The National Youth Service Corps, has deployed 1,600 corps members to Bauchi State, assuring that the corps members would deliver maximum impact on their host communities.
The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, made the assurance in Bauchi on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ stream 1 orientation course.
The DG, who was represented by the Bauchi state Coordinator of NYSC, Rifkatu Yakubu, commended the patriotism, loyalty, patience, perseverance, understanding and good conduct of the corps members during the orientation course.
He said, “By your show of maturity, patriotism, loyalty, commitment, discipline and tolerance, I am convinced that our three-week stay at camp has not been in vain and that you will have a maximum impact on your host communities during the service year.
“As you embark on the second phase of the service year, I enjoin you to continue to be obedient, loyal and diligent and endeavour to settle down quickly when you get to your places of primary assignment and adapt to the ways of life there.
“Do your best to obey the rules governing your host communities and learn to appreciate their customs and culture, and ensure that you leave them better than you will meet them through your community development projects.”
While appreciating all the collaborating agencies that sent their personnel to assist the scheme in the running of the camp, Nafiu also lauded the NYSC staff for being at their very best to ensure a seamless exercise.
He also commended the Bauchi state Government for providing a conducive environment and security for both corps members and camp officials, saying the contributions have made the exercise a huge success.
PUNCH reports that a total of 1,600 corps members comprising 717 males and 883 females were deployed to their various places of primary assignments in the state for the one-year national service.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will take the reins of the Brazil national team on May 26, aiming to lead the team to World Cup glory next year for the first time since 2002.
Previous coach Dorival Junior was sacked in March after a 4-1 thumping by rivals Argentina in qualifying.
Here, AFP Sport considers three reasons he could prove successful with the record five-time world champions:
Calm character
Ancelotti, who has written a book named “Quiet Leadership”, is known for his calm and warm character, making him an ideal candidate for one of football’s highest pressure jobs.
The Italian has demonstrated his ability to succeed in similar environments with some of Europe’s biggest sides, including Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.
With Brazil’s fiercest rivals Argentina reigning world champions, the pressure on Brazil to succeed in the 2026 World Cup will be higher than ever.
Ancelotti is also set to be the first foreign manager to lead Brazil into a World Cup.
However if anybody is cut out to thrive in — or despite — heavy scrutiny from fans and national media, it is the unflappable, avuncular Ancelotti.
“Ancelotti would be ideal because everyone, including opponents, respects him,” said Brazil great Zico in 2023.
“He knows football and is aware that players are more important than tactics.”
Ancelotti is considered a superb man-manager, which will allow him to get the best out of a national team rich in talent.
Strong relationships
With Neymar turning 34 ahead of the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, there is a strong chance the forward and talisman of this Brazilian generation will not feature.
He has made only nine appearances since rejoining Santos from Saudi club Al Hilal, continuing to struggle with injury problems.
Instead Vinicius Junior will likely be Brazil’s key figure, a player who has developed brilliantly under Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
The Italian has helped the 24-year-old turn from a figure of fun, because of his inconsistent end product, into one of the Spanish league’s biggest stars.
Rodrygo Goes has also won two Champions League titles with Ancelotti at Madrid, as has defender Eder Militao.
Teenage forward Endrick, who has already scored three goals for Brazil, has made 35 appearances for Madrid this season, netting seven times in all competitions.
Personal challenge
Ancelotti is the only coach in history to win all five of Europe’s biggest leagues and will find a new challenge in international football.
The World Cup is the final puzzle piece left for Ancelotti to complete his glittering managerial career.
Ancelotti won the Champions League twice as a player with AC Milan and twice more as a coach there, along with three further wins while in charge of Real Madrid — five triumphs puts him two ahead of any other manager.
The 65-year-old seemed to have fallen out of the elite after taking charge at Everton in 2019, but Madrid’s surprise move to reappoint him in 2021 has been fruitful for both coach and club.
Now Ancelotti sets his sights on glory with Brazil, and completing his personal trophy cabinet.
