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  The Federal Government has implemented a new policy establishing 12 years as the minimum age for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1), after the completion of six years of primary education. The directive is contained in a newly released policy document on Non-State Schools, which was launched last week by the Federal Ministry of Education.  Non-state schools—also known as private, independent, or non-government schools—are those not operated by government authorities and are typically funded through tuition, donations, and support from individuals, communities, religious groups, businesses, and charitable foundations. The policy highlights the increasing significance of these schools in delivering education across Nigeria, despite notable differences in standards and quality among them. Providing a breakdown of age-based progression in early education, the Ministry stated:  “Nursery education shall be of three years’ duration. Children shall be admitted into...

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has arrested approximately 50 Nigerian nationals, including a landlord, in a raid at McCarthy Hills in the Ga South Municipality of Accra. The arrests were made over suspected involvement in cybercrime and human trafficking. The operation, conducted in the early hours of Thursday, July 24, 2025, following intelligence reports that some foreign nationals were unlawfully residing in the area and may have been trafficked into the country and forced into online fraud.  “This operation follows intelligence gathered on the illegal stay of some foreign nationals in the area, some of whom were trafficked into the country and forced into cyber fraud by their facilitators,”  said Assistant Commissioner of Immigration M. Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs of the GIS in a statement.  The raid, carried out in coordination with other national security agencies, resulted in the arrest of dozens of individuals and the landlord of the property believed...

Emem Okon Jimmy, a final-year student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, has reportedly passed away in her sleep. The Journalism and Media Studies student passed away on Thursday, 17th July, 2025 but her remains were discovered at about 10:00 pm on Friday by neighbours.   An eyewitness said the deceased was hale and hearty the previous day and even shared dinner with other tenants at the students’ lodge before she went to bed.    According to a neighbour, the caretaker of the lodge raised the alarm that the deceased was not seen outside throughout Friday.  The neighbours attempted to open her door but discovered that it was locked from inside.   “It was then that all the tenants came out, opened the roof and broke the ceiling before they could gain access to the room,”  the neighbour narrated.    "The deceased was found covered with her bedspread while holding her cell phone tight – suggesting that she wanted to make calls but couldn’t. ...

  Adebayo Pelumi (left) and the victim  The man accused of killing photojournalist Ayo Aiyepekun in Lokoja, Kogi State, has reportedly taken his own life. The suspect, Adebayo Pelumi, also a photographer, allegedly murdered Ayo on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.  It was gathered that the suspect was found dead on Thursday morning in a hotel room located in Lokoja. A staff members of the hotel, who pleaded for anonymity, told the newsmen that Adebayo Pelumi lodged in their hotel on Wednesday afternoon and was found dead around 1 PM, when one of the stewards of the hotel went to clean up the room at check-out time. The hotel management quickly alerted the police, who arrived and identified him as the prime suspect they had been hunting. A bottle of coca cola and a sniper was also seen in the hotel room. The police took the remains of the suspected killer to the mortuary of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, where the corpse was deposited. An eyewitness account from someone who ...

Nollywood star, Yul Edochie has been attacked online over a post he made mourning the passing of American professional wrestler, Terry Gene Bollea popularly known as Hulk Hogan. Recall that Hogan passed away yesterday at the age of 71, after suffering cardiac arrest. Morning him on his Instagram page, Yul wrote:   “This one pain. What a life. He was our childhood hero. Rest well, Legendary Hulk Hogan.”   Reacting, some social media user slammed him over the mourning post, reminding him that he didn't mourn his son when he passed away. Instead, he claimed the year his son died was the best year of his life. See Some Reactions Below: Orikoejiro: “This one pain you, but the year your son died, you said it’s your best year. Don’t worry, Jagaban will fix it.”   yvonnnash “You criticized people for posting others only when they’re dead. Now you’re doing the same? Uncle Tom died the other day, you didn’t post him, but here you are.”   Mmachy48: "Obasi co husband so you are ...

  World-famous billionaire filmmaker, Tyler Perry has opened up about his decision to end financial support for certain extended family members, including dismissing a close relative who consistently failed to report for work. Speaking on the YouTube show Den of Kings with Kirk Franklin, the 55-year-old entertainment mogul said he gave his aunt a job to help her become self-sufficient, but she kept missing work, assuming their family connection would shield her from consequences. “She would always call asking for money. I would send her the money,”  Perry explained.  “But I told her, ‘Listen, I want to help you – I want to help you build this thing, not be welfare to you – so let me give you a job.’”   Eventually, he said, he had no choice but to let her go. “Well, you gotta go, because you want me to hand you the money, but you don't want to work for it,”  he recalled telling her.   Perry, who Forbes estimates is worth $1.4 billion, added that he’s raising...

