Actor and filmmaker Femi Adebayo has congratulated his first child, Firdaos Niniola, on her graduation from the university.
In an Instagram post, Adebayo expressed pride and gratitude in his daughter, acknowledging the significance of education and the responsibility that comes with it.
Adebayo prayed for his daughter’s continued guidance, protection, and success, promising to always stand behind her as she embarked on her journey.
He wrote, “Firdaos Niniola @niniolajannah Ajoke mi – my first child. You have made me prouder and given me countless reasons to smile through the years. Alhamdulillah for this beautiful milestone.
“Today, you graduate, and my heart overflows with gratitude and pride. Education is a gift, and responsibility is its companion – may you use both to uplift yourself and others.
“May Allah continue to guide, protect, and elevate you in all you do. Your journey is just beginning, and Daddy stands proudly behind you, always.”
The quarter-final picture of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 is now complete following Algeria’s hard-fought Round of 16 victory over DR Congo on Tuesday.
Algeria booked their place in the last eight with a dramatic 1–0 extra-time win in Rabat, where substitute Anis Boulbina struck in the 119th minute to seal qualification. The result sets up a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown against Nigeria.
Nigeria had earlier confirmed their spot on Monday night after a commanding 4–0 triumph over Mozambique. Victor Osimhen starred with a brace as the Super Eagles cruised into the next round.
Before Algeria’s qualification, Senegal, Mali, hosts Morocco, Cameroon and Egypt had already secured their quarter-final tickets.
Defending champions Côte d’Ivoire became the final team to join the last eight after a convincing 3–0 victory over Burkina Faso on Tuesday night in Marrakesh. Goals from Amad Diallo, Yan Diomandé and Bamba Touré capped a dominant performance by the Elephants, who will now face Egypt in a blockbuster quarter-final as they chase a historic back-to-back AFCON title.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has rescued 76 children in an attempted attack and planned kidnapping incident that occurred in the Kasuwan Magani area of Kaduna State.
According to the police, the Kaduna State police command received intelligence on January 5, 2026, at about 2000 hours that some suspected bandits were planning to attack and kidnap motorists conveying children through the area.
Upon receipt of the intelligence, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kasuwan Magani Division, was promptly mobilized with a team of police personnel to the area.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin; “On arrival, the police team engaged and successfully repelled the suspected attackers, leading to the rescue of seventy-six (76) children, comprising both males and females, aged between seven (7) and twenty (20) years. All the rescued children were unharmed.
“In the course of the operation, three suspects were arrested: Jonathan John ‘m’ aged 25, Oliver Magaji ‘m’ aged 27, and Bitrus Sawaba ‘m’ aged 23.”
Hundeyin said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects were conveying the children to some parts of the country for child labour and other domestic work.
He said the suspects are currently in police custody, while the rescued children are being kept safely at the Command Headquarters pending the arrival and proper identification of their parents or guardians.
“Meanwhile, investigations have commenced to ascertain the full circumstances surrounding the incident and arrest of other possible collaborators involved. The suspects will be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.
“The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urges members of the public to continue to support the Police with timely and credible information to aid proactive policing,” Hundeyin added.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has expressed gratitude to women leaders across the country for their support of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) and the broader goals of the current administration, as Nigerians enter the New Year.
In a message of appreciation released Wednesday, the First Lady acknowledged the contributions of the Wife of the Vice President, Nana Shettima, state first ladies and RHI state coordinators, wives of members of the National Assembly, ministers, service chiefs, and other women leaders nationwide.
Mrs Tinubu said the compassion, dedication, and readiness to act demonstrated by the women leaders had strengthened collective efforts to deliver on the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in empowering Nigerians and supporting the most vulnerable, irrespective of background or status.
“Your compassion, dedication, and readiness to act have strengthened our collective efforts in delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda mandate of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR,” she said.
The First Lady noted that the sustained partnership and commitment of women leaders across the country had been central to the work of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which focuses on social welfare, inclusion, and support for disadvantaged groups.
She expressed appreciation for the collaboration received since the inception of the administration, describing it as vital to advancing national development and inclusive growth.
Looking ahead, Mrs Tinubu said she looked forward to continued support and partnership in 2026 and beyond, as the Renewed Hope Initiative expands its programmes and impact across the country.
She also extended goodwill to Nigerians for the new year, wishing them peace, productivity, and prosperity.
“I wish us all a peaceful, productive, impactful, and prosperous 2026,” the First Lady said.
