The European Union has committed nearly €45 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigeria, warning that emergency relief alone cannot break the cycle of poverty without sustained investment in social protection, security and economic opportunities. EU Ambassador to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States, Gautier Mignot, said millions of Nigerians facing deprivation, displacement and insecurity needed more than temporary assistance to rebuild their lives. Speaking on Saturday in Abuja at the 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, Mignot stressed that humanitarian aid must be linked to long-term recovery, economic resilience and sustainable pathways out of poverty.…
Author: National Update
What if Almajiri schools could pay their bills through farming, manufacturing and recycling instead of depending largely on donations and government support? An Indonesian Islamic scholar and philanthropist, Dr Umi Waheedah Bint Abdul Rahman, believes the answer lies in Waqf, an Islamic system of charitable endowment that can turn community assets into sustainable sources of income for education and social development. She wants Nigeria, particularly the North, to explore the model as a way of tackling educational disadvantage, poverty and youth unemployment while preserving the religious foundation of Almajiri education. Speaking at Bayero University, Kano, on Friday, Dr Waheedah shared…
,***Coordinator Assures Corps Members of Security Corps members serving in Niger State have celebrated Nigeria’s cultural diversity at the 2026 Cultural Carnival, with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State Coordinator, Martina Shuaibu Ibrahim, assuring them of adequate security. The event, held on Saturday at the NYSC orientation camp, brought together corps members from different parts of the country to showcase their cultural heritage through traditional dances, colourful costumes and artistic performances. The carnival offered the 2026 Batch C Stream One corps members a break from the regimented routine of the two-week orientation exercise. From the North to the South…
By Yinka Adaranijo President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in Kogi State is facing allegations of internal obstruction, with supporters of a pro-Tinubu mobilisation accusing some party actors of undermining grassroots efforts while publicly professing loyalty to the President. At the centre of the controversy is the Win With Tinubu/Shettima (WWTS) campaign, led by Senator Sunday Steve Karimi of Kogi West and Senator Isah Jibrin, popularly known as Echocho, of Kogi East. The movement says its town hall meetings have reached six federal constituencies and 16 local government areas across the two senatorial districts. However, allegations that party members have faced…
The battle to build a united opposition against President Bola Tinubu in 2027 is approaching a critical stage, with key political figures expected to publicly clarify their positions as negotiations shift from general calls for unity to the difficult question of how to work together. A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Salihu Lukman, says former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi, Social Democratic Party (SDP) presidential candidate Adewole Adebayo and other opposition leaders are expected to make public statements indicating the direction of the coalition talks. Lukman disclosed this in a recent interview with Channels…
By Lamara Garba, Kano For 16 years, Zuladaini Attahir’s life was marked by pain, poverty and dependence after a spinal cord injury left him unable to continue the physical work that once sustained him. His two wives eventually left, his home deteriorated, and his ageing mother, Rakiya Ibrahim, became his only caregiver. Struggling to feed herself and her son, she sometimes travelled to neighbouring villages to beg for food. But after years of hardship, help has arrived for the family through the Women Farmers Advancement Network (WOFAN), which has rebuilt Zuladaini’s home and provided him with an opportunity to earn…
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja Nigeria is looking to music, entertainment, tourism and cultural heritage to strengthen its international image and improve public understanding of government policies through soft power diplomacy. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this while receiving leaders of the Ileya Omo-Okun Generational Foundation (IOOGF), a cultural heritage platform, during a courtesy visit to his office. He said culture had become an important tool in international relations, enabling countries to build relationships, influence perceptions and promote their interests without resorting to force or coercion. According to him, Nigeria has vast cultural resources that…
With preparations for the 2027 general elections gathering momentum, President Bola Tinubu has moved to fill key vacancies in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), nominating six persons for positions in the electoral body. The nominations cover four national commissioner positions and two Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) positions, with the appointments subject to confirmation by the Senate. Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, announced the development on Friday. Among the nominees is Dr Bala Bila, who has been reappointed as national commissioner representing the North-East. Tinubu nominated Professor Mustapha Aliu to represent the North-West, replacing Professor…
Douglas Baye-Osagie dbayeosagie@yahoo.com November 18 is almost here. That is the deadline for anyone who wants to challenge Gianni Infantino for the FIFA presidency to pick a nomination, and one name will not go away – Arsene Wenger. It is not a coincidence. For over a year football has been discussed in a very bad light. Since America started preparing for and eventually hosting the 2026 World Cup, the conversation has been about money, expanded tournaments, sponsorships and politics. After the tournament itself, FIFA led by Giovanni Infantino almost sold stakes in its own competitions but for the protest of…
The Kwankwasiyya Movement has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging irregularities in the handling of candidate nominations in Kano State and demanding an investigation into the omission of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) governorship candidate, Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, from the commission’s list. Hundreds of the movement’s supporters staged a protest at INEC’s Kano office on Friday, submitting a formal complaint over what they described as suspicious communications that allegedly resulted in the substitution of some candidates. The movement’s spokesperson, Dr Habib Mohammed, alleged that an INEC staff member colluded with unauthorised persons to facilitate the changes. He also claimed…