Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a resounding call to bridge educational disparities, Prof. Grace Sokoya, a distinguished scholar at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), emphasized the urgent need for investment in girl-child education as a powerful strategy to break cycles of poverty and improve psychological well-being across Nigerian families. Delivering FUNAAB’s 94th Inaugural Lecture on October 30, 2024, Prof. Sokoya highlighted the transformative impact of education on girls, arguing that it equips them to advocate for their rights, make informed decisions, and drive positive societal change. In her lecture titled, “Afrocentric and Gendered-Constructions of Psychological Well-Being in Families: The Sojourn…

The National President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), Dr. Tope Osundara, has confirmed the release of Dr. Ganiyat Popoola, a member who was abducted ten months ago from the Senior Staff Quarters at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna. Dr. Popoola, who spent close to a year in captivity, has now been reunited with her family. Dr. Osundara who spoke with PLATFORM TIMES exclusively on Wednesday, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for their commitment to the cause. He…

…As 32% of Nigerians Remain Financially Excluded The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) disclosed on Wednesday that about 54 million Nigerian adults now hold certified bank accounts, representing 52 percent of the adult population in 2023. This revelation was shared in Abuja during the Financial Literacy Fair, part of activities marking the 2024 World Savings Day. CBN noted that while 5 percent of the adult population is captured under an “other formal” financial inclusion category, 11 percent are informally included in financial systems. However, a significant 32 percent, or roughly 33.9 million Nigerians, remain financially excluded, unable to access formal…

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has expressed frustration over prolonged delays in loading petrol from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing the refinery of not granting its members direct access to the fuel supply. In a television interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, IPMAN President Abubakar Garima voiced concerns following recent comments by Aliko Dangote, founder of the refinery. On October 29, Dangote claimed that his facility currently holds over 500 million litres of petrol ready for sale but accused marketers of bypassing the refinery to purchase imported fuel, resulting in financial losses for the company.…

The Lagos State Police Command has initiated legal action against the organisers of an upcoming event, the Global Property Conference, for allegedly using the name and image of the state’s Commissioner of Police, CP Olanrewaju Ishola, without authorization. The event is scheduled to hold on November 9, 2024, at the Landmark Event Centre on Victoria Island, Lagos. According to a statement released by the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Command was not informed or involved in the conference, despite the promotional flyer displaying CP Ishola’s name and picture as a supposed guest. Hundeyin described the…

Daud Olatunji Seventeen traditional rulers from Yewa North Local Government in Ogun State have endorsed Dr. Olusola Akinbode, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate. The endorsement was announced after a reconciliation meeting held on Wednesday, at the palace of the Abepa of Joga-Orile. The meeting, aimed at fostering reconciliation and cohesion within the APC ranks, was facilitated by the Eselu of Eselu, Oba Akinyemi Akintunde. Speaking at the event, Oba Akinyemi explained the purpose of the gathering, emphasizing the need to prevent political divisions among the subjects of Yewa North. “The purpose of this meeting is for reconciliation and…

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Kobape, Abeokuta, has set November 8, 2024, for the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the National Rescue Movement (NRM) against the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC). The lawsuit challenges OGSIEC’s imposition of administrative fees on political parties participating in the upcoming local government elections. The NRM is contesting the legality of the fees—N250,000, N150,000, and N100,000—levied by OGSIEC on candidates running for various positions in the scheduled November 16, 2024, local government elections. In its originating summons (suit no: AB/741/2024), the party argues that the fees are unconstitutional and in violation…

Daud Olatunji Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Nurudeen Adekunle has denied allegations that he slapped a male nursing student at a hospital in Ogun State, clarifying that he merely reprimanded the student by asking him to leave the operating theatre. The incident, which occurred on September 24, has sparked controversy, with social media posts amplifying claims of physical assault, which Dr. Adekunle insists are untrue. In an exclusive statement, Dr. Adekunle recounted his version of events. “On my operation day, I was preparing to operate on three patients, and I took the opportunity to teach the students present, both medical and…

The Sultanate Council has dismissed rumours circulating on social media about the purported death of His Eminence, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the revered Sultan of Sokoto, labelling the reports as “totally false and unfounded.” According to the council’s Senior Counselor, Dr. Muhammadu Jabbi Kilgori, the rumours of Sultan Abubakar’s passing, which surfaced in a “breaking news” clip online, have no basis in reality. Dr. Kilgori clarified that the Sultan was not only alive but actively engaged in his official duties. The statement noted that on the day the false report was spread, the Sultan was seen attending a meeting of…

A new report by civic-tech organization BudgIT has revealed that 32 of Nigeria’s 36 states relied on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for over 55 percent of their total revenue in 2023. The report, titled State of States 2024, was launched on Tuesday in Abuja and highlights the fiscal vulnerability many states face due to their reliance on federal disbursements. According to the report, Lagos and Ogun stand out as the only states less reliant on FAAC for their revenue. The findings show that federal transfers made up at least 62 percent of recurrent revenue for 34…