News October 05, 2026 AMAC Launches Gender-Based Violence Campaign to Sensitize Women, to Embark on Community Outreach

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has launched a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) sensitisation and orientation campaign aimed at protecting women and girls and creating greater awareness of their rights and available support services.

The campaign, which was unveiled during the AMAC Women Gender-Based Violence and Orientation Drive, also featured the announcement of an emergency intervention helpline to provide confidential channels for reporting cases requiring urgent intervention and appropriate referrals.

Speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Women Affairs to the AMAC Executive Chairman, Hon. Loveth Izekor, said the campaign was a further demonstration of the council’s commitment to the safety, dignity and empowerment of women.

Izekor recalled that the council’s Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), FCT, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, had on September 16, 2026, unveiled the Voice of AMAC Women initiative during the launch of the LADDER Initiative.

She said the new campaign was building on that commitment through the rollout of the AMAC Emergency Intervention Helpline and a comprehensive GBV sensitisation programme across all 12 wards of the council.

According to her, the campaign, tagged “Unite to Protect: Empowering AMAC Women Through Knowledge and Action,” would take the message directly to communities, markets and households.

She explained that her team would visit all 12 wards in collaboration with Ward and Community Coordinators, traditional rulers, Royal Mothers and religious leaders to educate residents on the prevention of gender-based violence and the appropriate steps to take when cases occur.

Izekor stressed that the fight against GBV could not be left to government alone, urging traditional and religious leaders, community leaders and residents to play active roles in breaking the culture of silence surrounding abuse.

She said the council, through its technical partner, Gender Agender, in collaboration with AMAC Broadcast Radio and other media partners, would educate women and girls on the various forms of abuse, their rights, available protection mechanisms and safe ways of seeking help.

She added that the council was also working with security, legal, health and community partners to strengthen intervention, referral and survivor-support mechanisms.

The Special Adviser urged residents to save and share the official emergency helpline, 09074475106, within their communities.

“If you see abuse, do not look away. If you know someone in danger, do not remain silent. If a woman or child needs help, help them find help,” she said.

She said the initiative would contribute to building a stronger support system covering prevention, emergency intervention, legal assistance, healthcare, counselling and survivor support.

Izekor commended the Executive Chairman, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, for his continued commitment to the welfare, safety and empowerment of women in AMAC.

She also called on women and girls across the council’s 12 wards not to suffer in silence, assuring them that their dignity and safety mattered. She concluded with the campaign’s message: “Break the Silence. Call for Help. Unite to Protect.”

Events News October 05, 2026 "Sales Are NOT Profit!": Nigerian Trailblazer Drops Brutal Financial Truth Bombs at Diaspora Excellence Gala.

London, UK — The prestigious Cumberland Hotel was ablaze with inspiration this past weekend as the Caribbean Global Awards hosted its highly anticipated "Gala of Diaspora Excellence." But it was a proud Nigerian woman who stole the show, delivering a financial reality check that left the audience both stunned and empowered.

Dr. Ebosetale Okhueleigbe, President of the Women Mentorship Forum, took the stage as the Featured Speaker, bridging the gap between Africa and the Caribbean with a powerful keynote address on women’s economic empowerment and strategic financial management.

Dropping truth bombs that resonated with every hardworking woman in the room, Dr. Okhueleigbe tackled the universal "end-of-month" panic head-on.

"Imagine a woman who receives her salary at the end of the month. She pays her bills, buys food, supports her family... Before she knows it, the money is almost finished. She looks at her account and asks, 'Where did all my money go?'" she asked the crowd. "Sometimes, the problem is not that we are not working hard. Sometimes, we have not created a clear plan for the money we earn."

The President of the Women Mentorship Forum didn't just highlight the problem; she offered a strategic blueprint for success. She urged women to embrace financial literacy, advising them to track spending, save consistently, and—most importantly—never be afraid to talk about money and teach their daughters financial knowledge.

For entrepreneurs, her advice was equally cutting: "Sales are not the same as profit." She emphasized the critical need for business owners to keep records, understand their expenses, and separate business money from personal money.

But the keynote wasn't just about spreadsheets and savings; it was a rallying cry for global sisterhood. Representing Nigeria and Africa, Dr. Okhueleigbe drew powerful parallels between the hardworking women of Africa and the Caribbean, noting that while cultures differ, the determination to succeed is identical.

"When women support women, we create opportunities that can benefit families, businesses, and communities," she declared, urging women to celebrate each other's successes and open doors for one another.