Afrobeats singer Oxlade has urged artists to insist on sound checks before performances after a disastrous gig in London.
Headlining his first event alongside Bella Shmurda, Oxlade claimed the organisers failed to provide a proper sound check, resulting in terrible sound quality for the audience.
Oxlade, in a tweet, warned fellow artists to insist on sound checks before performing, emphasising that it’s crucial to know what you’re working with before going on stage.
According to him, organisers can do better, but artists also need to take responsibility for their own performances.
He wrote, “Dear Performing artist, I know organisers can do better with the gadgets required to run a show. But please, don’t perform anywhere without running a proper sound check. Na from sound check you go don know your fate…Cause omo I did a certain gig in London.
“My first ever headline event, Bella Shmurda headlined this event. Organization was shit …. We couldn’t even do a sound check at the venue before the show…The monitor speakers, i.e., the ones feeding the stage, sounded fair, but the speakers feeding the audience were terrible. That’s gotta be the worst event I performed at. A word is enough for the wise.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu has visited senior citizens in Niger State, where he sought their support and cooperation for ongoing military operations across the country.
The Nigerian Army’s spokesperson, Colonel Apollonia Anele, said in a statement on Wednesday that General Shaibu paid separate visits to former Heads of State, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, as well as to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar.
According to Colonel Anele, during these visits, the COAS reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to operational excellence, enhanced security, and collaboration with state governments and national leaders to end terrorism and banditry.
The Army’s spokesperson said the COAS told the former military leaders that the Army is enhancing training, doctrine, and operational readiness across its formations through exercises at training institutions. These exercises are designed to provide practical, mission-oriented instruction, assess the operational readiness of combat units, and identify gaps that may require additional troops or new formations.
“We are consolidating all available resources and leveraging technology to address security challenges effectively,” the COAS said.
Emphasizing the strategic importance of Niger State’s vast landmass, the COAS stated that Niger State holds a special place in our history.
He said, “I have previously served here as a Training and Doctrine Commander, and many of my colleagues also share a deep connection with this state. It is, in many ways, regarded as home.”
In their separate responses, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar warmly welcomed the COAS, commending his dedication, expertise, and visionary leadership. They also lauded the Nigerian Army for maintaining high standards of professionalism and operational excellence.
The former leaders congratulated the COAS on his assumption of duty and prayed for courage, wisdom, and continued success as he guides the Army in addressing contemporary security challenges.
Niger State Governor, who was represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, commended the Army’s proactive support in addressing security issues.
He highlighted ongoing challenges in the state and expressed confidence that the partnership with the Nigerian Army would restore peace and stability.
“We are confident that, with the partnership of the Nigerian Army, we will overcome current challenges and protect lives and communities,” he said.
During his visit to the Etsu Nupe, the Army Chief assured that security operations in Niger State would be strengthened through increased troop deployment, improved use of technology, and closer collaboration with traditional institutions and relevant stakeholders.
The COAS said the visit to the state was aimed at conducting an on-the-spot assessment of ongoing military deployments across the state, identifying operational gaps and determining areas requiring the infusion of additional troops and other combat enablers to effectively address emerging security challenges.
He stressed the importance of intelligence-driven operations, particularly community-based and human intelligence, stressing that traditional rulers remain critical partners in providing timely and actionable information to support military efforts.
The Army Chief also highlighted plans to leverage modern surveillance and operational technologies to enhance proactive security strategy, timely response, improve situational awareness and bridge existing capability gaps within the state.
While describing traditional institutions as indispensable allies in the fight against insecurity, the COAS commended the Etsu Nupe for his consistent support of troops and military personnel deployed in the area.
The Etsu Nupe pledged the continued support of traditional rulers to the Nigerian Army and other security agencies, assuring sustained community cooperation, intelligence sharing, and prayers for operational success.
He lauded the professionalism and conduct of Nigerian Army personnel operating within the Nupe Kingdom, noting their positive engagement with local communities and their contributions to peace and stability.
According to the Army’s spokesperson, the COAS’s visits to elder statesmen and the Niger State government highlighted the Nigerian Army’s commitment to operational excellence, collaboration with government authorities, and the protection of national security interests.
The Katsina State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has convicted 87 illicit drug barons and arrested 1,018 suspects in 2025.
Mr Isma’il Danmalam, the state Narcotic Commander ( NC), made this known on Tuesday in Katsina while briefing newsmen on the activities of the command in the year under review.
Danmalam said that p 86 suspects are still undergoing trial.
