By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

President Bola Tinubu, state governors, traditional rulers and religious leaders have called on Nigerians to draw inspiration from the life and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as Muslims across the country mark the 2026 Eid-el-Maulud.

In separate messages issued to commemorate the occasion, the leaders identified peace, compassion, tolerance, humility, justice, honesty, sacrifice, generosity and peaceful coexistence as enduring virtues of the Prophet that Nigerians should translate into everyday conduct.

Tinubu urged Muslims to use the celebration as an opportunity for introspection, prayer and renewed commitment to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, particularly his devotion, perseverance, tolerance, humility and selflessness.

The President, in a message issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, also urged religious leaders to use the occasion to pray for Nigeria and encourage their followers to demonstrate greater commitment to the country.

He called on Muslims to extend a hand of fellowship to the needy and vulnerable, while praying for an end to insecurity and other challenges confronting parts of the country.

The call for compassion and peaceful coexistence was echoed by governors across the country.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urged Muslims to reflect on the Prophet’s exemplary life and promote kindness, compassion, integrity, tolerance and mutual respect in their dealings with others.

He said the virtues were essential to building a peaceful, united and progressive society, urging residents to continue to support a better and more prosperous Lagos and Nigeria.

In Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya called on Muslims to emulate the Prophet’s peaceful coexistence, compassion, humility, tolerance, modesty, generosity and selflessness.

He stressed that the significance of Maulud went beyond celebration, saying it should inspire a renewed commitment to living by the Prophet’s character and teachings. He also urged youths and other celebrants to conduct festivities peacefully and responsibly.

Kano State Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf similarly urged Muslims to reflect on the Prophet’s teachings on peace, justice, compassion, honesty, patience and tolerance.

He called on parents, religious leaders and community elders to educate younger generations about the Prophet’s exemplary conduct, while urging Nigerians to continue praying for peace, stability, progress and unity.

In Anambra, Governor Chukwuma Soludo described Eid-el-Maulud as a period of profound spiritual reflection, urging Muslims and Christians alike to draw inspiration from the Prophet’s virtues of compassion, honesty, humility, justice and service to humanity.

Soludo commended the peaceful coexistence between Muslims and Christians in Anambra, describing it as an example of unity in diversity.

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, also urged Muslims to move beyond professing the faith to demonstrating it through good character and acceptable conduct towards fellow human beings.

He called for the revival of the Prophet’s teachings on peace, love, compassion, forgiveness and unity, urging Nigerians to tolerate one another irrespective of religious, ethnic and cultural differences.

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri urged Muslims to make the occasion a demonstration of practical love, patriotism, sacrifice and good neighbourliness, stressing the need to be their brother’s keeper and promote peaceful coexistence.

At the federal level, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged Nigerians to embody the Prophet’s teachings by showing kindness and compassion to one another.

Idris said the virtues of peace, patience, justice, humility and respect for others were particularly relevant as Nigeria navigates economic reforms, security challenges and efforts to achieve national development.

He urged citizens to support the country’s development efforts while ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians were not left behind.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, called on Abuja residents to embrace peace, unity, tolerance, sacrifice and dialogue in resolving differences.

Wike said the FCT was founded on the principles of unity and diversity and urged residents to uphold those values while cooperating with security agencies to keep communities safe during and beyond the festive period.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), in its message signed by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, also urged Nigerians to turn the virtues associated with Prophet Muhammad into concrete actions capable of addressing insecurity, economic hardship and divisions in the country.

Okoh said the celebration offered an opportunity to reflect on mercy, justice, compassion for the poor and vulnerable, honesty and peaceful coexistence.

He urged leaders at all levels to move beyond promises to visible action that improves the lives of Nigerians, particularly amid rising living costs and insecurity.

With the 2027 general elections approaching, the CAN president also warned politicians against exploiting religion or ethnicity for political advantage, urging Christians and Muslims to resist attempts to divide the country.

Across the messages, the common appeal was for Nigerians to make the values associated with Prophet Muhammad more than ceremonial ideals by incorporating them into their homes, communities, workplaces and public life.