The UN is undergoing some dire financial strain amid growing global challenges, Secretary-General António Guterres has said.
Guterres, while briefing Member States in New York on Monday about the state of the multilateral body, pushed for wide-ranging structural reforms to cut costs and enhance the world body’s effectiveness.
According to information provided by the UN Controller to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary), only $1.8 billion had been received against the $3.5 billion regular budget assessments for 2025.
This amounted to a shortfall of around 50 per cent.
As of 30 April, unpaid assessments stood at $2.4 billion, with the United States owing about $1.5 billion, China ($597 million), Russia ($72 million), Saudi Arabia ($42 million), Mexico ($38 million), and Venezuela ($38 million).
An additional $137 million was yet to be paid by other Member States.
For the peacekeeping budget, which runs on a July-June cycle, including prior-period arrears, the unpaid amount totals $2.7 billion.
For the International Tribunals, total contribution outstanding was $79 million as of April 30.
“These are times of peril,” Guterres lamented, adding, “but they are also times of profound opportunity and obligation.
The mission of the United Nations is more urgent than ever.”
Guterres outlined wide-ranging efforts to revamp how the UN system operates, which included cutting costs, streamlining operations, and modernizing its approach to peace and security, development and human rights.
He said the conclusions would be reflected in revised estimates for the 2026 budget in September 2025, with additional changes that require more detailed analysis presented in 2027.
Guterres said the changes were expected to yield “meaningful reductions” in the overall budget, in which the departments for political and peacekeeping affairs could see a 20 per cent reduction in staff by eliminating duplication.
He said this level of reduction could serve as a benchmark across the UN system while also considering unique factors for each department.
Gutterres said, “There might be immediate, one-off costs involved in relocating staff and providing potential termination packages.
““But by moving posts from high-cost locations, we can reduce our commercial footprint in those cities and reduce our post and non-post costs.”
He said departments at the UN’s headquarters in New York and Geneva had been asked to review whether some teams could be relocated to lower-cost duty stations, reduced or abolished.
A preliminary review identified more than 3,600 unique mandates for the Secretariat alone. A full and more detailed analysis is now underway.
Guterres emphasised that the sheer number of mandates, and the bureaucracy needed to implement them, placed a particular burden on smaller Member States with limited resources.
“Based on this work, Member States may wish to consider the opportunity to conduct themselves a review of the mandates,” he added.
Nearly 50 initial submissions had already been received from senior UN officials, reflecting what Guterres described as “a high level of ambition and creativity.”
Key work areas had been identified for review, including peace and security, development, human rights, humanitarian, training and research and specialised agencies.
Guterres also touched on the UN dire cashflow situation, stating that the initiative was not an answer to the months-long liquidity crisis but by being more cost effective, it should help limit the impact.
“The liquidity crisis is caused by one simple fact – the arrears,” he said, adding that structural reform was not the answer to a fundamental failure by some member states to pay what they owed on time to meet running costs.
The secretary-general told member states he would be consulting with them closely and regularly on the cash crisis and needed reforms, seeking guidance and presenting concrete proposals for countries to act on.
He said UN staff members and their representatives were being consulted and listened to, adding, “Our concern is to be humane and professional in dealing with any aspect of the required restructuring.”
He concluded by highlighting that the UN80 Initiative was a “significant opportunity” to strengthen the UN system and deliver for those who depended on the global multilateral organization.
Launched in March, the UN80 Initiative centred on three priorities: enhancing operational efficiency, assessing how mandates, or key tasks, from Member States are implemented, and exploring structural reforms across the UN system.
He urged,“Let us seize this momentum with urgency and determination, and work together to build the strongest and most effective United Nations for today and tomorrow.”
Super Eagles striker and KRC Genk player, Tolu Arokodare, has won the 2024/25 Ebony Shoe Award in Belgium.
Arokdare claimed the award meant for the best African player in the European country for this campaign on Monday.
The 24-year-old has scored 20 goals in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League and is the second leading goalscorer in the competition.
