AUN MARKS 11TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHIBOK ABDUCTION
Eleven years after the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State by Boko Haram terrorists, the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola has honored the resilience and academic achievements of 68 Chibok survivors currently enrolled at the institution. In a moving ceremony commemorating the April 14, 2014 tragedy, the girls were each presented with a laptop—generously donated by acclaimed British journalist and long-time Chibok advocate, Isha Sesay.
The donation, first announced by Sesay on January 29 during a Zoom call with the girls, was not just a material gift but a symbol of global solidarity and a reaffirmation of belief in their future. oouy“You are not defined by the darkness of your past,” she told them. “These tools are keys to unlocking your potential—proof that the world believes in your future.” Her words were both a gesture of empowerment and a call to action for the girls to continue on their transformative academic journey.
AUN President, Dr. Dewayne Frazier, used the occasion to challenge reductive labels that have long overshadowed the identities of the girls. “These are not the ‘Chibok girls’ frozen in time as victims. They are Chibok women—mothers, students, sisters, and role models,” he said in a stirring speech. “They are scholars shaping their destinies, thriving within our AUN family and beyond.”
Dr. Frazier reframed the 2014 attack not as a religiously motivated incident, but as an assault on education and the promise it holds. “That night in 2014, terrorists targeted not a religion, but education itself,” he stated. “Their crime was hatred for progress, for light. Yet here, a decade later, education triumphs.”
He acknowledged a wide coalition of supporters—among them the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, philanthropists Stephen Basari and Aisha Bugu of the Yulish Bugu Foundation, and other global advocates—whose continued backing has made the girls’ educational journey possible. He also reaffirmed AUN’s institutional commitment to empowering underserved women and girls across Nigeria.
Dr. Frazier closed with a powerful reminder of the work that remains. “Life has no rearview mirror. The future is yours to shape. We will never cease fighting until every survivor is home, educated, and empowered.”
HOUSE COMMITTEE POSTPONES RIVERS OVERSIGHT SESSION FOLLOWING SOLE ADMINISTRATOR’S REQUEST
An anticipated meeting between the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Affairs and Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), the recently appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has been postponed after Ibas formally requested more time. The session, originally scheduled for Thursday, April 17, was to be a crucial interactive engagement to assess governance issues and political developments in the state.
The committee, chaired by House Leader Hon. Julius Ihonvbere, was tasked with unraveling the current state of affairs in Rivers, where an ongoing political crisis has deepened since the fallout between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, now FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. With rising concerns over constitutional breaches, parallel legislatures, and executive orders affecting governance in the state, the House aimed to conduct a comprehensive oversight inquiry in the public interest.
House spokesperson Hon. Akin Rotimi confirmed the postponement, noting that the committee had received a formal rescheduling request from Ibas. “In the spirit of transparent and effective oversight, the Committee has acknowledged the request and is in the process of coordinating a new date for the session,” Rotimi said, promising that the public would be promptly informed once a new date is finalized.
The delay underscores the sensitivity of the Rivers political crisis, where federal and legislative interventions are increasingly seen as pivotal in stabilizing governance and ensuring constitutional order.
JONATHAN DISMISSES CLAIM OF TINUBU 2027 ENDORSEMENT AS FAKE NEWS
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has categorically denied endorsing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a second term in the 2027 presidential election, describing the reports circulating online and on social media as “fabricated and deliberately misleading.”
The false report, which gained traction earlier this week, claimed that Jonathan—during his visit to South Korea where he was awarded the 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize—praised Tinubu’s leadership and predicted his re-election. It even quoted him as discouraging the formation of any coalition to challenge the incumbent.
However, Jonathan’s Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, swiftly rebutted the report in a strongly worded statement. “At no time did Dr. Jonathan speak with any journalist about the 2027 elections, nor did he endorse any presidential candidate,” he said. The Media Office reinforced this position with a social media post warning the public against believing the disinformation.
The statement went further to criticize those behind the falsehood, describing the story as the work of “agents of disinformation” with a political agenda. “Dr. Jonathan remains committed to truth, factual reporting, and responsible communication,” the statement emphasized.
Jonathan, who has deliberately maintained a statesmanlike distance from partisan politics since leaving office in 2015, reiterated through his aides that he has made no political endorsements and urged the public to disregard the false claims.
JIGAWA APPROVES HIJAB POLICY FOR FEMALE SECURITY STAFF
The Jigawa State Government has approved a new policy allowing female personnel working with private security companies in the state to wear hijabs while on duty. The decision, announced following a State Executive Council meeting in Dutse, was presented by the Commissioner for Information, Sagir Musa, who emphasized the move as a commitment to gender inclusion and religious freedom in the workplace.
“This directive empowers female security officers to uphold their faith and cultural practices without hindrance,” Musa said, noting that the policy was informed by a report from the Council Committee on Security in Schools, Hospitals, and Courts. The report had highlighted the need for female personnel to be allowed modest dress as part of ensuring a more accommodating and respectful work environment.
