Social media users have responded to the gestures of entrepreneur and philanthropist, Dr. Stanley Uzochukwu.
They praised him for setting the standard for impactful giving as he channels his influence and resources into transforming lives and uplifting communities.
Known for merging vision with action, Dr. Uzochukwu’s philanthropic strides are not only reshaping the lives of countless individuals but also redefining what it means to live with purpose and intention in today’s society.
From sponsoring education for underprivileged children to empowering small businesses and supporting community infrastructure, his acts of service go far beyond charity—they are blueprints of sustainable transformation.
Each initiative he undertakes serves as a powerful reminder that true success is not measured by wealth alone, but by the lives one is able to touch.
Social media user Aproko9jax wrote:“Dr Stanley Uzochukwu keeps giving back to the society in deep ways. This is just amazing! What a way to live 👏”
Another user, OguntadeToyosi, added:
“Stanley Uzochukwu consistently giving back to society in such impactful ways. His dedication to uplifting others is a powerful example of leadership with purpose.”
As stories of his generosity continue to emerge across Nigeria and beyond, Dr. Uzochukwu stands as a beacon of purposeful living, inspiring a generation to embrace service above self.
In a world driven by personal gain, his unwavering commitment to lifting others reminds us that the highest form of success lies in the impact we leave behind.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has acquired state-of-the-art technological devices and applications for the Technical Intelligence Unit ( TIU) to aid in crime detection, prevention and swift arrest of criminals.
Inspector-General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun said the equipment are to bolster the fight against violent crimes across the country and boost the intelligence gathering prowess of the Force.
A statement on Saturday By the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said “Similarly, the IGP has also directed the commencement of comprehensive training programs for personnel of the Force’s Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) in line with global intelligence standards. These rigorous training programs are designed to equip them with the prerequisite knowledge to operate the newly deployed technologies, ensuring the Force remains adaptable and capable in the face of evolving criminal trends and practices.
”The continuous change in crime dynamics globally and within Nigeria informs the timely and consistent efforts of the IGP at improving and upscaling police crime fighting approach to intelligence and technology driven. The recent successes recorded, including the arrest of notorious arms peddling gang operating in Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and, Plateau States, and numerous arrests in recent weeks are all gains of the improved effectiveness of our intelligence-led policing.
”The Inspector-General of Police therefore reaffirms the dedication of the Nigeria Police Force under his leadership to emplacing measures to prevent crimes and criminality across the country while assuring Nigerians of robust response to emerging security threats”.
A final-year student of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma simply identified as Blessing, has been found dead five days days after she was declared missing.
The late student was said to be in the Department of Micro-biology.
Sources said she was seen last Sunday but missed an examination scheduled for Monday.
The sources said messages sent from her phone suggested that she was kidnapped with ransom demanded.
However, policemen were said to have stormed her residence and found her decomposing body within the compound.
Edo Police spokesman, Moses Yamu, confirmed the incident and said investigation has commenced.
TAIWO ALIMI explores the world of baby workers who have taken up the manly duty of providing for their families.
Taju Ayinde left Ikire, a farming community in Osun State, six years ago to work in Lagos. He was just a boy approaching his twelfth birthday when his parents contrived with an outsider to push him out. They brainwashed him to believe that Lagos is a land of opportunities where he would make money like it is picked off the streets.
Through his father who had inherited three farms, two remote and one handy, Ayinde has understood the true meaning of a hard worker.
“I started following my parents to farm at four and had become a good tiller of the land by the time I was 10,” he said.
His illiterate parents were barely making enough to fend for the family of seven when Ayinde, the first born and first son, was approached to leave elementary school at Primary Three to become a mechanic apprentice. He reluctantly agreed.
Three years into his apprenticeship, his journey was permanently disrupted. He was lured to Lagos by a ‘village brother’ who promised him a lucrative job in the city.
His father further encouraged him to move to the city in order to boost his fortune and help his siblings.
“They told me I’m a man now and must assume manly responsibilities,” he said.
Ayide would later find that the ‘lucrative job’ awaiting him was nothing more than a glorified gateman in one of the many estates in the cities. And the place he ended up in was not even Lagos but one of the small border towns between Lagos and Ogun states.
That was six years ago. Fast track to the present, Ayinde has experienced much of the downs of urban towns. The lines on his face place his age at well over 20 while his manner and mannerisms betrayed a boy much younger.
