Category: Featured

Nigerian chess master Tunde Onakoya has received a brand new Nord A9 SUV from indigenous automaker, Nord Motion, after a friendly match with the firm’s CEO, Oluwatobi Ajayi.

Onakoya shared his excitement via his X account on Thursday, posting photos of the car and expressing his gratitude to the firm.

He wrote, “Just got home to the most heartwarming surprise from my #nordmotion family—the stunning new Nord A9 SUV. Hands down the most beautiful car I’ve ever owned, but even more beautiful is the love behind this incredible gift. Grateful beyond words.

“Of course the only way to get the new car was by not losing this match.”

Onakoya revealed that the gift also came with an extension of his ambassadorial contract with the brand for another year.

He added, “I call #OluwatobiAjayiJ the “Elon” of Africa because while most people only know him for being one of the pioneers made in Nigeria cars, he’s also a great thinker and innovator across board.

“Proud to extend our partnership as Brand Ambassador for another year. Up Naija. A beauty to behold + made in Nigeria. Thank you #nordmotion for this incredible gift.”

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has said the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.

His remarks come amid nationwide concern following JAMB’s release of results showing that out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, only about 420,000 scored above 200 — meaning more than 78 percent failed to meet the 200-mark threshold.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Morning Brief on Tuesday, Alausa said the drop in performance reflects a significant decline in examination malpractice due to JAMB’s tightened security protocols.

“That’s a big concern, and it’s a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB conducts its exam using a computer-based testing system. They’ve implemented strong security measures, and as a result, fraud or cheating has been completely eliminated. Unfortunately, we cannot say the same for WAEC and NECO.

“We have to use technology to fight this fraud,” Alausa said. “There are so many ‘miracle centres’, and that is simply unacceptable. People cheat during WAEC and NECO exams and then face JAMB, where cheating is nearly impossible. That’s the disparity we’re seeing now. It’s sad.

“The worst part of cheating is that it disincentivises the hard-working ones,” he said. “If I’m preparing for WAEC or NECO and I know some classmates already have access to the questions, do you think I’ll still study hard? No, I’ll be tempted to join them. That’s how good students are corrupted, and that’s exactly what we must stop.”

Alausa stressed that the ministry remains committed to using technology-driven solutions to restore credibility in Nigeria’s examination and admissions processes.

Helen Kayode, a graduating student of Ekiti State University (EKSU), has been arrested by the Ekiti State Police Command for allegedly staging her own abduction to spend time with her boyfriend.

Her action reportedly caused panic across Iworoko-Ekiti and Ado-Ekiti, following a message she sent to her sister on May 1, claiming she had boarded the wrong bus and was kidnapped, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.

According to the Police Command, the viral message led to public fear and disrupted the otherwise calm security situation in the state.
“Kayode stated that she was kept and held hostage in an uncompleted building surrounded by bushes,” the command’s spokesperson, SP Sunday Abutu, said on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti.

“The information went viral on social media, causing some reactions that undermined the security and peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the state.”

Investigations revealed that she was not kidnapped but instead spent the night with her boyfriend before travelling to Lagos.

Abutu said, “The suspect confessed during investigation that she sent out the false information to enable her to stay back in Ado-Ekiti to celebrate her birthday with her boyfriend, who promised her a ‘surprise package.’

He added, “The student stated that her parents told her to return to Lagos against her wish due to the birthday party.”

The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, condemned the incident and warned that those who spread false information would face the full force of the law.

He said the suspect would be charged in court after investigations and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property and maintaining peace in Ekiti.

Human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju has confirmed that Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has condemned the arrest and detention of social media activist Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.

Adeyanju, who is also VeryDarkMan’s legal counsel, revealed this in a post shared Wednesday morning on his 𝕏 (formerly Twitter) account.

He said Falana had made several calls to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), questioning the legality of the activist’s continued detention.

The groundswell of support for the re-election of Governor Ademola Adeleke expands today with fresh endorsement from Osun State Butchers Association and the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT) for the forthcoming 2026 governorship election.

In separate courtesy calls, the two groups applauded delivery of democratic dividends by Governor Adeleke in ways and manners never done before in the history of the state, pledging support for second term election of the governor.

