Category Nigeria News

Africa’s richest industrialist, Aliko Dangote, has unveiled a N100 billion annual education support initiative aimed at reducing the financial barriers that keep millions of young Nigerians.

The scheme, launched at the launch of the Aliko Dangote Foundation’s 100 Billion annual education scholarship initiative on Thursday in Lagos, is projected to exceed N1 trillion within ten years.

According to Dangote, the initiative will support 45,000 new beneficiaries in its first year, beginning in 2026. The number is expected to rise to 155,000 by the fourth year and remain stable for a decade, targeting a total of 1.3 million students across all 774 local government areas.

The intervention comprises four programmes, each designed to address sectors where educational exclusion is most severe. Through the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars, 30,000 undergraduates in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics will receive tuition support aligned with institutional fees in public universities and polytechnics.

In addition, 5,000 students in public technical and vocational institutions will benefit annually through the Aliko Dangote Technical Scholars, complementing the Federal Government’s free-tuition policy for TVET students.

READ ALSO : NAOSS Holds National Convention, Elect New Executives

The MHF Dangote Secondary School Girls Scholars will provide annual support for 20,000 girls from JSS1 to SSS3, with continued financial assistance into tertiary education, while prioritising states with the highest number of out-of-school girls.

The Foundation will also roll out a large-scale teacher development programme, beginning with 10,000 STEM teachers in 39 government colleges attended by MHF scholars and later expanding nationwide.

Dangote said the initiative is focused on Nigeria’s most vulnerable learners, stressing that financial hardship, not lack of ability, remains the biggest threat to retention and completion.

“This is not only charity. This is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said, adding that every child kept in school strengthens the economy and reduces inequality.

He noted that the Foundation’s work over the years has been driven by the belief that no nation can rise above the quality of education it offers its young people. The programme will rely on a merit-based digital system for verification and disbursement, deployed in partnership with stakeholders.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed an eight count charge against the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige.

Channels Television’s judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele who obtained a copy of the charge reports that the former minister will be arraigned on Friday at the FCT High Court in Gwarimpa, Abuja.

In the charge dated Oct 31st and filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sylvanus Tahir and five other lawyers on behalf of the EFCC, the anti-graft agency alleged that Ngige used his position as a former minister to confer undue advantage by awarding different contracts to his associates and different companies believed to be owned by him.

In count 1, the former minister, between September 2015 and May 2023, while being the supervising Minister of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF), used his position to confer an unfair advantage upon Cezimo Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles is believed to be his associate.

READ ALSO: Ngige In EFCC Custody, Not Kidnapped — Aide

He allegedly awarded seven different contracts for consultancy, training and supply by the NSITF to the said company to the tune of ₦366,470,920.68 (Three Hundred and Sixty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand, Nine Hundred and Twenty Naira and Sixty Eight Kobo) and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

Other companies mentioned in the charge are Zitacom Nigeria Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Ezebinwa Amarachukwu Charles was awarded of eight different contracts for supply, training and consultancy, with the NSITF to the tune of ₦583,682,686.00 (Five Hundred and Eighty Three Million, Six Hundred and Eighty Two Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty Six Naira and Jeff & Xris Limited, a company whose MD/CEO and alter ego, Nwosu Jideofor Chukwunwike also got eight different contracts to the tune of ₦362,043,163.16 (Three Hundred and Sixty Two Million, Forty Three Thousand, One Hundred and Sixty Three Naira and Sixteen Kobo).

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called on Rivers people to rally behind President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the state stands to benefit more when there is cooperation between the federal and state governments.

He said his administration is willing to work with all pro-Tinubu groups and stakeholders committed to the President’s re-election, noting that stability at the national level is vital for sustained development.

Governor Fubara made the appeal on Thursday during the commissioning of the 12km Egbeda–Omerelu link road connecting communities in Emohua and Ikwerre Local Government Areas.

He described the newly completed road as another fulfilled promise, recalling his earlier assurances to residents while inaugurating road projects in the area last year.

READ ALSO: Fubara Denies Rift With Rivers Lawmakers, Seeks Support For Tinubu

The governor reiterated that inclusive development remains a central priority of his administration, assuring that every part of Rivers State will feel the impact of government projects.

He said no community—whether urban or rural—will be left behind as his administration continues to roll out people-oriented infrastructure.

Governor Fubara explained that his administration has adopted open commissioning of projects to provide visible proof that the government is working.

He noted that although public inaugurations are not a global requirement, they help strengthen public trust at a time when political tensions have created doubts and misinformation.

He appealed to Rivers people to maintain peace, stressing that progress cannot be achieved in an environment driven by conflict.

Despite the tribulations and political pressures his administration has faced, the governor said he remains focused on delivering the dividends of democracy and improving the welfare of the people.

The House of Representatives on Thursday asked the Federal Government to grant immediate tax waivers to airlines in a bid to reduce flight fares during the Yuletide season.

Lawmakers also called for a 50 percent reduction in auxiliary charges within the aviation industry.

The resolution came after a debate on the soaring cost of flight fares. However, the lawmakers rejected proposals to subsidize airline tickets.

On Tuesday, the Senate summoned the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, and other stakeholders over rising flight tickets.

READ ALSO: Senate Summons Aviation Minister Over Surging Airfares

Senator Buhari Abdulfatai from Oyo State, who led the debate, told lawmakers that Nigerians have been complaining about the rising cost of domestic flight tickets in recent months.

Abdulfatai disclosed that a one-way ticket from Abuja to Lagos now costs between N400,000 and N600,000, an amount many citizens can no longer afford.

“We need to invite stakeholders of our airline agencies to interact and interrogate the issues. Immediate steps must be taken before the festive period,” he said during plenary.

Other lawmakers, including Senator Adamu Aliero, echoed a similar sentiment.

The University of Jos (UNIJOS) community has been thrown into mourning following an accident that claimed the lives of eight students of the institution.

The crash, involving a trailer and a bus conveying eleven students, happened around 2:30 a.m. opposite Unity Bank along Zaria Road, Jos, Plateau State.

According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Plateau State Sector Command Public Education Officer, Peter Longsan, seven students were found dead when responders arrived at the scene.

READ ALSO: One Killed, Others Injured As Armed Criminals Attack Church In Anambra 

Another victim died in the hospital, bringing the total fatalities to eight.

The remaining three students, all male like the deceased, are receiving treatment.

An eyewitness told Channels Television that the bus was travelling at high speed and attempted a wrongful overtaking.

This caused the driver to lose control before colliding with the trailer.

FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Olajide Mogaji, said a detailed investigation was underway.

Mogaji urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to avoid night journeys, speeding, dangerous driving, and driving when fatigued or under the influence.