Turning 19 recently, Ayinde, who left home when he was barely 13 years old, has been introduced to hard drug and prostitution. He lives in a small security house with a small bathroom. It barely takes a tiny bed with a rough mattress on an old creaking bed he shares with one other. These were thrown-out properties he picked from residences in the Estate that hired him on getting to the town.
He does two jobs as a gateman/security guard, and works 24 hours a day, including Sunday, only managing to catch some sleep while on morning duties.
Ayinde’s initial monthly salary at his current duty post was a paltry N25,000, but has now risen to N35,000.
He goes back to Ikire at least twice in a year to see his parents and siblings, and has to go with some money.
“I have to go home with money because my parents believe that I am working and should be able to take care of my siblings,” said, adding that he dared not complain that his salary is barely enough to feed him.
To supplement his take-home, he engages in other menial works around the estate where he works as a day guard. “I do whatever work is available. If a house needs weeding I do it. if there are sands and gravels to be offloaded, I do it and also offer my services to bricklayers looking for labourers.
Ayinde also runs errands for people who give him money, used clothes or food in return.
However, his convivial and friendly nature has made him a popular item in the community. He had to take on that deportment to gain favour from residents.
Sadly, his lifestyle of endless work has left him hooked on hard drugs, which he boasts gives him strength and dexterity.
To worsen his case, Ayinde cannot speak a word of English. Neither can he read or write.
Asked when he planned to return home to complete his mechanic apprenticeship, he simply looked on into an empty future. He had no clue or plan as to what to do next. He is a teenager suffering in silence.
Usman Kamaru hails from a remote village in Nasarawa State. Although he was born into a peasant family, he was sent to the local primary school where he learnt to read and write.
He said he would have loved to further his education, but by the time he was to move to secondary school, his father advised him as a 12-year-old to help him in the task of catering for the family of six children, effectively bringing an end to his educational career.
Usman is the only male child among his parents’ six children.
“At first, I wanted to work with my father on the farm. But after a farming season, I decided to follow my friends to Lagos,” he said.
Unknown to him, his friend, who was the focus of his envy, was working as a gateman in Arepo, a border town between Ogun and Lagos states.
Recalling how he became a Lagos resident, Usman said: “I rode on an articulated truck from Nasarawa to Lagos, sitting on top of cartons with about a dozen other boys.
“The driver collected N5,000 from each us and dropped us at our destinations.”
Usman had N7,000 on him at the time he left home, and in no time, the money was spent. He has done all manner of jobs from gateman to okada (commercial motorcycle) operator before he became a local scavenger.
“I was introduced to scavenging about a year ago, and that is what I am still doing,” he said, adding that he makes about N2000 daily from the venture.
Jonathan (13) came to Lagos from Jelu village in Warri, Delta State with his uncle (mother’s younger brother) in the hope of continuing his education upon the demise of his father and family breadwinner.
He has been in Ibadan, Oyo State capital for five years and not once has he attended school. His uncle migrated abroad with his wife and children last year, leaving Jonathan with a friend.
“I was given a room in my uncle’s mansion where I lay my head every night. I don’t have any skill so I do whatever I can lay my hands on,” Jonathan said.
Asked why he had not considered returning to Warri, he said: “My mother said I should be strong and hustle in Lagos. She depends on me to take care of my siblings since my father is late. I can’t return home until I make something of my life here.”
Jonathan lives alone. To make ends meet, he works at a Chinese factory near an interchange on the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway.
At 18, he acts like a grown up, coming home late with girls of different shapes and sizes, who stay with him for many days in his uncle’s apartment. He also moves around with other boys of questionable character.
Jonathan has learnt to become an internet fraudster popularly called Yahoo Yahoo from his friends, and his income comes mostly from this.
Osmond, on his part, had followed his older cousin, Desmond, a barber in Magboro, Ogun State to Lagos. Any plan of him returning to school is over.
He had been working in Desmond’s barbing salon since arriving the Southwest from Gboko, Benue State, three years ago. But when a job opportunity landed on the lap of his cousin, he left the 14-year-old alone in Magboro to fend for himself.
Now, Osmond operates the barbing salon all alone.
“I make enough to feed myself and deliver money to my brother,” he said.
“That is when I have paid for the rent. I sleep inside the salon. I know that one day, I will have my own salon.”
The family in Gboko is expecting a lot from the teenager.