As she closed her address, Dr. Okhueleigbe left the audience with a single, profound challenge: What is one thing I can do differently with my money starting today?

Whether it's starting a business, learning a new skill, or just opening a savings account, her message was clear: "Do not wait until you have millions. Do not wait until everything is perfect. Start where you are, with what you have, and keep learning."

In a room filled with distinguished guests and fellow award recipients, the message of "Earn with purpose, spend wisely, save consistently, and plan for the future" echoed loudly. Dr. Okhueleigbe not only represented the Women Mentorship Forum with distinction but also left an undeniable mark on the Diaspora, proving that when women are armed with knowledge and opportunity, there is no limit to what they can build.

Events News October 03, 2026 NanaSmile Project Africa Foundation Reaches Abuja IDPs in ‘Operation Feed 2000’ Outreach

The NanaSmile Project Africa Foundation has taken its humanitarian campaign to two Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Abuja, providing food and relief materials to vulnerable families as part of its “Operation Feed 2000” outreach to mark her birthday.

The annual birthday outreach, which took place on September 17, 2026, was organised as part of activities marking the birthday of the foundation’s founder, Chukwuneke Nana, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of De_africana by Nana (DNA) Fashion Brand.

Driven by the slogan, “Keep Smiling…,” the initiative was designed to provide immediate support to displaced persons, particularly by helping to meet their basic food and dietary needs while offering them a sense of care, hope and inclusion.

Volunteers and supporters of the foundation participated actively in the exercise, turning out in the organisation’s official T-shirts and jeans bearing the NanaSmile inscription.

Beyond the distribution of food and relief items, the outreach provided an opportunity for the volunteers to interact with residents of the camps and share moments of encouragement with people facing the challenges of displacement.

The foundation said the initiative reflects its commitment to putting smiles on the faces of vulnerable people and extending humanitarian support to communities in need.

Through “Operation Feed 2000,” NanaSmile Project Africa Foundation reaffirmed the message behind its campaign, that even in difficult circumstances, a simple act of kindness can give people a reason to smile.

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News October 03, 2026 Respect power rotation, back Tinubu’s 8-year presidency – Yari tells North

The Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Abdul’Aziz Yari Abubakar, has urged the North to respect the informal power-rotation arrangement and allow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete his constitutionally permitted eight-year tenure.

Yari made the call while addressing journalists at the Government House,Kano, after a meeting with Kano Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.

The former Zamfara State Governor said the North should understand and respect the political arrangement that brought the presidency to the South in 2023, arguing that the presidency had been held by a northerner for several years before the emergence of Tinubu as President.

“Since our independence 66 years ago, the country was led by northerners for 47 years,” adding that Nigerians should recognise the importance of maintaining unity and understanding how the country’s political system operates.

According to him, Nigeria remains a country that all citizens must work together to protect, regardless of regional or political differences.

“As we love this country, we don’t have any country other than Nigeria. Nigerians should come and understand how this country works. It is also better than many nations,” the APC chieftain said.

He explained that his role as Director-General of the campaign council was not limited to promoting President Tinubu but also included promoting national unity and understanding among Nigerians.

He said the current political arrangement should be respected, noting that former President Muhammadu Buhari, a northerner, governed the country between 2015 and 2023 before power shifted to Tinubu from the South in 2023.

“Having said this, this country, Nigeria, from 2015 to 2023 was led by a northerner, and now from 2023 to 2026 it is being led by a Southerner,” he said.

The lawmaker,therefore, appealed to northerners not to seek to overturn the existing zoning arrangement on the basis of the region’s population, explaining that the political understanding was important for national stability.

“If we say we want to uproot the zoning arrangement because of our numbers, then my call for northerners is to understand how it works. They even understand more than I do,” Yari said.

He acknowledged that President Tinubu’s administration, like every government, is not perfect, but argued that the challenges facing Nigeria should not solely be attributed to the administration.

“Nobody is perfect. The southerners have also experienced what we are complaining about today when President Buhari was in power,” he said.

Yari also argued that insecurity is not peculiar to Nigeria, saying countries across the world, including the United States, continue to grapple with security challenges despite their level of development.

“On problems, no problem of a country is solved by any government, including even in the United States. They are managing insecurity as we are managing it,” he said.

The director-general further cited gun violence in Chicago as an example of the security challenges faced by other countries, stressing that every nation has its own problems that require continuous efforts to address.

Turning to the economy, Yari said Nigerians should assess the Tinubu administration based on economic indicators and compare the situation at the time the president assumed office in 2023 with the current position.