Peter Obi, a former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, has vowed to return to Edo State, despite alleged threats from the state Governor, Monday Okpebholo. Obi spoke while responding to questions from journalists in Awka over Okpebholo’s warning that his safety will not be guaranteed if he comes to the state. The former Anambra State Governor, who was at his alma mater, Christ the King College (CKC), Onitsha to make a donation, said he was not afraid of threats. He revealed that he receives threats everyday. He stressed that if he had need to be in Edo State to make a donation, he would not hesitate to go there. “Threats don’t make any meaning to me. I receive threats everyday. Do you know how many times I have been threatened all over Nigeria? I receive threats everyday actually, the ones you know about was because it was vocal, but I will not be afraid. “If I have the opportunity to go to Benin and make donations again, trust me, I will. I have always said that we should d...

Legendary professional wrestler, Terry Gene Bollea popularly known as Hulk Hogan has died at the age of 71. Emergency services were dispatched to Hogan’s Clearwater, Florida residence early Thursday morning after a call described a “cardiac arrest” incident. Witnesses reported several police and EMT vehicles at the scene, and Hogan was seen being taken from the home on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. Just weeks earlier, Hogan’s wife, Sky, had publicly dismissed online rumors suggesting the WWE star was in a coma, asserting that his heart was “strong” and that he was recovering well from recent surgeries. Hulk Hogan was instrumental in turning professional wrestling into a global spectacle. Before his rise to fame, wrestling had a more niche following. With his charisma, larger-than-life persona, and family-friendly appeal, Hogan became the face of the WWE in the 1980s and drew in millions of fans – adults and children alike. In 1996, Hogan famously reinvented himself by switc...

  A popular Chinese actor and singer has been executed.   Zhang Yiyang was executed for the murder of his underage girlfriend. Zhang Yiyang became the first ever Chinese celebrity to be executed by firing squad.   The Intermediate People’s Court of Xianyang in North Shaanxi Province made the report of his execution public in July 2025.   According to the report, the actor was executed on December 18, 2024 for attacking his 16-year-old girlfriend with a knife in 2022, cut her left carotid artery, jugular vein, trachea and esophagus, which after massive bleeding led to her death.   Zhang started dating the victim in September 2021, before the victim proposed breaking up after a dispute.   After the murder, he took away the deceased’s mobile phone, discarded the knife and other weapons and related items in a reservoir to destroy evidence.   On the following day, he attempted to commit suicide at a hotel but was discovered by one of the hotel workers, who ...

  Nigerian celebrity car dealer, Ikechukwu Ogbonna popularly known as IVD, has alleged that his late wife, Bimbo, was physically abusive throughout their marriage. Bimbo died in October 2022 under controversial circumstances, with many accusing IVD of domestic abuse. In 2023, the Lagos state government charged him with involuntary manslaughter in connection with her death. Bimbo’s sister also accused him of killing her at their Lekki residence. In a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, IVD spoke about their troubled marriage, claiming that Bimbo was often aggressive. He described Bimbo as “very dramatic,” alleging that she physically assaulted him in public, including slapping him at his office unprovoked. “Whenever my late wife started her drama, I used to leave the house, but my daughter would send a VN to me to come back,”  he said. IVD also accused Bimbo’s family of orchestrating a smear campaign against him after her death, including spreading false claims that he ...

The Federal High Court in Lagos has directed the Inspector-General of Police and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to pay ₦10 million in compensation for the violation of the fundamental rights of multiple peaceful protesters. The suit was filed by applicants who participated during the fourth anniversary of the #ENDSARS peaceful memorial procession. Delivering the judgment on Thursday, Justice M. Kakaki held that the applicants were unjustly harassed and their rights infringed upon. The suit was filed against the police by Hassan Taiwo Soweto, Uadiale Kingsley, Ilesanmi Kehinde, Osopale Adeseye, Olamilekan Sanusi, and Miss Osugba Blessing. Others were Kayode Agbaje, Michael Adedeji, Jennifer Rita Obiora, Orunsola Oluremi, Seyi Akinde, Akin Okunowon, Ugochukwu Prince, Aisha Omolara, Thomas Abiodun Olamide, Ogbu Obinna Ferdinald, Aghedo Kehinde Stephen, Duronike Olawale, Isaac Obasi, Funmilayo Jolade Ajayi, Gideon Adeyemi, and Afeez Suleiman. Education Rights Campaign (ERC), Take I...

  Aiyepeku Ayo, a Kogi-based photojournalist, was allegedly murdered and dismembered by his neighbour, Adebayo Pelumi, an officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. The tragic incident took place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, within a residential compound in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Lokoja, where both the victim and the suspect lived. According to reports, Ayo was in his office editing photos and videos when Pelumi allegedly called him outside. “Adebayo told Ayo that he needed help with something at his poultry farm. This poultry farm was said to have been located within the same compound,”  the report said. “Ayo got up immediately to go and assist Adebayo. Meanwhile, Adebayo had no idea that Ayo was not alone in the office that evening.” The report continued,  “So, as soon as Ayo stepped outside the office to follow him to the poultry farm, Adebayo struck without any warning. “He had come prepared with an iro...