He helped Genk finish top of the pile in the regular 2024/2025 season, but their campaign suffered a setback in the championship play-offs.
Arokodare became the seventh Nigerian player to win the award. The latest since Paul Onuachu won the prize in 2021.
He won the prestigious award ahead of Noah Sidiki of Union St.Gilloise, Genk teammate Zakaria El Ouahdi, Union Saint-Gillloise star Promise David and compatriot Raphael Onyedika.
Daniel Amokachi, Victor Ikpeba, Godwin Opara and Celestine Babayaro are other Nigerians who have won the award.
Arokodare was born in Festac Town in Lagos. He made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2025.
He came on for Victor Osimhen in the 2026 World Cup qualification match against Rwanda.
A few days later, he played his second game for the team in a 1-1 draw against Zimbabwe in the same qualification campaign.
The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has unveiled a new insurance policy to transform Nigeria’s aviation sector, with the revised regulations specifically designed to ease aircraft financing and support the growth of local airline operators.
The minister announced this in a signed statement by the spokesperson to the ministry, Odutayo Oluseyi, on Monday.
The statement reads, “While flagging off the new era of insurance regulation, the Minister said the revised insurance regulations are expected to boost the aviation sector, improve Irrevocable Deregistration and Export Request Authorisation, allow local operators to cede up to 90 per cent of risk to international markets under certain conditions and it is in line with the Cape Town Convention which gears towards acquisition and financing of aircraft.”
“We are proud of the progress made in enhancing the aviation ecosystem in Nigeria, our focus is on investor-friendliness, empowering the local operators, ensure compliance with international standards, and drive growth and development in the aviation industry,” Keyamo stated.
The Commissioner for Insurance and NAICOM CEO, Olusegun Omosehin, said the commission has fully embraced the initiative.
“The Commission did not only agree to pilot the process but to take ownership of the process,” he said, noting that the policy will enhance Nigeria’s GDP and promote the stability of the aviation insurance market.
Omosehin emphasised the benefits of the new regulation, saying that “The leasing of aircraft will give the airline operators the needed advantage required in procuring more aircraft which will ultimately be to the advantage of Nigerians and other stakeholders.” He added that it would “go a long way to reduce the cost of air ticket in Nigeria, give comfort to Nigeria Airline Operators and restore confidence among foreign investors.”
The Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council, Zahrah Audu, assured Nigerians of the government’s resolve to implement business-friendly policies.
She urged airline operators to improve customer service and minimize flight delays and cancellations.
The Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, expressed the association’s support for the new policy.
“The AON is excited seeing the new insurance policy coming to bear. This will strengthen the aviation sector, retain more money among the operators, and provide general services to Nigerians,” he said.
He further acknowledged the sector’s improved performance under the current administration.
“The aviation sector under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu generates more income for the country than before,” he said.
He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to support the government’s efforts in resolving industry challenges.
Manchester City have unveiled their official home kit for the 2025/26 football season in collaboration with Puma.
The club, in a brief statement on Tuesday, announced the release of the new strip, which features a distinctive sash design on the traditional sky blue shirt.
“Bring the sash home. Introducing the 25/26 Man City x @pumafootball Home Kit. Out now,” the statement read.
A promotional image released by the club features several players modelling the new design, highlighting the kit’s modern aesthetic while retaining elements of City’s classic identity.
The shirt, emblazoned with the club’s crest and principal sponsor Etihad Airways, continues the partnership between Manchester City and global sportswear brand Puma.
The Lagos State Government has launched a N14.815 billion Green Bond, aimed at financing climate-resilient infrastructure and advancing key sectors such as health, environment, and housing.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Abayomi Oluyomi, during the 2025 ministerial press rriefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, where he outlined the ministry’s scorecard over the past year.
He said, “This Green Bond is a landmark achievement for Lagos State. It reflects our dedication to financing sustainable projects that directly impact lives while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
“It is also important to note that Lagos has never defaulted on its debt obligations—a record we intend to maintain.”
