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Dr Uzor Ngoladi Unveiled as Director of Arthur Nwankwo Institute of Education and Intellectual Freedom at the Launch of Athena Centre Institutes in Abuja The Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership officially launched its flagship initiative, the Athena Centre Institutes, at a prestigious event held in Abuja on March 5, 2025. The highlight of the launch was the unveiling of Dr Uzor Ngoladi as the pioneer Director of the Arthur Nwankwo Institute of Education and Intellectual Freedom, one of the key institutes under the Athena Centre umbrella. The Arthur Nwankwo Institute of Education and Intellectual Freedom is established to honor…

Ex-Presidential Aide, Doyin Okupe Is Dead Dr. Doyin Okupe, a Nigerian physician, politician, and former presidential aide, has died. He passed away at the age of 72. According to sources close to the family, Dr. Okupe had been critically ill in the weeks leading up to his demise. His health had reportedly deteriorated significantly, prompting concern among his loved ones and supporters. SaharaReporters confirmed that his death was linked to cancer, marking the end of a long struggle with the illness. In October 2023  Okupe was hospitalised with prostate cancer and was flown to Israel for treatment. However, it was…

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, over an alleged N700 billion fraud. Emmanuel, who served as governor between 2015 and 2023, reportedly arrived at the EFCC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja around 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday following an invitation from the anti-graft agency. A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the press, told The Punch that Emmanuel was arrested after honoring the EFCC’s invitation to answer allegations of money laundering, diversion of funds, and stealing. “We have arrested the…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised concerns over the extended closure of schools in Bauchi, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi states during the Ramadan fasting, warning that it violates students’ constitutional rights and jeopardises educational progress in the country. The CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, on Sunday in a statement he signed, expressed concern over the lack of inclusivity in the decision-making process and its disproportionate impact on non-Muslim students. He said the five-week shutdown, from late February to early April 2025, affects all public and private educational institutions, including nursery, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in the affected…

Etigwe Uwa Celebrates Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe at 70, Lauds His Contribution To Nation Building Legal practitioner, Etigwe Uwa (SAN, FCIArb), has extended warm birthday felicitations to Senator Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, the distinguished senator representing Abia South Senatorial Zone, as he marks his 70th birthday. In his message, Uwa expressed gratitude to God Almighty for granting Senator Abaribe good health, sound character, and strength over the past seven decades. He acknowledged the senator’s dedication to national affairs, describing his voice as “consistently sound and enriching”, standing apart from the “pervasive culture of political correctness, praise-singing, and falsehood.” Uwa commended Abaribe’s principled…

My trouble in senate started when I refused Akpabio’s sexual advances, Natasha Akpoti alleges Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the senator representing Kogi central, has alleged that her trouble in the senate began after she rejected sexual advances from Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Akpoti-Uduaghan made the accusation during an interview with Arise TV on Friday. “My case is a case of a student being punished by a lecturer for refusing to sleep with him,” she said. Details later

I Use Walking Stick As High Chief, Not Because Of Ill Health —Gov Ademola Adeleke Senator Ademola, Governor of Osun State, has clarified his use of walking stick at recent outings and official assignments, saying as Asiwaju of Edeland, the walking stick was part of the paraphernalia of his office. Fielding questions, the governor who said he was fit as fiddle, affirmed that aside from being part of his outings as a high chief of Ede land, walking stick was a normal accessory in many parts of the country, ThisDay reported. According to him, a walking stick is a signal…

Constituents Praise Abia Rep Member, Ibe Okwara Osonwa’s Scholarship Initiative Constituents of Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency have lauded Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, for his dedication to youth empowerment through his scholarship initiative. During a mock exam for students seeking to benefit from the programme, community members expressed their appreciation, emphasising that education remains the foundation for societal progress and development. Reacting to the initiative, a community leader from Ohafia, King Jaja, said: “Kudos! This reminds me of my life and Chief Arthur Nzeribe Education Foundation Scholarship in the late 80s. He may have been doing…

Athena Centre Announces Launch of 3 Research Institutes in honour of Arthur Nwankwo, Bala-Usman, Ransome-Kuti Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership has taken a major step toward advancing governance, education, and healthcare in Africa by launching three research institutes dedicated to shaping policy, nurturing leadership, and transformative change. The institutes which are Athena Dr. Bala Usman Institute for Governance and Public Policy, Athena Dr. Arthur Nwankwo Institute for Education and Intellectual Freedom, and Athena Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti Institute for Health and Social Equity, will serve as knowledge hubs for governance, education, and health policy research, contributing to Athena’s mission of…