The NUT state chairman, Comrade Babalola Isaac accompanied by top officials of the union reviewed the state of governance in Osun state and affirmed that the delivery of dividends of democracy in the last two years is unprecedented, adding “we are enjoying fruits of a responsible and people -oriented leadership.

“We can affirm that Osun is moving forward. In the education sector, we are recording successes on several fronts. The latest is the rating of Osun as number 7th in National Examinations from number 33rd in 2022. This is a testimony of good governance of good governance”, the chairman noted.

The Chairman of Butchers Association, Mr Amoo Adeowo
who came with hundreds of his members declared that Osun would not go backward in growth and development, insisting that the re-election of Governor Adeleke is a unanimous decision of all butchers in the state.

Speaking in Yoruba language, the chairman said no stone will be left unturned to ensure the re-election of the governor in 2026 and vowing that “nobody would be allowed to drag Osun back to under-development”

Meanwhile, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has described teachers as the bedrock of civilization in the world, which evidence has now placed Osun in 7th position in national examinations from 33rd in 2022, commending teachers for their resilience and commitment for making it possible.

The Governor eulogises teachers for their support for his government from 2022, especially in the education sector, thanking workers including all affiliate unions for his endorsement for his second term bid in office and stressing that the endorsement has challenged him to further intensify the implementation of his five point agenda of which workers’ welfare is number one.

Governor Adeleke therefore promised to re-commit himself to the service of the state, assuring Osun workers, most especially the teachers that all areas in need of attention will be looked into.

He also promised to prioritise their welfare by doing everything humanly possible to improve working conditions and the learning environment in schools.

He however, directed the Commissioner for Education, Hon. Sunday Eluwole and the Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina to look into all the areas of request for immediate implementation.

The President of Inner Galaxy Group, Mr. Li Shuang, on Tuesday disclosed that his company was ready to set up a $400 million hot rolled coiled steel factory with the capacity to employ about 6,500 direct and indirect workers in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Shuang made this known while leading a delegation of principal officials of the organization at the Governor’s office located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He added that the company is expected to commence operations in April 2026, saying the organization, a multinational company with vast investments in Asia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and some African countries like Ghana and Angola, entered the Nigerian market in 2005, producing iron rods for the building industry.

Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in his remarks, expressed delight in the huge investment, as he ascribed the success to his administration’s deliberate and intentional move to make the state the leading industrial hub in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region.

“This is a $400 million investment; this aligns with the President’s vision to ensure that we grow this economy to a trillion dollars, and I think that you will be contributing your quota in achieving that. We are excited that you will also be employing people.

“I will be commissioning a multimillion-dollar diagnostic equipment facility during the week. This administration has managed to attract quite a lot of industries in the last six years,” Abiodun said.

The Governor noted that the state is blessed with abundant human and natural resources, adding that alluvial gold had been discovered in large quantities, just as the state has the highest quality of lithium.

He continued, “I think it may interest you to know that we also have lithium in Ogun State; the lithium in Ogun State is meant to be the highest quality in Nigeria. So, it may be something you might want to also discuss.

“We are number one in non-oil revenue in Nigeria because two-thirds of the state sits on limestone. We have a lot of limestone here; we are actually number one in cement production in Sub-Saharan Africa, and we are number three in all of Africa,” the governor explained.

Governor Abiodun explained that his administration had put in place an integrated ecosystem of infrastructure to support investments coming into the state, emphasizing that required infrastructure like roads, rail, air, affordable housing accommodations, medical infrastructure, and schools have been made available in the state.

Tragedy struck in Ode-Irele, Ondo State, on Monday when 22-year-old tenant Joy Tale was reportedly hacked to death during a heated argument with her landlord’s son, 41-year-old Odunayo Olomolatan. The Ondo State Police confirmed the incident and said Olomolatan is now in custody at the Divisional Police Headquarters in Ode-Irele.

Police spokesperson DSP Olayinka Ayanlade said investigations are ongoing to uncover what led to the deadly clash. “The suspect has been arrested, and we are working to unravel the full circumstances surrounding the lady’s death,” he stated.

The local government chairman, Olajide Akinfe, urged calm in the community, warning residents not to take the law into their own hands. He assured that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure justice is served and the suspect does not escape.

The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, highlighting the need for peaceful conflict resolution and respect for the law.

