The Nation Newspaper

Category: News

  • Early detection, healthy living key to beating cancer, Uzodimma tells Nigerians

    Early detection, healthy living key to beating cancer, Uzodimma tells Nigerians

    Cancer is not a death sentence. Regular screening, early medical check-ups, healthy lifestyles, and collective action can save lives, the First Lady of Imo State and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), Barr. Chioma Uzodimma has said.

    She urged Nigerians to pay attention to warning signs, seek medical help promptly, and spread cancer awareness within their families and communities, stressing that survival is possible when the disease is detected early and properly treated.

    Uzodimma gave the charge in Owerri during a public health walk to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, themed “United by Unique.” According to her, defeating cancer requires unity, awareness, prevention, and sustained investment in healthcare.

    “Let us promote early detection and prevention, support patients with dignity and strengthen our collective resolve against cancer,” she said.

    Leading thousands of participants through the streets of the state capital, the First Lady described the walk as a message of hope for millions battling the disease and a reminder that early diagnosis saves lives.

    The walk, which began at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Conference Centre and ended at the Imo State Specialist Hospital, drew government officials, health professionals, students, civil society organisations, and community leaders, who carried placards promoting routine screening and healthy living.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Adino Kennedy, speaking on behalf of the First Lady, emphasised that early detection remains the strongest weapon against cancer and urged participants to become health ambassadors in their communities.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Cancer Society, Imo State chapter, Dr. Okechukwu Duru, called for intensified public enlightenment, noting that ignorance and late presentation continue to cost many lives.

    Stakeholders at the event stressed the need for stronger collaboration, wider screening programmes, and improved investment in cancer care to ensure that quality treatment is accessible and survival rates improve across Nigeria.

  • Fed Govt reopens Tsamiya border in Kebbi to strengthen regional trade

    Fed Govt reopens Tsamiya border in Kebbi to strengthen regional trade

    The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again reaffirmed its commitment to secure border governance and facilitate transit trade, following the Federal Government’s approval to reopen the Tsamiya border corridor in Kebbi State

    This was made known during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held at the Government House, Kebbi State.

    The engagement, which brought together security agencies, traditional leaders, economic operators, and international customs representatives, provided a strategic platform to examine practical measures to strengthen Nigeria’s northwest border architecture while ensuring that legitimate trade flows seamlessly under strict compliance protocols.

    The reopening of the corridor underscores the Service’s ongoing drive to balance national security priorities with trade facilitation objectives, particularly along critical land routes and the River Niger corridor that connects Nigeria with neighbouring countries.

    Speaking during the engagement, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, emphasised the importance of structured inter-agency and cross-border collaboration in addressing evolving transit trade and security challenges.

    According to the CGC, “Criminal elements operate through cooperation, shared resources, and organised networks. This makes it imperative for security agencies to work together in a coordinated manner to effectively counter such threats.”

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    He noted that the Service is actively engaging customs authorities from the Niger Republic and the Republic of Benin, supported by the political will of President Bola Tinubu and President Patrice Talon, to resolve longstanding transit trade issues through coordinated Customs-to-Customs cooperation.

    “Diversion of goods in transit is not peculiar to Nigeria; it is a cross-border challenge that requires coordinated enforcement, clear guidelines, and strict compliance to ensure that goods reach their intended destinations,” Adeniyi stated.

    The CGC explained that the Tsamiya Corridor will operate under enhanced monitoring driven by ICT interconnectivity systems, strengthened profiling of licensed customs agents, and close surveillance of goods in transit. He warned that any truck found outside the approved route will be seized, and offenders prosecuted in line with transit regulations, referencing recent prosecutions as evidence of the Service’s firm enforcement approach.

    He commended the Kebbi State Government for fostering a coordinated security environment. He acknowledged the contributions of retired senior customs officers from the state to the development of the Service and national security.

    In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, highlighted the state’s commitment to supporting Customs and other security agencies by providing logistics, infrastructure, and community engagement in border areas.

    “The Kebbi State Government remains committed to prioritising security and creating an enabling environment for security agencies to operate effectively, while ensuring that border communities benefit from sustained development,” the Governor said.