He revealed that the bond has been formally certified by the Climate Bond Initiative, a global standard for green investment, signalling Lagos State’s alignment with international environmental benchmarks.
The commissioner noted that the proceeds would be strategically deployed to support impactful projects in the health, environment, and housing sectors—areas he described as “critical to the sustainable urban development of Africa’s fastest-growing megacity.”
In reviewing other strides made by the ministry, Oluyomi disclosed that several administrative and financial reforms had been successfully implemented, including the digitisation of service provider registration, enhanced payroll and security verification, and the deployment of technology-driven tracking systems for revenue and expenditure.
“The strategic use of technology in our financial processes is helping us optimise spending and ensure that every naira is accounted for.
“This is critical in a mega-city like Lagos, where the demand for infrastructure and public services is growing rapidly,” he said.
Looking forward, Oluyomi detailed key initiatives scheduled for the second half of 2025, including the establishment of the Lagos State Sovereign Wealth Fund, the Lagos Economic Summit Group, and the rollout of revenue courts to drive tax compliance and boost internally generated revenue.
He also disclosed that the government is converting idle state assets into liquid financial instruments through securitisation.
“This strategic move is designed to unlock capital for infrastructure development while increasing the productive value of public assets,” he added.
Despite global economic pressures, Oluyomi noted that Lagos had experienced a marked improvement in its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a feat he attributed to sound fiscal management and strategic planning.
He closed his address with an appeal to citizens.
Oluyomi said, “Our ability to meet our development goals is directly tied to the support we get from the people.
“Regular tax payment ensures continuity and sustainability of our ambitious infrastructure projects.”
The Lagos State Government has postponed the 2025 edition of the Public Service Examinations earlier scheduled for Tuesday, May 13, citing the need to safeguard the integrity of the process.
“The decision was taken to ensure the integrity of the Examination process and guarantee a fair experience for all candidates,” said Mr. Adebayo Orunsolu, Director of the Lagos State Examinations Board, in a statement released Monday evening.
A copy of this was also posted on the state government’s X account on Monday evening.
According to Orunsolu, the examinations will now hold on “Friday, May 23, 2025,” with a new date for specific papers to be announced soon via official channels.
He advised candidates to remain ready and regularly check the Board’s portal — https://examsboard.lagosstate.gov.ng — for real-time updates.
“Candidates are reminded to retain their registration details and print their examination slips before the announcement of the new dates,” he added.
Expressing appreciation for the patience and cooperation of stakeholders, Orunsolu assured that the Board remains “committed to conducting credible, transparent, and efficient Public Service Examinations.”
This development comes just a day before the earlier exam date, prompting candidates to extend their preparation window amid heightened expectations across the state’s civil service structure.
The Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, has urged journalists to navigate the new media landscape with caution and courage.
Arogundade made this call on Monday at the public lecture held in honour of the 60th birthday celebration of Professor of Journalism, Tunde Akanni and Dr Omolade Sanni of the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the Lagos State University.
In March, the Governing Council of the Lagos State University approved the elevation of Akanni to the position of full professor of Journalism and Development Communication, while Sanni is a senior lecturer in the faculty.
On his paper presentation, Arogundade, who was recently removed from the Department of State Services’ watchlist after about 40 years, argued that Artificial Intelligence has disrupted the media landscape and presented journalists with new challenges.
He said, “AI comes with the good, the bad and the ugly. Know this and use it wisely. Whatever you do, never forget the tenets of journalism. This year’s World Press Freedom Day focuses on Reporting in the Brave New World. You have to be brave to report in our new world today.
“Our own recommendation from the International Press Centre is that perhaps we now need a national AI that expressly provides for the protection of journalists and press freedom. AI is here to stay, and my concluding words are ‘shine your eyes.’”
He asserted, “We have seen situations where AI is being weaponised against the media, which means that AI can be the tool that disables press freedom. You would agree with me that it’s hard to conceptualise journalism today in the context of AI without doing so in relation to its own pervasive difference, or let’s say, seeming pervasive difference.