“I have been sending money home to my parents. My father always calls that I should send money home for the upkeep of my brothers and sisters who are in primary school,” he said.
It suffices to say that the teenager is the bread winner of a family of seven.
Audu was born in Buda, a village in Kano State predominated by peasant farmers with abundant lands. He works on these farms all year round with the only respite being in the dry season. When the farming season is over, he picks up odd jobs wherever he can find them.
Audu moved to Kaduna a few months after he turned 10, with the help of a family friend who came from the city. Unknown to his aged father, the man was an agent recruiting young boys and girls as maids for homes in cities. He has no regards whatsoever for the laws prohibiting minors from serving as labourers.
He lies to guardians and parents to lure their wards to the urban centres. Hence Audu’s unsuspecting father quickly packed his few belongings in a polythene bag and instructed him to follow the man.
Upon resuming duties as a ‘house boy’, he was told that if he did well, he would be enrolled in school after a while; an opportunity he had never had before.
Two years after, he is yet to enter the four walls of a classroom. From house boy, he may graduate to a gateman if he stays with the household long enough. He may never realise his dream of becoming a big farmer and businessman.
Parents violating Child Rights Act without consequences
The 2003 Child Rights Act (CRA), which defines a child as “anyone below the age of 18” is not deterring parents from releasing their fragile boys to the unknown world.
The law states: “In every action concerning a child, whether undertaken by an individual, public or private body, the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration.”
Section 11 highlights: “A child is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person, and accordingly, no child shall be subjected to physical, mental or emotional injury, abuse, neglect or maltreatment, including sexual abuse; no child shall be held in slavery or servitude, while in the care of a parent, legal guardian or school authority or any other person or authority having the care of the child.”
The CRA has been adopted by most states in Nigeria, including Lagos, Ogun, and Kaduna, where Ayinde, Audu and others have been perpetually manipulated and abused by the people they love.
Rural-urban migration fuels malady
Until recently, internal migration is largely fueled by economic factors; the natural tendency to seek for greener pasture, which led to the rush from rural villages to urban towns and cities, for work.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said in 2023, Nigeria recorded 1,134,828 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP). NBS said this kind of internal migration was escalated by conflict, violence, natural disasters, or other crisis, which forcibly removed Nigerians from their homes to other parts of the country.
The young people in the IDPs, mostly boys, due to their restless nature usually move away to the towns and cities to look for work to fend for their families left in the IDP camps.
It is said that this kind of internal migration constitutes one of the biggest humanitarian crises in Nigeria.
The displacement, said the report titled ‘Report of Internally Displaced Persons in Nigeria 2023,’ is induced by a combination of factors such as Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast region, banditry/kidnapping in the Northwest region, armed conflicts, and communal clashes in other parts of the country.
The survey further found that 40.6 per cent of the rural IDP households reportedly experienced discrimination from host communities or camp workers, compared to 28.8 per cent in urban camps.
The survey was conducted across seven states, namely Adamawa, Yobe, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina, Benue and Nasarawa.
The 2021 United Nations Nigeria’s report on internal migration trends in Nigeria recorded that “Most of the migration appears to occur in waves, with people moving from rural areas to towns within the same state, and then to larger cities.
It also shows that states associated with larger internal migration are also associated with international migration, which suggests common drivers for both types of migration. And it is a fact Lagos and the FCT are the major destinations for inter-state migration. Finally, the report notes that economic indices indicate that incentives are likely to influence people’s decision to migrate, alongside marriage and conflict.”
Another report put together by Researcher, Yohanna Danladi Pam in 2024 established that “the rate of migration from rural to urban centres is common among people of age 11-20 and 21-30. Therefore about 60 per cent of the productive youths in the rural area migrate to urban centres.
Thus, the youths who are the most productive group of people in the rural areas migrate to the urban centres, leaving behind the aged and the children who are about 40 per cent of the total population in the rural areas.
“This usually hinders development of agriculture and rural areas.”
Of course, boys constitute a larger number of the migrants.
BWB: How adult men manipulate ignorant teenagers
Boys Without Borders (BWB), a Nigerian based NGO vigorously advocating for the boy child by re-moulding abused boys into functional men through education, orientation, and positive community influence for a stronger and more united society, noted that a boy child can easily be manipulated by the common brainwash: ‘you are a man.’