    The stakeholders’ engagement attracted immediate past governor of Kebbi State and the Minister of Budget and National Planning Atiku Bagudu, former governor Usman Dakingari, Customs officials from the Republic of Benin, representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, and key economic operators, all expressing confidence that the renewed collaboration will enhance border security, strengthen regional trade, and position Kebbi State as a strategic hub for lawful economic activities.

  • Press freedom advocate seeks protection for Nigerian journalists

    Press freedom advocate seeks protection for Nigerian journalists

    • …calls on Senate to safeguard electronic transmission of results

    Nigerian journalist and Advocate for Press Freedom, Livinus Chibuike Victor, has strongly condemned the growing cases of intimidation, harassment, unlawful detention, and killing of journalists across Nigeria.

    Victor, in a statement in Abuja, described these actions as a dangerous trend capable of silencing truth, suppressing accountability, and weakening democratic institutions.

    He called on security agencies to uphold their constitutional responsibilities by protecting journalists rather than targeting them.

    He also urged the federal and state governments to create an enabling environment where media professionals can carry out their duties without fear of persecution or violence.

    “A nation where journalists are silenced is a nation where corruption thrives unchecked.

     The press must be allowed to function independently, professionally, and without intimidation. Press freedom is not optional-it is fundamental to democracy,” Victor added.

    He further appealed to civil society organizations, media stakeholders, and the international community to remain vigilant and continue advocating for electoral integrity and the protection of journalists’ rights.

    Nigeria’s democratic growth, he emphasized, depends not only on credible elections but also on a fearless and independent press committed to truth and accountability.

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    He called on members of the Nigerian Senate to rise above partisan interests and act in defence of democracy by guaranteeing the full implementation of electronic transmission of results in the 2027 general elections.

    Victor stressed that electronic transmission of election results is not a political favor but a democratic necessity.

    According to him, credible elections remain the foundation of national stability, public confidence, and international respect.

    He warned that any attempt to weaken, manipulate, or discard the electronic transmission process would erode public trust and further deepen citizens’ frustration with the political system.

    “The future of over 240 million Nigerians must not be subjected to opaque processes. Transparent and verifiable elections are the backbone of any functioning democracy. The Senate must stand on the side of history and protect the integrity of the 2027 elections,” he stated.

  • Music artiste, three crew members found dead in Lagos studio

    Music artiste, three crew members found dead in Lagos studio

    …police arrest one, commence probe

    A popular music artiste, Matthew Ogundele, and three of his crew members have been found dead inside a Lagos studio.

    The crew members were identified as Itunu Ogundele, Joseph Sanya, and blogger Matthew Awosanya, alias JoesTv.

    The deceased were said to have been discovered on February 4, around 11 am, in the studio located at HFP Shopping Complex, Abraham Adesanya in Ajah.

    It was gathered that the artists had gone to Ajah to perform in a three-day birthday party allegedly organized by the owner of the studio, Olanireti Akinbola.

    The deceased, it was learnt, performed on February 3 and decided to sleep in the studio when they finished around midnight.

    According to sources, they were given food by the owner’s husband that night, who is said to be the one who noticed something was amiss around 11 am the next day.

    Sources alleged that a possible suffocation from a generator placed directly opposite the studio door could be responsible for their death.

    They were allegedly found unresponsive with blood coming out of their nostrils, ears, and mouth, but no violent mark seen.

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     “The convener invited some gospel artistes to minister during her three-day birthday praise, which started on Monday.

    “Segun Praise was scheduled to minister on the second day, and he came with his crew. The session started in the evening and ran late, so they decided to stay overnight in the studio.

    “It was the following morning that we heard that their bodies were found in the studio.

    “Her husband was the one who raised the alarm after knocking the studio door several times with no response coming from inside.

    “A generator was on and placed directly opposite their sleeping locations. So, it is suspected that this probably caused their death, but nothing has been concluded yet,” said a police source.

    Contacted, the Lagos Police Spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident, saying it was reported on Wednesday, February 4, at Ajah Division, adding that it was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba.

    “One suspect identified as the organizer of the event is currently in custody. Investigation is ongoing while we await the autopsy report,” said Adebisi.

