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60th Independence: CSOs to engage 60 youths to write essays on Nigeria’s circumstances

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African Centre for Media and Information Literacy in partnership with Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa, TechHer and some media organisations, says it will engage young Nigerians to produce 60 essays dwelling on how to make the country great.

Dr Chido Onumah, the coordinator of the centre, said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

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He said that the aim of the project was to produce a book of 60 essays entitled “60 years of 60 voices –Essays on Nigeria at 60’’.

Onumah, who listed the media partners as Sahara Reporters, Oak TV and Premium Times Books, said the project was part of the group’s activities to mark Nigeria’s 60th independence.

He said the group involved young Nigerians because they were the critical change agents to help the country understand and sharpen its focus on those issues that held the key to its collective survival as a people.

He said that Nigeria was faced with a lot of challenges ranging from leadership issues, insecurity, out-of-school children, poverty and economy among others.

Onumah added that these issues and more were what would be addressed in the proposed book.

“These essays on Nigeria will examine Nigeria’s social economic and political situation and explore the options open to us, suggest solutions and how to actualize them.

“The essays will take a critical look at the country’s democratic experiment since independence in 1960, where the country is today and some of the major issues that have dogged the country’s march to genuine democracy and nationhood.

“The idea is to generate enough public conversation that can push for and bring about the desired change in the country,” he said.

Onumah said that the essays would also focus on different aspects of the national life, including whether the “fundamental question of nation building that began six decades ago has been fully and or properly answered.’’

He said that the essays would further reveal the lessons learnt or needed to be learnt as a nation 60 years after independence.

He added that the book hoped to document the failures, success and the way out of the cul-de-sac Nigeria found itself.

Onumah said that part of the idea behind the book was to get young Nigerians who ventilate their frustrations and solutions daily on social media to articulate their ideas.

He added it would also enable them to articulate solutions in a compendium that would be used for social and political mobilisation.

He said contributors would be post civil war youths across the nation not more than 50 years old with progressive ideas about building a united society to rekindle hope and bring the country out of its situation.

He said that the new decade would be a defining moment for Nigeria which would be 60 years after independence and 50 years after the civil war.

Onumah said it was important that a new generation of citizens was challenged to reposition the country.

“It is our expectation that the essays in the book would analyse the realities in the socio-economic, political and cultural life of the country since independence.

“It will also answer questions on why Nigeria remains a giant with clay feet despite the availability of abundant human and mineral resources envied by others,” Onumah said.

Ms Safiya Bichi, Head of Research, YIAGA Africa, said that the project raised awareness of Nigeria among youths who seemed disconnected from the history of the nation and challenge them to work towards the future of the nation.

Bichi said that the project would also help the government in planning and raise youths with patriotic spirit that would help lead the nation on the path of growth and development.

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Suwaiba Said Ahmad has announced that the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions will be the final one to be hosted by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Is-haq Oloyede.

Speaking during the meeting held in Abuja on Monday, the minister praised Oloyede for his decade-long leadership of JAMB, describing his tenure as transformational.

“This is the last policy meeting you will be holding. He has been here for ten years. He has done a lot of good things. Ten years is a long time but he is not tired,” she said.

“Notwithstanding, we thank you very much. Definitely, you are not tired. We will just give you a resting period to relax a bit and then we will just call you back.”

Oloyede was appointed JAMB Registrar on August 9, 2016, and is widely credited with reforming the board’s operations and financial system within a few years of assuming office.

Under his leadership, JAMB’s remittances to the Federal Government increased significantly. While the board reportedly remitted less than N50 million between 1978 and 2016, it generated and remitted N7.8 billion in 2017 alone.

Between 2016 and 2026, JAMB reportedly remitted N20.7 billion in operating surplus while also funding infrastructure and staff development projects through internally generated revenue.

The improved financial performance also enabled the Federal Government to reduce application fees for tertiary institution admissions by 30 percent.

Before joining JAMB, Oloyede served as Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin from 2007 to 2012. He also chaired both the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities and the Committee of Vice-Chancellors between 2011 and 2012.

A professor of Islamic Studies since 1995, Oloyede has published nearly 100 academic papers and attended several international conferences.

His contributions to public service and education have earned him several honours, including the Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2014, the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2022, the National Productivity Order of Merit Award in 2019, and the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service in the Education category in 2022.

Oloyede, who is 71 years old, is married and has four adult children and grandchildren.

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Hyacinth Alia has congratulated the James Iorzua Ayatse on the occasion of his 79th birthday anniversary.

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By: Fabian Apechihin

In a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, Alia described the Tor Tiv as a respected traditional ruler, scholar, statesman, and patriot whose wisdom, courage, and dedication to peace, justice, and the preservation of Tiv cultural heritage continue to inspire people across Benue State and beyond.

The governor praised the monarch for his fatherly role in promoting unity, peaceful coexistence, and constructive dialogue among the various ethnic groups in the state.

He also noted that the Tor Tiv, also known as the Begha U Tiv, has continued to uphold the dignity and honour of the traditional institution through exemplary leadership and service.

Governor Alia further prayed for God’s continued blessings upon the royal father, asking for more years of good health, strength, wisdom, and grace as he continues to provide leadership to the Tiv Kingdom and the Benue State traditional institution.

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The official vehicle of Sesoo Gboko has reportedly been snatched by armed men in Abuja.

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By: Fabian Apechihin

In a statement released by the lawmaker’s Senior Legislative Aide, Bem Adzaagee, the incident occurred around the Gudu area of the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the statement, the yet-to-be-identified gunmen forced the lawmaker’s driver to hand over the vehicle while he was parking at a public location in the area.

“The gunmen compelled the Honourable Member’s driver to surrender the vehicle to them as he parked at the car park of a public place in the Gudu area of the Federal Capital Territory and was making his way into the premises,” the statement read.

It added that the driver had just returned from an errand and had gone to pick up the lawmaker, who was attending meetings at the location.

Adzaagee confirmed that neither the driver nor anyone else at the scene was harmed during the incident.

He also praised the prompt response of security agencies, stating that efforts were already underway to track down the stolen vehicle and apprehend those responsible.

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