Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, has announced plans to donate 99 per cent of his estimated $200 billion fortune, revealing that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will officially shut down on December 31, 2045. Gates made the disclosure on Thursday in a personal blog post on Gates Notes, declaring his renewed commitment to returning the bulk of his wealth to society within his lifetime. “People will say a lot of things about me when I die, but I am determined that ‘he died rich’ will not be one of them,” Gates wrote. “There are too many urgent…

Leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Abuja that he was abducted and not arrested by Nigerian security operatives, in what he described as a forceful rendition from Kenya in 2021. Kanu made the claim during a dramatic session of cross-examination as his trial resumed on May 8, 2025, before Justice Omotosho. The court is hearing terrorism-related charges filed against him by the Federal Government. Looking composed and surrounded by his legal team led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), alongside Aloy Ejimakor, Emeka Etiaba, and other senior…

The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has officially endorsed President Bola Tinubu for re-election in the 2027 presidential election. Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State made the announcement on Thursday during President Tinubu’s working visit to the state. The declaration was made at a rally held at Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, which drew a large crowd of party faithful and supporters. Soludo, who is also a prominent figure within APGA, described the endorsement as a “progressive alliance” between APGA and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). He stressed that both parties share common ideological values centered on development and…

In a historic shift for the Catholic Church, American-born Cardinal Robert Prevost has been elected as the new pope, assuming the papal name Pope Leo XIV. This marks the first time a United States citizen will serve as the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. The 69-year-old cleric succeeds Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025. His election was confirmed following the traditional white smoke ceremony at the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. Pope Leo XIV was, until his election, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops — a key Vatican office responsible for the global…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi The Forum for Governance Leadership and Value (FGLV) has honoured Senator Solomon Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, with the Legislative Icon Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s democratic process and legislative excellence. The event, which took place in Abeokuta on Thursday, was part of a media symposium themed “Enhancing the Value of the Legislature in Nigeria’s Democratic Process.” The convener of the  forum, Bolaji Adeniji said the forum brought together scholars, lawmakers, and political stakeholders to examine the legislature’s role in fostering good governance. Adeniji lauded Senator Adeola’s commitment to his legislative duties and his…

Babcock University,Ilishan-Remo,Ogun state,  has once again demonstrated its dominance in legal education as nine of its law graduates earned First Class Honours in the November 2024 Bar Part II Final Examination of the Nigerian Law School. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the results, recently released by the Council of Legal Education, mark another milestone for the private institution, reinforcing its legacy of academic excellence. Early, unconfirmed reports also suggest that one of the nine graduates may emerge as the third overall best candidate nationally—an achievement that would further cement Babcock’s growing reputation for producing legal elite. “This continued success is a…

In a dramatic political shift, Hon. Oluwole Oke, the six-term member of the House of Representatives representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency of Osun State, has attributed his decision  to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).to the leadership style of President Bola Tinubu, as well as the internal crises and leadership breakdown within the opposition party. Oke, a key figure in the PDP for years, while speaking on the Frontline programme on Eagle 102.5 FM Ilese-Ijebu on Wednesday,  outlined his admiration for President Tinubu, citing the president’s bold economic reforms and his “Nigeria First” policy…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi As the world marks the 2025 World Red Cross Day on Thursday, the Ogun State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society disclosed that it had disbursed over N38 million in humanitarian support to flood victims in two local government area of the state, calling on Nigerians to rise above self-interest and embrace compassion in the face of deepening national crises. Speaking at a commemorative event held at the Valley View Auditorium, Isale Igbehin, Abeokuta, the state Chairman of the society, Dr. Ibrahim Jide Bello, said the intervention was part of a broader commitment to alleviate human suffering…

A Professor of Financial Mathematics, Obi-Nnamdi Agwuegbo, has blamed Nigeria’s protracted economic challenges on the failure of successive governments to embrace statistical reasoning in policy formulation and national planning. Agwuegbo, who delivered the 102nd Inaugural Lecture of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) on Wednesday, maintained that without data-driven strategies, the nation’s developmental aspirations would remain a mirage. The lecture, themed “Statistical Reasoning: A Panacea for National Development”, was held at the Prof. Oluwafemi Balogun Ceremonial Building on campus. According to Agwuegbo, who is a professor of Stochastic Modelling in the Department of Statistics, College of Physical Sciences (COLPHYS),…

The Federal Government, on Wednesday, issued a stern warning to Nigerians over the dangers of excessive salt consumption, rebuking recent controversial claims by the founder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who urged followers to embrace more salt in their diets. In a viral video posted on social media, Oyakhilome alleged that Africans were being manipulated into avoiding salt so they could become dependent on sodium-based pharmaceutical products. He claimed salt was beneficial and that health advisories against its intake were part of a broader conspiracy. But the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare swiftly countered the cleric’s claims,…