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Youth group holds peaceful rally in support of Southern Christian Senate Presidency

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From Abel Abogonye, Lafia

A Youth Group underaegis of Southern and Northern Nigerian Christian Youth Leaders Forum has held a peaceful protest in support of the emergence of a Southern Christian Senate President at the 10th Assembly.

Convener of the Youth Group Amb. Ekiye Ekiye, told newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday that the purpose of the peaceful rally was to advocate justice, fairness and equity in the distribution of key political offices to politicians of different faiths.

“We have gathered today to advocate, to plead, to request and to prayerfully demand that having gotten a president and Vice President respectfully from the Muslim faith, with the Chief Justice of Nigeria from the Muslim faith and by the grace of God, we are also trusting that the next Speaker of the House of Representatives is going to be a Muslim.

“That it is instructive and just that the next Senate President should come from the Southern Nigeria and from the Christian faith,” he said

He assured that the southern part of Nigeria have many competent distinguished christian senators who can provide examplary leadership for the incoming senators hence the call for candidates from the northern zone for the exalted Senate presidency to step down and fully support a christian Senator from the South
“In Southern Nigeria we have eminent and competent distinguished senators who can provide leadership for the 10th Senate. Nigerians know them. We have Senator Osita and Senator Akpabio and so many of them.

“They are very competent and even the president and the national working committee of the ruling party All Progressive Congress has zoned the Senate presidency to the south.

“But we are not here to endorse any candidate but to present to Nigerians and the senators elect that among the senators from southern Nigeria, they should consider the very best among the ones that we have,” he added.

Ekiye also clamoured for the appointment of a christian from Northern Nigerian as Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), adding that the move would boost the confidence of christians who initially were not in support of the APC Muslim-muslim ticket voted into power.

“It will also be important to allow a christian from the northern Nigeria become the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation. If this can be done, I believe the suspicion and the doubts among the christians in Nigeria and some Muslims who have sympathy for religious tolerance will be gone and they will appreciate it,” he said.

Ekiye who is also the Coordinator for Youth for Peace and Good Leadership Initiativr also called on all Nigerians to give the incoming administration the benefit of doubt to prove themselves and not jump to conclusions that they will not perform.

In another interview, Mr Suleiman Abubakar, a Youth Muslim leader in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) said he was among the group of muslims in support of Southern Christian Senate Presidency for the sake of justice and equity.

“I believe that what the christians are demanding is fair. To be candid, I am of those who believe in fairness and equity because we have both Christians and Muslims in Nigeria and so if one side produces leaders, the other side should be allowed to produce leaders too,” he said.

The protesters were seen carrying placards with inscriptions: “Allow a Southern Christian to be next Senate President”, “We demand for a christian Senate president”, “We have high ranking senators to be next Senate president”

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Young Nigerians should Join ‘Voices of Our Heritage’ Writing Contest, Musawa

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Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa

Young Nigerian writers have been urged to participate in the “Voices of Our Heritage” national writing competition, an initiative aimed at fostering creativity and cultural appreciation.
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, who made the call said the competition is open to students aged 10-18, adding that it is seeking to discover and nurture emerging literary talents.
The special adviser to the minister on Media quoted her to have indicated that the initiative is targedted at empowering young writers to create, publish, and even earn from their digital books, promoting both entrepreneurship and job opportunities.

“This competition is about preserving our cultural heritage while shaping the future of our nation,” she stated.

Organized as part of the 2024-25 National Young Authors Fair (NYAF), the competition welcomes entries from primary, secondary, and university students. Registration closes on February 20, 2025, with submissions open until March 20, 2025.
Winners will be announced on April 10, 2025, with the top 10 receiving ₦250,000 each, along with book publication, national recognition, and distribution.

The competition aligns with the Ministry’s vision to promote cultural heritage, creativity, and education through strategic partnerships.

For registration, visit: https://www.yaf.bribooks.com/ng/2024/student.

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Okebukola Hails Nigeria’s Milestone in Global AI Revolution

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Peter Okebukola

***As 306 Stakeholders Participate in Inaugural AI Awareness Day

Nigeria has taken a bold step in the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) revolution as key stakeholders gathered to explore the nation’s role in AI-driven education and policy development.

The National Coordinator of the 2025 AI Awareness Day, Professor Emeritus Peter Okebukola, described the event as a major milestone, highlighting Nigeria’s potential to emerge as a leader in AI research, education, and application.

Held virtually on February 17, 2025, the inaugural AI Awareness Day in Higher Education was co-hosted by the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE), National Universities Commission (NUC), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Okebukola Science Foundation (OSF), and the Association of African Universities (AAU).

The event brought together 306 participants, including heads of regulatory agencies (NUC, NBTE, and NCCE), scholars from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, policymakers, educators, and AI practitioners.
Discussions focused on AI’s transformative role in higher education, best practices, and ethical AI deployment in Nigeria.