“When you look at when Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu came to power in 2023, go and check what was the state of our reserves and what it is today, and what was the rate of inflation in 2023 and what it is today,” he said.

Yari maintained that the administration is making efforts to address the country’s economic and security challenges, while acknowledging that governments at both federal and state levels are working to improve the situation.

He, therefore,urged Nigerians, particularly those in the North, to give the political arrangement time, arguing that the presidency would return to the region after Tinubu’s tenure if the existing rotation principle is maintained.

“I am calling on northerners to note that by the time Bola Ahmed Tinubu finishes in 2031, power will definitely come back to the North. So, this is how the arrangement is,” Yari said.

He added that federal and state governments are making efforts to address the challenges confronting the country and urged Nigerians to support measures aimed at strengthening national unity and development.

News October 03, 2026 Kano state govt assures safety of journalists, residents, visitors

Kano State Government has assured working journalists, residents of the state and visitors of safety of their lives and property.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf gave the assurance while receiving members of the state chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR) and members of the Kano Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ whom were on a Road Walk to the Government House.

Represented by the Director-General Media and Publicity, Government House, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa,the Governor said:”Despite the little or the spots of crisis we are facing in the border and local governments,we are committed to providing more welfare, more respect, more coordination to the media industry and public relations so that your work can be easy, can be simple and can be done in a professional manner.”

He also stated that his administrationvis willing to invest and partner with the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations(NIPR) in the training and retraining of its new members to ensure adherence to the ethics of the practice of public relations.

On the activities of his office,the Director-General recalled that the Governor had in 2025 spent over N200 million as support to various categories of the media and PR practitioners within and outside the state.

“I am happy to also report to you that in this 2026, under my office, we have spent over N150 million as a welfare to different categories of media and public relations professionals, some directly, some indirectly, some openly, some behind the scenes.

“These cut across provision of mobility, provision of working tools, provision of shelter, and provision of medical assistance to various members of this profession.

“So,it is with a great pleasure that I also report to you that any need, any valid request from the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, from the Nigeria Union of Journalists, from the Correspondents’ Chapel will be welcomed to the Kano State Government for onward approval,” he added.

Earlier, a member of the NIPR Board of Trustees,Prof. Sule Ya’u Sule, said the Walkout was organized to sensitize the people of the state and other Nigerians on the forthcoming convergence of all practitioners of public relations in Abuja from November 15th to November 21.

“And as part of activities to create awareness about this Forum, Kano State chapter and other chapters in the country decided to stage what is called Walkout. Meaning, to track, to sensitize Nigerians and the people of Kano State that this event is coming up in November.

“And we are terminating this walk here at the Government House to deliver our message to the Governor through you, the Director-General, so that you also notify the Governor that this event is coming up.

“If you may recall, in our studies in public relations, we came up with a definition of public relations that was coined in Mexico in 1978. It has remained a reference point for all students of public relations.

“That was the first time such a Forum was staged in 1978 in Mexico City. So now, this Forum is coming to Abuja so that we can have another declaration. Since 1978, the definition of public relations has not been reviewed.

“Now,we are meeting in Abuja so that we can look at some of the emerging trends in the profession and incorporate them in the definition of public relations.This is the purpose of the forum coming up in Abuja in November 2026,” Prof.Sule added.

News October 03, 2026 Wike challenges Amaechi over claim Tinubu’s policies led to mother’s death

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has faulted former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, over his claim that President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies contributed to the death of his mother.

Wike accused Amaechi, who is the African Democratic Congress vice-presidential candidate, of bringing his late mother into political debates in an attempt to attract public sympathy.

The FCT Minister spoke on Saturday while addressing members of the Uzugbani Ekpeye National Executive Council at Ekpeye House in Ahoada, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Amaechi had alleged during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday that the economic policies of the Tinubu administration made medicines unaffordable for his mother, thereby contributing to her death.

“Tinubu’s policies killed my mother. Before Tinubu came, my mother was healthy. After 2023, it was difficult for me to buy drugs for my mother,” Amaechi said during the interview.

Reacting to the allegation, Wike questioned how Amaechi, who had occupied several prominent political offices, could claim that he was unable to afford medication for his mother.

He pointed to Amaechi’s political career, noting that he served as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly for eight years, Governor of the state for another eight years and Minister of Transportation for eight years.

“Again, you said it was Tinubu that killed his mother. It was Tinubu’s administration that led to not being able to buy drugs for his mother.

“This one, a speaker for eight years, from 1999 to 2007. This one, a governor for eight years, from 2007 to 2015. This one, a minister for eight years, from 2015 to 2023.

