General News
Ekweremadu Grants N22.3m Scholarships to 525 Students

Senator Ike Ekweremadu, deputy president of the Senate, has given out N22.350 million as scholarship and bursary grants to 525 students from Enugu state for the 2013-2014 academic sessions.
The grant was made through the IKEOHA foundation established and funded by Senator Ekweremadu during the Ikeoha Foundation Adult Literacy Day and 2013/2014 Scholarship and Bursary awards ceremony at Saint Paul’s College, Oji River, Enugu State recently.
Mr. Uche Anichukwu, special adviser (Media) to Deputy President of the Senate, in a press statement made available to Nigeria CommunicationsWeek gave a breakdown of the grant which shows that 25 students got N500,000 as Scholarship awards, while 83 students each from the five LGA’s in Enugu West Senatorial District as well as 80 students from Enugu North and Igboeze North got N30.000 each as bursary awards.
Speaking on the occasion, Senator Ekweremadu who noted the prevailing atmosphere of intimidation and harassment in the state, said the foundation would not waver in its efforts to create a better society through its scholarship scheme for the youth and adult literacy programme for adults.
He charged the recipients to be dedicated and ensure judicious use of the grants.
Senator Ekweremadu assured that both programmes would be sustained and welcomed the new working partnership between the National Adult Literacy Commission and the Foundation, which is set to expand the scope of the Foundation’s activities.
He said, “Today we renew our contract with mankind. Today we renew our commitment to fight illiteracy in Enugu West, in Enugu state and Nigeria and I am happy that we are winning this war. I know the time we have found ourselves. We know all the intimidation and harassment going on, but I would like to assure you that as it is written in the book of Psalm 91, a thousand will fall at your left and ten thousand by your right but they will never come near you. Only with your eyes will you see the fall of the wicked. As I keep saying, in matters of right and wrong, Good will never be neutral. So God is with us in this journey.
“I am also certain that we will conquer illiteracy. We will conquer poverty, and we will conquer ignorance. So, I would like to thank everybody who is here for this programme. I would like to congratulate our dear students, for out of so many who applied for this privilege, we have 500 students who will receive our grants and we have 25 for the scholarship programme. We will continue to support this programme, especially now that we have working partnership with the National Commission for Adult Literacy”.
Earlier, Mrs. Cindy E. Ezeugwu, executive director of the Ikeoha Foundation, said the foundation had provided basic education to over 5,000 adult learners through its 24 Adult Literacy Centres and had also commenced fulltime scholarship awards from 2012/2013 academic Session in addition to the annual bursary grants by the Foundation.
In his goodwill message, Alhaji Jibrin Y. Paiko, executive secretary of the National Commission for Mass literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education, who was represented by Alhaji Musa Gusau, described the achievements recorded by the Foundation as “unprecedented in the history of adult literacy programme in Nigeria” and worthy of emulation by others.
He said the Certificate of Partnership granted the Foundation would enable it access the training programmes and facilities of the Commission as well as those of the United Nations Educational, scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
The highly successful event was graced by various dignitaries and organisations, including UNESCO, town unions, and royal fathers led by the Chairman of Enugu West Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Harford Agana.
General News
Kuwait Busts Nigerian Cybercrime Ring Targeting Telecom Tower, Banks

Kuwait’s Criminal Security Sector has dismantled an international cybercrime ring composed of Nigerians responsible for coordinated attacks on telecommunications towers and banks, the Ministry of Interior announced on Sunday.
According to Arabic-language daily Al Qabas, the case was initiated after the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority reported cyber intrusions targeting local telecom networks.
Specialised security teams quickly launched an investigation, discovering that the suspects used advanced electronic devices to breach networks and distribute mass phishing messages impersonating banks, aiming to steal account information and siphon funds.
Signal-tracking technology led investigators to a vehicle in the Salmiya area.
When authorities attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver tried to flee, colliding with several cars before being apprehended following a fierce struggle.
A search of the vehicle uncovered sophisticated electronic equipment and various technical tools.
Upon investigation, the suspect confessed to collaborating with an accomplice to hack telecom networks and send fraudulent messages posing as banks and telecommunications companies.
Police subsequently located and arrested the second suspect, and a search of their residence uncovered additional devices used to analyse the stolen data.
Both suspects, along with the seized equipment, have been handed over to the relevant authorities for prosecution.
The Ministry of Interior reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the nation’s cybersecurity and intensifying efforts to combat electronic fraud targeting both citizens and residents.
General News
Nigerian Scientists Await Return of Egusi Seeds Sent to Space

