In a major endorsement of its growing influence in Nigeria’s financial sector, itmbplc.com has secured two of the most coveted honours at the recent Service Ambassadors Awards Night hosted by the Development Bank of Nigeria in Lagos. The bank emerged as the winner of both the DBN Sustainability Award and the DBN Innovation Award in the Microfinance Banks and Other Financial Institutions (MFB/OFI) category, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading institutions in sustainable finance and innovative banking solutions. The double victory reflects the bank’s continued drive to reshape mortgage financing through responsible lending, technology-driven services, and initiatives…
Author: National Update
By Douglas Baye-Osagie As Nigerians watch the ongoing FIFA World Cup in hurt with the absence of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, a video has sparked discussion from one of the men who should be quietly easing himself out of the leadership system of Nigerian football. Amaju Pinnick, speaking recently on a TV station on the affairs of Nigeria’s football governing body, is quoted to have said: “we work together, I work with them, and I don’t have any regret.” He added: “I can call the players, I talk to them. I don’t wait. To me, I’m the life president of the…
Tensions surrounding the Ekiti State governorship election intensified on Friday as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of actions it says could undermine opposition participation and public confidence in the process. The party alleged that although it was issued access credentials by INEC for the upload of polling unit agents, the Commission failed to activate the portal required to complete the process—effectively preventing it from deploying agents ahead of Saturday’s election. Describing the situation as “deeply troubling,” the SDP said the development raises questions about fairness in the conduct of the poll and the…
By: Nehemiah Gagara Politics is not merely a contest for power. It is a contest for trust. It is the solemn duty of persuading millions of people that the destiny of a nation is safest in one’s hands. In a country as fragile, diverse and historically burdened as Nigeria, those who seek the highest office must carry not only ambition but also the weight of national confidence. Therefore, as the political horizon gradually brightens toward 2027, old questions are resurfacing and new concerns are emerging. The drums of another electoral season are beginning to echo across the land. Once again,…
By: Lamara Garba The first batch of Kano State pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj exercise has departed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Nigeria, marking the commencement of the return airlift operation that authorities say will see all pilgrims from the state evacuated within the next three days. The successful take-off of the inaugural flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah, came ahead of the initial schedule earlier fixed by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for June 24, a development attributed to the proactive efforts of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board and the state’s Hajj…
By Our Correspondent The succession process for the highly revered Awujale stool has sparked intense debate across Ijebuland following the decision of the Ilamuren Council of Kingmakers (Afobajes) to submit the names of five princes to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for final consideration, instead of presenting a single candidate as tradition is widely believed to require. The development has generated widespread reactions from stakeholders, traditionalists and concerned residents, many of whom argue that the move departs from the established customs that have guided the emergence of Awujales for generations. In a letter addressed to Governor Abiodun and signed by…
By Ralph Omololu Agnana When the organisers of the Democracy Newsline Newspaper Award (DNNA) announced Senator Sunday Karimi as the recipient of the “Most Security-Conscious Senator in Nigeria” award in 2024, the decision reflected more than political popularity. It was a recognition of a legislator whose interventions in security have gone beyond motions and speeches to practical investments aimed at protecting lives and communities. The award, presented during the 14th anniversary celebration of Democracy Newsline Newspaper in Abuja, followed an opinion poll and assessment conducted by a team of independent evaluators. While Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin was named Northern…
A major fire outbreak on Thursday engulfed a commercial building housing a branch of Polaris Bank on Broad Street, Lagos Island, triggering panic among residents, workers and business owners in the area. The blaze, which reportedly started in the afternoon, sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky as emergency responders rushed to the scene to contain the inferno and prevent it from spreading to nearby structures in the densely populated business district. As of the time of filing this report, details surrounding the cause of the fire remained unclear, while authorities had yet to confirm whether there were casualties…
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has challenged the Federal Government to provide Nigerians with a clearer account of how the nation’s mounting debt is being utilized, pointing to South Africa’s transparent handling of a recent $1 billion development loan as a model worthy of emulation. In a statement issued on Thursday, Obi said the approval of a $1 billion facility for South Africa by the New Development Bank demonstrated how governments can borrow responsibly while keeping citizens fully informed about the purpose and expected outcomes of such loans. According to him, South African authorities openly…
By Abdulkarim Abdulmalik In every election cycle, Nigerians are treated to a familiar political drama. Politicians who yesterday swore allegiance to one political party suddenly emerge in another, often singing a completely different tune. Governors, senators, members of the House of Representatives, state legislators, and other political office holders move from one party to another with astonishing ease. What is even more remarkable is that these defections rarely provoke public outrage within the political class itself. Instead, they are celebrated as strategic victories and signs of political relevance. Yet beneath the celebrations lies a disturbing reality: the growing culture of…