By David Torough, Abuja

The much awaited 9th DAILY ASSET Annual Awards will be held tomorrow (February 5) to honour distinguished Nigerians who have made significant impact to the growth of the society.

In a statement yesterday, Publisher/Editor-in- Chief, Dr.

Cletus Akwaya said Benue State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia will lead dignitaries at the occasion in Abuja as Special Guest of Honour.

At the grand event holding at the NICON Luxury Hotel, Central Business District, Abuja the Governors of Adamawa State, Rt Hon Ahmadu Fintiri; Enugu, Dr. Peter Mbah and Edo, Senator Monday Okpebholo will jointly receive the award of Governor of the Year.

The Benue state Governor, a former DAILY ASSET Governor of the Year award recipient met with DAILY ASSET delegation in Abuja, where he was invited for the event.

Former President, National Association of Women Journalists(NAWOJ), Evelyn Onyilo, has confirmed participation as Chairlady at the event.

Onyilo, a Media icon and Development Activist will join the Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF), Chief Mamman Mike Osuman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who had earlier confirmed participation as Chairman of the occasion and ‘Life Time Achievement Award’ recipient.

Also, Minister of Livestocks development, Hon Mukhtar Idi Maiha will be honoured as Minister of the Year on Peace and Livestock Sector Transformation at the occasion.

Osuman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN) and Chief Steven Lawani, former Deputy Governor of Benue State, will receive the ‘Life Time Achievement Awards’

The chairlady’s confirmation coincided with that of Dr Abubakar Yaro, Chief Medical Director, National Ear Care Centre, Kaduna and Chairman, Jemaa Local Government Council, Hon Peter Tanko Dogara, who will receive the awards of Best Chief Medical Director and Local Government Chairman of the Year respectively.

Since its inception in 2017, the Daily Asset Annual Awards has become a frontline event on the social calendar of media houses in the country as it brings together top government functionaries, leading professionals, captains of industry, traditional rulers, politicians and philanthropists across the length and breadth of the country.

In a statement signed by Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper, Dr Cletus Akwaya, the Newspaper said the event will be attended by state Governors, Ministers, National Assembly Members, Business leaders, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, professionals from different fields and others who have been invited to the event.

“At the 9th edition of our Annual Awards, we wish to make a bold statement that DAILY ASSET has become a leading brand in Newspaper Journalism to be reckoned with,” the statement said.

It invited members of the public desiring to participate in the programme in any way including corporate sponsorship to approach the management for more detailed information on participation procedures. 

On the list of 2025 award nominees, the Executive Chairman, National Revenue Service, Dr Zacch Adedeji was named Man of the Year and Vice President (Oil and Gas), Dangote Industries Plc, Edwin Devakumar was named Corporate Leader of the year.

The Minister of Livestock Development, Hon Mukhtar Idi Maiha and his Counterpart in the Ministry of Education, Dr  Maruf Tunji Alausa were named as Ministers of the Year for National Peace and Transformation of the Livestock Sector and Educational Transformation respectively.

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi and former Deputy Governor of Benue State, Chief Steven Lawani and National Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum(ACF) and legal luminary, Chief   Mamman  Mike Osuman(SAN) were  named  for Life Time Achievement  Awards.

Similarly, the Editorial Board named Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong(Cross River South-APC) and Abdulrahman Sumaila Kawu(Kano South – APC   as Legislators of the year, while a frontline Businessman, Chief Peter Adole was nominated by the Editors as Philanthropist of the year. He will share the ward with Chief Sami Charles, a former Presidential Aspirant and US-based business magnate and Philanthropist.

National Vice Chairman(North East), All Progressives Congress, Dr  Salihu Mustapha was nominated for the award of Politician of the year  and Group Managing Director of Benue Investment and Property Company(BIPC), Dr Raymond Asemakaha emerged Chief Executive of Officer(CEO) of the Year with Dr Kanyitor Chira Shakaa, Auditor General for the Federation(AuGF) as Public Servant of the Year.

On the corporate side, Fintech giants, OPay Digital Services Limited emerged as Brand of the Year, while Fidelity Bank Plc was named by the Editors as Bank of the Year and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas(Pi-CNG) won the award of Government Agency of the year. In the same vein, Zinox Computers was named ICT Company of the Year by the Awards panel.

From Dan Amasingha, Minna

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for External Candidates, 52 days after the last paper was written, with 71.63 per cent of candidates achieving five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics.

The results were announced yesterday at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State, by the Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof.

Dantani Wushishi, during a press briefing and a video statement posted on the council’s official X handle.

According to Prof. Wushishi, a total of 96,979 candidates registered for the examination, comprising 51,823 males (53.

43 per cent) and 45,156 females (46.56 per cent). Out of this number, 95,160 candidates actually sat for the examination, which covered 16 subjects.

A breakdown of the performance shows that 93,425 candidates sat for English Language, out of which 73,167, representing 78.32 per cent, obtained credit and above. In Mathematics, 93,330 candidates participated, with 85,256 candidates, or 91.36 per cent, scoring credit and above.

Overall, 68,166 candidates, representing 71.63 per cent, obtained five credits and above, including English Language and Mathematics. In addition, 82,082 candidates, or 86.26 per cent, achieved five credits and above irrespective of English and Mathematics.

Prof. Wushishi reiterated NECO’s zero tolerance for examination malpractice, noting that while standards and examination integrity were maintained from planning to result release, cases of malpractice increased significantly. He disclosed that 9,016 cases of examination malpractice were recorded in 2025, compared with 6,160 cases in 2024, representing an increase of about 31 per cent.

As part of disciplinary measures, five supervisors—two from the Federal Capital Territory and one each from Kano, Adamawa and Ondo States—were recommended for blacklisting for aiding and abetting malpractice. Additionally, four examination centres—two in Niger State and one each in Yobe and Kano States—were recommended for de-recognition over involvement in whole-centre malpractice.

The Registrar advised candidates to check their results on NECO’s official website using their examination registration numbers.

The SSCE External Examination is designed mainly for private candidates who are outside the regular school system, including those seeking to obtain certification or improve previously earned grades.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sue Grammys host, Trevor Noah after a joke he made about disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein on stage.

Trump blasted the comedian as a “total loser,” adding: “It looks like I’ll be sending my lawyers to sue this poor, pathetic, talentless, dope of an M.

C., and suing him for plenty of dollars. ”

Trump criticised Noah’s joke, made after the song of the year gong was handed out at the ceremony on Sunday night.

Writing on Truth Social, in a post strewn with uppercase words, Trump said: “Noah said, INCORRECTLY about me, that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton spent time on Epstein Island. WRONG!!!

“I can’t speak for Bill, but I have never been to Epstein Island, nor anywhere close, and until tonight’s false and defamatory statement, have never been accused of being there, not even by the Fake News Media.

“Noah, a total loser, better get his facts straight, and get them straight fast.”

He added: “Get ready Noah, I’m going to have some fun with you!”

Trump also blasted the ceremony saying: “The Grammy Awards are the WORST, virtually unwatchable! CBS is lucky not to have this garbage litter their airwaves any longer.”

This was an apparent reference to Disney taking over the broadcast rights for the award ceremony starting in 2027.

He has also engaged in legal action with the New York Times, Associated Press and the Wall Street Journal.

Last July, U.S. media giant Paramount, which owns CBS, agreed to pay Trump 16 million dollars to settle a lawsuit over a 2024 CBS interview with Kamala Harris, the former vice-president and 2024 Democratic presidential nominee.

Noah, 41, is a South African-born comedian and TV personality who hosted “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central in the U.S. for seven years.