Author: Platform Times Newspaper

No fewer than 37 people have been confirmed dead following a tragic boat mishap that occurred on Thursday evening in the Gbajibo-Mudi community of Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State. The ill-fated boat, reportedly overloaded with over 100 passengers, was en route to a community in neighbouring Niger State when it capsized at about 6:00 p.m. Eyewitness accounts and local sources told The PUNCH that the majority of the passengers were traders travelling for commercial purposes. The incident has plunged the riverine community into mourning, with search-and-rescue operations still ongoing. Chairman of the Kaiama Local Government, Abubakar Abdullahi, and…

Former Vice President and founder of the American University of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, has revealed a deeply personal story about his early struggles with education, stating that his father was once jailed for refusing to enrol him in school. Atiku made the revelation while addressing the graduating class of 2025 at the American University of Nigeria, Yola, where he emphasised that education remains the most powerful tool for both personal and national development. “My father was jailed for resisting my enrollment in school,” Atiku told the graduates. “We started from nothing — sitting on the bare ground, writing with our…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that he will not defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite serving in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Wike made this known in a recent interview with BBC Pidgin, stating that his commitment to the PDP remains intact even as he contributes to the success of the All Progressives Congress-led federal government. “I can’t do that, I’m not afraid – how will I build a house and you now ask me to vacate the place?” Wike queried. “It’s you that will leave the house, not me that built…

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has vowed to personally confront the wave of insecurity troubling parts of the state, declaring his readiness to step beyond the confines of office and join the battle against banditry if necessary. The governor made the bold declaration on Thursday during a condolence visit to Mansur village in Alkaleri Local Government Area, where a recent bandit attack claimed 21 lives. “If I must take off this ‘Babbanriga’ and join you in the field, I will do it, In Sha Allah,” Governor Mohammed said emotionally while addressing bereaved families. He confirmed that the victims included 13…

The Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), Abdullahi Bello, has called on Nigerians to report public officials whose lifestyles are not commensurate with their known sources of income. Speaking during an interview with Daily Trust, Bello disclosed that the bureau is intensifying its efforts to detect illicit wealth through a newly established forensic accounting and financial investigation unit. According to him, the unit scrutinises asset declarations of public officials to identify unexplained increases in net worth. “One of the first things I did upon assuming office was to set up a forensic accounting unit. It assesses asset declarations…

No fewer than 100 inmates from the Sagamu correctional centre, New Abeokuta custodial centre in Oba, Old Abeokuta custodial centre, in Ibara, Abeokuta, Ilaro and Ijebu Ode custodial centre regained freedom. The inmate were set free after a review of their cases by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu. The process commenced on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, with 36 inmates regaining their freedom in Sagamu. On Thursday, 20 inmates were released at Oba, along with 12 at Ibara. The final day, Friday, saw the liberation of 16 inmates in Ilaro and an additional 16 in Ijebu-Ode. The…

Awe Ayomide Dr. Ismaila Temitayo Sanusi, a Computer Science Education researcher with a specific interest in artificial intelligence (AI) and data science education advocates for advancing AI education for youths in Nigeria. He highlights why AI education matters, opportunity for Nigeria and gaps including call for action. Why AI Education Matters Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly revolutionizing our world, sparking innovation in various sectors, boosting efficiency, and changing how we live and work. Currently, AI technology is applied in diverse contexts, from industry to leisure, such as in medicine for disease diagnosis, in banking for fraud detection, and in music…

A prominent group of Muslim professionals under the aegis of No Dull Moment in Islam (NDMI) has commended the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, for what it described as his “uncommon leadership” in the wake of the recently reported hiccup during the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In a public statement jointly signed by the group’s Coordinator, Prof. AbdulRazaq Kilani, and Secretary, Prof. AbdulRazaq Adebowale, NDMI hailed Prof. Oloyede for displaying remarkable integrity and accountability in addressing the situation, describing his conduct as “a challenge to the standard of leadership this nation needs.”…

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Yusuf Ali, has risen in strong defence of the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede, describing him as an embodiment of integrity and accountability in public service, despite the recent controversy surrounding the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). In a press statement issued on Friday, Prof. Ali, who identified Oloyede as a close associate of nearly five decades, stated that the backlash following the technical hitches recorded in parts of the South-East and Lagos during the UTME was unfair and failed to recognise the uncommon candour the…

The Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) Nigeria has commended the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) for its unwavering commitment to ethical leadership and sound corporate governance, describing the Corporation’s efforts as crucial to the stability of Nigeria’s banking sector. A statement issued by Head, Communication and  Public Affairs Department of the NDIC,  Ms. Hawwau Gambo stated that  president and Chairman of Council of the CIoD, Alhaji Tijjani Borodo, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by the Institute’s Governing Council to the NDIC’s headquarters in Abuja. Borodo praised the NDIC for its high operational standards and the consistent execution of…