  • PAGMI gains momentum as mining marshals flush out thousands of illegal miners in Kebbi

    PAGMI gains momentum as mining marshals flush out thousands of illegal miners in Kebbi

    The Federal Government’s Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI) has received renewed momentum following a sweeping crackdown that dislodged thousands of illegal miners from designated mining sites in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

    In a tightly coordinated, multi-agency operation, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Mining Marshals, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and the Nigeria Police Force, reclaimed mining locations that had been illegally occupied for months by unregulated operators.

    Officials said the operation led to the complete displacement of thousands of illegal miners who had taken control of PAGMI sites, running large-scale operations that went far beyond artisanal mining. Heavy-duty excavators, crushers, and, in some instances, explosives were deployed indiscriminately—practices that triggered widespread land degradation, known cases of water pollution, and heightened insecurity in surrounding communities.

    Residents of Yauri described the illegal mining surge as a slow-burning crisis. “Our farmlands were being destroyed, and the river we depend on was turning brown,” said a community leader who requested anonymity for security reasons. “We lived in fear because strange faces came in daily, armed and unaccountable.”

    Environmental experts familiar with the area warn that such unregulated mining practices often leave behind contaminated soil, unstable pits, and polluted waterways, compounding long-term risks to agriculture, public health, and livelihoods. Local sources said abandoned pits had already claimed lives, particularly during the rainy season.

    The scale of the environmental and security threat, officials noted, compelled federal authorities to intervene decisively, deploying the Mining Marshals to protect the integrity of PAGMI and restore lawful order to the mining corridor.

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    Speaking after the operation, the Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps John Onoja Attah, described PAGMI as a deliberate policy intervention designed to formalise artisanal mining, empower host communities, and ensure that mineral resources translate into shared economic benefits rather than chaos.

    “PAGMI is about inclusion, structure, and sustainability,” Mr Attah said. “Those genuinely interested in mining must register and operate within known legal frameworks. Anything outside that endangers lives, destroys the environment, and fuels insecurity.”

    He added that beyond enforcement, the initiative prioritises environmental remediation, community participation, and continuous monitoring—elements often absent in illegal mining operations.

    According to officials, the NSCDC Mining Marshals have been directed to maintain constant surveillance and routine patrols across the reclaimed sites to prevent reoccupation, while working with relevant agencies to assess environmental damage and support recovery efforts.

    The Yauri operation, analysts say, reflects a broader federal push to sanitise Nigeria’s solid minerals sector, curb revenue leakages, and dismantle the informal networks that have long turned artisanal mining zones into hubs of environmental abuse and criminal activity.

    For communities once trapped between poverty and predatory mining interests, residents say the intervention offers cautious hope. “If PAGMI is allowed to work the way it was designed,” one local youth leader said, “then mining can finally benefit our people instead of destroying our land.”

  • University of Cambridge Returns 116 Benin Artefacts to Nigeria

    University of Cambridge Returns 116 Benin Artefacts to Nigeria

    The University of Cambridge has formally transferred ownership of 116 Benin artefacts from its Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) collections to Nigeria. The artefacts were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM), which manages them under an agreement with the Benin Royal Palace.

    According to NCMM, the decision follows a formal request made in January 2022 for the return of artefacts looted by British forces during the sacking of Benin City in 1897. The University’s Council approved the claim, and authorisation from the UK Charity Commission was subsequently granted.

    The physical transfer of most of the artefacts will be arranged in due course, while a small number will remain on loan and on display at Cambridge to remain accessible to museum visitors, students, and researchers. The move aligns with similar commitments by museums in the UK, US, and Europe to return cultural heritage items to their countries of origin.

    The 116 objects, primarily brass with some ivory and wooden sculptures, were taken during the British ‘Punitive Expedition’ of February 1897, which followed a violent trade dispute the previous month and resulted in the looting of the Benin Royal Palace.

    Speaking on the development, Olugbile Holloway, Director-General of NCMM, described the transfer as a pivotal moment in the ongoing collaboration between Nigeria and the University of Cambridge, highlighting the importance of restoring cultural heritage to its rightful custodians.

    The return of the artefacts is expected to strengthen historical and cultural ties between Nigeria and the UK while providing opportunities for research, education, and public engagement in both countries.