“Like I said, for some, this difference is positively disruptive, and for others, it could be negative. Part of the argument, really, is that the Internet technologies and the social media components are already disruptive enough.
“Both, particularly in this age, which is being increasingly defined by information disorder; we’re all talking about misinformation, disinformation, and so on. “And people, citizens, even ordinary citizens, are now getting used to the idea that there’s something like AI.
“So we should not think that the knowledge of AI is an exclusive enclave of those of us in academia or the media. This is a problem that you may get to a stage where, when you come on the news, citizens may begin to wonder whether they should believe what they have seen or not.”
In his opening remarks, the Dean of the faculty, Professor Jide Jimoh, paid tribute to Akanni and Sanni and their impact on the faculty.
The dean said, “I’m very happy for him (Akanni). I’m happy that he is still in this faculty. I’m happy he’s now a professor. Because he came in as an assistant lecturer, a mister and now a professor, so it’s a great day to celebrate him.
“Dr Sanni, always smiling. She’s at peace with everybody. She will do her job diligently and, most importantly, quietly with compassion. The students love her because whenever you need something from her, whenever you need her to solve a problem, she will always oblige you.”
Commenting on the paper delivered by Arogundade, a former dean of the faculty, Professor Rotimi Olatunji, echoed similar sentiments and called for caution in the use of AI by journalists.
He warned journalists about the ability of AI to hallucinate, which could lead to misinformation if not checked.
The Tertiary Education Trust Fund has warned that beneficiary institutions that fail to meet performance benchmarks or mismanage allocated funds risk being delisted from its support programmes.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, gave the warning at a one-day strategic engagement with heads of institutions, bursars, and heads of procurement of the Fund’s beneficiary institutions in Abuja on Monday.
Echono said the policy was not meant to punish, but rather to safeguard the credibility and impact of TETFund interventions.
“Let me be clear, institutions that consistently fail to access, utilise or retire funds appropriately, or that fall short of enrollment and academic performance thresholds, risk being delisted as TETFund beneficiary institutions,” the executive secretary said.
He also disclosed the intention of the Fund to ensure that its resources are directed towards institutions that are committed to high standards of governance, transparency, and accountability.
According to Echono, the strategic engagement was targeted at addressing recurring challenges in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector, improve project execution, and enhance the quality of education.
A key focus, he said, was the Academic Staff Training and Development intervention.
He said due to rising costs and incidents of scholars absconding, the foreign component of the TETFund Scholarship for Academic Staff was suspended as of January 1, 2025 with emphasis now shifted to cost-effective, locally driven training.
Echono further said this year’s intervention budget prioritises consolidation, sustainability, and the completion of abandoned projects.
“This engagement is not merely a meeting but a strategic convergence. It is designed to address recurring issues of concern, streamline project implementation and enhance the overall quality of tertiary education delivery in our nation.
“As we move forward, let us approach today’s discussions with openness, collaboration, and a shared vision to elevate our institutions and the students we serve. “Together, we can strengthen accountability, drive innovation, and ensure that the legacy of TETFund remains impactful, equitable and enduring for generations to come,” he added.
Dr. Joshua Atah, who represented the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, emphasised the importance of the meeting for evaluating the implementation and impact of Trust Fund-supported projects in higher education institutions.
The NUC also appreciated the Fund’s role in improving infrastructure, research, staff development, and academic quality, stating that without its support, public education would struggle to survive.
Ribadu acknowledged the adaptability of the Fund’s policies such as suspending international scholarships to reallocate resources more effectively.
He urged institutions to be more responsive and ensure that interventions were relevant and efficiently executed.
He encouraged judicious and timely use of funds and called for open and constructive dialogue during the engagement.
“This calls for greater responsiveness also on the part of the institutions. This responsiveness also includes the areas of the design and implementation of these interventions to ensure that they remain relevant, impactful, and aligned with the future of education in Nigeria.
“It’s also important that we judiciously utilise these resources, and not just judicious utilisation but also in a timely manner so that we don’t lose the fund,” he said.