According to Theophilus Femi Alawonde, Director of Media and Communication BWB, “Over the years, issues surrounding the boy-child and his development have not been given enough attention as required, thereby causing the areas essential for his growth to be treated with levity.
“For too long, the boy-child has been seen as a potential threat, and as a result, the female gender has been shielded from them.
“However, this perspective is flawed, and it ignores the fact that boys are also vulnerable and need support to grow into well-rounded adults.
“We recognise that a balanced and functional society requires both men and women to thrive, and we are committed to ensuring that the boy-child is not left behind.
“We recognise that the issues facing boys in our society are complex and multifaceted, ranging from sexual abuse to lack of proper orientation.
“We are dedicated to tackling these issues head-on by providing boys with the necessary education, orientation, support and resources to overcome them and reach their full potential.”
Since BWB began operation in 2020, it has impacted 6,000 boys through outreaches and activations in 15 community engagements and more than 10,000 reached online.
BWB reckoned that about 450,000 Nigerian boys have experienced neglect and abuse and run the risk of becoming dysfunctional men in adulthood.
‘How I became teenage drug addict’
In the little security room, which Ayinde claimed was his palace; where he sleeps, baths, cooks and eats, the now teenager also smokes all kind of substances.
When this reporter accosted him, he initially denied but later confessed to the addiction.
He said: “I was introduced to drug by the same man that brought me to this place.
“He was also a security man here and I was working under him.
“He was always smoking and told me to try it one night in the freezing cold. He said it would make me warm and strong.”
By the time Ayinde’s friend was leaving, he was head deep in the daily ritual.
“Since I’ve been taking it, it has been helping me to stay awake and work very hard.”
Ayinde no longer needs to hit the streets. He locks himself in his den, puffing away his already worn life.
Like a cub snatched at infancy, Ayinde sees himself as a man who should be doing carrying responsibilities. Yet, in his reddish eyes lurks a desperate plea to be saved from an addiction that was wasting him. Once in a while, he would steal into the streets, especially at night, to mate with women of easy virtue, thinking his life is made.
“I like to go back home, but my parents said I should keep working and sending money to them. The money I send home is all that is helping them,” he said.
Meanwhile, he has gone far. Home cannot quench the fire burning inside Ayinde. He no longer thinks about the mechanic apprenticeship he left behind.
“I don’t know if I want to that again. Even, if I want to where do I begin after six years?” he wondered.
Ayinde has a new life now, a life of addiction to drug and prostitution.
‘I was frequently subjected to rape as street dweller’
Dauda (19), a BWB volunteer, who got nicked from the killing field of cultism, drug addiction and whoring in the Mushin-Lagos ghetto, said while leaving on the streets, he was perpetually subjected to rape.
“Growing up on the streets of Mushin, many things that society has normalised as being part of the process of simply being boys are things that harm the boy-child.
“These are things that BWB has made me see. A few months ago, when I got home, a brother told me he saw my status and my posts on BWB and quizzed me if indeed boys can be raped. I said yes.
“It was one of the things I experience as a street boy. I was serially molested and abused. Many street boys you see out there are being raped by adult males, sometimes their benefactors, and they cannot speak out.
“You can imagine the kind of adults they will become. That is if they survive the onslaught?”
Usman is smallish in stature, but he has experienced the bad and the ugly sides of urban life.
He has no permanent abode as a scavenger. “Sometimes I sleep at refuse dumps, where my friends and I spend most of our time. It is where we make our living and I am comfortable there,” he said.
Once, he stayed in an uncompleted building, when he newly came to the Southwest.
“I was there for a few weeks until the landlord asked us to leave. He was not happy that we were many sleeping there,” he said.
Asked about the substances that helped him to stay strong and active, Usman said he did not do hard drugs. “I only take normal drugs like Tramadol,” he said.
Told that Tramadol is among the prohibited drugs in Nigeria, he merely stared at the reporter, his eyes rolling in confusion and disbelief.
Asked what he would like to become when he grows up? He chuckled before replying in broken English, “Oga, I no know about that one (boss, I don’t know what you are talking about).
For boys like Usman and Ayinde, the most they can think of is getting through the day. They think little of their future, only living through each day in flitting shadows of making ends meet and family happy.
They are resigned to whatever the day has in stock for them and to make the most of it.
