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Report on Praise Sunday Service at Foursquare Gospel Church Wuse District Headquarters, Abuja, on Sunday, March 30, 2025 Text: Psalms 126:1-6  Minister: Rev. Mrs. Olusola Idowu  Guest Music Artist: Sister Blessing Angel Job (Music Director of Kubwa District).  Service Overview Sunday service at Foursquare Gospel Church Wuse District Headquarters was a spiritually uplifting and transformative experience. The atmosphere was charged with expectancy as the congregation gathered to worship and draw closer to God through heartfelt praises and a powerful message. The service was led by Rev. Mrs. Olusola Idowu, with special musical ministrations by Sister Blessing Angel Job. Worship and Praise The service began with an electrifying session of worship led by Sister Blessing Angel Job. Her vibrant harmonies and soul-stirring melodies prepared the hearts of the congregation to receive the Word of God. The sanctuary was filled with an overwhelming sense of G...

By Maya Jaggi  THE award-winning Nigerian author and Beyoncé-sampled essayist is back with her first novel in a decade, which makes now a great time to get to know her work. She’s won multiple awards for her novels, had her Ted talk sampled by Beyoncé, and was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015. Now, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is back with her first novel in 10 years – so if you haven’t read anything by the Nigerian author yet, it’s a good time to catch up. The entry point Adichie’s second novel,  Half of a Yellow Sun,  not only won the Orange Prize for Fiction (now the Women’s Prize for Fiction) in the year I was a judge, but also its Winner of Winners in 2020, and was made into a 2013 film with Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandiwe Newton. It begins after Nigerian independence in 1960, telling the story of the Biafran war via “The Master,” a maths lecturer in Nsukka (where Adichie grew up), his London-educated lover Olanna, and ...

AFRICA stands at a critical juncture in its development, with immense potential driven by a youthful population, rich natural resources, and expanding consumer markets, says the ECA’s Economic Report on Africa 2025. However, while economic growth has rebounded post-pandemic, it remains below pre-pandemic levels, limiting progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report examines the African Continental Free Trade Area and its transformative opportunity to accelerate trade-led integration and drive inclusive, sustainable development. “With the AfCFTA, we have the potential to boost intra-African trade by 45%. While the benefits will be broadly shared across sectors, agri-business and industry are set to benefit the most,” said Hanan Morsy, ECA’s deputy executive secretary and chief economist, in a presentation on the key highlights of the report at COM2025. “This presents an opportunity to focus on high-value-addition sectors and advance regional value chains.” Sh...

THE  57th session of the Economic Commission for Africa’s Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development  ended with a rousing call from Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the ECA, for Africa to own and pursue its own development agenda. Gatete said the meeting came at a moment of profound global changes, which called for reflection on the next steps the continent needs to take. He said the continent must recognise that the global economic realignments, technological revolution and changes in trade, investment and aid flows are coming at a time when the global financial architecture has been shown to be unfit for contemporary purposes. “Africa in the face of these global developments has no other choice than to act – and act proactively,” he stressed, noting that “what has become abundantly clear in our deliberations is that Africa must take charge of its own economic destiny.” Gatete said the resolution from the conference...

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo says Africa needs a democracy of its own context that delivers to all people. Obasanjo said this on Monday in Abuja, while speaking at a Colloquium to mark the 60th birthday of former Imo Governor, Emeka Ihedioha. He said that to sustain democracy in the continent, Africa needed one that delivers to all people, not to few section. He noted that the Greek model of democracy, ensured that all citizens participated directly in their affairs, adding that what was praticable now was a representative system, that does not taken care of everybody. He added that before the colonial rule, Africa practiced democracy, a system of government which attended to the needs of her people. Obasanjo lamented that in Africa, democracy was becoming a system of government by a small number of people over a large population. “Is democracy failing in Africa? Are we talking of democracy or western liberal democracy? “Abraham Lincoln describes it as a government of the people,...

