Author: Platform Times Newspaper

By Aisha Ademigbuji Reading is a complex skill that opens doors to knowledge, imagination, and lifelong learning. For young learners, mastering the foundations of reading is crucial. This process can be distilled into five big ideas, each playing a vital role in helping children become proficient readers. Understanding these concepts is essential for educators, parents, and anyone involved in early childhood education. 1. Phonemic Awareness Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds—phonemes—in spoken words. It’s the foundation of reading, as it prepares children to understand that words are made up of these sounds. Activities like…

The Director-General of the Labour Party’s presidential campaign for the 2023 election, Dr. Doyin Okupe, has accused the party’s candidate, Peter Obi, of betraying the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to pursue his own presidential ambitions.  Okupe stated this in a viral video circulated on social media on Friday, clarifying his reasons for withdrawing support from Obi. According to Okupe, Obi’s decision to contest the 2023 presidential election led him to break ranks with Atiku, who had initially brought Obi into national politics by selecting him as his vice-presidential candidate in the 2019 election.  Okupe vehemently denied allegations…

Daud Olatunji In a bid to tackle the moral decline and rising societal ills plaguing Nigeria, the Dawah Front Ummu Forum , Abeokuta chapter, recently organised a thought-provoking session.  The event, headlined by some experts include ; the lead discussant, Dr. Muibat  Shittu from the Federal University of Agriculture,Abeokuta, Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, Dr Mutiu Agboke, the Administrator of Al-Ma’ruf Academy, Mr Maknun Adekunle and a young female advocate, Kabirah Indarabi, all shared their thoughts on the theme “Intentional Parenting: Youth Reformation.” The session drew insights from Islamic teachings to propose effective parenting strategies aimed at raising morally…

Daud Olatunji  Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has opened up about the perilous times he faced during the regime of the late Nigerian military dictator, General Sani Abacha.  Reflecting on his experiences as he marks his 90th birthday, Soyinka described his survival through that era as “a bit of a miracle.” In an interview, the  playwright and activist recalled the intense scrutiny and danger he faced from Abacha’s government, which he characterised as driven by madness and obsession.  “Abacha was mad. He was obsessed. He was really obsessed with me,” Soyinka stated, highlighting the personal vendetta the dictator harboured against…

 Daud Olatunji The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, has shed light on the stark realities faced by many Nigerians in accessing healthcare.  Speaking at the fifth legislative summit on health in Abuja, themed “Improving Legislative Stewardship and Accountability for Universal Health Coverage,” Pate  said the significant barriers to medical care is primarily affordability. During his address on Friday, Pate said  that many Nigerians rely on public facilities for their healthcare needs, with a considerable number not seeking medical care at all due to cost constraints.  He drew the  revelation  from a comprehensive survey involving…

Daud Olatunji A women leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Katsina State, Aisha Abubakar, has confessed to serving as an informant for bandits.  Abubakar admitted to receiving a meagre N5000 from a N9 million ransom and a motorcycle paid to secure the release of kidnapped individuals. Abubakar’s confession emerged in a viral interrogation video where she detailed her involvement in the kidnapping of five family members of the Tsaiyaya Ward APC chairman.  According to her, she played a crucial role in providing information that led to the abduction of Alhaji Sanusi, his two wives, and three children…

The police in Katsina State have arrested a 13-year-old boy, suspected to be providing information to armed bandits. ASP Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the Public Relations Officer of the command , made this known in Katsina. “On July 3, the command, in collaboration with members of the Katsina State Community Watch Corps (KSCWC) attached to Dansoda village, Dandume Local Government Area (LGA), succeeded in arresting the 13-year-old boy. “He resides in Sheik Abdullahi quarters of Dandume town. He  was arrested in connection to a suspected case of aiding and abetting armed banditry. “The suspect was arrested following the intelligence tips…

 Former Senate Chief Whip, Senator Ali Ndume, has publicly declined his recent appointment as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tourism, emphasising the urgent need for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the widespread hardship faced by Nigerians. This decision comes after Senate President Godswill Akpabio reassigned Ndume following his removal as Chief Whip of the 10th Senate on Wednesday.  During a press chat in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Friday, Ndume expressed his disinterest in the tourism portfolio, citing his lack of expertise in the field.  He stated, “I was begged to accept the position of…

The Federal Government has shut down an illegal gold mine site in Yagba East Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi State. The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, stated that the move was part of the Federal Government’s commitment to combat illegal mining and reposition the sector to boost Nigeria’s economic profile. In a statement by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Friday in Abuja, the operation was carried out by the Mining marshals in Iyeh Odogbe, Isanlu community of Yagba East LGA. According to Tomori, the operation involved dislodging illegal miners…

Daud Olatunji  The Federal Government of Nigeria has levied a $220 million fine against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, for violations of local consumer protection and data privacy laws.  This was disclosed by Dr. Adamu Abdullahi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), on Friday. Dr. Abdullahi revealed that investigations demonstrated that Meta engaged in unauthorised data-sharing practices, appropriating the personal data of Nigerian users without their consent.  He highlighted that Meta’s conduct constituted an abuse of its market dominance and involved discriminatory practices against Nigerian users compared to other…