Popular actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo, along with comedian Ayo Makun, better known as AY, were recently invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The invitations followed reports of money spraying at Ojo’s daughter’s wedding. Both individuals were later granted bail under stringent conditions.

Ojo confirmed her invitation by the EFCC in a public statement, stating that it was related to the spraying of both Naira and foreign currencies at the wedding.

The actress explained that during her visit to the EFCC office on May 5, 2025, she was questioned about various aspects of her personal and professional life, including her career and businesses.

In an Instagram post, Ojo elaborated on the details of her interaction with the EFCC, clarifying that she had not been arrested but was questioned about the wedding video, where guests, including friends and colleagues, were seen spraying money.

She noted that while she believed only the mutilation of Naira currency was illegal, the EFCC officials informed her that spraying any currency—whether Naira or foreign—is prohibited.

Ojo wrote in an Instagram post: “Following the recent media publication on social media and numerous calls and texts messages from different quarters seeking to hear from me on the EFCC invitation and to ascertain my welfare, I find it expedient to release this briefing.

“I recently had an experience with the EFCC in Nigeria after receiving an invitation letter while I was in the UK. Upon my return, I visited the EFCC on the 5th day of May 2025, where I was asked several questions relating to my personal bio data, career, work experience, and companies, amongst others.

“The EFCC officials showed me videos extracted from my daughter’s wedding where guests, including colleagues and friends, were spraying Naira and foreign currencies.

“I was asked if I knew this was illegal, and I explained that I thought only abuse or mutilation of the Naira was an offense.

“The EFCC officials clarified that spraying money, including on people’s bodies, is prohibited. I was surprised to learn that spraying any currency, including Dollars, is also not allowed.

“After questioning, I was allowed to leave the same day, but my personal lawyer, O.I. Salami stood in for me as I may be called upon again.

“Given this experience, I strongly advise against spraying any currency in Nigeria to avoid issues with the EFCC.

“Perhaps it’s time to reconsider this long-standing tradition. Let’s prioritize caution and avoid any potential problems.”

Comedian AY, who also confirmed his EFCC invitation, dismissed reports of his arrest, clarifying, “If you know that much about EFCC, you can’t be arrested and still have your phone,” he said. “An invitation and visit to the commission do not translate to arrest.”

Oduduwa News has just gathered that an accident involving commercial Micra vehicle and heavy truck has just occured at Ojoo-Agbowo Express Road, Ibadan.

According to an eyewitness who spoke to Oduduwa News under the condition of anonymity said, the Micra vehicle collided with a truck which led to the death of several people including secondary school students while several others were injured.

The accident said to have occured as early as 8am this morning.

The official number of casualties has not been revealed to the public but unverified report said all the passengers in the vehicle gave up the ghost immediately.

As at the time of filing this report, official statement on the accident is yet to be made public by Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC.

Details later.

The Joint Admission Matriculation Board JAMB has announced the statistics results of the recently held UTME examination across the country. The statistics of the results is as highlighted below:

1. Out of the 40,247 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), only 467 , which is 1.16 percent scored high enough to be classified under the exceptional ability category, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has revealed.
2. Total results processed, 2025 – 1,955,069.

A total of 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions,” JAMB stated, adding that “2,157 others are currently undergoing investigations for suspected malpractices.”

Also concerning is the large number of students who failed to appear for the exam altogether.

“71,701 candidates were absent, the Board confirmed, offering no immediate breakdown of reasons for their non-participation.

3. JAMB says: “Candidates facing biometric challenges are under investigation, and those who are cleared will be rescheduled for examination at designated centres,” it announced.

In addition, some results remain unavailable as processing continues for certain categories

“A few of the results, including those of blind candidates and others in the JEOG group, are still being processed,” the post further read.

4. Meanwhile, a statistical breakdown of the 2025 UTME results has revealed that a majority of the candidates scored below the 200 mark, with only 0.63% achieving scores of 300 and above.

5. Only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above, considered top-tier performance.

7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300–319, bringing the total for those who scored 300 and above to 12,414 candidates (0.63%).

6. In the more competitive range: 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 – 299.

334,560 candidates (17.11%) scored between 200–249.

6. The core of the result distribution sits in the mid-to-low range:

983,187 candidates (50.29%) scored between 160–199

488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140–159.

57,419 candidates (2.94%) scored between 120–13