The editorial board position on matters of public interest.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, May 27, 2026, and Thursday, May 28, 2026, as public holidays to mark the Eid-ul-Adha celebration across Nigeria, urging citizens to observe the festival peacefully.
The Eid al-Adha (Salah) celebrations are expected to be observed in Nigeria on Wednesday, 27 May 2026, with a possible two-day public holiday, subject to official confirmation by the Federal Government and moon sighting announcement.
Dr. Onyinye Iweala, daughter of WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been promoted and granted tenure as Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, USA. Her achievement was publicly celebrated by her mother, who expressed pride in the milestone.
Chief Uche Nnaji has recorded a remarkable week of celebration and political advancement as his family and supporters mark two major milestones spanning personal achievement and public service. While the graduation of his son, Uche Nnaji Jr., in the United States highlighted the family’s commitment to excellence, leadership, and youth empowerment, his successful screening for the PDP gubernatorial primaries in Enugu further strengthened the growing momentum behind the Nwakibie Movement and its people-centered “042 Agenda.”
As economic and social frustrations deepen across Enugu State, growing numbers of citizens are searching for a leadership model rooted not in political theatrics, but in vision, dignity, and practical transformation. In this compelling reflection, Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji is presented as a “covenantal alternative” — a leader whose governance philosophy emphasizes liberation, innovation, and institution-building over coercion and excessive burden on the people.
As economic hardship deepens across Enugu State, many citizens are beginning to question the direction of governance and the growing disconnect between government publicity and the realities faced by ordinary people. Amid rising concerns over taxation, business struggles, unemployment, and alleged intimidation of dissenting voices, calls for a new leadership direction are gaining momentum ahead of 2027.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged African nations to strengthen economic integration and regional cooperation as a pathway to sustainable growth, industrialization, and shared prosperity across the continent. Speaking at a summit in Nairobi, Kenya, the Nigerian President emphasized the need to boost intra-African trade, remove economic barriers, and fully implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to unlock Africa’s vast economic potential. He also called on African leaders to promote peace, political stability, innovation, and strategic partnerships capable of driving long-term development and enhancing Africa’s position in the global economy.
The Federal Government has resumed fresh renegotiation talks with SSANU and NASU in a bid to avert another nationwide strike in public universities. The discussions are focused on salary review, welfare packages, withheld payments, and the implementation of agreements affecting non-academic staff across federal tertiary institutions.
At the 2026 JAMB Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions, the Federal Government approved key reforms to improve access and structure in tertiary education. Notably, candidates applying for the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) with at least four O’Level credit passes were exempted from writing the UTME, alongside selected agricultural programmes. The meeting also set new minimum cut-off marks at 150 for universities and nursing programmes, and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education. JAMB reaffirmed CAPS as the only approved admission platform and warned against illegal admissions. Other decisions include strict admission quotas, fixed national deadlines, and a four-week limit for candidates to accept offers.
Barr. Nestor Ezeme, PhD emerges as a seasoned legal practitioner, educationist, and public administrator whose decades of service reflect a consistent record of integrity, competence, and measurable impact. As a leading candidate for the Senate seat of Enugu North Senatorial Zone, he represents a leadership model anchored on practical governance, people-centered development, and institutional reform. His tenure as Executive Chairman of the Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB) remains a defining period of transformation in Enugu State’s education sector, marked by improved teacher welfare, expanded ICT infrastructure, strengthened academic standards, and large-scale school revitalization projects.
The Federal Government’s introduction of mandatory drug testing for secondary school students marks a significant step in tackling the rising challenge of substance abuse among Nigerian youths. Through periodic and surprise screenings, the initiative aims to promote early detection, counselling, rehabilitation, and safer learning environments in schools nationwide. The policy reflects a broader commitment to protecting students’ mental health, strengthening discipline, and supporting the national fight against drug abuse through preventive and corrective measures rather than punishment.
