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General News

GEJ vs GMB: Embarrassment of Choices ahead of Tomorrow’s Election

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General Muhammadu Buhari, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan:
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Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo are in a tight contest for Saturday’s election with main opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari and his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo, according to Reuters.

The vote is widely expected to be the closest presidential poll Africa’s most populous nation and biggest economy has seen since it returned to civilian rule in 1999.

Reuters said that in all, there are 14 presidential candidates but Jonathan and Buhari are well ahead of the rest.

Here are details on the main presidential and vice presidential aspirants of their parties.

PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP)

Presidential candidate: GOODLUCK JONATHAN

— Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was born in the Niger Delta in November 1957 to a family of canoe makers. He studied zoology and worked as an education inspector, lecturer and environmental protection officer before going into politics in 1998.

— Usually dressed in his trademark fedora hat and traditional caftan-like attire, he has a PhD in zoology.

— Jonathan won election in 1999 as deputy governor of Bayelsa, one of three main states in the oil-producing Niger Delta, as a member of the PDP. He became state governor in 2005, then vice president in 2007 alongside President Umaru Yar’Adua.

— Jonathan was sworn in as president, vowing to fight corruption, on May 6, 2010, a day after Yar’Adua died.

— His 2011 election upset northern elites due to an informal pact within the PDP that power should rotate between the mostly Muslim north and the largely Christian south every two terms.

— Jonathan’s administration has been dogged by several corruption scandals in the oil sector. In early 2013, the president dismissed the then central bank governor Lamido Sanusi after the latter accused the state oil company of failing to remit billions of dollars of oil revenues it owed the state.

— The Christian southerner has been criticized for failing to tackle a six-year Boko Haram insurgency, during which the militant group killed thousands in its attempt to set up an Islamic state in northeast Nigeria, and kidnapped hundreds.

Vice presidential candidate: NAMADI SAMBO

— Mohammed Namadi Sambo was born in August 1954 in northern Kaduna state. Jonathan will hope his Muslim running mate will attract votes in the north where the president is least popular.

— Sambo is a qualified architect. He held positions in the Ministry of Works, Transport and Housing in the 1980s, left to pursue private practice in the 1990s before returning to politics as governor of Kaduna state in 2007.

— His main achievement as governor was on security, a major problem in Kaduna which has suffered from sectarian clashes.

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC)

Presidential candidate: MUHAMMADU BUHARI

— Buhari, born in December 1942, was military ruler of Nigeria between December 1983 and August 1985. He was also an unsuccessful candidate in the 2003 and 2011 elections.

— A major general, he was selected to lead the country by military officers after an almost bloodless New Year’s eve coup in 1983 ended Nigeria’s second attempt at democracy.

— His iron-fisted administration is remembered for the jailing of politicians for corruption and executing of drug traffickers.

— Buhari himself was overthrown in a 1985 coup.

— His reputation as a disciplinarian, and a popular perception that he is cleaner than many in the political elite, has played well with voters fed up with worsening corruption.

–The bloody Boko Haram insurgency has made security a major campaign issue for Buhari. He points to his achievements as a military ruler against Chadian militia.

Vice presidential candidate: YEMI OSINBAJO

— Osinbajo, a southern lawyer, was announced as Buhari’s running mate in December 2014.

— He is also a Christian pastor, a move aimed at wooing Christians who might be unhappy with a Muslim northern presidential candidate, a pattern in Nigerian elections in which aspirants try to balance the two religions.

— The selection of Osinbajo as a vice presidential candidate is also likely to be an attempt to win over voters in the southwest – where he is from, seen as the major swing block.


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General News

Nigerian Tech Prodigy sets World Record with Smallest GPS Tracker

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Young Nigerian tech genius, Oluwatobi Oyinlola, has developed the world’s smallest GPS tracking device, a prototype measuring just 22.93 x 11.92 mm.

Recognised by the Guinness World Records, the device was created at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, on April 27, where he is employed as a researcher.

It has been hailed for its potential across industries, from logistics and personal safety to medical devices and wildlife monitoring.

Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu celebrated the feat in a post on X, praising Oyinlola for showcasing the ingenuity of the West African country’s youth. “You have just shown the world that Nigerian youth can!” he wrote.

Adding to the accolades, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, lauded the innovation as a symbol of national pride and technological potential.

He commended Oyinlola’s journey, noting his early support for the young inventor’s IoT startup. “Long before this global recognition, I had the privilege of backing Oluwatobi. His journey, now continuing at MIT, is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary potential of our people,” Tijani said.

The prototype not only marks a leap in miniaturised technology but also highlights Nigeria’s growing footprint in global innovation. Bosun added that as Nigeria intensifies efforts to nurture homegrown tech talent, Oyinlola’s success is a beacon for the next generation of innovators.

“The world is only beginning to see what you’re capable of,” said the Minister.

 

 


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General News

Africa Looks to Solar Amid Electricity Challenges

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Africa is becoming a global hub for solar energy development. The commercial and industrial sectors are driving this trend, with photovoltaic systems being installed on-site at businesses, educational institutions, and government facilities to meet energy demands.

This is according to CBi-electric: low voltage, which manufactures and supplies low voltage electrical distribution, protection, and control equipment.

2.5 gigawatts-peak (GWp) of solar capacity was built across Africa in 2024, with 194.34 GWp expected in 2025, according to the company.

Dr. Andrew Dickson, engineering executive of CBi-electric: low voltage, outlines how several reasons are hastening the continent’s transition to solar. “Energy poverty remains a major issue across Africa, with reliable grid electricity reaching only 14% of Zimbabweans, for example.”

He goes on to say that inconsistent power supply is another significant contributor, stating that “Persistent nationwide blackouts are affecting countries like Botswana, disrupting day-to-day operations. And in hydro-electric dependent countries such as Zambia, climate change is reducing water levels, leading to lower electricity generation and higher prices.”

Dickson believes that strategic system design and management are critical to realising the full potential of solar energy on the continent.

He said: “As Africa’s solar energy market continues to expand in 2025, organisations have an opportunity to capitalise on its long-term benefits. With the right technologies and safeguards in place, solar is not only a clean energy solution it’s a strategic asset that pays off.

“By combining surge protection, DC breakers, and monitoring tools, businesses can reduce unexpected costs, minimise downtime, and extend the life of their investment.”


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General News

Nigeria Trains 200,000 Citizens in AI to Drive Innovation and Sustainability

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Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a major initiative to train over 200,000 Nigerians in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies, aiming to build a digitally skilled workforce and position Nigeria as a continental leader in AI-driven innovation.

The announcement was made by Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, during the 10th Annual Symposium and Awards of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Nigeria International Chemical Sciences Chapter, held at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in Abuja.

AI’s Role in Sustainability and Economic Growth

Chief Nnaji, represented by Dr. Patricks Oghuma, Special Assistant to the Minister, emphasized the transformative power of AI, particularly when integrated with chemistry to address sustainability challenges.

“We are at the intersection of a revolution where artificial intelligence and chemistry converge to create new frontiers,” he stated. “This powerful synergy offers a vision of the future where innovation and sustainability work hand in hand”.

He also highlighted the gap between scientific research and real-world application, stressing the need for transformational research that directly solves real-world problems through AI.

Academic and Industry Collaboration

The Vice-Chancellor of NOUN, Prof. Olufemi Peters, echoed the Minister’s sentiments, noting that AI’s ability to model, predict, and optimize is vital for reducing waste, conserving energy, and enhancing chemical processes.

“At NOUN, we remain committed to providing accessible, technology-enhanced education that directly addresses national and global challenges,” Prof. Peters said.

The symposium gathered key stakeholders in science, technology, and academia, focusing on leveraging AI to drive sustainable solutions and calling for stronger collaboration between research institutions, industry, and government.

Building a Knowledge-Driven Economy

Prof. Edu Inam, Chair of the ACS Nigeria Chapter, reinforced the society’s commitment to research mentorship and student engagement, noting that ACS continues to host campus events and outreach programs aimed at nurturing young scientific minds.

The initiative is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s AI adoption, fostering economic growth, sustainability, and technological advancement across multiple sectors.


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