Author: spectre

Nigerian music icon Davido has been officially inducted as a voting member of the Recording Academy, positioning him among those who will help determine the 2026 GRAMMY Awards’ nominees and winners. His membership was confirmed via an announcement on the Academy’s Instagram page, where he appeared alongside other newly appointed members. Upon accepting the role, Davido shared his enthusiasm and explained the significance of his involvement: “Understanding the importance of how our voices are heard, I am participating in the GRAMMY Award process. It is a game-changer. I have learned that voting empowers you to have a say in what…

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed a team of Gambian match officials to oversee the upcoming second-leg playoff between Nigeria’s Falconets and Rwanda’s She-Amavubi, in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Ngum Fatou will serve as referee, supported by compatriots Jainaba Manneh, Abbie Ceesay, and Isatou Touray in assistant and fourth official roles. Meanwhile, Jodie Marian Reid Seton of Liberia is set to act as match commissioner, with Egypt’s Hayam Mohammed Baraka appointed referee assessor. With the pivotal match scheduled for Saturday, the Falconets have already begun preparations in Ibadan. They were…

  The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged an investigation into the financial management of former Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), particularly in relation to more than N254.37 billion he reportedly received from the Federation Account between March and August 2025. In a Freedom of Information (FoI) request, the advocacy group asked Ibas to provide a detailed account of how the allocations were spent, including an alleged N22 billion earmarked for the installation of CCTV cameras at the State House. SERAP stressed that such disclosure is crucial to enhancing accountability, preventing corruption, and ensuring…

The Executive Chairman of Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Oluwaseun Olufade, has been honoured with an Award of Recognition at the Oyo Waste Summit 2.0 held on Tuesday, September 17, 2025, at Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan. The award was presented to him in recognition of his remarkable contributions to environmental sustainability, nation building, and climate action. Receiving the award on behalf of the chairman, his Head of Media, Aderibigbe Yisahu Ajibola, delivered a goodwill message that underscored Olufade’s commitment to sustainable development. In his message, Hon. Olufade commended the organisers for sustaining the platform, describing the summit as “timely…

The Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) has raised concerns over massive unreconciled funds, calling on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF) to account for billions of dollars and trillions of naira owed to the Federation Account. According to FAAC’s September 2025 Post-Mortem Sub-Committee report, NNPC is yet to remit over US$42.37 billion in oil revenues covering 2011 to 2017. The committee engaged Periscope Consulting to audit the under-remittances, after which NNPC requested a two-month window to review the findings and respond. At the same time, the OAGF is expected…

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin has hailed recent diplomatic recognitions of a Palestinian state as irreversible steps that edge the territory closer to full sovereignty and reinforce the two-state solution. Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognized Palestine recently, a move Palestinians say restores momentum to longstanding efforts for a just settlement. While these recognitions do not immediately halt ongoing conflict in Gaza, Shahin described them as a “move forward” that must be “built on and amplified.” Shahin said: “Now is the time. Tomorrow is a historic date we need to build on. It’s not the end.”“It is a move…

Onana’s Slick Assist Sets Social Media Ablaze as Onuachu Scores in Trabzonspor Draw On loan from Manchester United goalkeeper, André Onana caught the eye of fans after providing a brilliant assist for Nigerian striker Paul Onuachu during Trabzonspor’s 1-1 draw with Gaziantep in the Turkish Super Lig. Onuachu added his third goal of the season, with Onana delivering a precise pass that split the defence. Onuachu, showing excellent positional awareness and composure, finished cleanly past the keeper. The game marked Onana’s second appearance after joining Trabzonspor on loan; he had already impressed with eight saves in his debut despite the…

Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos Island

With the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approaching, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on world leaders to move beyond rhetoric and deliver concrete progress. Addressing the media at the UN Headquarters, Guterres emphasized that the upcoming high-level week should be defined by action rather than political posturing. Guterres warned that the globe is navigating “turbulent, uncharted waters,” with intensifying geopolitical divisions, persistent conflicts, climate instability, fast-evolving technologies and growing inequality. According to him, these challenges are straining international cooperation, making the current moment one of the most fragile periods for global partnerships in decades. Nearly…

Former Chelsea coach, José Mourinho looks set to take over as head coach at Benfica after the club parted ways with Bruno Lage in the wake of their surprising Champions League loss to Qarabag. Discussions are reportedly at an advanced stage, with only contract negotiations still outstanding. Mourinho, 62, returns to a club where he once held a brief spell in 2000, managing 11 matches early in his coaching career. He later earned major honours at clubs like Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and most recently, Fenerbahce. Benfica’s president, Rui Costa, emphasized that the…