He said that out of the 1,018 suspects arrested, 992 were males and 26 females.
According to him, more than 2.4 tonnes of different illicit drugs were confiscated in the year under review.
He commended the Chairman of the Agency, Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa for motivating the officers in recording the successes.
“These achievements are clearly reflected in the operations of the command through a balanced application of supply reduction (kinetic) and demand reduction (non-kinetic) strategies.
“These operations led to the seizure of substantial quantities of illicit substances, including 1,667.747kg of Cannabis, 12.348kg of Codeine Psychotropic substances 793.66kg.
He said the command conducted 203 sensitisation and advocacy programmes that reached 75,135 beneficiaries across schools, communities, and institutions.
He said about 451 individuals received counseling, while 58 clients were admitted for rehabilitation
“This demonstrated NDLEA’s commitment to prevention, treatment, and reintegration.” he said
He, however, said that despite these achievements, the Command has continuously faced logistical challenges that affect operational efficiency.
The Narcotic Commander appealed to stakeholders and the government to support the command to overcome its challenges for maximum results.
While stressing that the fight against drugs requires collective responsibility, he called on communities to support information sharing, advocacy, and community policing to sustain the fight.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Commander used the occasion to decorate some of the 61 personnel recently promoted in the command.
The Nigerian Books of Record (NBR) has inducted five eminent Nigerians in diaspora into its prestigious Hall of Fame.
The landmark ceremony which held recently, in Joga-Orile, Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, at the palace of Oba Dr. Adeyemi Olanrewaju Adekeye, Lagori III, the Abepa of Joga-Orile, brought together an exceptional convergence of traditional authority, national leadership, diaspora excellence, and cultural heritage.
Adding to the grandeur of the occasion, music for the ceremony was provided by legendary juju maestro King Sunny Ade.
The inductees, Chief Mrs. Moronke Faloyin-Badejo, Otunba Abiodun Badejo, Chief Taiwo Alli, Chief Kehinde Alli, and Chief Mrs. Omolola Alli, were honoured for decades of service, leadership, philanthropy, and sustained contribution to Nigeria’s development and global image, despite living and working abroad.
Chief Mrs. Faloyin-Badejo is based in the United States and holds revered matriarchal titles including Iya-Oba of Joga-Orile and multiple senior titles across Egbaland and Ibogunland.
Otunba Abiodun Badejo, also U.S.-based, serves as Chairman of Diaspora on Ethics and Values and is widely recognised for his ethics advocacy and institutional leadership.
Chief Taiwo Alli, a United Kingdom–based entrepreneur, is a prominent traditional leader holding titles such as Otunba Bobajiroro of Ibogun-Balogun in the Owu Kingdom, Baajiri of Joga-Orile, Otun Apagunpote of Egbaland, and Akinlagun of Kemta, Abeokuta.
His twin brother, Chief Kehinde Alli, based in the United States, holds equally significant titles including Otunba Bobagunwa of Ibogun-Balogun, Baaloro of Joga-Orile, Otun Bobagunwa of Egbaland, and Akinrogun of Kemta.
Chief Mrs. Omolola Alli, a U.S.-based healthcare executive and psychiatric nursing specialist, is invested with influential female traditional titles including Erelu Otunba Bobagunwa of Ibogun-Balogun, Erelu Baaloro of Joga-Orile, Erelu Otun Bobagunwa of Egbaland, and Erelu Akinrogun of Kemta, reflecting her standing as a bridge between professional excellence, philanthropy, and cultural authority.
Each inductee was formally admitted as a Member and Fellow of the Nigerian Books of Record and permanently enshrined in the Hall of Fame following the reading of detailed citations documenting their national and international impact.
The layered traditional recognitions held by the inductees across Ogun State and Yorubaland vividly affirmed a rare reality that physical distance has not diminished their authority, service, or relevance within Nigeria’s cultural and social institutions.
The ceremony attracted an eminent audience, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, business leader Princess Dr. Toyin Kolade, traditional rulers Oba Rotimi Mulero and Oba Dr. Olayinka Salako, as well as celebrated actress Faustina Balogun, popularly known as Madam Saje, further underscoring the national stature of the event.
Performing the formal induction, the Director General of the Nigerian Books of Record, Professor David Obongekong David, stressed the strategic relevance of recognising Nigerians who lead from the diaspora, stating that Nigeria’s story is no longer confined within its borders and that many of the most disciplined builders of the nation’s image, ethics, institutions, and humanitarian footprint now operate globally.