The Enugu State Police Command has recorded a major breakthrough in its fight against violent crime, arresting 13 suspects involved in armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and cult-related activities in a string of coordinated operations across the state and beyond.
The arrests, carried out by the Command’s Anti-Cultism Tactical Squad and other operatives, led to the recovery of firearms, stolen vehicles and other incriminating items.
According to a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, one of the operations took place at about 3:40 am on July 30, 2025, in Oyofo-Oghe, Ezeagu LGA, where the police, acting on the confession of a suspect already in custody—35-year-old Ekene Akpata, alias Odumodu, arrested three more men: Ebuka Odinko (35), Chiemerie Amano (25), and Onyebuchi Onyekwere (24).
The police said all four were suspected members of the Viking Confraternity and have been linked to multiple armed robbery incidents.
In another major operation, operatives acting on intelligence from two suspects in custody —Okechukwu Ogbonna (65) and Ezeonuji Charles (52)—conducted a tactical raid in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between July 23 and 28.
The operation led to the arrest of Udofia Richard (43) and Richard Arinzechukwu Nwaomu (32), with two suspected stolen vehicles, a red Toyota Camry XLE (YEN 221 AG) and an ash Kia Soul (PHC 845 AE), recovered.
Also on July 21, three suspects—Stephen Chidiebere (42) alias Shaggy; Arinze Udeh (30) alias Anonymous; and Onuigbo Kingsley (49)—were arrested in Umuasi Ngwo, Udi LGA.
Their arrests followed earlier apprehension of Ikemefuna Ani (31) alias Majority.
Investigation revealed that all four are linked to the Black Axe Confraternity.
A cut-to-size double-barrel shotgun was recovered during the operation.
In a separate incident on July 15, operatives attached to Ogui Division in collaboration with the Neighbourhood Watch arrested Ifeanyi Ede (30), shortly after he and an accomplice used a fake pistol—later discovered to be a Spark-L electronic gas lighter—to rob a taxi driver of ₦30,000, a mobile phone worth ₦17,000, vehicle keys and ATM card.
Ede was arrested with the stolen phone, while his accomplice escaped.
Ndukwe disclosed that all suspects would remain in custody as investigation continued, with efforts ongoing to track down remaining accomplices.
He added that all cases would be charged to court upon conclusion of investigation.
Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, praised the officers for their commitment and effectiveness, urging them to sustain the momentum.
He reaffirmed the Command’s resolve to flush out criminal elements and safeguard residents.
He also appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through the Command’s hotlines: 08032003702, 08086671202 or 112 (Command-and-Control Centre).
At least 14 individuals were arrested on Friday by the Oyo State Government for operating illegal shanties and engaging in unauthorised diesel sales along the Ibadan axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The arrests were confirmed by the Executive Assistant to Governor Seyi Makinde on Security, retired Commissioner of Police Sunday Odukoya, who led the state’s special task force during a clearance operation in the area.
Addressing reporters during the parade of the suspects, Odukoya alleged that, beyond selling adulterated diesel, the arrested individuals were also involved in other criminal activities.
He added that they would be prosecuted in a mobile court under the supervision of the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Agency.
He explained that the government had previously issued several warnings to the operators to vacate the area before the enforcement exercise.
“We gave them ample time to leave voluntarily, but they chose to ignore the directive. This operation will continue until the expressway is completely cleared of illegal structures,” Odukoya stated.
One of the suspects, Bolaji Mustapha, admitted to being involved in the illegal diesel trade but claimed he was unaware of any prior notices from the government.
The clearance and enforcement operation is part of the state government’s broader initiative to enhance public safety, prevent environmental hazards, and maintain law and order along major transport corridors.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has activated its emergency response teams following alerts of impending heavy flooding in Abuja and its neighbouring states.
This came after the National Flood Early Warning Centre (FEWS) of the Federal Ministry of Environment forecasted severe flooding between July 31 and August 4 in the FCT and nearby regions.
In a statement on Friday, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) identified 11 high-risk areas in Abuja, including Asokoro, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Damagaza, Garki 1 and 2, Guzape, Wuse 1 and 2, Gwarinpa, Nyanya, the Central Business District (CBD), and Kubwa.
FEMD Acting Director-General, Engr Abdulrahman Mohammed, said, “We have placed our ‘Search and Rescue’ team on red alert to prevent loss of life in case of severe flooding. Our priority is ensuring residents’ safety, and we are fully prepared to respond to emergencies.”
