Month: April 2025

African Democracy must deliver Jobs, Justice, and Development — CoSPAL Secretary-General Oyewole

Lukman Laleye Babalola

Secretary-General of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (CoSPAL), Ambassador ‘Dapo Oyewole, has charged African leaders to work collectively in strengthening democratic governance that is inclusive, responsive, and development-oriented. Delivering his valedictory address as a resident Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at an expert forum hosted by the Bertelsmann Foundation in Berlin, Germany, Oyewole spoke on the theme “Strengthening Democracy & Good Governance in Africa in a Changing World Order.” He emphasized that Africa must position itself as an active player in the evolving global order rather than…

NITDA, SecDojo sign strategic MoU to boost Nigeria’s Cybersecurity capacity

Lukman Laleye Babalola

As part of efforts to fortify Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and promote national cyber resilience, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has entered into a strategic partnership with SecDojo SAS, a cybersecurity training and upskilling firm based in France.   The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was officially signed during the GITEX Africa 2025 event held in Marrakech, Morocco. Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, and Chief Executive Officer of SecDojo, Mr Younes Benzagmout, represented their respective organisations at the signing. The collaboration is designed to advance Nigeria’s cybersecurity landscape through…

Public Relations: Shaping Perceptions and Building Relationships By Afolabi Olajuwon

Emporium Reporters

In an era characterized by rapid information dissemination and heightened public engagement, the role of public relations (PR) has become increasingly important. As both a strategic communication process and a management function, PR significantly influences perceptions and facilitates the development and maintenance of relationships between organizations and their publics.       I will be discussing the multifaceted dimensions of public relations, highlighting its critical importance in shaping perceptions and building meaningful relationships.       Public relations is often defined as the strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial…

The Use of Sex Enhancement Products in the North: A Call to Address Underlying Causes, By Dr Zainab Suleiman

Emporium Reporters

Many men and women in the North may face severe health challenges due to the use of kayamata and kayamaza concoctions. As doctors, we anticipate seeing more cases at the clinic .   When a society promotes a practice as a way of life, it becomes part of their culture. However, some tribes in other regions have successfully managed their homes without such practices.   The widespread use of kayamata and kayamaza in the North is alarming, with many prioritizing these products over good nutrition and medicine. These products can…

Disease, ignorance, and religious extremism can be deadly, especially in Nigeria and Africa,By Dr Zainab Suleiman

Emporium Reporters

I had a patient who wore a niqab to the labor ward – I’ve seen a lot in Nigeria! The next day after delivery, she informed us she was fasting. This is just a woman who had just given birth. Even God didn’t intend for religion to be that difficult; some people just choose to practice it that way. By noon, she went into hypoglycemic shock, her electrolyte levels were severely imbalanced, and we had to resuscitate her.   Another encounter was with a patient during Ramadan who, after I…

House of Reps commends Tincan Island Port Command over ₦347bn Q1 revenue performance

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise has pledged its continued support for the Tincan Island Port Command following its remarkable revenue performance in the first quarter of 2025.   During a recent oversight visit to the Command, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, disclosed that the Command generated a total of ₦347,935,672,475.50 between January and March 2025. This reflected a significant increase from the ₦303,791,379,473.67 recorded in the same period of 2024, amounting to a revenue growth of ₦44,144,293,001.83, or 14.54%.   Comptroller Onyeka noted that…

The Silent Epidemic: Anal Sex, Homosexuality, and the Erosion of Moral Values in Northern Nigeria, By Dr. Zainab Suleiman

Emporium Reporters

Anal sex has become a lucrative practice in some northern states. This practice is widespread and has become normalized. Others request others to join on a daily basis. They even have groups they belong to, where they make recommendations to men interested in having sex with a female through the anus for financial gain. Some men accustomed to anal sex, including those who practice homosexuality, find it easy to engage in anal sex with women for money. Such men sponsor the female’s lifestyle, spoil them with money, take them on…

Niger Police foils Cement diversion, arrests suspected Kidnappers,recovers stolen vehicle

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Niger State Police Command has recorded notable strides in its ongoing crackdown on criminal activities, with successful operations that led to the arrest of suspected criminals, recovery of a diverted cement-laden trailer, and seizure of a suspected stolen vehicle. In a statement issued on Monday, April 14, 2025, by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu A. Abiodun, the command disclosed details of three separate incidents in different parts of the state. On April 5, 2025, at about 9:30 a.m., operatives attached to Bosso Division intercepted a trailer truck…

Edo Govt warns PDP over alleged falsehoods against Governor Okpebholo

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Edo State Government has issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state over what it described as repeated peddling of falsehoods and malicious attacks against Governor Monday Okpebholo and his administration.   In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, the government described the recent comments credited to the PDP and its Publicity Secretary, Chris Osa Nehikhare, as “reckless, misleading, and baseless.”   According to the statement, the PDP’s recent remarks are “a shameful display of obsession with…

MURIC to Tinubu, Military: Act Now to halt Boko Haram resurgence in Borno, Banditry in Plateau

Lukman Laleye Babalola

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigerian military to urgently intervene in the worsening security situation in Borno and Plateau States, following recent alarms raised by state governors. In a statement issued on Monday, 14th April 2025, MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, urged a strategic review of military operations to curb the resurgence of Boko Haram in Borno and halt the expanding grip of bandits in the North Central region, particularly Plateau State. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno had earlier revealed…