Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a bid to strengthen grassroots engagement and deepen the impact of its nationwide campaigns, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has formally unveiled its South West Zonal Directorate in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday, in Abeokuta, the Zonal Director, Mrs. Salako Olufunke Fransisca, described the development as a strategic step to enhance the agency’s effectiveness in communicating federal, state, and local government programmes across the geo-political zones. The establishment of zonal directorates, according to Mrs. Salako, is in line with the NOA Act, CAP No. 64 of 2004, and is aimed at streamlining the…

The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA) has felicitated with veteran journalist, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, on his emergence as the President of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Alumni Association (MAPALUM). In a congratulatory message dated Wednesday, May 28, 2025, and signed by its National President, Prince Taofeek Oyeniyi, MAPAMA described Soaga’s election as timely and significant, coming at a period when his wealth of professional and leadership experience is most needed. “Your election, after an illustrious career, stands as a bridge between generations,” Oyeniyi noted. “It offers the older generation honour and fulfilment, while serving as a beacon of…

Introduction If colonialism once marched into Africa wearing khaki, clutching Bibles in one hand and British flags in the other, today’s invaders arrive cloaked in sleek devices and digital dashboards, speaking the gospel of Artificial Intelligence and algorithmic efficiency. Our forebears were herded into indirect rule by colonial administrators who claimed to bring “civilization” but delivered control. Today, we are being seduced into a new digital hegemony, where foreign algorithms determine everything from who gets a loan in Kenya’s mobile lending frenzy, to who gets stopped by facial recognition cameras piloted in parts of South Africa, to how disinformation spreads…

Athletes representing Ogun State at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival on Wednesday disrupted activities at the Games Village over unpaid allowances, grounding logistics and causing a major setback to the day’s scheduled events. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the protest, which began in the early hours at the Babcock University Games Village in Ilishan-Remo, saw the aggrieved athletes block the main entrance to the venue, leaving contingents from other states stranded. The athletes, who are demanding payment of allowances promised by the Ogun State Government before the commencement of the Gateway Games 2024, said several efforts to resolve the issue…

The Great Ife Alumni Association has elected a new set of global officers to pilot the affairs of the association for the next two years, with legal practitioner and public affairs expert, Barrister Leye Bunmi Falode, emerging as Global President. Falode was elected unopposed during the 26th Biennial Convention of the association, which held at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife — the alma mater of all members. The convention drew delegates from branches across Nigeria and the diaspora, reaffirming the global reach and unity of the alumni body. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  Global Publicity Secretary,Great Ife Alumni Association,…

In celebration of the 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank Plc has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, highlighting the bank’s commitment to grooming future leaders and promoting early financial literacy. Mbah, who was officially unveiled on Tuesday, May 27, at Wema Bank’s headquarters in Marina, Lagos, emerged winner of a nationwide online challenge aimed at encouraging children to dream big and engage with the banking sector from an early age. The initiative formed part of the bank’s broader Children’s Day campaign and its ongoing 80th anniversary celebrations. According to a statement by the bank, Mbah’s…

Residents of Jos, Plateau State, were thrown into shock on Tuesday following the apprehension of a woman accused of abducting three children in the Staff College area of the city. In a viral video circulating on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the unidentified woman is seen seated on the ground, flanked by the three children she allegedly kidnapped. She is surrounded by a crowd of irate onlookers who questioned her aggressively while recording the incident. Eyewitnesses claim the woman was caught shortly after she allegedly lured the children away from their vicinity. The children were eventually rescued unhurt, thanks…

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and traditional ruler of Ilu-Abo in Akure North, Ondo State, Oba Olu Falae, has been appointed as the new Chairman of the National Executive Committee of Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation. Falae’s emergence was announced at the group’s monthly meeting held on Tuesday at the Akure residence of its national leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti. Speaking with journalists after the meeting, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Mr. Jare Ajayi, said Falae’s appointment was a strategic move by the group’s leadership to reinvigorate its activities and reposition it in line with its founding…

A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced Mamman Nasir Ali, son of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmadu Ali, to 14 years imprisonment for his involvement in a N2.2 billion oil subsidy fraud. Justice Mojisola Dada handed down the sentence on Tuesday, convicting Ali alongside a Sierra Leonean national, Christian Taylor, and their company, Nasaman Oil Services Limited, on an amended 57-count charge bordering on conspiracy, obtaining money by false pretence, and forgery. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted the case, which dates back to 2012 when the trio were…

… Says N20.1bn Recovered The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has uncovered a disturbing collaboration between bank employees and cybercriminals that led to the hacking of six major financial institutions in Nigeria. The Commission said it has so far recovered a total of N20.1 billion in stolen funds linked to the attacks. Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, made the revelation during an interview with TVC on Sunday, disclosing that internal sabotage by bank staff was instrumental in the success of the cyberattacks. According to him, insiders within the banks granted hackers access to sensitive banking portals, which were…