The department urged residents to avoid walking or driving through floodwaters, clear drainage, and use alternative routes where necessary.
Nearby states—Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna—have also been placed on high alert. High-risk areas include Suleja, Mashegu, Sarkin Pawa, and Rijau in Niger State; Mararaba, Gidan Rogo, Wamba, Agima, Rukubi, and Odogbo in Nasarawa State; and Zaria, Jaji, Kauru, Kachia, and Buruku in Kaduna State.
FEMD assured the public that water levels are being closely monitored and mitigation measures are in place. Mohammed urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid flood-prone areas, and report emergencies promptly.
“We are working round the clock to minimise the impact of flooding. Residents must remain cautious and heed all official advisories,” he added.
The Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI), in partnership with the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by certain individuals and interest groups to derail ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil sector.
At a joint press conference held in Abuja on Friday, CGGCI National Coordinator, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, and HURIWA President, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, condemned what they described as orchestrated media attacks and protests targeting the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Bayo Ojulari.
The organisations urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain alert to what they claim are attempts to blackmail and undermine Ojulari, warning that such actions could roll back the progress achieved in sanitising the oil industry.
“We respectfully urge His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be vigilant and discerning regarding the motives of those peddling baseless allegations and character assassinations against the GCEO. These blackmailers are desperate to return the sector to its corrupt past, which Mr. Ojulari is actively dismantling,” the statement read.
The groups noted that the President appointed Ojulari based on his credibility, competence, and deep industry experience, and warned against deceptive lobbying aimed at reversing that decision.
They emphasised that the oil sector had long been plagued by corruption, and Ojulari’s appointment was a strategic move to align the NNPCL with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The President must not allow the integrity of his reforms to be compromised by vested interests seeking to sabotage change,” they added.
“However, there has been a deliberate gang-up against Mr. President and his people-oriented programmes for the country. The enemies of the country have infiltrated all segments of the economy, with a deliberate act of sabotaging Mr. President by blackmailing key agencies of the administration.
“Mr. Ojulari initiated a sweeping audit of long-standing, opaque contracts, particularly those involving crude lifting and infrastructure projects. This has exposed inflated costs and revenue leakages, many of which are now under internal review.
“Under his directive, the NNPC now operates a real-time reporting dashboard for critical operations—ensuring better monitoring of crude production, refining activities, and fuel distribution nationwide.
“Mr. Ojulari has ended several shady deals with unqualified intermediaries and shell entities used to siphon national resources. This alone has saved billions in prospective losses to the nation.
“For the first time in years, whistleblowing and internal accountability are being actively encouraged at NNPC. Dozens of staff have been reassigned, and internal oversight units strengthened.
“The GMD has opened up collaboration with transparency-focused global institutions, signalling Nigeria’s renewed seriousness in cleaning up its oil sector image.
“Despite all these and other pro-Nigerian policies, some corrupt individuals within the system are not comfortable with the ongoing reforms. We observe that some of them are in hand with major opposition leaders at night to sabotage this government through institutions like NNPCL, but they appear as friends of the government during the day.
“The era of long queues at the filling stations is gone. The era of fuel scarcity is gone. The era of Nigerians sleeping at filling stations or buying adulterated black market fuel is far gone, but these enemies of Nigeria are not comfortable, and they are coming out as saints to cause crisis and majorly discredit President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, their major target, by sponsoring protests and media attacks on the leadership of the NNPCL. Nigerians must reject these individuals.”
Ogenyi then said that “the smear campaign must be seen as a last-ditch effort by compromised forces desperate to hold on to influence and illicit benefits, saying Nigerians will stand with reformers— and Mr. Bayo Ojulari is one of them.
“We therefore call on all patriotic Nigerians, civil society actors, and media professionals to defend the truth, expose malicious intent, and support the genuine transformation of the NNPC.
“Under this leadership, Nigerians continue to have a reduction in prices of petroleum products as pump prices of premium motor spirits slash down.
“We wish to encourage Mr. President to continue with his reforms and not be intimidated by anyone trying to discredit his administration or appointees because Mr. President has blocked leakages where corruption resides in the NNPCL through Mr Ojulari’s credible leadership. We urged the president to continue to believe in the performing team across agencies of government.”
The Nigeria Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) has deployed 22 fresh volunteers to The Gambia, as 15 others returned to Nigeria after completing a two-year service in the West African nation.
