Author: starconnect
By SCM Correspondent PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA – In a move to bolster safety infrastructure in one of Africa’s most critical economic hubs, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has officially unveiled a state-of-the-art firefighting fleet designed to protect both its headquarters and the surrounding Port Harcourt community. The handover of the first high-capacity fire truck to the Commission’s Department of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) marks a significant shift in the agency’s approach to corporate social responsibility and disaster preparedness. A Shield for the Neighbourhood Speaking at a ceremony held at the NDDC’s towering headquarters, Managing Director Dr. Samuel Ogbuku…
Admin I Wednesday, May 13.26 ABUJA – Nigeria U20 women’s Head Coach Moses Aduku and Team Administrator Kelechi Omeke will be part of Friday’s much-anticipated draw ceremony for the 12th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals taking place at the EC1 Cultural Centre in the city of Łódź, Poland. Nigeria, Benin Republic, Ghana and Tanzania emerged at the weekend as Africa’s four flag-bearers at the 24-nation tournament, set to be staged 5th – 27th September in the Polish cities of Łódź, Katowice, Sosnowiec and Bielsko-Biała. All the 24 qualified teams have been drawn into four pots of six teams…
Admin I Wednesday, May 13. 26 ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nigeria Football Federation and the United Nations Children’s Fund have commenced talks that will lead to a Memorandum of Understanding on partnership regarding a wide range of campaigns aimed at making life better for the girl-child. General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, on Wednesday welcomed a team from UNICEF, led by the Chief of Communication, Advocacy and Partnership, Lone Hvass to the NFF Secretariat, with both institutions exploring several ways to collaborate for the good of the girl-child, including areas of polio eradication and discouragement…
Titus Eleweke, South East Editor AWKA, Anambra – The first daughter of Anambra State, Adaora Soludo, has relaunched her non-governmental organisation, the Gloria Foundation. Adaora Soludo, the daughter of Governor Charles Soludo, announced the relaunch during a ceremony where scholarships were awarded to ten underprivileged female university students. The Gloria Foundation was originally launched in 2018 as a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering women to become agents and leaders of positive change in society. The NGO was established in memory of the late Mrs Gloria Uzomaka Ezenwanne, a renowned educator, disciplinarian, and social crusader. The scholarship programme is a…
By Bolanle Adelaoye I Wednesday, May 13.2026 OKUKU,Osun – The political ground in Osun State is shifting, and the signs are hard to ignore. When Governor Ademola Adeleke left the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to join the Accord Party late last year, it wasn’t just a simple move from one party to another, it was a clear signal that the old ways of doing things are breaking down. For a long time, Adeleke has relied on being the “dancing governor.” He uses his personality and loud rallies to keep people cheering. But as we see in towns like…
By Tayo Agbabiaka I Wednesday, May 13.2026 EKITI, Nigeria – To the casual observer of Nigerian politics, the landscape often looks like a marketplace of noise and vendetta, where the loudest voice drowns out reason. For those of us watching from outside Ekiti’s hills but following the state’s political pulse closely, the emergence of Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji (BAO) stands out as an anomaly. In Nigeria, talk of destiny in politics is often dismissed as an excuse for failure. But in Ekiti under Oyebanji, the idea takes on practical meaning. Political favour usually shows up in results. For BAO, the…
By SCM Staff Writer UYO, NIGERIA – Medical professionals across Nigeria are in a state of fury following reports of a “reckless and barbaric” assault on a high-ranking professor and his colleagues by government anti-graft agents within the walls of a public hospital in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has issued a blistering directive to its branches nationwide, signaling a potential showdown with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after Professor Eyo Ekpe, a distinguished surgeon, was allegedly brutalized and detained while on duty. Chaos in the Clinic. The incident, which took place at the University…
Admin I Wednesday, May 13. 2026 LAGOS, Nigeria – Fidelity Bank strengthened its liquidity position in the 2025 financial year as cash and cash equivalents rose by 87 percent to N1.32 trillion, reflecting improved cash buffers, stronger deposit mobilisation, and growth in interest-earning assets. The lender’s audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2025, showed that cash and cash equivalents increased from N707.45 billion in 2024, underscoring the bank’s stronger liquidity profile amid Nigeria’s tight monetary environment. Restricted balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also increased by 4.1 percent to N1.65 trillion in 2025 from…
By Our Correspondent UYO, Nigeria – Chaos erupted at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) on Tuesday when staff and management allegedly orchestrated a “false alarm” and locked Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives inside the facility. The detectives, from the Uyo Zonal Directorate, were at the hospital to verify the authenticity of a medical report submitted by a high-profile suspect currently standing trial for allegedly defrauding multiple microfinance banks. The afternoon took a violent turn when the Chief Medical Director (CMD) reportedly ordered the hospital gates shut, effectively holding the federal agents captive. Eyewitnesses…
Alex Ekubo (1986–2026) By SCM Reporter LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian film industry, better known as Nollywood, has been plunged into deep mourning following the shock announcement of the death of one of its brightest stars, Alex Ekubo. The actor, a staple of romantic comedies and high-stakes dramas, reportedly passed away at the age of 40 after a private and courageous struggle with Stage 4 liver cancer. Sources close to the star suggest that Ekubo had been receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital, keeping the severity of his illness away from the glare of the paparazzi. Despite his reputation…