The event, chaired by Professor Yakubu Ochefu, former Secretary-General of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, centered on raising awareness about AI’s role in higher education transformation, assessing Nigeria’s progress in AI education and its contribution to global AI research and celebrating achievements in AI research and education within Nigerian institutions.
Other areas of focus included exploring the integration of AI into university curricula, research, and administration and discussing AI-driven innovations to address national educational challenges.
The event featured a symposium, the launch of the AI in Higher Education in Africa Newsletter, and the presentation of the three-volume Handbook on AI and Quality Higher Education.
One of the highlights of the event was the presentation of awards to recognise outstanding contributions in AI research, education, and policy within the Nigerian higher education system.

The first position in the Best Institutional AI Policy in Higher Education Award in the universities category was won by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. Second and third positions were won by Lagos State University, Ojo and Federal University of Technology, Minna respectively.

In the polytechnics category, the first prize went to Living Spring College of Technology and Innovation, Osogbo. For the Best AI Researcher in the universities category, Prof. Olatunji Sunday Olusanya of Adekunle Ajasin University came first. Dr. Salau Ayodeji of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti and Dr. Awotunde Joseph Bamidele of the University of Ilorin came second and third respectively.

For the polytechnics category, Mr. Mohammed Modiu of Yaba college of Technology came first. Mr. Salami Ayo of Federal College of Education, Iwo came first in the colleges of education category.

Other awards include the Best Programme in Artificial Intelligence. For the universities category, the B.Sc. Computer Science of Thomas Adewumi University came first. Programmes of four universities tied in the second position. These are B.Sc. Management Information Systems of Covenant University, Ota; B.Sc. Industrial Mathematics (Computer Option) also of Covenant University, Ota; and B.Sc. Computer Science of the University of Benin.

The first position in the universities category for the Best AI Application for Enhancing Teaching and Learning went to Prof. Onyenwe Ikechukwu Ekene of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. Five scholars tied in the second position. These are Dr. Oguntosin Victoria of Covenant University; Dr. Oluwakemi Olurinola of Olabisi Onabanjo University; Professor Busari Mutiu of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta and Professor Ibezim Nnenna of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In the polytechnic category, first prize went to Dr. Okikiola Folasade of Yaba College of Technology.
For the colleges of education category, first prize was earned by Dr. Usman Stephen of Ipere College of Education Agyaragu, Nasarawa State, while Mr. Bako Mahmud Malam of Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education Kangere Bauchi State came second.
Other awards were presented for Best AI Programme and Best AI Application for Teaching and Learning across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Key resolutions include expanding the AI Awareness Day to all levels of the educational system; development of a strategic plan to ensure that Nigeria plays a leadership role in the global development of AI; strengthening the implementation of the AU strategic plan on AI; and forging strong public-private partnerships, investing boldly in our people and infrastructure.

Others are that the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, NITDA, other agencies of government and other stakeholders should involve the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) in policy making, implementation and other matters of Artificial Intelligence; and that within the 30% institutional allowance in the CCMAS, Nigerian universities should be encouraged to start GST courses on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in place of or in addition to the existing computer appreciation courses.
The successful launch of the AI Awareness Day marks a turning point in Nigeria’s AI journey, reinforcing the country’s commitment to leveraging AI for educational excellence, innovation, and national development.

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Diplomatic Fallout: Ribadu’s Outburst Sparks Criticism Over Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Approach

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Sule Lamido

A fresh controversy has emerged over Nigeria’s handling of diplomatic affairs, as former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, takes aim at National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu for his public condemnation of Canada’s visa denials to Nigerian military personnel.

Lamido, a seasoned politician and former foreign minister, expressed frustration over what he described as a pattern of missteps in Nigeria’s foreign policy under the current administration. He argued that the NSA’s public outburst against Canada was both unnecessary and damaging to the country’s international reputation.

“This is yet another example of our rookie approach to foreign relations,” Lamido stated. “Rather than resorting to public accusations, the appropriate response would have been for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Canadian High Commissioner and address the issue through official diplomatic channels.”

The ex-governor warned that Ribadu’s actions had not only failed to resolve the issue but had also drawn unnecessary public attention to an embarrassing situation. “Our foreign relations must be handled with tact and professionalism. The NSA should not be taking over the responsibilities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs,” he said.

This latest episode comes amid broader concerns over Nigeria’s international standing, following strained relations within ECOWAS and a series of diplomatic missteps on the global stage. Analysts now worry that such uncoordinated responses could weaken Nigeria’s position in international affairs.

With Nigeria’s diplomatic credibility on the line, calls are growing for a more disciplined and strategic approach to engaging with foreign nations—one that prioritizes diplomacy over public confrontations.

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