He warned that ignoring such figures would amount to amputating Nigeria’s global influence, adding that the mandate of the Nigerian Books of Record is to ensure that wherever Nigerians lead with integrity, excellence, and impact, the nation records it, honours it, and preserves it for history.
Sporting activities at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure were disrupted on Tuesday as sports contingents protested the appointment of Mrs Evelyn Lebi as Acting General Manager of the Ondo State Sports Council.
The protesters, made up of sports union members and leaders, coaches and athletes, said the appointment could negatively affect the future of sports administration in the state.
The Nation reports that Mrs Lebi was earlier appointed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as a part-time member of the board of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA), representing the Ministry of Sports, on June 23, 2024, before her subsequent elevation to Acting General Manager of the State Sports Council.
Speaking to journalists on behalf of the protesters, the Coordinating Chairman of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), Fisayo Bello, said the state of sports in Ondo was far from satisfactory and required a competent technocrat to revitalise the sector.
Bello argued that the Sports Council needed strong and experienced leadership to overcome its current challenges and therefore called on Governor Aiyedatiwa to reconsider the appointment of Mrs Lebi to the position.
“We need someone with passion for sports who can take us back to our glorious days, not backwards.
“She contested four years ago, we said no and we are saying no now, we want a better person, we want a technocrat that can take us back to our glorious day, not backwards,” he lamented.
Chairman of the Ondo State Professional Coaches Association, Joshua Ogunbiyi, who also spoke, said stakeholders had previously expressed reservations about Mrs Lebi’s suitability.
Mr Ogunbiyi added that the sector needed fresh energy and effective leadership to move forward.
“The stage at which we are now, sport is not moving forward. We want somebody, a vibrant and competent general manager, this time around. Somebody that will come and revive sport development.
“A person like Lebi has contested for this position for over three times. And we have made government to realise that this woman is not competent. This woman is not a good woman.
“She served here about 12, 13 years ago before she left and if we continue to say to the world all the atrocities this woman has committed, where she previously served, in fact, will not leave this place.
“And that is why we believe that if government want to bring anybody, we are not against the governor to bring whoever he feels can come here and revive sport.But as far as we are concerned, Lebi is not one of them,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Idowu Afun, General Captain of Ondo State Athletes, appealed to the state government to appoint a leader who would inspire confidence among athletes and stakeholders.
When contacted, Mrs Lebi declined comments over calls for her sack from the position.
But reacting to the protest, Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Henry Omoyofunmi, said the protest was unnecessary.
Mrs Omoyofunmi said Mrs Lebi was a qualified professional with over 15 years’ experience at the Sports Council and was currently serving as Director of Sports in the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
He explained that her appointment followed due process after the expiration of the tenure of the former general manager, adding that the Head of Service had posted her to the council in line with civil service procedures.
The commissioner expressed confidence that the appointment would strengthen, rather than hinder, sports development in the state.
Media personality Pere Egbi has weighed in on the controversy surrounding the on-pitch disagreement between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, calling for restraint and urging fans to stop demanding Osimhen’s removal from the team.
The incident occurred on Monday during Nigeria’s knockout match against Mozambique, despite Lookman having provided the assists for Osimhen’s two goals earlier in the game.
Video footage of the encounter showed Osimhen charging towards Lookman, who remained composed throughout the exchange.
Reacting to the backlash, Egbi stressed that the Super Eagles could not afford to lose Osimhen, describing the Napoli striker as a crucial asset to the national team.
He also criticised those calling for sanctions, questioning their understanding of football and underscoring Osimhen’s value to Nigeria’s campaign.
Egbi warned that failure to resolve the disagreement could undermine the team’s cohesion and negatively affect Nigeria’s chances of winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Egbi wrote on X: “Are people so clueless to actually demand that Osimhen be dropped? Really???? Come on. That’s a reach! Dem drop am now, una get im replacement anywhere????? Wf!!! Na we wan use our hand commot ourself from this AFCON. Imagine players reading these bants online.”
He also addressed rumors about Osimhen’s supposed “bad attitude” being the reason Chelsea didn’t sign him, dismissing the claims as baseless and pointing out that Osimhen had turned down Chelsea in the past.
“Lol, so Chelsea came for him and he turned them down, but world people are out here saying the guy’s attitude is bad that’s why no club wants him. Una do well o, Nigerians. Una go soon vex these boys, dem go start to play rubbish now, and then everybody go rest”, he added.