  47-year-old French President, Emmanuel Macron and his 72-year-old wife, Brigitte have sued American conservative commentator, Candace Owens.   The lawsuit was filed at the Delaware Superior Court.   The lawsuit alleges Owens spread false claims that Brigitte Macron was born male, which Owens used to promote her podcast and social media presence.   The Macrons are seeking unspecified damages.   However, Owens has responded by framing the lawsuit as an attempt to silence her and stifle free speech, citing evidence, including the existence of Brigitte Macron’s brother, Jean-Michel Trogneux   If the court rules in favor of the Macrons, Owens may face substantial fines, removal of offending content, or a public apology.

  The parent company of DStv and Gotv, MultiChoice Group has been acquired by French media giant, Canal+ for $3 billion deal.   The acquisition was approved by South Africa’s Competition Tribunal on July 23, 2025, with conditions to protect local content and maintain media sovereignty   Also, Canal+ must retain MultiChoice’s headquarters in South Africa and support local content creators.   This acquisition gives Canal+ control over Africa’s largest pay-TV operator, with over 14.5 million subscribers across 50 sub-Saharan African countries.   Notably, Canal+ has committed to investing approximately 26 billion Rand over the next three years in local content production, sports broadcasting, and digital innovation.   The company will maintain its headquarters in South Africa, ensuring continued support for local content creators and the broader media ecosystem.

Nigeria has officially entered the race to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, as announced by the National Sports Commission (NSC). It was gathered that the chairman of the commission, Shehu Dikko, revealed that Opus Racing Promotions has been appointed as Nigeria’s official representative in the bid to bring the global motorsport event to Abuja. Dikko also extended invitations to Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and Tilke Engineers & Architects — the designers behind some of the world’s most iconic F1 tracks — to visit Nigeria and meet with both government and private sector stakeholders. “We are exploring all possibilities to bring Formula 1 to Nigeria as soon as practicable,” Dikko said, noting that the move is about more than just sports. According to him, an F1 race in Nigeria could boost tourism, infrastructure, youth engagement, and economic development, while also projecting Nigeria’s soft power globally. If successful, Nigeria would bec...

A Nigerian man, David Owoweye, has shared his journey living with sickle cell disease as he celebrates his 48th birthday. The Infection Prevention and Control Specialist took to X on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, to narrate how he defied the odds to reach 48 despite being told that he wouldn't live beyond 18 years.  Owoeye, however, admitted that he is not out of danger, as he is surviving complications from the disorder, including chronic fatigue syndrome, silent stroke, and leg ulcer, as well as depression.   “I am 48 years old. As a sickle cell warrior, When I was young, I was told that I would not live beyond 18 years, But I surpassed 18 years. Later, I was told that I would not live beyond 21 years, But I surpassed 21 years. Later, I was told that I would not live beyond 25 years, But I surpassed 25 years. Now, I am 48 years old, I have lived beyond all those limitations, Because it is God that has the final say over every life, Because what God cannot do does not exist....

    Controversial Nigerian singer, Habeeb Okikiola Badmus popularly known as Portable has leaked intimate video of social media activist and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse popularly known as VeryDarkMan.   This is as their online feud takes a new turn.   Portable released the video after Verydarkman shared diss tracks accusing the singer of stealing.   Recall that the whole drama began after Portable criticized VeryDarkMan for his constant jabs at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the country’s economic struggles.   He also accused the social media activist of exploiting the late singer Mohbad’s tragic case for attention, claiming justice was still not served.   In response, VeryDarkMan released a diss track titled “Ole,” which translates to “thief” in Yoruba, mocking Portable over past theft allegations.   The media activist also resurfaced a 2020 video showing Portable being beaten by a mob who accused him of stealing a phone and a tricycl...

  Nollywood actress, Yvonne Jegede has opened up on how she got featured in 2Baba’s iconic “African Queen” music video.   According to her, she almost missed the opportunity.   She opened up in a recent interview on the Nollywood on Radio podcast.   Jegede disclosed that she initially had no interest in being a video vixen. She said she was solely focused on her acting career, adding that her participation in a few music videos was purely circumstantial.   The 41-year-old actress said at the time, she wasn’t even familiar with 2Baba’s solo work after his departure from the Plantashun Boiz.   “When the director of African Queen first called, I bluntly just said, ‘no, I am not interested.’ And then, much later that same day, because they were supposed to film the next morning at about 9 a.m., he (the director) said, Okay, let me know if you change your mind,”  she said.   “And Tuface had just broken out of the Plantashun Boiz, and I had not heard an...