Space in Africa, the Lagos-based firm Oniosun founded, is expecting its Egusi melon seeds to splash down in the Pacific Ocean Saturday—fresh from a trip to the International Space Station.
Once Earthside, experiments will begin on what is being hailed as the first food native to West Africa to be sent to space.
As Oniosun told AFP on Friday, it could herald an era where space exploration reflects the planet’s diversity.
“When we talk about humans colonizing other planets, this is not just an American mission or a European mission—this is a global mission,” he told AFP.
And future African space explorers might enjoy a taste of home.
Experiments on extraterrestrial food, which is to say tested in space, have been going on for years.
Growing food in space is seen as a crucial part of long-distance space flight and long-term missions, where frequent resupply won’t be feasible.
Scientists at the University of Florida in the United States, and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ibadan, will examine the seeds “to see the effects of exposure to space” and zero gravity, including on the seeds’ DNA.
Once planted, researchers will monitor their post-space performance and germination.
The seeds went up to the ISS on a SpaceX flight last week, as part of NASA’s partnership with private firms.
Oniosun said the inclusion of Egusi seeds marked an important step forward, both for those on Earth as well as future astronauts.
High in protein, they are typically used to prepare soups and stews across West and Central Africa.
Africa’s most populous country has a small space industry, but the launch of the seeds seemed to generate more excitement on social media and in newspapers than previous launches of Nigerian satellites, he said.
“The moment that we’re sending food that they love, a food that holds significant cultural contexts to Nigeria… everybody starts getting interested in the subject,” Oniosun told AFP.
“The launch of Egusi melon seeds into space is more than a symbolic gesture,” he added.
“The future of humanity among the stars must reflect the diversity and richness of life on Earth.”
Whether pounded yam—the key dish served alongside Egusi soup—will make its way to the final frontier remains to be seen.
General News
NITDA Deepens Digital Gender Inclusion with IgniteHer Bootcamp

In a powerful demonstration of its commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has launched the second cohort of the IgniteHer Bootcamp for Women Entrepreneurs, a strategic initiative aimed at accelerating gender inclusion and economic empowerment through digital innovation.
The bootcamp, themed “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs for Growth and Innovation”, was launched in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and brought together selected women entrepreneurs from across Nigeria, both physically and virtually, for rigorous training in digital skills, innovation management, business development, and investor readiness.
The NITDA Director General, Kashifu Inuwa CCIE, who declared the bootcamp open, reaffirmed the Agency’s role in aligning Nigeria’s digital development with the national priorities of reforming the economy for sustained inclusive growth and accelerating economic diversification through industrialisation and digitisation.
“Through IgniteHer, we are actualising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding women’s access to technology and economic opportunity,” he stated.
The DG, who was represented by the agency’s Acting Director of the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building department, Dr. Ahmed Tambuwal, noted that inclusive innovation is a cornerstone of NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0: 2024–2027), which supports national aspirations for inclusive growth, poverty eradication, and youth empowerment.
“We are not merely imparting skills; we are creating self-reliant entrepreneurs, change-makers, and leaders,” he added.
Inuwa disclosed that the IgniteHer Bootcamp is also a key component of the National Gender Digital Inclusion Strategy (NGDIS), through which NITDA is working to empower 12.7 million Nigerian women with digital literacy skills by 2027. He averred that the programme complements broader government efforts to bridge gender gaps, enhance productivity, and reduce unemployment, especially among young women.
Citing a report by the World Wide Web Foundation, the DG emphasised that closing the digital gender gap in Nigeria could unlock an estimated $13 billion in GDP growth over the next decade.
“This training is a step towards harnessing this economic potential and ensuring that women play an integral role in shaping the digital landscape of Nigeria,” he noted.
He therefore called on participants selected from over 12,000 applicants to seize the moment and shape the future of Nigerian entrepreneurship.
While highlighting NITDA’s leadership in strategic partnerships, the DG commended JICA and the Government of Japan for their ongoing collaboration in supporting digital empowerment through programmes like IgniteHer and the iHatch Incubation Programme, which provides startup support, mentorship, and innovation development to early-stage entrepreneurs.
“At NITDA, we believe that inclusive innovation is not just an ideal but a critical strategy that ensures the growth of a stronger economy, the development of smarter solutions, and the existence of more resilient communities. Through IgniteHer, we are dismantling barriers and replacing them with pathways to opportunity,” he concluded.
In his remarks, the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, reaffirmed Japan’s long-standing commitment to innovation and gender inclusion in Nigeria. He announced that Japan, through JICA, is currently supporting two grant projects worth $30.9 million, focused on improving Nigeria’s startup ecosystem, strengthening the investment climate, and building an inclusive innovation hub.
The Ambassador also referenced the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), themed “Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa”, as further testament to Japan’s dedication to deepening Africa-Japan cooperation on digital transformation and entrepreneurship.
Lead Facilitator of IgniteHer, Hajiya Hafsat Salabi-Dange, described the programme as a catalyst for social and economic transformation. While praising NITDA’s visionary approach to development, she stated that the programme is a movement that is bridging the digital gender divide and fostering economic independence.
Encouraging the participants to remain curious, intentional, and bold, she said, “What you will gain here goes beyond business; it is a tool for community upliftment, national growth, and generational impact.”
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