Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has urged Islamic scholars, leaders, and the entire Muslim community to transcend internal divisions and embrace a unified path toward progress. Prof. Oloyede made this appeal during a three-day conference organized by the Robitatu-l-Aimmah wal Ulamoh fi Bilaadi Yoruba (The League of Imams and Alfas in Yoruba Land) held in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. The conference, centered on the theme “Strengthening Islamic Unity and Progress in Yoruba Land,” sought to address critical issues facing the Muslim community in…

Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), Prof. Yusuf Dasilva, says men can also be affected by breast cancer, advising both genders to always go for screening. Dasilva stated this in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of a ‘Walk for Breast Cancer Awareness’, organised in Ilorin, as part of the activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme, with the theme: “No One Should Face Breast Cancer Alone”, was organised by UITH, in collaboration with the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN). The CMD, who…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has revealed that 84 lecturers died between May and August 2024 as a result of economic hardship and unpaid salaries, further highlighting the dire state of Nigeria’s university system. This disclosure was made by the ASUU President, Emmanuel Osodeke, during an appearance on the socio-political programme Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, aired on Channels Television. Osodeke decried the prevailing economic conditions that have contributed to the untimely deaths of Nigerian academics, stating that their suffering has been exacerbated by the federal government’s withholding of salaries. “In the past three months, from May to…

Daud Olatunji Nigeria is grappling with a critical health and economic crisis as open defecation continues to plague the nation, with an estimated $1.5 billion lost annually due to health issues, reduced productivity, and the far-reaching consequences of poor sanitation. Stakeholders are urging a unified effort to combat this growing menace, which is both a symptom and a driver of poverty in many regions, especially in the Southwest. PLATFORM TIMES reports that open defecation as a practice  is linked to widespread diseases such as diarrhoea, cholera, and malnutrition, and remains prevalent in Nigeria, affecting an estimated 48 million people. PLATFORM…

The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) has expressed deep sympathy to the victims of the devastating floods that have ravaged over 300 communities in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, displacing millions of people and leaving many in critical conditions. The flooding, which has submerged homes and farmlands, primarily affecting women and children, has forced thousands to seek shelter in makeshift internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Sulaimon Arigbabu, HEDA called on both local and federal governments to urgently provide relief to the affected communities. The organization also stressed the importance…

Ayomide Awe Chief Olusegun Osoba, former governor of Ogun State, has called on Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Tinubu, emphasizing that his presidency is a product of Yoruba leadership and collective effort. Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) South West Zone Assembly meeting held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Lagos, Osoba urged the nation to accept Tinubu’s leadership, assuring that he would serve another four years as a Yoruba son. During his speech, Osoba traced Tinubu’s political journey, recalling a critical decision made by South West leaders in 2007. According to him, that moment marked the beginning of…

In a fresh wave of violence in Nigeria’s Northwestern region, bandits have abducted a traditional ruler, Mohammed Isa-Daya, along with his two sons and six others in Kebbi State. The attack took place on Saturday night in Kanya district, located in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of the state. The assailants stormed the community, whisking away nine people in total, including the district head. In the process, one person was killed, and three others sustained gunshot injuries. The injured victims are currently receiving treatment at the General Hospital Riba. The incident has raised concerns, especially following recent comments by President Bola…

Wema Bank has partnered with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to launch the MOWA x SARA Accelerator Programme, an initiative aimed at empowering 500,000 women across Nigeria with essential vocational and business management skills. The programme, which was unveiled during a recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony in Abuja, is designed to promote gender inclusion and economic empowerment, targeting women in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Over the next 24 months, the initiative will equip women with the tools needed to thrive personally and professionally through a combination of soft skills, business management training, and…

Daud Olatunji Prominent Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has rejected claims that politicians are behind the surge in banditry in northern Nigeria. Instead, he attributes the crisis to the long-standing neglect of marginalized communities, particularly herdsmen, who are now demanding education and a better future for their children. In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Gumi dismissed allegations of political involvement in sponsoring the bandits, stressing that the insecurity ravaging the northern region is a grassroots issue, driven by years of deprivation. “No politician is sponsoring these people. We are all victims. The opposition is not even behind this.…

Daud Olatunji The Victory Life Bible Church International (VLBC INT’L) has honoured the legacy of the late Reverend Fola Achudume with cash awards and skill training programmes aimed at fostering entrepreneurship. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the initiatives were announced during the conclusion of the church’s Youth on Fire Convention, tagged “Alive,” which saw an outpouring of spiritual fervour and leadership transitions. Lead Pastor of VLBC INT’L, Apostle Lawrence Achudume, highlighted the event’s focus on youth entrepreneurship, reiterating the urgent need for young Nigerians to take control of their economic future. “The future belongs to entrepreneurs, not employees,” he declared, emphasizing…