This latest deployment brings to 300 the total number of volunteers sent to 11 countries over the past two years. Since its inception 38 years ago, NTAC has deployed more than 10,000 professionals to 40 countries across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Speaking at a send-off and reception ceremony in Abuja on Friday, NTAC Director General, Hon. Yusuf Buba Yakub, said the newly deployed volunteers, drawn largely from academia, will serve at the University of The Gambia, replacing those returning home.
“In the last two years, we have deployed over 300 volunteers to 11 countries. Just yesterday, we deployed more to Grenada. Today, we received 15 from Gambia, and this morning, 22 are heading back there,” Yakub said.
Highlighting the impact of the programme, he described NTAC as a key tool of Nigeria’s soft power diplomacy, noting that its work has helped enhance the country’s global image.
“Since 1987, NTAC has served as a vehicle for sharing Nigeria’s professional expertise with other nations. It projects our values, strengthens international partnerships, and provides our youth with opportunities to serve and grow,” he explained.
Yakub also expressed his vision for the Corps to contribute to reducing unemployment in Nigeria, adding that the positive legacy left by NTAC volunteers abroad continues to earn Nigeria respect and goodwill across participating countries.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on young Nigerians to leverage the power of new media to promote unity, compassion, and patriotism rather than division.
Speaking on Friday at the opening ceremony of the two-day Progressive Digital Media Summit held at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, Tinubu emphasised the central role of new media in driving national development. The summit is themed “Unveiling the Critical Role of New Media in National Development.”
“The theme of this gathering perfectly captures the spirit of our time and the aspirations of our nation,” the President said. “Across Nigeria, we are witnessing a remarkable surge of creativity and ambition, especially among our youth. From developing digital platforms to building vibrant online communities, young Nigerians are not waiting to be invited into the future—they are actively building it.”
He noted that new media is no longer just a supplementary tool but has become a major catalyst for economic growth, civic engagement, and social transformation.
“It is creating jobs, empowering millions of young people, breaking traditional barriers to political participation, and giving a voice to previously unheard communities,” Tinubu said.
The President acknowledged the growing influence of the digital generation and commended their efforts in innovation, education, and accountability. However, he urged them to match their digital influence with a shared sense of purpose and responsibility.
“I urge you to continue harnessing these platforms for the greater good. Build businesses that employ others. Create content that uplifts and inspires. Use your influence to foster unity, not division,” he said.
Tinubu also warned of the dangers of misinformation and urged users to pause before sharing unverified content. “Let Nigeria’s digital space reflect the values that bind us together: connection, compassion, discipline, and patriotism,” he concluded.
“Patriotism is not about slogans or political theatre. It is measured by what we contribute to the common good. Every app you design, every story you tell, every brand you build, it all tells the world who we are and what we stand for.”
To support the growing digital space, Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to building infrastructure and enabling innovation.
He said, “This administration understands the importance of this digital frontier. That is why we are investing strategically in digital infrastructure and broadband expansion. Internet access must no longer be a luxury for a few; it is a right for all Nigerians.
“We are supporting innovation through initiatives like the National Digital Innovation Forum and nurturing the startup ecosystem by promoting growth-oriented policies and minimising unnecessary regulation. At the same time, we are committed to cybersecurity. Every Nigerian has the right to be protected, both physically and digitally.”
The President described Nigerian youths as the country’s greatest asset.
“Young people remain our most important investment. Your ideas, energy, and commitment to development are among our nation’s greatest assets,” Tinubu said.
He urged them to go beyond personal branding with their various platforms.
He said, “Use your platforms not just for self-expression or retaliation, but for problem-solving. Build solutions that meet the needs of our people. Mentor others. Champion digital literacy and promote accountability in every part of society.
“Let your leadership be defined by integrity. Let your digital footprint reflect the very best of our nation. Let your actions tell the story of a generation that didn’t wait for permission to lead, but stepped forward with clarity and courage.”
“Nigeria’s path to prosperity will be shaped by many factors, but none more powerful than the choices made by those who dare to imagine, and who possess the skill to turn vision into reality.”
Using the example of the national female football team, the President illustrated the values of perseverance and determination.
“Think of our great female footballers. At one point, they were two goals down. It seemed the game was lost. But through determination, persistence, and unity, they turned things around and brought pride to the entire nation. That is the spirit I ask of you. Let us move forward together, just like they did.