THE Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has raised alarms about potential risks linked to the Naira-for-crude oil policy. The association warned that the policy could jeopardise Nigeria’s foreign exchange stability and discourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows. Olufemi Adewole, Executive Secretary of DAPPMAN, expressed these concerns in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos. Adewole stated the policy might disrupt Nigeria’s role in the global oil market, which is traditionally driven by transactions in U.S. dollars. He stressed that oil trade relies on dollars due to the currency’s stability and global acceptance, which provides predictability to international partners and investors. Failing to align with this standard, Adewole cautioned, may isolate Nigeria from global markets, hinder trade, and discourage investment. “The global oil market depends on the U.S. dollar’s stability. Shifting from this norm could alienate our trade partners and...

Necessity of Intervention in Rivers and the burden of leadership in times of crisis, By Taminu Yakubu Throughout history, leadership has never been measured by mere occupancy of office but by the ability to act decisively in the face of disorder. From the ancient philosopher-kings of Plato’s Republic, tasked with safeguarding justice, to Sun Tzu’s Art of War, which emphasizes preemptive action against internal threats, it has been clear that governance is not a passive role but an active duty. John Locke’s Second Treatise on Government reminds us that when those entrusted with power begin to subvert the institutions that sustain governance, superior authority must intervene to restore order. It is in this context that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s intervention in Rivers State must be understood – not as a political maneuver, but as a constitutional necessity to prevent the descent into anarchy. His actions, in invoking Section 305 of the Nigerian Constitution, affirm the fundamental ro...

By Afolabi Olajuwon   Comprehensive Report on the Sermon: "Divine Intervention Unto Restoration" by Rev. Prof. James Nda Jacob  Date: March 23, 2025  Venue: Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District, Abuja.   Introduction  In a warm and Godly reception, the Senior pastor and District Overseer of Wuse, Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu introduced Rev. Prof. James Nda Jacob, the District Overseer of Kubwa District and Northern Regional Coordinator of Foursquare Gospel Church, to the congregation. Rev. Prof. James Jacob, delivered a profound sermon titled "Divine Intervention Unto Restoration." The message, rooted in biblical truth and personal testimony, emphasized the transformative power of prayer and divine intervention in the lives of believers. The sermon was a call to trust in God’s faithfulness, even in the midst of adversity, and to embrace prayer as a pathway to divine favour and restoration.    Scriptural Foundation ...

ABA Power, Nigeria’s newest electricity distribution company (DisCo), has spoken on some media reports that an Abia State High Court has voided the new electricity tariff from the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) for its customers or that of any of the other 11 DisCos in the country. NERC ordered a new tariff for Aba Power effective January 1, 2025, on December 30, nine months after it had approved a new tariff for the other DisCos. Speaking on the veracity of the reports, the power utility declared the publications false.  “It is untrue and completely misleading”, asserted Edise Ekong, the Aba Power Communication and Brand Manager, in a statement this afternoon “for the online media to claim that Mr. Justice Enyinnaya Ikpeazu of the Isiala Ngwa High Court in Abia State has directed Aba Power to revert to the old tariff”. “An amorphous group called the Aba Electricity Consumers Forum went to the Abia State High Court in protest against the new NERC order, but the ju...

Afolabi Olajuwon Community policing in Nigeria has emerged as a critical approach for improving security and fostering greater trust between citizens and law enforcement agencies. I will be discussing the effectiveness of community policing in Nigeria, emphasizing the role of public relations strategies in optimizing outcomes. Analyzing best practices and identifying challenges, this study provides valuable insights into how community policing can be strengthened to create safer communities and more collaborative environments between the public and the police. In the face of growing insecurity and rising crime rates in Nigeria, community policing has been positioned as a pivotal strategy for law enforcement reform. Unlike traditional policing, which often relies on a top-down approach, community policing emphasizes collaboration between police and communities, focusing on proactive measures to prevent crime and resolve community issues. This is to explore how public relations s...

