NEWS
Adeleke Dedicates Chieftaincy Title to Late Brother, Others

Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun on Monday bagged the Asiwaju of Edeland chieftaincy title, dedicating it to his late brother, Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, among others.
The governor, receiving the title in Oshogbo, said it was also dedicated to his late parents; his brother, Dr Adedeji Adeleke; and his sister, Chief Dupe Adeleke-Sanni.
He said that his late brother, Isiaka, was the former holder of the title, and the conferment on him was a further call to service.
Adeleke said that the traditional ruler of his hometown, Oba Munirudeen Lawal, the Timi Ede, conferred the title on him in recognition of his family’s contribution to the development of the town.
“I vow to be a frontliner (Asiwaju) of development and growth for Edeland and Osun state as a whole.
“I will carry the light of positive transformation from towns to villages and from cities to rural areas across our dear state,” he said.
The event attracted several dignitaries, including Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; his Ogun counterpart, Dapo Abiodun; and Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo; the acting Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, Umar Damagum; and former governor of Oyo State, Rasheed Ladoja, among others, also witnessed the conferment.
Makinde, who spoke on behalf of the governors, congratulated Adeleke on the conferment of the title.
He commended him on infrastructure development in the state.
“I thank God for my brother, Gov. Ademola Adeleke.
“When he came in as the governor of Osun State, he challenged me that he would compete with me in infrastructure development, as I was doing in Oyo State.
“When I came today, I could see work ongoing in the state.
“I am the Vice Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum and I am speaking on their behalf to congratulate you,’’ he said.
Reports says that traditional rulers at the event include the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Soun of Ogbomosho, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; and Olowu of Kuta, Oba Makama Oyelude. (NAN)
Foreign News
Fate of Nigerian Medical Students from Sudan Hangs in Balance

A group of 47 Nigerian medical students who escaped war-torn Sudan in May 2023 are now struggling to register for the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (MDCN) examination due to a document snag.The students, many of who fled or were evacuated by the Federal Government without exit visas, are currently racing against time to meet the registration deadline, with their future careers hanging precariously in the balance.
Report says that these students, who were enrolled at Sudan International University (SIU), were evacuated to Nigeria during the 2023 conflict in Sudan while in final year of study. According to the students, with the approval of the National Universities Commission (NUC), they were permitted to continue their academic programme at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto.Speaking to NAN on Sunday in Abuja, one student said: “We successfully completed our studies and graduated in 2024, receiving our certificates as students of SIU.”He added that they were currently preparing to sit for the MDCN examinations.The student, however, added that one of the requirements was presenting a first entry visa and a last exit visa.“Unfortunately, none of us have these documents as most of our passports remained in Sudan due to the emergency evacuation.“We respectfully request permission to sit for the examinations scheduled for June 2025,” he said.The President of the Nigerian Students Association at SIU, Najid Hassan, confirmed that due to the war in Sudan, Nigerian students were evacuated by the Federal Government.Hassan explained that with NUC approval, the affected students were allowed to continue their academic programme at UDUTH following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between SIU and UDUTH.“After the MoU, we resumed studies at UDUTH in December 2023 and spent one year there.“We completed clinical rotations, lectures in gynaecology, pediatrics, surgery, and medicine, and graduated in October 2024.“We took examinations supervised by consultants at UDUTH,” Hassan said.He added that after graduation, students were awarded certificates bearing the SIU name.Hassan, however, said that when they approached MDCN for registration, the process, expected to be seamless, became challenging.“We are currently preparing for the MDCN exams, but one requirement is the submission of a ‘first entry visa and a last exit visa.’“Unfortunately, none of us have these documents because most passports remain in Sudan due to emergency evacuation,” Hassan said.He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene.NAN reports that MDCN is the regulatory body for Medicine and Dentistry in Nigeria and was established by the Medical and Dental Practitioners Act.The Act had been operational since Dec. 18, 1963, and updated under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.The council’s statutory functions include setting and reviewing standards for medical and dental education.Section 9(3) and (4) of the Act empowers the council to conduct assessment exams for holders of foreign medical or dental qualifications recognised by their countries of origin.Candidates expected to sit for these examinations are trained outside Nigeria at institutions listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.One of the application requirements is submitting relevant portions of international passports, including visa and arrival/departure stamps.In a 2024 publication addressing students returning from conflict zones, MDCN Registrar Dr Fatima Kyari, reaffirmed these rules but expressed sympathy for students affected by COVID-19 and conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan.“The council has held extensive consultations and developed remediation pathways to facilitate integration.”