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    According to him, “This development marks a pivotal point in our dialogue with the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology at the University of Cambridge, and it is our hope that this will spur other museums to head in a similar direction. The return of cultural items for us is not just the return of the physical object, but also the restoration of the pride and dignity that were lost when these objects were taken in the first place. We would like to thank the Honourable Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, for all her invaluable support in making this happen, and we applaud Cambridge for taking this step in the right direction. We look forward to welcoming the artefacts back home soon.”

    On his part, Professor Nicholas Thomas, Director of the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, said, “It has been immensely rewarding to engage in dialogue with colleagues from the National Commission of Museums and Monuments, members of the Royal Court, and Nigerian scholars, students, and artists over the last ten years. Over the period, support has mounted, nationally and internationally, for the repatriation of artefacts that were appropriated in the context of colonial violence. This return has been keenly supported across the University community.”

    As one of several UK museums with significant holdings of material taken from Benin in 1897, the MAA has been involved in long-term research and engagement projects in partnership with Nigerian stakeholders and representatives from the Royal Court of the Benin kingdom, as well as artists, academics, and students from Nigeria.

    MAA curators have participated in study and liaison visits to Benin City since 2018, meeting the Oba, members of the Court, state and federal government leaders, and cultural representatives. The University also hosted the Benin Dialogue Group in 2017 and welcomed NCMM and Royal Court representatives to Cambridge in 2021.

  • Family of sick patient attack medical doctor in Ondo, NARD kicks, demands justice

    Family of sick patient attack medical doctor in Ondo, NARD kicks, demands justice

    Tension erupted at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, Ondo State, over the weekend after a medical doctor was reportedly attacked by relatives of a patient, raising fresh concerns about the safety of health workers in public hospitals.

    The victim, Dr. Adeniyi A, a registrar in the Department of Internal Medicine, was allegedly assaulted while attending to patients at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit.

    Hospital sources told reporters that the attackers, believed to be family members of a surgical patient, confronted Dr. Adeniyi during treatment and physically manhandled him.

    An anonymous staff member said the incident caused panic within the unit before hospital management intervened.

    The assault has drawn widespread condemnation from medical professionals. The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) described the attack as “barbaric, unlawful, and a direct threat to the Nigerian healthcare system.”

    The association, in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Mohammad Usman Suleiman, Secretary-General, Dr. Shuaibu Ibrahim, and Publicity and Social Secretary, Dr. Abdulmajid Yahya Ibrahim, highlighted a growing pattern of violence against healthcare workers nationwide.

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    NARD noted that the attack occurred inside a hospital—a facility intended to guarantee safety and preserve life—and blamed inadequate security measures for exposing doctors and staff to danger. The association warned that public aggression toward medical personnel is unlawful and must be addressed decisively.

    The group demanded compensation for Dr. Adeniyi to cover both physical and psychological trauma, full payment of medical bills resulting from the incident, and an immediate review and strengthening of security arrangements at FMC Owo to protect staff and patients.

    “We can no longer tolerate a situation where resident doctors are exposed to harm while rendering essential services to Nigerians. We vow that assaults on resident doctors will no longer be treated with silence or indifference.

    “We demand full compensation for the pain, trauma, and suffering endured by our colleague as a result of this assault. Complete coverage of all medical expenses arising from the incident without delay.

    “Immediate and comprehensive upscaling of security architecture around all entry points, clinical areas, and strategic posts within FMC Owo to prevent a recurrence,” the group said.

    The association, however, called for the prompt arrest and prosecution of those responsible, warning that impunity would only embolden further attacks on health workers.

    It added, “Prompt apprehension and diligent prosecution of all perpetrators involved in this criminal act, to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “We can no longer tolerate a situation where resident doctors are exposed to harm while rendering essential services to Nigerians.”

  • Senior Advocate faults Sharia Council’s call for INEC chair’s removal

    Senior Advocate faults Sharia Council’s call for INEC chair’s removal

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Prof. Sebastine Hon, has faulted the recent call by a group, the Sharia Council of Nigeria, for the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN).

