Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a shocking incident that unfolded in the Kobiti area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, a dispute over an unpaid debt spiraled into a horrifying tragedy as Wasiu Oyekan reportedly beat his neighbour, Ibrahim Lateef, to death over a sum of N4,500. The incident, which transpired near the Kobiti Central Mosque, shook the local community to its core.  The dispute arose from an incident that occurred back in August when Oyekan accused the deceased’s son and another boy of damaging his PlayStation video game. Seeking compensation for the damages,  Oyekan demanded a total of N9,000 for the repairs.  The…

Daud Olatunji The Recycling Waste to Wealth (ReW) Challenge, an initiative aimed at turning waste into economic opportunities, is taking Ogun State by storm.  The project, which was initiated through the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) Impact Award and funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, is gaining momentum as it expands to include a broader audience and a creative theme. In its inaugural year, the ReW Challenge concentrated its efforts on Government Science and Technical Colleges, resulting in the establishment of Entrepreneurship Clubs in all eight participating colleges.  The project has been…

Aminat Gusanu The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, has issued a call for a pandemic accord aimed at reinforcing the legal framework for a unified and comprehensive global response to pandemics. Dr. Ghebreyesus made this announcement through the official WHO Twitter account on Thursday, 2023. In his statement, he highlighted the profound impact of inequities, vaccine nationalism, shortages of critical medical supplies, and the remarkable efforts of healthcare workers who often lack adequate protective equipment.  Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized that the Pandemic Accord’s purpose is to prevent the recurrence of these distressing scenarios and ensure a…

Fawaz Adebisi Nigeria is among the top 20 worst countries for women to live in, according to a new report that measures women’s rights and well-being across the world. The 2023 Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Index report ranked Nigeria at the 162nd position out of 177 countries, showing a significant decline from the previous edition. The report, which was jointly published by the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) and the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), evaluated 13 indicators related to women’s inclusion, justice, and security. These indicators include education, jobs, laws, and organized violence. According to…

Fawaz Adebisi The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), over alleged financial misconduct. According to sources, the EFCC operatives picked up Emefiele on Thursday night from his residence in Abuja, shortly after he was released by the Department of State Services (DSS). Emefiele, who served as the CBN Governor from 2014 to 2023, is being interrogated at the EFCC National Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja. He is facing allegations of misappropriation of funds and abuse of office during his tenure at the apex bank. The EFCC…

Daud Olatunji  During the Africa Reinsurance Corporation Agriculture Workshop in Lagos, the Deputy Managing Director of the African Reinsurance Corporation, Ken Aghoghovbia, highlighted the concerning fact that Nigeria relies on approximately $10 billion worth of agricultural imports to bridge the gap in food and agricultural production. The two-day event, held as part of the International Finance Corporation’s Technical Assistance Provider mandate for the Nigeria Climate Insurance project, brought together key stakeholders from the Nigerian agriculture insurance industry.  The workshop aimed to create a collaborative platform for various industry players, including insurers, government agencies, farmers’ representatives, the insurance regulator, financial institutions,…

Daud Olatunji In a groundbreaking move, the Odua Investment Foundation, the social arm of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, has taken a significant step to revolutionize education in Nigeria by formally launching its Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development project.  The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday in Lagos, marks a momentous stride in the realm of digital education in the Southwest region of Nigeria. Under the umbrella of the “DEFINED” portfolio, the foundation has introduced the “Byte Busters Coding Clubs,” a specialized program designed for secondary school students.  These clubs are set to operate across all 137 local government areas in…

Daud Olatunji In the wake of a significant judgment by the Supreme Court related to the 2023 general elections, the Nigerian Exchange Limited experienced a staggering loss of N67 billion in market capitalization.  This downturn marked the second consecutive day of negative trading on the local bourse. The primary factors contributing to this substantial market dip were the depreciation in share values of several prominent companies, including MTN Nigeria (-0.40%), Flour Mills (-3.23%), Stanbic IBTC (3.21%), Computer Warehouse Group (-9.94%), Fidelity Bank (-1.82%), and 24 others. The Supreme Court ruling confirmed the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which…

Israel Adeleke A 44-year-old herdsman, Nurudeen Disu, appeared before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, charged with allegedly stealing 33 cows valued at N20 million from his employer. The defendant, residing in Anthony Village, Lagos State, pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of theft. The prosecutor, Inspector Bassey Sunday, addressing the court, stated that the defendant committed the offense between 2019 and 2023 behind the Newcastle Hotel in Anthony Village. He alleged that the defendant conspired with others in the theft. Inspector Sunday further explained that the 33 cows stolen by the defendant belonged to the complainant, Mr. Bashura…

Daud Olatunji In a shocking case of alleged police misconduct, Iyanda Olarenwaju, a civil servant with the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has accused the Kwara State Police of fraudulently detaining him and his family without any concrete evidence of wrongdoing. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the ordeal began on August 29, 2023, when Olarenwaju was apprehended by three police officers from the Adatan Police Station at Adatan roundabout in Abeokuta.  He was later  handed over to Kwara command officers who claimed to be investigating a case of fraud involving his Bank Verification Number (BVN).  He said that the…