“Let your creativity continue to inspire. Let your enterprise open doors. Let your example show that this generation is not only ready for the future, but ready to lead it,” he said.
President Tinubu concluded with a message of hope and expectation for the younger generation.
“May your work be guided by wisdom. May your voices lift others. And may your generation be remembered not just for its potential, but for turning promise into achievement,” he said.
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, raised the alarm over the growing misuse of digital media, warning that it has become a critical battleground for political manipulation and disinformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Onanuga said the summit could not have come at a better time, given the premature campaign activities by opposition elements who are, in his words, “forcing a 2027 campaign on the country well ahead of the INEC timetable.”
He said, “Our recent experiences and those from elections in the USA, Germany, and other countries have taught us a crucial lesson. Digital media are no longer just spaces for jokes, memes, or dance videos. They are battlegrounds where elections are won or lost. We ignore them at our own peril.”
Onanuga backed his warning with recent statistics.
He said, according to available data, WhatsApp is currently Nigeria’s most used platform with around 51 million users, accounting for a penetration rate of 95% of active mobile lines.
Facebook follows with 38.7 million users, while TikTok boasts 37.4 million. Instagram comes next with 12.6 million users, mostly within the 25–34 age group.
Surprisingly, he said, X (formerly Twitter), which he described as the “most toxic” of all platforms, has only 7.57 million active users in Nigeria.
“I presented these figures to underscore where we should direct our political communication and strategic efforts,” he said.
However, Onanuga cautioned that social media is often a chaotic and unregulated public square.
“Users frequently spread disinformation, divisive content is rampant, and deepfake and artificial intelligence-generated media are increasingly used against political opponents. Content is driven by clicks, not by truth or accuracy,” he warned.
He emphasised that misinformation spreads five times faster than official corrections and expressed hope that the summit would begin to tackle such threats.
“My prayer is that this summit will address these emerging red flags. We must discuss and devise measures to counter them, such as rapidly labelling fake or AI-generated content, flagging false news, and conducting real-time fact-checking,” Onanuga urged.
He concluded with a strong call to responsibility: “All of us have a responsibility to ensure that this media is used to strengthen our democracy, not to undermine it.”
The Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, called on Nigerians to view social media not as a mere tool for entertainment or agitation, but as a vital platform for national development, civic responsibility, and institutional accountability.
Dada said the evolution of social media over the past decade has made it central to the way societies function.
“In just a decade, social media has transformed from a tool of personal connection into a powerful engine of communication, information, innovation, and influence.
“It is no longer a peripheral player in national discourse. It has become central to how governments engage citizens, how businesses expand, how civil society is built, and how ideas are exchanged across borders and generations,” he said.
Dada posed key questions about the role of digital platforms in the country’s development: “How can we harness this immense digital force for the good of our nation, Nigeria? How do we use it to strengthen democracy, support economic growth, improve education, and ensure accountability? And even more importantly, how do we manage the risks it poses to truth, privacy, and social cohesion?”
He said these challenges cannot be answered by slogans or technology alone, but through collaboration, innovation, and a clear understanding of the rapidly evolving digital ecosystem.
Recalling the recent election cycle, Dada said social media played a decisive role in shaping perceptions, both positively and negatively.
“In the run-up to the 2023 election, we saw how social media was used by bad-faith actors to deliberately misinform, disinform, and cast doubt in the minds of the electorate.”
He credited President Bola Tinubu with recognising the stakes early and assembling a focused digital team.
“Mr. President, in his wisdom, tapped a couple of us in the run-up to the 2023 elections, and we stayed on message. That deliberate effort secured a straightforward victory for our great party,” he said.
“This event is more than just a conversation; it is a call to action, a call to policymakers, educators, entrepreneurs, technologists, and every citizen who believes in the power of the internet,” he said.
Dada also used the occasion to express gratitude to President Tinubu for the opportunity to serve. He thanked the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, for what he described as “unwavering support that made the summit a full reality,” and acknowledged the contributions of fellow aides and senior colleagues.
“Let us interrogate not only the role social media plays in national development but also the responsibility we all share in shaping it for the greater good. Let us begin this important journey together,” he said.
The summit, which continues Saturday, brought together government officials, media experts, tech leaders, and civil society actors to strategise on the evolving influence of new media on national development, political discourse, and governance.