“Students graduating in 2023 or later were advised to return to a designated campus of their foreign university to complete studies physically.“They can also transfer to an accredited Nigerian university, subject to NUC approval; or integrate into a Nigerian university per NUC guidelines.“Many students from Sudan and Ukraine have successfully integrated through these pathways, exempting them from the foreign-trained medical and dental graduates (FTMDG) exams if graduating from Nigerian institutions,” Kyari said.She explained that the MoU with UDUTH was an academic collaboration and did not equate to clinical training for medical qualification recognised by MDCN.She noted that students who properly transferred and graduated from Nigerian universities approved by MDCN had been indexed, graduated, and registered as doctors.The Federal Ministry of Education, through the Director of University Education, Hajiya Rakiya Ilyasu, acknowledged the situation.She advised the affected students to formally write to the Minister of Education, including their names, and to copy the Director of Education Support Services to help facilitate a resolution.Similarly, NUC Deputy Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, confirmed awareness of the development and advised students to contact the Ministry of Education to resolve the issues.However, all efforts by NAN to obtain a response from Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), regarding the students’ plea proved unsuccessful.Similarly, all efforts to get a reaction from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto (UDUS) failed.The Deputy Provost of the Medical School, said he had no authority to speak on the issue, while the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bashir Garba, said he was on transit and would respond appropriately.(NAN)NEWS
Rivers Govt. to Revamp Underutilised Technical Vocational Centre
The Rivers State Government has announced plans to revitalise the underutilised Technical and Vocational Centre in the state.The Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, disclosed this during the inspection of some facilities in the state, in Port Harcourt on Saturday.
The facilities were the Dr Obi Wali International Conference Center, the ongoing State Assembly complex projects, among others. Ibas expressed concern over the underutilisation of the vocational skills centre given its potential to transform lives through skilled basic education . He stated that the centre would play a significant role in developing skilled labor, promoting economic growth, and tackling youth unemployment in the state.Ibas emphasised the importance of skills-based education and the need to optimise the use of state facilities to engage more young people productively.According to him, the state government’s commitment to revitalising key infrastructure is expected to drive youth empowerment, economic development, and sustainable growth.“The government hopes to provide young people with the skills and training needed to succeed in the workforce and contribute to the state’s economic growth by reactivating the centers.“The move is seen as a positive step towards addressing youth unemployment and promoting economic development in the state,” he said.(NAN)NEWS
Achieving Peace not Just About Wielding Guns – Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan says achieving peace in society goes beyond carrying rifles and guns, insisting that justice and equity must prevail.Jonathan made this known on Saturday in Abuja, where he was the guest of honour at the President’s Night organised by the Rotary Club of Asokoro.
Represented by former Chief of Defence Staff, Retired Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petirin, the former president emphasised that peace was not merely the absence of war, but the presence of fairness. “You see, he (Jonathan) has this sense of justice, that we must be just. We should not exclude anybody.“He understood that achieving peace is not just about carrying rifles and guns. In fact, he believed that this accounts for just about 30 per cent of what is needed.“The remaining 70 per cent involves hard work, people talking, negotiating, agreeing, disagreeing, coming back again to discuss and then finally agreeing,” he said.According to him, this approach was instrumental in restoring peace to Plateau State during Jonathan’s administration.He also commended the Rotary Club for its impactful service to humanity.In his remarks, the 24th President of the Rotary Club of Asokoro, Mr Babatunde Adetoba, said the event was to showcase the club’s contributions to the community.“Rotary Club is an international organisation that has been established for over 100 years. We focus on seven key areas, including education, water, sanitation, and maternal health,” he said.Adetoba revealed that the club recently assisted indigent patients with free cataract surgeries and donated five million Naira to a hospital.“We reached out to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, donated drugs and medications, conducted free eye screenings, and gave out free glasses.“Rotary is big on polio eradication. Globally, we have spent over 2.6 billion dollars on the cause, and we continue awareness efforts to ensure Nigeria remains polio-free,” he added.He described charitable donations as a noble act that did not necessarily require much.“A small amount can put a smile on someone’s face or change their life forever,” he said.Adetoba also noted that the club had sustainability measures in place to ensure the long-term impact of its projects.Speaking on the essence of the President’s Night, he said it was an opportunity for the president to honour friends, associates, and supporters who have contributed to the club’s achievements over the year.The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Stella Okotete, Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), and Hajiya Halima Buba, Managing Director of SunTrust Bank, were also honoured at the event for their outstanding contributions to society. (NAN)