  Nigerian music star, Adekunle Almoruf Kosoko popularly known as Adekunle Gold, AG Baby has voiced his displeasure after a prominent bank allegedly used his viral ‘first-class giveaway’ initiative in an advertising campaign without his consent. Adekunle Gold had launched a giveaway to reward individuals with first-class degrees, giving them cash prizes in recognition of their academic excellence. The bank seemingly capitalized on the trend, incorporating it into their promotional message without the singer’s consent The bank message read: “AG Baby no send you first class gift? No worries, ALAT’s got you covered. Enjoy up to 70% off your favorite brands this weekend via eVouchers on the ALAT app – it’s no crime to not have a first-class degree.” In response to this, the singer questioned the bank’s approach, asking when they started using his initiative and warning that his lawyers would be in touch. He wrote,  “Dear @wemabank @alat_ng, when did this start? You’ll be hearing f...

Grammy Award-winning Nigerian singer, Temilade Openiyi popularly known as Tems has earned 1 billion streams with her collaborative effort with Future and Drake.   The song, "Wait For U' has now surpassed 1 billion streams on the platform.   She now joins Wizkid, Rema, and Tyla as the Afrobeats artists with Spotify’s Billion plaque.   ‘Wait For U’ gave Tems her first Grammy plaque after winning the Best Melodic Rap category in 2023.   The song also made Tems the first African artist to debut at number 1 on Billboard Hot 100 in 2022.

  Rute Cardoso, the widow of Liverpool star, Diogo Jota, has marked one month wedding anniversary with a touching tribute.   Recall that Diogo Jota, 28, died in a car crash in northern Spain on July 3, just 11 days after marrying his longtime partner, Rute, in a ceremony held in their hometown of Porto.   The couple shared three children: Dinis (4), Duarte (2), and baby Mafalda (8 months).   In a post on Tuesday, July 22, Rute shared three intimate photos from their wedding day. One of them, a close-up of their interlocked hands, was captioned with a short but deeply emotional message:  ‘1 month of our ‘until death do us part. Forever. Your white girl’.   Note that the crash also claimed the life of Jota’s brother, Andre Silva, and they were both buried on the same day in their hometown, Gondomar, Portugal.   In the days following the tragedy, Liverpool FC, where Jota had played since 2020, made the rare decision to retire his No. 20 shirt in all compe...

  Super Eagles and Udinese goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye has been handed a ban.   The 25-year-old goalkeeper has been suspended for two months after being found guilty of illegal betting by Italian football authorities.   The ban will run from August 18 to October 19, 2025, sidelining the Nigerian international for the start of the new Serie A season.   According to Football Italia, the ban stems from unlawful conduct related to suspicious betting activity, flagged during Udinese’s 2-1 victory over Lazio on March 11, 2024, at the Dacia Arena.   Okoye was booked for time-wasting in the 64th minute, prompting a wave of unusual bets centred around him receiving a yellow card.   Investigators uncovered that bets placed at odds of 8/1 resulted in over €120,000 in winnings, mostly originating from the Udine region, raising red flags. Okoye and three friends were placed under investigation and referred to the disciplinary commission in June 2025.   While there wer...

A  Kenyan lawmaker Duncan Wangama has been reduced to tears after losing his newborn daughter just three days after he had buried his wife. Wangama is a member of County Assembly for Wusi Kishamba Ward in Taita Taveta county.   He laid his beloved wife, Stella Wangama, to rest on Thursday, July 17, 2025 in an emotional send-off, only for their daughter to die three days later.    According to local media, Stella passed away in the early hours of July 8, barely a day after giving birth to the baby girl.    The baby, named Judy, died on Sunday, July 20, two weeks after her mother's death and was buried on Monday, July 21.    It was gathered that Stella who successfully delivered via caesarean section, she later developed complications that led to her untimely death.   The double loss has left the MCA in deep pain and grief, as he struggles to come to terms with the tragic turn of events in his life.    In photos shared online, the hea...

  Justin Bieber's new album 'Swag' has shattered multiple records on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts.   His seventh studio album was released in celebration of him becoming a father.   The album cover featured him, his wife Hailey and their son, Jack Blues.   The album dominated this week’s Billboard Hot 100 with 16 songs, and the lead track, ‘Daisies’, debuting at number 2.   The multiple entries saw Bieber break a tie with Chris Brown for the most Hot 100 chart entries by a male singer with 121 songs.   ‘Daisies’ is his 27th top 10 hit on the Hot 100, making the 10th artist with the most top 10 hits in Billboard Hot 100 history; a tie with Janet Jackson.   Bieber also became the first artist ever to debut at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 charts simultaneously.   His album ‘Swag’ debuted at number 2 on the Billboard 200, while ‘Daisies’ debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.   Meanwhile, Teddy S...