoever, why has he not publicly shut down the speculation?

That question continues to unsettle both allies and opponents.

Within sections of the PDP, Jonathan is increasingly viewed as one of the few personalities capable of helping the party overcome its lingering internal divisions. Having previously occupied the presidency and retained a relatively moderate national image after conceding defeat in 2015, he remains one of the party’s most recognisable political assets.

His supporters also argue that nostalgia may work in his favour. At a time of economic hardship, insecurity and growing public frustration, some Nigerians look back at the Jonathan years with greater sympathy than they did while he was in office. Political groups in several parts of the country have openly urged him to return, insisting that his experience and perceived temperament could help stabilise the country.

However, a Jonathan comeback would not be without obstacles.

Questions about zoning and power rotation remain potent in Nigerian politics. Although Jonathan comes from the South-South, critics may argue that another southern candidacy immediately after Tinubu would complicate demands from northern political interests seeking a return of power to their region.

There is also the challenge of political organisation. Winning a presidential election in contemporary Nigeria requires far more than name recognition. It demands a nationwide political structure, substantial resources, strategic alliances and a united party platform. The PDP itself remains divided, and Jonathan would have to navigate multiple competing interests before emerging as a broadly accepted candidate.

Furthermore, his opponents would likely revisit unresolved debates from his previous administration, including issues of security, corruption perceptions and governance challenges that contributed to his defeat in 2015.

Yet despite those hurdles, few analysts dismiss his electoral viability.

Unlike many aspirants whose popularity remains confined to particular regions, Jonathan retains a level of national familiarity that could prove valuable in a highly competitive race. His status as the first Nigerian president to concede defeat peacefully continues to earn him goodwill both locally and internationally.

For now, however, the greatest source of Jonathan’s political strength may be uncertainty itself. Everyday he refuses to speak, speculation grows.

Every endorsement issued in his name generates fresh debate. Every court ruling, party declaration or political consultation deepens the mystery surrounding his intentions.

Whether the former president is genuinely preparing for a return to Aso Rock or merely watching events unfold from a distance, one reality is becoming increasingly evident.

In the battle for 2027, Goodluck Jonathan is already shaping the conversation without officially entering the race.

And until he finally speaks, Nigeria’s political establishment will continue reading meaning into his silence.