Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Ag. Director of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), North Central Zone, Mr. Bello Abdul-Hakeem, has emphasised the pivotal role of technical education in fostering national development.

Bello made this declaration during his recent visit to the Kwara State Polytechnic as part of his familiarization tour of educational institutions within the north central region.

In his address, the Ag. Director emphasised NBTE’s commitment to bolstering skills acquisition among youths, highlighting that such initiatives are essential in combating unemployment across the country.

Bello praised the Kwara State Polytechnic for its well-established academic programmes and for ensuring that all its courses are fully accredited.

He encouraged the management of the Kwara Polytechnic to continue to be committed to excellence and innovation in technical education.

Responding, the Rector, Engr. Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed, expressed gratitude for the Ag. Director’s visit and reiterated the institution’s dedication to adhering strictly to NBTE’s regulations regarding academic programmes.

He emphasized Kwarapoly’s mission to equip students with the essential skills needed to compete effectively in the job market.

“We are committed to ensuring our students graduate with dual certifications: the National Diploma (ND) or Higher National Diploma (HND) alongside the National Skills Qualification (NSQ) certificate,” he stated.

The Rector also took the opportunity to seek support from the zonal office for the accreditation of some recently launched programmes, reinforcing the Polytechnic’s efforts to stay at the forefront of vocational education.

The visit marked a significant step towards fostering a robust technical education environment, ensuring that students are well-prepared to meet the demands of the labour market and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.

End

Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has ended in disappointment, with the Yellow Greens finishing sixth at the Africa Qualifiers after losing to Uganda by 66 runs in the fifth-place playoff on Saturday.

Uganda posted an imposing 196 for 7, powered by an unbeaten 66 from Riazat Ali Shah, who anchored their innings with a composed knock.

In response, Nigeria could only manage 130 for 7 in their 20 overs. Captain Sylvester Okpe put up a fight, top-scoring with 26 runs and also claiming two wickets, but his efforts were not enough to turn the tide.

Across the tournament, Nigeria secured wins against Malawi and Botswana but fell short against Namibia, Kenya, and Uganda, exposing struggles with consistency against higher-ranked teams.

With the qualifiers concluded, Zimbabwe and Namibia clinched Africa’s two tickets to the 2026 T20 World Cup, joining South Africa as the continent’s representatives at the global tournament.

By: Fabian Apechihin

Galatasaray have released a statement on Victor Osimhen’s fitness after the Nigerian striker sustained an ankle injury during the Super Eagles’ 1-0 World Cup qualifying win over Rwanda on Saturday.

Osimhen limped off just before halftime following a heavy challenge and was replaced by Cyriel Dessers. The forward, who has scored twice in his first three Super Lig matches, reportedly woke up the next morning with severe ankle pain. Nigeria’s medical team has since ruled him out of Tuesday’s qualifier against South Africa.

Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle confirmed the injury is being closely monitored, while in Istanbul, Galatasaray are anxiously awaiting further updates. Head coach Okan Buruk told BeIN Sports that the club had spoken to Osimhen and confirmed he was in significant discomfort.

“We hope it is not serious, but of course we are worried about his condition, especially with the international workload,” Buruk said.

According to Fanatik, Galatasaray arranged for Osimhen’s immediate return to Istanbul on a private jet for medical examinations. The club wants a full assessment before determining his availability.

The Turkish champions are desperate to have their record signing fit for the UEFA Champions League group stage, which begins in 10 days with a tough away fixture against Eintracht Frankfurt. Losing Osimhen for such a crucial game would be a major setback, given the expectations surrounding his arrival this season.

The coming days will be decisive in confirming the extent of the injury and whether Osimhen will feature in Galatasaray’s European opener.

Do you want me to make this tight and headline-friendly for sports news sites, or keep it in-depth with more analysis on Galatasaray’s Champions League prospects?