Oduduwa News

A wave of concern has swept across Lagos State following the revelation that 26,592 students from public secondary schools failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) — despite massive financial investment from the state government.

This alarming statistic was revealed on Thursday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing held at Alausa, Ikeja.

According to the Commissioner, out of the 58,188 students sponsored by the government to write the 2024 WASSCE, a troubling 45.7% failed the exams.

“Suffice to say that the sum of ₦1,577,794,000 (One Billion, Five Hundred and Seventy-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Four Thousand Naira) only was paid by the State Government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.

The government had fully covered the WAEC registration fees for the students in a bid to remove financial barriers and promote inclusive access to education. However, the poor performance has raised serious concerns over teaching quality, student preparedness, and the effectiveness of public school education in Lagos.

In response, the state is already taking steps to enhance accountability and ensure better outcomes going forward. The Commissioner disclosed that a biometric and image registration process was conducted to verify student eligibility and limit wastage of public funds.

“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona-fide beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he said.

The Lagos State Government has revealed that over 135,000 residents are currently living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, highlighting the ongoing public health challenge in Nigeria’s most populous state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed this on Wednesday during a media briefing to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term in office.

“135,224 residents are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV),” Abayomi said, adding that the state government has intensified awareness and intervention efforts by engaging more than 100 religious leaders as HIV and AIDS ambassadors.

He explained that the involvement of faith leaders is aimed at reducing stigma and improving community-level outreach.

“We are using trusted voices to drive education, testing, and treatment in our communities,” he said.

In addition to tackling HIV, the state has provided free cervical cancer screenings for 154,228 women and treated 8,613 with thermal ablation.

It also conducted prostate cancer screenings for 300 men, alongside screening 312,927 people for hypertension and diabetes.

With the ceaseless killings in Benue, Taraba and Plateau States, leading to a high death toll in the attacks by suspected herdsmen on the people, a former Minister of Defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd) has restated his call on the people of Taraba State and other Nigerians in general to defend themselves against the invaders, who are killing people for free in various communities across the country.

Speaking in Takum during an occasion he organised to appreciate his members of staff and talk to them against the backdrop of renewed and intensified killings in communities in Plateau, Benue, Ondo and several other states across the country, General Danjuma reiterated that, his people of Taraba State, should do everything to defend themselves against killings, which he described as genocide.

Recall that Plateau and Benue states have been in the news of lately, with several killed and perpetrators not brought to book.

Renowned Fuji musician, King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has publicly affirmed his affiliation with the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), asserting that he is a bona fide member and has personally financed the construction of a parish. 

In a recent statement, K1 De Ultimate addressed criticisms regarding his involvement in CCC events, emphasizing his deep-rooted connection to the church. He highlighted his commitment by revealing that he not only participates in church activities but has also built a parish, underscoring his dedication to the faith.

The musician’s declaration comes amidst discussions about the participation of secular artists in religious events. K1 De Ultimate’s active role in the CCC reflects a blend of his musical career with his spiritual beliefs, demonstrating a personal investment in the church’s growth and activities.

His involvement has been met with mixed reactions, with some praising his contributions to the church, while others question the appropriateness of secular musicians performing in religious settings. Nonetheless, K1 De Ultimate stands by his actions, citing his genuine faith and commitment to the Celestial Church of Christ.

A member of the House of Representatives, Oluwole Oke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party.

Oke, who is a six-term legislator for the Obokun/Oriade Federal Constituency in Osun State, announced his decision to depart from the PDP.

Recall, Oke had earlier been suspended by the State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party for anti party related activities.

Details later.

MC Oluomo has addressed those mocking his spoken English, saying that while he may not be fluent, he has used his success to give his children a top notch education.

Speaking at a public gathering, he shared his journey from a bus conductor to a top-ranking official in the transport union, attributing his rise to perseverance and hard work.

He said in the viral video, “I stayed there and worked hard, I wasn’t educated. See, they said I said Kundus, is my son, not Kundus? You are educated; what have you done?

They should go and compete with my children. I raised my children inwealth. My children are citizens of America, citizens of the UK. I worked hard to get to that level. Kundus, kudos, what’s the difference? What do you want to hear? English is not my mother tongue, Yoruba is.”

His message was clear, his achievements speaks louder than his grammar, and he’s proud of the legacy he’s building through his children.

The management of the University of Ibadan has raised concerns over the increasing number of female students engaging in egg donation as a source of income.

In a memo dated April 15, 2025 but cited by Oduduwa News on Friday, the University Health Service warned that while egg donation has brought hope to many families struggling with infertility, it should not be seen as a permanent source of income or a side hustle.

The internal memorandum was signed by the Director of the University Health Service, Dr Aderonke Ajayi.

Ajayi lamented the growing trend within the university community involving the recruitment and participation of female students as egg donors for In-Vitro Fertilisation, often through individuals, agents or agencies.

She explained that egg donation involves the use of hormonal medications to stimulate the ovaries, a process that carries several short-term health risks.

These include abdominal pain, breast tenderness, bloating, mood swings, and a condition known as Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome.

It may also result in infections, bleeding, ovarian torsion, injury to internal organs such as the bladder and bowel, and psychological distress.

“It has come to our attention that there is a growing trend within the university community involving the participation and/or recruitment of female students as egg donors for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) by individuals, agents, or agencies.

Former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has launched a scathing attack on President Bola Tinubu, accusing him of incompetence and indifference amid Nigeria’s escalating security crisis.

Atiku’s criticism comes in the wake of the gruesome killings in Benue State, where no fewer than 55 people were reportedly murdered in separate attacks on Logo and Gbagir communities within the Ukum Local Government Area.

The massacre was confirmed by Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia, who decried the violence and called for urgent federal intervention. However, Atiku believes the presidency has shown neither urgency nor empathy in addressing the tragedy.

Taking to his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Atiku wrote:

“The Tinubu administration has proven, time and again, to be utterly incapable, wholly incompetent, and completely devoid of any coherent ideas for tackling Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.”

He further claimed that a growing number of political figures — including members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) — privately admit to Tinubu’s failure to address Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

“The blood of innocent Nigerians continues to be spilled with appalling regularity… Yet, the Tinubu presidency remains disturbingly indifferent, displaying neither urgency nor the basic decency of public empathy,” he added.

Atiku also slammed the president’s current trip to Europe, implying that Tinubu is detached from the realities on ground.

“President Bola Tinubu, incapable of solving Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, chooses instead to gallivant across Europe — governing Nigeria in absentia as if from a holiday perch.”

President Tinubu is currently in France and is expected to return to Nigeria after the Easter holidays.

The Osun State Amotekun Corps has arrested a 26-year-old serial offender, John Uba, who previously escaped from police custody during a robbery incident in Osogbo.

According to Corps Commandant Adekunle Omoyele, Uba was caught around midnight on Thursday following a distress call from residents of the Fiwasaye area, who reported an active robbery. The suspect was found with stolen phones and other valuables.

Further investigations revealed that Uba had earlier escaped from the Ota-Efun Police Division. He also confessed to being a repeat offender.

He has been handed back to the Ota-Efun Police Division for further investigation and prosecution.

An uncompleted storey building has collapsed in the Ojodu area of Lagos leaving an unspecific number of people trapped.

Oduduwa News reliably gathered that the affected building is housing Equal Rights restaurant located at Oremeta Street, Ojodu Lagos.

The incident happened on Saturday morning and emergency responders are currently on ground to rescue victims.