THE UNITED Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) expressed its concern Wednesday over the continued rise in attacks on schools around the world. UNESCO said this in a press statement on the occasion of the International Day to Protect Education from Attacks, based on the latest global data, which revealed an alarming escalation in such attacks in 2025. It said that 1,680 attacks on schools were verified by the United Nations in 2025, an increase of 33 per cent compared to 1,265 attacks in 2024. More broadly, an estimated 258 million children and adolescents have had their education disrupted…
Author: National Record
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BY IDUH ONAH THERE is a peculiar affliction that visits powerful men after prolonged exposure to applause. It begins innocently enough. First, they come to believe they are indispensable; then they become convinced they are irreplaceable, and finally; they arrive at the most dangerous conclusion that the state itself is merely an extension of their will. Across the ages, this disease has worn different garments, spoken different languages, and occupied different palaces, but its symptoms remain remarkably constant. It accumulates power beyond accepted limits, manipulates institutions, laws, and public opinion; suppresses criticism and dissent, and ultimately, it isolates its victims…
THE VICE Chancellor, University of Calabar (UniCal), Prof. Offiong Offiong, has pledged the institution’s support for a proposed mangrove restoration and research park. Offiong made the pledged when members of the Biodiversity Rescue Club, led by Prof. Pauline Essoka, paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Calabar. He described the proposed restoration and conservation of mangrove forests along the coast as timely and significant, given the growing environmental challenges. The vice chancellor said the university welcomed initiatives that promoted environmental sustainability, research, innovation and community development. According to him, partnerships between academic institutions and environmental organisations can provide practical…
THE DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE opened Africa’s largest-ever Initial Public Offering (IPO) on Monday, offering Nigerians the chance to buy shares in the refinery. Dangote Group Chief Executive Officer, Aliko Dangote, signed the offer documents at a ceremony held at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, alongside the advisers and issuing houses managing the sale. The offer comprises 4.1 billion ordinary shares priced at N525 each, with the company targeting about N2.15tn to part-fund an expansion that would nearly double the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million barrels per day. Subscription opens at a minimum of…
PRESIDENT and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has declared that the forthcoming Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery is deliberately structured to ensure that ordinary Nigerians can easily participate in the ownership of one of Africa’s most strategic industrial assets. Dangote stated that the refinery’s public offering is “for the people,” stressing that significant efforts have been made to simplify the share purchase process so that investors from all walks of life can become shareholders. According to him, the vision behind the offering goes beyond raising capital. It is aimed at democratizing wealth creation…
THE NIGERIAN Defence Academy (NDA) will graduate 444 cadets of the 73 Regular Course and 3,064 postgraduate students at its 36th Convocation Ceremony. The Academy Provost, Prof. Bolanle Ajibuah, disclosed this on Tuesday at a pre-convocation press briefing in Kaduna on behalf of the Commandant, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Olatoye. Ajibuah said the graduating cadets had successfully completed five years of training, comprising four years of academic studies and one year of full military training. He said the cadets would be awarded Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) and Bachelor of Engineering (BEng) degrees across 23 departments. According to him,…
A LANDLORD, Abdul Ayuba, 56, on Tuesday, was dragged before a Wuse Chief Magistrates’ Court, Abuja, for allegedly removing his tenant’s doors and windows. The defendant, who was charged with mischief and theft, pleaded not guilty to the offences. The Prosecuting Counsel, Chinenye Okafor, alleged that the defendant and landlord on Aug. 2, went to the apartment rented to the complainant, Godswill Uko, in Jabi, Abuja, and removed doors and windows. Okafor said that when the complainant returned from work at 9:20p.m., he discovered that his apartment was open and his stabiliser valued N55,000, wristwatch of N45,000 and Iphone 12…
YEMEN’s Tehran-backed Houthis attacked four cities in the south of U.S. ally Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, wounding more than 70 people and setting oil installations ablaze in what appeared to be a major expansion of the six-month-old Middle East war. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen’s populated areas including the capital, said they had launched a broad operation deep into Saudi territory. They used drones and missiles to strike a Saudi airbase in the southern city of Khamis Mushait, and targets belonging to Saudi Arabia’s state oil company in nearby Abha, Najran on the Yemeni border, and Jazan, a…
THE ADAMAWA House of Assembly (ADHA) has passed a bill seeking to provide gratuity and death benefits for emirs and chiefs in the state. The bill was passed during the plenary session of the House on Monday presided over by the Speaker, Mr Bathiya Wesley. The bill seeks to amend the Adamawa State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) (Amendment) Law, 2024, to provide a legal framework for the payment of gratuity and death benefits to traditional rulers. The passage followed the consideration and adoption of a report presented by the House Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, chaired by Mr Kefas…
BY ABADOM LAWRENCE AMECHI THERE is perhaps no word that has been so badly abused in Nigerian politics as the word “strategy.” In a normal democracy, strategy should mean the ability of a political candidate or party to persuade voters through ideas, policies, competence, character, leadership experience and a convincing vision of the future. It should mean building institutions, mobilising citizens, communicating a message and earning the confidence of the electorate. This is one of the most disturbing features of our politics. In the Nigerian political marketplace, political alignment can become a form of absolution. Once you are inside the…