The directive applies to three major private security firms in the state that collectively employ nearly 10,000 youth security personnel. According to the government, the new policy aligns with broader efforts to promote dignity, professionalism, and inclusion across all public and private sectors.
In the same briefing, Musa announced a significant educational support initiative, with the state approving ₦516.1 million for the purchase of flight tickets for students enrolled in medical and health-related courses at Near East University, Cyprus. The funds will cover 184 return tickets and 185 one-way tickets for Jigawa indigenes pursuing vital professional training abroad.
To further bolster innovation and youth development, the Council also unveiled plans for the first-ever Jigawa State Creativity and Innovation Week (JISCIW), scheduled for 2025. The event will serve as a platform for discovering and nurturing young talents in technology, entrepreneurship, the arts, and design.
OKONJO-IWEALA WARNS OF GLOBAL TRADE DECLINE DUE TO TRUMP-ERA TARIFFS
World Trade Organization Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed serious concern over a projected contraction in global trade, citing recent tariff policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump as a major destabilizing factor. The tariffs, which include a blanket 10 percent duty on all imports and targeted 25 percent tariffs on steel, aluminum, and vehicles, have significantly disrupted trade dynamics, particularly between the U.S. and China.
Most notably, President Trump imposed an aggressive 145 percent tariff on Chinese goods, to which China responded with a 125 percent retaliatory tariff on American exports. Okonjo-Iweala warned that this tit-for-tat escalation could reduce U.S.-China trade volumes by 81 percent, a staggering figure with implications far beyond bilateral relations.
In its latest trade outlook, the WTO revised its 2025 forecast downward, projecting a 0.2 percent decline in global merchandise trade and only modest recovery in 2026. Global GDP growth is estimated at 2.2 percent for 2025, with trade friction seen as a key risk factor, especially for vulnerable economies.
Although the tariffs do not directly affect trade in services, the WTO expects the sector to suffer from reduced investment confidence and supply chain disruptions. Projections for commercial services trade growth have been lowered to 4 percent—one percentage point below earlier estimates.
Regionally, North America is expected to bear the brunt of the decline, with exports and imports both dropping by over 9 percent. Meanwhile, Asia, especially China, is projected to redirect trade to other global regions, partially buffering its export growth. Okonjo-Iweala warned that the risk of global “economic decoupling” between major blocs could erode GDP by nearly 7 percent by 2040.
She concluded with a call for urgent institutional reform within the WTO, urging member states to simplify the consensus-based decision-making system and modernize trade frameworks to meet contemporary challenges.
FALANA CALLS ON TINUBU TO END BLOODSHED IN PLATEAU AND BENUE
Human rights advocate and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has called on President Bola Tinubu to act decisively to end the prolonged violence in Plateau and Benue States, where communities have continued to suffer brutal attacks by armed herders and unknown gunmen. Falana criticized the failure of both federal and state governments to enforce existing bans on open grazing—an issue he says lies at the heart of the crisis.
Falana noted that although the Northern Governors Forum and their southern counterparts agreed to a nationwide ban on open grazing as far back as 2021, implementation has remained inconsistent. He traced many of the recent killings back to the government’s failure to operationalize ranching policies that could prevent conflict between herders and farmers.
“Due to the failure to enforce these bans, hundreds have lost their lives in rural communities,” he said. Falana urged President Tinubu, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief, to direct immediate military and police deployments to secure affected areas. He specifically mentioned the 3rd Division of the Nigerian Army and the AIG of Zone 4 of the Police Force—both headquartered in Jos—as key forces capable of responding swiftly.
Falana’s statement comes amid renewed attacks in villages across Plateau and Benue, raising concerns about displacement, human rights violations, and food insecurity. The call for action echoes broader demands for a long-term, enforceable national security strategy to end the cycle of violence.
TINUBU’S GOVERNMENT OUTLINES NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated its commitment to restoring peace and stability in Nigeria, describing national security as a foundational element of its Renewed Hope Agenda. Speaking during the First Quarter Media Stakeholders Seminar at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, Minister of Information Mohammed Idris outlined the government’s multi-pronged security strategy and called on the media to serve as critical partners in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
Idris, represented by Voice of Nigeria Director-General Jibrin Ndace, said the government was investing heavily in modern defense technologies, military training, and intelligence systems to counter Nigeria’s complex security threats. He emphasized that while insecurity remains a global challenge, Nigeria’s success will hinge on its ability to respond with coordination, discipline, and unity.
“The media is undeniably a valuable partner in our national security framework,” Idris said. “It is essential for the press to find the right equilibrium between transparency and national protection.” He urged journalists to avoid sensationalism and instead spotlight the heroism of security personnel and the resilience of affected communities.
Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa, represented by AVM Sayo Olatunde, echoed the call for strategic media-military collaboration, particularly in light of the growing influence of social media and misinformation in shaping public opinion. He stressed the need for military operations to be complemented by clear, proactive communication to build trust and counter propaganda.
Minister of Defence Mohammed Badaru also advocated for transparent and innovative communication practices within the armed forces, suggesting that public support in today’s security environment hinges on trust and accurate information.
