NEWS
Kwara Aviation College Graduates 19 Military, Civilian Pilots

From Samuel James, Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq has said that discipline and teamwork served as key approach towards success in any professions.
He stated these when 19 new pilots which including 10 from Nigerian Army were graduated at International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin.
The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education Hajia Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu, hailed the graduates for their resilience and commitmen, as he explained that their journey goes beyond collecting certificates, as they have also acquired skills and values needed to make meaningful contributions to society.
“The state government is extremely excited to witness this very important achievement in the lives of these students.
We are happy with the partnership between the College and the Nigerian Army,” he said.The graduation marks a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s aviation capacity, particularly in military operations, as the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, was represented by Brig. Gen. Ezra Barkins, Brigade Commander of the 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi, Ilorin, underscored the strategic importance of the training.
“This will no doubt reshape the battle space for all our operations, thereby enhancing operational effectiveness of the Nigerian Army,” Barkins stated.
Chief of Army Staff admonished the graduates to uphold excellence and resilience in their careers as he said.
“As you are graduating today, embrace every challenge as an opportunity for growth, and remember that with perseverance and resilience, you will go beyond the sky.
“I urge you to exhibit the core values of which the Nigerian Army is known for. You must remain focused always, and together, you will overcome obstacles, celebrate triumphs, and build a legacy that will endure throughout the annals of the Nigerian Army.”
While speaking, the Rector of IAC, Captain Yakubu Okahtai, described the Private Pilot License (PPL) program as a gateway to advanced aviation training, while also highlighting its role in enhancing the Nigerian Army’s air mobility and reconnaissance capabilities.
“This occasion marks not just the successful completion of a rigorous training exercise but also the beginning of a new chapter in the careers of these gallant officers who have chosen to serve their nation in the skies,” Okahtai said, while commending the Kwara State government for its unwavering support in the program’s success.
He added that on this milestone, Kwara State continues to position itself as a hub for aviation excellence, fostering both military and civilian air capabilities in Nigeria.

Police Arrest 2 Wanted Fugitives Over Human Trafficking, Armed Robbery
The Nigeria Police Force says it has arrested two suspected internationally wanted fugitives over human trafficking and armed robbery.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
Adejobi said that one of the suspects was a ringleader of a human trafficking syndicate wanted by Belgian authorities while the second was a key member of a Dubai-based armed robbery gang.
He added that the first suspect was the alleged mastermind of a large-scale human trafficking operation and had been declared wanted by the Belgian authorities through an INTERPOL Red Notice.
He disclosed that the notice was issued on Dec. 19, 2023, adding that the suspect was arrested in Benin, the Edo capital, following diligent intelligence and enforcement efforts by police operatives.
The force PRO also said that the suspect was accused of trafficking young Nigerian women, including minors to Italy and subsequently dispersing them across Europe for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
He added that the victims were subjected to voodoo-based oaths and psychological coercion, with fabricated debts ranging from £20,000 to £50,000 used to manipulate and control them.
According to him, the criminal network of the suspect involved handlers in Brussels and France who managed the victims’ activities and remit proceeds to him.
”Following a conviction in absentia in Belgium in 2021 for multiple counts of aggravated human trafficking and criminal organisation leadership, the suspect fled to Nigeria.
”Upon his arrest, a search of his premises revealed incriminating materials, including a photocopy of a passport intended for a planned relocation to Canada.”
The police spokesman said the suspect has been scheduled to be arraigned at the Federal High Court in Benin.
Adejobi said the second suspect was arrested by the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Abuja at a hideout in Nsukka, Enugu State.
He said that the suspect was wanted by authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for series of serious crimes including armed robbery, cultism, drug trafficking, and other organised criminal activities.
He explained that intelligence had revealed that the suspect had continued to coordinate criminal operations remotely from Nigeria.
The force image maker disclosed that the suspect had been directly linked to several high-profile robberies in Dubai and Sharjah, including an armed robbery at a grocery store in Dubai Mall.
”The arrest is the result of strategic intelligence sharing and operational collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the Dubai Police,” he said.
Adejobi said the suspect would soon be arraigned in court. (NAN)
NEWS
2025 UTME Results: CONUA Calls for Urgent Reform in Education

The Congress of University Academics (CONUA) has raised concern over the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, describing it as a reflection of the worsening state of education system.The President of CONUA, Niyi Sunmonu, ina statement released to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday said the results exposed a “deep-rooted crisis” in the sector.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) revealed that out of over 1. 96 million candidates who sat for the UTME, only 0.79 per cent (12,414 candidates) scored 300 and above.According to JAMB, around 21per cent (334,560 candidates) scored between 200 and 249; a staggering 74 per cent (over 1.5 million candidates) scored below 200, and over 26 per cent failed to score up to 140.Sunmonu identified shortcomings in curriculum delivery, quality of teaching, infrastructure, and student familiarity with computer-based testing as major contributors to the poor performance.“The limited number of high performers and the overwhelming concentration of candidates in the lower score brackets indicate widespread systemic failures.“With the development, universities may struggle to maintain academic standards with fewer qualified entrants.“Students from underserved regions, already at a disadvantage, face even steeper barriers to access tertiary education.“Most critically, the country risks further depletion of its human capital base,” he said.Sunmonu called on education stakeholders, including the Federal Ministry of Education, state governments, and regulatory agencies to urgently revamp the curriculum to reflect 21st-century competencies.He added that investment in comprehensive teacher training and accountability mechanisms, improved access to learning resources and infrastructure in all regions will help the sector.He advocated for the strengthening of remedial education programmes like pre-degree and JUPEB to support underprepared but capable students.Sunmonu also called for increased autonomy in university admissions, allowing institutions to design flexible interventions for students with potential who may not have met traditional cut-off marks.“While this year’s UTME results are worrying, they also serve as an opportunity to realign our priorities and reinforce our collective commitment to rebuilding Nigeria’s education system from the foundation,” he said. (NAN)Foreign News
Kenya Court Convicts 4 Ant Traffickers, Fines Each $7,700

A Kenyan court on Wednesday fined four men 7,700 dollars each for attempting to traffic thousands of ants out of the country.Wildlife experts said that this signals a shift in biopiracy from iconic animals like elephants to lesser-known species.Authorities arrested two Belgian teenagers, a Vietnamese man and a Kenyan national on April 5, accusing them of trying to smuggle roughly 5,440 giant African harvester ant queens.
Kenyan prosecutors valued 5,440 ants at around 1. 2 million Kenyan shillings ($9,300).However, retail prices in the UK suggest the haul may have fetched as much as one million dollars if it had reached European shores.Ant keepers in Europe maintain colonies in large transparent vessels known as formicariums to observe their cooperative behaviour.Magistrate Njeri Thuku ordered the traffickers, who all pleaded guilty, to pay the fine or face 12 months in jail. (Reuters/NAN)