Author: damazah@gmail.com

Professor Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello left office this month as the ninth substantive Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), closing a five-year tenure that began in September 2021. A physiologist by training, she ran the university with the same precision she once applied to a laboratory bench. According to reports, she inherited 37 academic programmes awaiting accreditation and secured full accreditation for 31 within her first year. By the end of her term, all of LASU’s 80 to 81 programmes had reportedly achieved full accreditation, alongside three new faculties, two new schools and 20 additional courses. That expansion pulled in applicants. Annual…

Oh, I would walk 500 miles – with the help of a trusty pole. A walking pole – or two – makes a surprisingly handy addition to your hiking kit, helping with balance on uneven terrain, taking strain away from your legs and knees, and making going up and down hills much easier. I first tried walking poles when I went trekking in the Himalayas – now, I wouldn’t be without one on rugged terrain, but they can be just as helpful on a casual stroll.Hiking poles are typically used as a pair, and the idea is to swing each…

Your financial journey is made up of decisions: when to save, when to grow and when an opportunity is worth considering. FirstBank’s role is to help ensure that when those opportunities come, customers have the access and support they need to make their move. With the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals FZE (DPRP) Initial Public Offering (IPO) now open, FirstBank is serving as a receiving Bank, helping customers who choose to participate take the first or next step in their investment journey. An Opportunity Within Your Reach The offer comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 per share, with a…

inDrive, a global mobility and delivery services platform, has been recognised as EDGE Outstanding Mobility Company of the Decade at the 2026 EDGE Awards held on Friday, September 25, 2026. The award recognises inDrive’s contribution to Nigeria’s mobility and ride-hailing sector, particularly its focus on people-centred transportation, fair pricing and expanding access to affordable, reliable and convenient urban mobility options. Receiving the award, the Country Manager, inDrive Nigeria, Timothy Oladimeji, noted that the recognition reflects the company’s commitment to building a mobility platform around the needs of its users and driver-partners. He explained that inDrive’s growth in Nigeria has been…

A new digital news platform, NaijaGoodNews.com, will officially launch on October 1 with a mission to spotlight positive developments, inspiring Nigerians and stories of progress from across the country. The multimedia platform, comprising a news website and social media channels, is published by Shiny-Star Communications Ltd, a multimedia and digital communications company. NaijaGoodNews is led by Sunday Oguntola, a journalist with more than two decades of professional media experience. Oguntola spent 20 years with The Nation newspaper, including seven years as its Online Editor, building extensive experience in newsroom management, digital publishing and online journalism. His professional development also includes…

Benue-born Nigerian, Gloria Onahi Uko, has been appointed Country Representative of Best Diplomats in Nigeria, an international organisation focused on diplomacy, leadership, negotiation and youth development. The appointment, contained in a letter issued to Uko by Best Diplomats, is based on merit and subject to a probationary period of six months, during which her performance, professionalism and commitment to the organisation’s mission will be assessed. As country representative, Uko is authorised to represent, promote and support Best Diplomats’ conferences and initiatives during her 16 months tenure on Nigeria’s desk.  Her responsibilities include engaging academic institutions, youth organisations and diplomatic circles,…

‘This carriage is due for modernisation. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience 90s Germany style,” reads the sign on the door to the dining carriage. The couple inside aren’t missing theirs: they’re taking endless selfies in the clinical pink-and-turquoise carriage that looks like a hospital canteen and smells like cinnamon buns and strong filter coffee.I’m on Snälltåget’s iconic red-shelled train, on the Swedish rail company’s new route from Malmö to Oslo – a 6.5-hour journey along Sweden’s picturesque western corridor. Until now, the journey between the two cities involved long bus rides and fragmented train transfers. This direct line is…

Nigeria return to 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying action on Tuesday against Guinea-Bissau, looking to build on their 2-1 comeback victory over Madagascar and make it two wins from two. George Ilenikhena and Moses Usor scored on their Super Eagles debuts in Uyo, while Alex Iwobi, Stanley Nwabali and Calvin Bassey also impressed, but the performance was far from perfect. Nigeria conceded first, struggled to create consistently and needed individual moments to turn the game around. Against Guinea-Bissau, Eric Chelle will demand more, particularly with the hosts carrying home advantage and possessing dangerous attacking options. PREMIUM TIMES look at…

LV= General Insurance is forcing a family with three young children to live in a collapsing home because of cost-cutting and delays.We lodged a claim for subsidence damage to our extension and conservatory in 2023. Instead of authorising the repairs recommended by independent experts, LV= has spent years stalling and proposing inadequate, superficial patching methods.Three years on, significant cracking in the interior walls has caused a radiator to shear away. We have provided proof to LV= but are being ignored while our home literally falls apart around us.Meanwhile, the company has hiked our annual premium from £400 to £2,500. I…

The Envoy Nation, a United Kingdom-based Christian church, has marked its fifth anniversary in Leicester, reflecting on its growth from a small gathering of 10 during the COVID-19 pandemic to a congregation of more than 700 members. The church marked the anniversary on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in Leicester, with fasting, prayers, thanksgiving and a love feast. Founded in September 2021 by 10 people at Bath Lane in Leicester during the COVID-19 pandemic, the church has since grown from holding services in a sitting room to using hotel halls and conference centres before establishing a permanent site on Burleys Way,…