MAJOR General Dele Arogundade, Commandant of the Nigerian Army School of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Auchi, and a Chartered Emotional Intelligence Professional, delivered a compelling lecture on March 19, 2025. The lecture, titled “Emotional and Social Intelligence: Critical Skillset for Strategic Leaders,” was presented to the newly inaugurated participants of the Senior Executive Course (SEC) 47/2025 at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Plateau State. The session was highly engaging, featuring real-life anecdotes that reinforced key principles of emotional and social intelligence. Major General Arogundade provided an in-depth analysis of the intrinsic link between emotional intelligence and effective strategic leadership. He elaborated on the fundamental components of emotional intelligence, identified common indicators of deficiencies in these skills, and outlined their implications for leadership effectiveness. Emphasizing...

ACCESS Bank, a leading financial institution committed to fostering gender equality and women’s empowerment, is proud to announce that it will be honouring the distinguished  Power of 100 awardees  at its upcoming International Women’s Day (IWD) Conference. This landmark event, scheduled to take place on March 28, 2025, will celebrate the achievements of exceptional women who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact across various industries in Africa. The Power of 100 initiative is part of Access Bank’s continuous effort to recognize and support women who are driving change, breaking barriers, and creating opportunities for others. These remarkable individuals have made significant contributions to business, entrepreneurship, social development, and advocacy, aligning with this year’s IWD theme: Accelerate Action. Speaking about the upcoming event, Chizoma Okoli, Deputy Managing Director, Access Bank, expressed enthusiasm for the celebration, stating, ...

By Prof Mike Ozekhome,  SAN INTRODUCTION IN an era where democracy is supposed to reign supreme giving democracy dividends to beleaguered Nigerians, the nation has once again found itself at crossroads, a sober moment of reckoning where constitutional order is being tested in the most brazen of ways. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, sworn to uphold the Constitution, has taken a most unprecedented and unlawful step: the suspension of a democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor and an entire State House of Assembly under the thin guise of emergency rule. What emergency? Nigerians and Rivers people did not see or feel any such emergency.  Let me be very firm most  categorically and unequivocally that no constitutional provision,statute or any known convention grants the President the imperial and dictatorial authority to single-handedly dissolve the structures of an elected state government.That may probably have been in t...

In the current climate, where all forms of extremism are commonplace, where boorishness is tolerated, where the law of the strongest is celebrated, we must continue to explain why we must eliminate inequalities between men and women, while working intensively on “how we do it” and “with whom IN his column published on March 8, International Women’s Rights Day, Gilles Yabi, founder and executive director of West Africa Think Tank (WATHI), reminds us that the issue of women’s rights, equal opportunities and equal rights between girls and boys, between men and women, is raised in much the same terms all over the planet.  It warns that everywhere, reversals in public opinion, in the positions of influential political, economic and social actors, in practices and in laws are possible at any time: there is no irreversible progress. There are no final achievements. Violence against girls and women, inequalities in girls’ access to and retention in school, early marriages and pregnanc...

The Judicial and Constitutional Crisis in Rivers State Introduction: The Supreme Court’s Precedent and Judicial Hierarchy In legal jurisprudence, a fundamental principle of judicial precedent is that a smaller panel of judges cannot overrule a larger panel within the same court hierarchy. This principle ensures consistency, stability, and credibility in legal rulings. As Prof. Chidi Odinkalu has pointed out, a five-person panel of the Supreme Court cannot overrule a seven-person panel. This principle is not only grounded in common legal doctrine but also enshrined in constitutional practice worldwide. In light of the recent Supreme Court ruling affecting Rivers State, this judicial standard appears to have been disregarded—raising serious constitutional concerns, public outcry, and political controversy. — A Legacy of Legal Injustice in Rivers State The territory now known as Rivers State has a history of legal and political manipulation, dating back to the colonial era. The exile of K...