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Veteran Yoruba poet, master Ìjàlà chanter, actor, and cultural advocate, Alabi Ogundepo, has died at the age of 84. Ogundepo, a native of Saki in Oyo State, died on Monday, according to a statement from his family, signed by his daughter, Dupe Ogundepo-Falana. The family did not disclose the cause of death. Ìjàlà is a form of oral poetry traditionally associated with hunters and the worship of Ogun, the Yoruba deity associated with iron.  It combines praise, historical narration, proverbial expressions, social commentary and accounts of hunting experiences. The tradition is also used during ceremonies and occasions, including burials, naming…

The family of a man, Owolabi Oniyiku, allegedly shot dead by policemen attached to a border patrol team in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State has appealed to the state government and police authorities to investigate the incident and ensure justice. The family also called for the dismissal of the officers allegedly involved in the killing, accusing them of harassment and extortion along the road. A relative of the deceased, Kolade Oniyiku, appealed in an interview with PUNCH Metro on Saturday while narrating the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim. According to him, the deceased had returned home…

AIICO Insurance Plc, said it has taken notice of a sustained campaign of false and misleading allegations being circulated by its former agent, Mr. Obinna Adolphus Nwosu, to various stakeholders, including regulatory authorities, law enforcement agencies, media organisations, bloggers, employees and other members of the public. AIICO, said Nwosu’s appointment as it’s agent has been terminated.  It said following the termination of his appointment, the company had published a public notice in national newspapers on 26 June 2025, expressly warning customers and members of the public against continuing to transact or maintain any business relationship with him on behalf of, or…

The federal government has rolled out uniform continuous assessment (CA) guidelines that compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), to build secure, interoperable portals linked to the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI). The policy, which covers public and government-approved private secondary schools nationwide, mandates the use of National Learner Identity Numbers (NLIN) tied to the National Identification Number (NIN) for every student, alongside strict termly submission deadlines and penalties for schools that fail to comply. Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, speaking to stakeholders that included state commissioners for education, private school owners, administrators…

Firms across Europe have been switching to electricity from fossil fuels for their industrial needs, encouraged by subsidies from EU funds.While that is helping bring down emissions of climate-warming gases, it has also made firms more vulnerable to power cuts.And in Spain and Portugal that threat was made painfully clear last year.On both sides of the border, firms are looking for ways to avoid disruption. “The industrial sector has been one of the first to look at storage systems, since it can’t have its production drop off too abruptly,” says Miguel Matias, founder of the Portuguese energy services company Self…

The parliamentary watchdog has launched an investigation into the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) MP Gregory Campbell over potential spending breaches.The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) said it will determine whether Campbell has been “paid an amount under the Scheme of MPs Staffing and Business Costs, external that should not have been allowed”.No further information will be published until the investigation has concluded.A DUP spokesperson said: “Gregory Campbell has spent twenty-five years working for the people of East Londonderry. “He is one of the most active constituency MPs and consistently has one of the lowest costs of NI MPs.”The party claim…

Torrential downpours will affect parts of England and Wales, delivering some of the wettest weather in several weeks

Mike ClayAug 22, 2026, 07:45 AM ETCloseMike Clay is a senior writer for fantasy football and the NFL at ESPN. Mike is a member of the FSWA Hall of Fame. His projections power the ESPN Fantasy Football game, and he also appears on “Fantasy Football Now” and the Fantasy Focus Football podcast.Multiple AuthorsFantasy football drafts are all about collecting the best possible values, but we all know those special players exist whom we badly want on our squad.Whether it’s the young, up-and-coming wide receiver on our favorite team, a sleeper running back no one is talking about or this year’s…

The singer rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most beloved entertainers in the world.

Former Delta State Commissioner for Finance and Chairman of the Warri Urhobo APC Leadership Council, Olorogun Bernard Okumagba, has urged all indigenous ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency — Itsekiri, Ijaw and Urhobo — to promote peace and live in peace with one another, anchored on mutual respect. In a statement issued on Saturday, August 22, 2026, Olorogun Okumagba, who holds the traditional chieftaincy titles of Udu of Okere-Urhobo Kingdom and Eruvwu R’Ovie of Agbarha Warri Kingdom, both in Warri South LGA, stated that: “Peace and brotherliness amongst all ethnic nationalities in Warri Federal Constituency will ensure that all our…