Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Wema Bank has emerged as a double winner at the Global SME Banking Innovation Awards 2026, reinforcing its position in the provision of innovative financial solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises. The bank secured the SME Financier of the Year and Best SME Lending Product – Digital Bank awards, in recognition of its impact in expanding access to finance and supporting enterprise growth. The global awards celebrate financial institutions that demonstrate innovation, measurable impact, and excellence in SME banking, while setting benchmarks for entrepreneurship support. Reacting to the feat, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Moruf Oseni, said the…

What began as an unintended academic path became a story of resilience, faith, and determination. After failed attempts to switch to his dream course and battling financial and health challenges, Ponmak Nancwat embraced Plant Science and Biotechnology at the University of Jos, emerging with a remarkable 4.54 GPA. In this interview with KOREDE BADMUS, he shares how persistence and a shift in mindset shaped his success. Enjoy it . Can you introduce yourself? My name is Ponmak Nancwat, from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos. What was your final GPA, and what…

EU links Crisis To Food Insecurity, Emissions … Urges investment In Storage, Infrastructure The European Union (EU) has raised serious concern over Nigeria’s worsening food waste crisis, revealing that the country loses an estimated 38 million tonnes of food annually—placing it at the top of food-wasting nations in Africa. The warning was issued in Abuja during the commemoration of the 2026 International Zero Waste Day, themed “Food Waste Reduction – Minimisation and Valorisation.” Speaking at the event, the Deputy Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Zissimos Vergos, described the situation as alarming, stressing that urgent and…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Friday formally elevated three high-ranking chiefs in Ibadanland to the status of Obas in absentia, despite their absence at the official coronation ceremony held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan. The governor said the decision to proceed with the installation without the physical presence of the affected chiefs was necessary to prevent a vacuum and sustain the long-established structure of the Ibadan traditional system. Those elevated are Chief Kola Babalola (SAN), the Ekaarun Olubadan; High Chief Akeem Bolaji Adewoyin, the Ekerin Balogun; and High Chief Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, the Ekaarun Balogun and Senator representing Oyo…

No fewer than 150 residents have been abducted by suspected bandits in coordinated attacks on communities in Zamfara State, deepening concerns over worsening insecurity in the North-West. The victims were reportedly kidnapped during late-night raids on Kurfa Ɗanya and Kurfan Magaji villages in Bukkuyum Local Government Area. The lawmaker representing Gumi/Bukkuyum Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Suleiman Abubakar, confirmed the incident, saying the attackers stormed the communities around midnight on Thursday, catching residents off guard. According to him, the assailants carried out a coordinated operation, abducting scores of villagers while they were asleep. Residents said  that the attackers…

The Ogun State Police Command on Friday debunked widespread rumours alleging the presence of bandits in Lusada community, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, describing the claims as false and misleading. The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, moved swiftly to calm rising tension triggered by viral voice notes circulating on social media, particularly WhatsApp, which claimed that suspected bandits had relocated to the area. In one of the audio messages, a man who identified himself as an Islamic cleric warned residents in Yoruba to remain vigilant, alleging that criminal elements had infiltrated the community. Another voice note, delivered in English, reinforced the…

The mystery surrounding the death of 22-year-old Afro-Fuji artiste, Afeez Adesina, popularly known as Destiny Boy, has been laid to rest, as an autopsy report has identified drug toxicity as the cause of his demise. Destiny Boy, who died on January 17, 2026, had sparked widespread controversy following the emergence of disturbing videos showing his lifeless body being transported to a mortuary, with cotton wool placed in his nostrils and ears. The footage triggered outrage on social media and fueled speculations about possible foul play. However, findings from an autopsy conducted by the Ogun State Police Command have now revealed…

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has called on the South-East to deliver at least 80 per cent of its votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Umahi made the appeal on Thursday during the inauguration of a completed section of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, where he highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects in the region under the current administration. Speaking with journalists, the former Ebonyi State governor said the road project, initially awarded under a tax credit scheme involving MTN Nigeria and Reynolds Construction Company, had stalled before the intervention of the Tinubu administration. He noted that the…

Troops of the Joint Military Task Force, Operation Enduring Peace, have foiled multiple attacks in Plateau State, arresting two suspects and killing three others in separate operations across the state. The military disclosed that the operations were carried out in Jos North and Wase Local Government Areas following intelligence reports and distress calls from residents. The Media Information Officer of the task force, Captain Chinonso Oteh, in a statement on Friday, said troops responded swiftly to security breaches, preventing further destruction and loss of lives. He explained that in Dutse Uku community of Jos North, soldiers acted on a distress…

The Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto has dismissed a staff member, Malam Garba Ahmed, over his involvement in the illegal mobilisation of unqualified graduates for the National Youth Service Corps. The decision was approved at the institution’s 176th Governing Council meeting held on April 1, 2026, according to a statement issued on Friday by the university’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Ismaila Mohammed Yauri. Ahmed, who worked in the Registry Department, was found guilty of uploading the names of ineligible candidates for the NYSC scheme, an act the university described as a gross violation of its regulations and established NYSC…