“And your mother was sick, and you are telling the whole world that because of the policy of Tinubu, you couldn’t buy drugs for your mother, and so your mother died,” Wike said.

Wike also questioned the circumstances surrounding Amaechi’s claim, referring to his comments about his family and describing his wife as an industrialist.

“Yet, an industrialist couldn’t give you money to buy drug for your mother,” he said.

The minister further argued that Amaechi had influential associates who, according to him, could have assisted with his mother’s medical expenses before her death.

“Yet, you didn’t know that you had friends who had private jets, who would come down to bury a mother whom you could not buy drug for, for her to survive?

“You didn’t tell them, ‘My mother was sick, can you help me? Give me money, let me buy drug.’ Let me tell you the truth, they gave you money. And then they came to bury your mother, and you accepted it,” he said.

Wike also criticised Amaechi’s reference to his late mother in relation to the outcome of the 2027 general election.

According to the minister, Amaechi had stated in a video that his mother would be happy if the ADC emerged victorious in the election.

“In one of his videos, he said if ADC wins election, his mother will be very happy. So, the only condition is that his mother will not be happy if ADC does not win.

“Too bad! She will not be happy that ADC will not win. You are the one who said your mother would be happy if ADC wins. How can you bring a loved one who’s gone to bring in politics?” Wike said.

Describing the development as inappropriate, the FCT Minister accused Amaechi of bringing his late mother into political discussions.

“It is unfortunate people can descend so low to use their mother to play politics,” he said.

Wike appealed to people to allow the deceased to rest, while praying for the peaceful repose of Amaechi’s mother.

“But all of us should pray that the old woman who died would have rest, would have peace with her Creator,” he added.

Amaechi’s mother, Mary Amaechi, died in July 2026 and was buried in September in Ubima, Rivers State. Several prominent political figures attended the burial.

The exchange adds to the long-standing political differences between Wike and Amaechi, who were once political associates before becoming prominent opponents in Rivers State politics.

Earlier in the week, Wike had also challenged Amaechi to account for his achievements in Rivers State during his 24 years in senior political positions.

News October 03, 2026 Police locate camp holding 19 abducted corps members, give reason for delaying rescue operation

The Imo State Police Command has located the suspected camp where 19 prospective National Youth Service Corps members abducted in the state are being held, but security operatives have yet to storm the location because of fears that the area may have been rigged with improvised explosive devices.

The state Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, disclosed this on Saturday while providing an update on efforts to rescue the victims.

According to Bosso, security operatives deployed drones on Friday after tracking the suspected kidnappers into the bush, leading to the discovery of the location where the victims were believed to be held.

He said the operation was being handled cautiously following intelligence indicating that explosives had been planted around the suspected kidnappers’ camp.

“Any moment, we’ll still move into the bush. Yesterday, we were in the bush, we trailed them up to a particular location.

“But at that point in time, we couldn’t move in to where the coordinate showed us where they are because we ran drones yesterday. And the drone actually showed us exactly their location.

“But our predicament is that with the intel we have, the IED is—the camp is mined with IEDs,” the commissioner said.

Bosso explained that security agencies were making preparations to enter the area with heavy-duty equipment, including bulldozers and armoured personnel carriers, to facilitate the safe rescue of the abducted corps members.

“We are moving in there with high, you know, high-velocity vehicles, that is, bulldozers, we’re moving in with bulldozers and APCs to see how we’re going to rescue these victims unhurt,” he added.

The development followed the abduction of the prospective corps members, who were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

The victims were reportedly travelling in two buses when gunmen intercepted them along the Owerri-Onitsha Road around the Umunoha area of Imo State on Thursday.

The Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, Isiah Akpan, had said that 19 passengers, all prospective corps members, were taken into the bush by the attackers.

Akpan said the drivers managed to escape and subsequently alerted security personnel at a nearby checkpoint, prompting security agencies to begin searching the area.

The kidnappers have reportedly demanded N50m for each victim, bringing the total ransom demand to N950m. Some of the victims’ families were allegedly contacted through the phones of their abducted relatives.

A mother of one of the victims, Mrs Oladosu, also said that the kidnappers contacted her family using her daughter’s phone. She said the family was able to see some of the abducted persons during a video call.

Earlier, the Imo State Police Command had announced that 10 victims were rescued. However, the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, said he could not confirm whether those rescued were part of the prospective corps members abducted along the Owerri-Onitsha Road.

With the latest development, security operatives have reportedly identified the location of the remaining victims as efforts intensify to secure their safe release.

(PUNCH)