Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Partnership Against Violent Extremism Network has launched a 30-day nationwide civic advocacy campaign aimed at mobilising Nigerians to demand stronger action against insecurity, abductions and violent extremism across the country. The campaign, which commenced on Wednesday and will run until July 30, is themed, “Protect Nigerian Lives: End Abductions, Strengthen Communities and Stop the Politicisation of Insecurity,” with the slogan, “Nigerian Lives Must Come First.” In a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, the network said the initiative would galvanise civil society organisations, labour unions, professional bodies, youth and women groups, traditional and religious leaders, media organisations and policymakers…

The Rotary International District 9111 has donated a Peace Institute to the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, in a move aimed at strengthening peacebuilding, conflict resolution and leadership development. The institute was officially inaugurated on Tuesday, with the Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, describing the project as a major addition to the state’s educational infrastructure and a boost to the university’s capacity for civic engagement. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Salako-Oyedele said the institute would provide a platform for dialogue, conflict prevention, mediation, civic education and community development, while expanding the university’s role beyond conventional teaching. She noted…

The Nigerian Correctional Service has disclosed that no fewer than 1,271 offenders are currently serving various non-custodial sentences across the country under alternative punishment measures aimed at reducing congestion in custodial centres. Latest statistics released by the NCoS as of June 29, 2026, showed that 1,137 of the offenders are males, while 134 are females. According to the figures, community service remains the most widely adopted non-custodial sentence, accounting for 1,038 offenders nationwide. The breakdown indicates that 992 males and 46 females are currently serving community service sentences. The data further revealed that 12 offenders are on parole, comprising nine…

Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) generated a combined N801.16bn in revenue from Nigerian electricity consumers between January and April 2026, despite months of widespread blackouts, unstable power supply and mounting complaints over poor service delivery. Data obtained from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission showed that the 11 electricity distribution firms billed consumers N1.01tn during the four-month period but recovered N801.16bn, leaving an outstanding N207.77bn in unpaid electricity bills. The regulator’s commercial performance reports indicated that the DisCos collected N204.74bn in January, N196.68bn in February, N196.13bn in March and N203.61bn in April. The strong revenue performance came even as households and businesses…

Dr. Olawale Amuzat, a Nigerian- Canadian-based procurement and supply chain expert with extensive international credentials, has been named a Senator of the University of Alberta for a three-year term beginning in July. The institution is widely regarded as one of Canada’s leading universities—consistently ranked among the top three in the country and within the top 100 globally in major international rankings. The appointment places him within one of Canada’s key university governance structures and marks a significant milestone in his growing profile as a global leader in procurement, education, and institutional development. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Procurement…

The National Emergency Management Agency has received 123 Nigerian returnees repatriated from Algeria under the Assisted Voluntary Return programme coordinated by the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the Federal Government. The returnees arrived at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Monday aboard a Nesma Airlines flight, NEMA disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday. According to the agency, the exercise formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe, dignified and orderly return of distressed Nigerians stranded abroad. NEMA said the reception was coordinated by its Lagos Operations Office in partnership with…

Zaynab Abioye Stakeholders in the media and education sectors on Tuesday called for a revival of reading culture among Nigerian students, warning that the growing dependence on social media is eroding intellectual development and academic excellence. The call was made at a live conversation themed, “Community Media in Our Nascent Democracy: The Ogun State Example,” organised to mark the 35th anniversary of Prestige Newspaper at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Hall, Iwe-Iroyin, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta. Speaking at the event, the publisher of Prestige Newspaper, Dada Olanipekun, expressed concern over what he described as the declining interest in reading among young people,…

…Targets Top 25 Ranking In Nigeria, 50% IGR Growth By 2031 Daud Olatunji The newly inaugurated Vice-Chancellor of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State, Prof. Samuel Ekundayo Oladipo, has unveiled an ambitious seven-point development agenda aimed at repositioning the institution as one of Nigeria’s top 25 universities and among the world’s top 3,000 by 2031. Oladipo, who spoke on Tuesday,  during his investiture as the sixth Vice-Chancellor of the university, said the five-year strategic blueprint was designed to consolidate TASFUED’s new status as a Federal University while accelerating growth in academic excellence, research, digital innovation, infrastructure and…

…Education Minister Says Policy Has Failed …Seeks To Halt Rising School Dropout Rate Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has unveiled plans to abolish the long-standing separation of Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School, describing the policy as a major contributor to Nigeria’s worsening school dropout crisis. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the proposed reform on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Universal Basic Education Commission Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee, saying the existing arrangement has failed to guarantee a smooth transition for millions of learners. According to the minister, more than 20 million pupils are…

…Protest cripples academic activities, CBT test postponed Students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, on Tuesday shut down academic activities and blocked the Minna-Bida Road in protest over the alleged killing of a student by suspected robbers and worsening insecurity around off-campus hostels. The protesters barricaded the institution’s main gate, preventing the Vice-Chancellor, principal officers, lecturers and other members of staff from accessing the campus. The demonstration also disrupted the university’s scheduled computer-based aptitude test for 100- and 300-level students, leaving academic activities at a standstill. The students alleged that the protest was triggered by the killing…