Forty-one medical students of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBUL), Lapai, Niger State, have made history after passing their professional medical examinations at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, without a single resit. The feat, according to the IBBUL Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, marks the first time since the establishment of the university’s College of Health Sciences that an entire set of its transferred medical students has successfully passed their professional examinations at ABU, breaking a 33-year record. Prof. Sulaiman disclosed this while receiving the students who recently returned from ABU Zaria after completing the transfer programme. “This is the first…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the alleged refusal by the authorities of the International School, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, to admit female Muslim students wearing hijab. MURIC alleged that the students were locked out of the school for several days after the authorities insisted that they remove their hijabs before entering the school premises. In a statement issued on Monday by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the organisation described the alleged action as discriminatory, oppressive and an infringement of the students’ right to religious freedom. MURIC said the students eventually removed their hijabs and returned to…
The Founder of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila (AUSU), Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila, has visited Northwest University, Sokoto (NWUS), stressing that his investment in education is driven by a commitment to serving society rather than making a profit. Sumaila made the remarks on Friday, October 2, 2026, during a private visit to NWUS, where he toured some of the university’s facilities and held discussions with the institution’s management. Reflecting on the journey of AUSU, the founder said establishing and sustaining a private university had not been easy, but the institution had remained focused on maintaining academic standards and credibility six years after…
The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has approved an expanded leadership structure, appointing four additional Deputy Secretaries-General to oversee key areas of the Council’s affairs. ASHENEWS reports that the decision was taken at the NSCIA General Assembly held in Abuja on Thursday, October 1, 2026, bringing together Muslim leaders, representatives of Islamic organisations and delegates from across the country. Under the new structure, the existing Deputy Secretary-General, Professor Salisu Shehu, has been assigned responsibility for International Affairs. Professor Mahfouz A. Adedimeji was appointed Deputy Secretary-General in charge of National Affairs, while Abeny Mohammed, SAN, will oversee Corporate Matters.…
Africa has returned to the global top 150 of the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2027, marking a notable shift in the continent’s representation among the world’s leading universities. The latest ranking highlights changes in Africa’s higher education landscape as institutions across the continent seek to strengthen research output, teaching quality, international collaboration and their global academic standing. Africa’s top institution is South Africa’s University of Cape Town, which climbs back into the global top 150 with a place at joint 147th, its best position in seven years South Africa is the only country in sub-Saharan Africa to…
A new book examining President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s political evolution, methods and strategies is set to be published before the end of 2026, with its author introducing the concept of “Tinubuism” as a subject for critical political examination. Titled The Tinubu Enigma: Tinubuism, Democratic Continuity and the Future of Nigeria, the approximately 300-page book is authored by veteran journalist Lanre Ogundipe, a former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the African Union of Journalists. Ogundipe describes the work as neither praise literature nor partisan condemnation, but “an attempt at political interpretation”. According to the author, the book examines…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the Nigerian chapter of Transparency International, has called for an end to impunity, stronger democratic institutions, justice, peace and inclusive economic prosperity as Nigeria marks its 66th Independence Anniversary. In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, the organisation said the anniversary should go beyond ceremonial celebrations and provide an opportunity to critically assess whether democracy is improving the lives of Nigerians. CISLAC said democracy must mean more than elections and political transitions, arguing that it should deliver accountable leadership, strong institutions, security, justice, dignity and economic opportunities for citizens.…
The International Press Institute (IPI) has urged African governments to strengthen legal and institutional protections for environmental journalists, investigate attacks against them, enact anti-SLAPP laws and guarantee public access to environmental information. The recommendations, which come against the backdrop of what IPI described as a persistent pattern of attacks on journalists reporting on climate and environmental issues across Africa, are contained in the Institute’s submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, ahead of the preparation of the Rapporteur’s thematic report to the 64th session of the UN Human Rights Council.…
Nigeria has the fourth-largest rabbit and hare population in the world, with an estimated 6.14 million head in 2024, according to FAOSTAT-based figures compiled by agriculture data analysts. China leads by a wide margin with 114.91 million rabbits and hares, followed by North Korea (32.17 million) and Benin (15 million). Nigeria’s herd places it ahead of Egypt (5.05 million), Ukraine (3.87 million) and Russia (3.26 million) in terms of live animal stocks. The data, drawn from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s statistical database (FAOSTAT), cover “rabbits and hares – live animals” and include official, estimated and imputed observations. Analysts…
Ethiopia has the world’s largest estimated donkey population, while Nigeria ranks 10th globally with 1,344,853 donkeys, according to data attributed to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and compiled by World Population Review. The ranking places Ethiopia first with 10,803,079 donkeys, followed by Sudan with 7,677,752 and Pakistan with 5,938,000. Chad ranks fourth with 5,042,154 donkeys, while Mexico occupies fifth position with 3,293,871. Niger, Burkina Faso, Iran and Afghanistan complete the countries ranked sixth to ninth. Nigeria’s estimated population of 1,344,853 places it ahead of China, which has 1,299,000 donkeys, and Mali, with 1,263,440. The other countries…