    Hon, who described that call as an unguided request, argued that it is ridiculous because it amounted to an invitation to President Bola Tinubu to breach the provisions of the Constitution.

    Quoting extensively from the Construction, the senior lawyer added, in a statement on Sunday, that the reasons advanced by the group in support of its request are mere blackmail and untenable constitutionally and empirically.

    Hon contended that contrary to the erroneous position of the group, INEC’s Chair could only be removed from office by the President, acting on the provisions of the Constitution and the requirements of the National Assembly.

    Part of the statement read, “I have observed with shock the call made by the Sharia Council of Nigeria for the removal or resignation of Prof. Joash Amupitan from office as the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The reasons advanced by the Council are, with respect, not tenable constitutionally and empirically.

    “Subsections (1) and (2) of section 157 of the Constitution provide that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission ‘may only be removed from that office by the President acting on an address supported by two-thirds majority of the Senate praying that he be so removed for inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.’

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    “From the above provisions, not even the President has power to remove Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, from office with the wave of the hand: he has to subject his decision to the approval of at least two-thirds of members of the Senate.

    “Secondly, the removal must be based on the stated constitutional reasons: ‘For inability to discharge the functions of the office (whether arising from infirmity of mind or body or any other cause) or for misconduct.’

    “The guiding and controlling phrases here are ‘inability to discharge the functions of his office’ and ‘misconduct.’

    “None of these reasons has been raised by the respected Sharia Council of Nigeria. Let me also make it clear that the phrase ‘or any other cause’ in the provision is not at large, but owes its origin to the parent phrase ‘for inability to discharge the functions of the office.’

    “This means that Prof. Amupitan must, for this provision to affect him, have been unable to perform the functions of his office due to any other cause apart from ‘infirmity of mind or body.’

    “No other permissible interpretation, to the best of my knowledge, could be made of these extant provisions.

    “To be more specific, the Nigerian Constitution, in particular, section 157(1) and (2), the only provisions dealing with removal from office of the INEC Chairman, does not contemplate such removal being based on a prior public opinion expressed by the occupant of that office.

    “It will amount to doing grave and damaging violence to the Constitution if such interpretation is imputed to those crystal-clear provisions.

    “Further still, those provisions contemplate removal from office for actions or inactions of the occupant thereof while in office and not for infractions that took place prior to his assumption of office.

    “Pray, how did Prof. Amupitan assume office in the first place? Again, resort would have to be had to the provisions of the Constitution and empirical facts.

    “Section 153(1)(f) of the Constitution has established INEC, while section 158(1) thereof makes the said INEC, inter alios (amongst others), ‘not to be subject to the direction or control of any authority or person.’

    “INEC, having been so established, Section 154 of the same Constitution makes it mandatory that its Chairman shall ‘be appointed by the President and the appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the Senate.’

    “From undeniable facts, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on November 9, 2025, nominated Prof. Amupitan to that office. On October 10, 2025, the National Council of State, made up of the President (a Muslim), the Vice President (also a Muslim), all former Presidents/Heads of State (some of whom are Muslims), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (herself a Muslim), the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives (also a Muslim), the Attorney-General of the Federal (another Muslim) and Christian and Muslim State Governors, unanimously approved the appointment.

    “State House press statement issued on that same October 10, 2025, quoted Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State (himself a Muslim) as describing Amupitan as “a man of integrity.”

    “After the unanimous clearance by the National Council of State, the Senate, in compliance with the above-adumbrated provisions of the Constitution, also unanimously confirmed the appointment on October 16, 2025.

    “It is remarkable to note that the Senate of Nigeria is made up of a large number of Muslims, but none objected at all to this confirmation during the over two hours’ screening exercise.

    “The sudden realisation by the Sharia Council that Prof. Amupitan had decried genocide against Christians in Nigeria by Muslim extremists; hence is not fit to occupy that office, therefore, amounts to an afterthought.

    “A very dangerous precedent will also be set if this tendentious objection is accepted.

    Save if the Sharia Council has any other reason to oppose the continued functioning of Prof. Amupitan as INEC Chairman, the fact that he decried genocide against Christians in Nigeria is not strong enough to make him leave office.