The leaders prayed for peace, security, unity, prosperity and renewed hope for Nigeria, while urging citizens to care for the vulnerable and work collectively towards a more just, peaceful and prosperous nation.

Candidates seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions can now upload and verify their O’Level results from the comfort of their homes, following a new initiative by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

Under the new arrangement, candidates will no longer need to visit Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres solely to upload their Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, as JAMB will verify the results directly with the examination bodies, beginning with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

In a statement on Monday in Abuja, JAMB’s Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr.

Fabian Benjamin, said the Board would continue to deploy technology and collaborate with examination and government agencies to simplify its services and make them more accessible to candidates.

According to him, the initiative was part of its renewed commitment to making its services “easier, faster, safer and more convenient” for candidates.

He said the integration of its e-Facility platform with examination bodies would enable candidates’ results to be verified against the records of the issuing bodies before being downloaded into their profiles.

The new system is also expected to address problems associated with manual O’Level result uploads, including misplaced or mixed-up paper results, presentation of fraudulent or unverified certificates and errors in the manual entry of subjects and grades.

The examination body said the initiative would particularly ease pressure on CBT centres during periods of high patronage and help reduce the effect of network challenges and long queues.

The statement reads: “Consequently, candidates can now upload their O’Level results from the comfort of their homes, while the Board undertakes the verification of such results directly with the issuing examination bodies.

“The initiative is part of the Board’s renewed commitment to making services easier, faster, safer and more convenient for candidates. By using technology to reduce unnecessary visits to CBT centres, queues and manual processes, JAMB is putting candidate ease of service delivery at the centre of its operations.

“The new arrangement also addresses challenges associated with manual O’Level result uploads, including misplaced or mixed-up paper results, presentation of unverified or fraudulent results, and errors in the manual entry of subjects and grades. Through the integration of JAMB’s eFacility platform with examination bodies, results can now be verified directly against the examination body’s records before being downloaded into the candidate’s profile.”

To use the new service, candidates are required to visit its website, enter their National Identification Number (NIN) and select the number of examination sittings and relevant examination body or bodies.

After providing their email address and GSM number, candidates are required to pay for the verification using a debit card or bank transfer before entering their examination number, examination series and examination year.

President Bola Tinubu has condoled with the family, friends and colleagues of veteran Nollywood actor, filmmaker and screenwriter Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, who died after decades in acting.

Tinubu described the late actor as a distinguished artiste whose decades-long career contributed significantly to the growth of Yoruba-language theatre and Nigerian cinema, particularly through memorable performances.

The President’s condolence message is contained in a statement issued by his Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday in Abuja.

Tinubu said Ogogo’s body of work would remain an important part of Nigeria’s cultural history, while his mentorship of younger artistes further strengthened his enduring legacy in Nollywood.

He said that through his distinctive acting style, powerful screen presence and dedication to his craft, Ogogo entertained generations while promoting Yoruba culture and Nigeria’s diverse cultural heritage.

“Alhaji Taiwo Hassan was a gifted artiste who used his talent to tell Nigerian stories, preserve our cultural heritage and entertain audiences at home and abroad.

“His passing is a great loss to his family, the Yoruba film industry, Nollywood and the entire Nigerian creative community.

“On behalf of the Federal Government, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, friends and millions of admirers,” Tinubu said.

The President urged members of the creative industry and Nigerians to honour Ogogo’s memory by preserving and building on the cultural values and artistic traditions to which he devoted himself.

Tinubu also prayed for the peaceful repose of the late actor’s soul and strength for his family and loved ones, describing his death as an irreparable loss to those closest to him.

“I pray that Almighty Allah will grant him eternal rest and give his loved ones the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” Tinubu said.

Ogogo worked as a mechanic with the Ogun State Water Corporation for about 13 years before gaining prominence in acting and becoming a notable figure in Yoruba cinema.

He began acting in 1981 while combining the profession with his mechanic job, eventually leaving the employment in 1994 to pursue acting as a full-time career.