    “All the high officers of the Federation named above presumably carried out proper investigations on his person before unanimously proposing and or confirming his appointment, are not inferior Muslims.

    “Besides, Prof. Amupitan has not committed any of the listed infractions that would make him lose office, as spelt out under section 157(1) and (2) of the Constitution.

    “Consequently, I vehemently oppose calls for the removal from office of Prof. Amupitan as INEC Chairman. I also strongly counsel him not to succumb to this blackmail by voluntarily resigning from that office.  

    “Rather, I hereby suggest to him to take this unfounded suspicion of possible bias against Muslims in the conduct of the affairs of his office as a springboard that would spur him to side more with justice, fair play and neutrality, which are the basic and compulsory requirements of his office,” Hon said.

  • Nigeria police announces promotion of 74,352 officers across ranks

    Nigeria police announces promotion of 74,352 officers across ranks

    • …fault irregularity claims over promotion
    • …says 74, 352 officers promoted nationwide

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has announced the promotion of 74,352 officers across various ranks nationwide since January 2025. The Force dismissed claims of irregularities in the exercise.

    A summary released by the Force Public Relations Department showed that the promotions covered both senior and junior cadres, ranging from Assistant Inspector-General of Police to Corporal.

    According to the breakdown, 45 Commissioners of Police were promoted to Assistant Inspector-General of Police, while 69 Deputy Commissioners advanced to Commissioners of Police. Additionally, 156 Assistant Commissioners were elevated to Deputy Commissioners, 270 Chief Superintendents to Assistant Commissioners, and 1,014 Superintendents to Chief Superintendents.

    The NPF emphasized that the exercise reflects its commitment to merit-based progression and recognition of officers’ service across the country.

    Further promotions saw 615 Deputy Superintendents rise to Superintendents of Police, 980 Assistant Superintendents of Police I move up to Deputy Superintendents, and 30,828 Inspectors promoted to Assistant Superintendents of Police I.

    At the junior cadre level, 16,970 Sergeants were promoted to Inspectors, 8,840 Corporals advanced to Sergeants, while 58 Police Constables were elevated to the rank of Corporal.

    “We will not be swayed by those who trade in falsehood or seek to undermine the integrity of our institution. There is no promotion scandal in the Nigerian police force. What we have is a system that rewards diligence, professionalism, and proven capacity, IGP Kayode Egbetokun said.

    The Force maintained that the promotions were conducted in line with established procedures and standards, reaffirming its commitment to merit, transparency, and career progression within the Nigeria Police Force.

  • UniAbuja governing council promotes 21 to rank of professor

    UniAbuja governing council promotes 21 to rank of professor

    The Governing Council of the University of Abuja, known as Yakubu Gowon University, has approved the promotion of 21 academic staff to professorial rank.

    Sixteen senior academics were elevated to the rank of professor, while five others were promoted to associate professor across a wide range of disciplines and areas of specialisation.

    Acting Director, Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    The Governing Council is chaired by Senator Olanrewaju Tejuoso.

    The statement revealed that the promotions were ratified at the 81st Extraordinary Meeting of the Governing Council held on Thursday, 5 February, and Friday, 6 February 2026, following the consideration of favourable external assessment reports on the candidates’ scholarly publications.

    The promoted academics cut across several fields, including clinical pharmacology, science education (physics), electrical engineering, endocrinology, Islamic studies, nephrology, clinical anatomy, dermatology, guidance and counselling, English language education, educational administration and planning, taxation law, geography and environmental management, public administration and e-governance, political science and international relations, and philosophy.

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    The statement indicated that the promotions have different effective dates ranging from 2020 to 2025.

    Congratulating the newly promoted academics over the weekend, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, described the development as a reflection of their dedication to scholarship, research, and academic excellence.

    He said the university would continue to strengthen its internal processes to ensure the timely processing of external assessment reports and the promotion of deserving academics in line with established guidelines.

    The VC said, “After many years of rigorous academic work and favourable external assessment, these promotions are well deserved. I congratulate the beneficiaries and encourage them to continue making meaningful contributions to the growth of the University. We expect greater scholarly output and academic leadership from them.

    “The University will continue to support and recognise staff who demonstrate diligence and commitment to teaching, research, and community service.”