Legendary Nigerian forward Nwankwo Kanu believes that Ademola Lookman is set to be crowned Africa’s Footballer of the Year, citing two compelling reasons for his confidence, Soccernet.ng reports. This year, Lookman and Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong, are the only Nigerian players on CAF’s final ten-man shortlist for Africa’s Best Player award, with Osimhen not in the running. Lookman is competing with nine other nominees, but Kanu sees the Atalanta winger as the standout candidate for the top prize. Lookman was the only African player among the Ballon d’Or’s 30 finalists, an achievement Kanu sees as a testament to his excellence. “Lookman is a very good player, humble, works very hard and going by the records, I believe he will win,” Kanu told Brila FM as per DailyPost.

Donald Trump has won the U.S. presidential election, securing his return to the White House as the 47th president. Trump’s strong showing in key battleground states, including Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and, most recently, Wisconsin, delivered him the critical 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory. ALSO READ: US election: ‘Victory reflects trust, confidence of Americans’, Tinubu congratulates TrumpWith these decisive wins, Trump now holds 277 Electoral College votes compared to Harris’s 224, surpassing forecasts that had predicted a tighter competition. His election has prompted congratulations from international leaders but adds a layer of unpredictability to an already complex global political landscape. Trump’s victories across these swing states underscore his ability to rally crucial voter support, setting the stage for his return to the Oval Office after the November 5 election.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria are billed for an exciting encounter against France’s Les Bleues on November 30, 2024, Soccernet.ng reports. The upcoming friendly is part of a significant rebuilding phase for Nigeria’s national team following the departure of former head coach Randy Waldrum. Despite missing star player Asisat Oshoala, the Super Falcons impressed with a 2-0 victory in Ikenne, followed by a commanding 4-1 win in Lagos. That result remains one of the Super Falcons’ heaviest defeats, alongside similar scorelines against Germany in 2010 and Norway in 1995. This November clash offers the Super Falcons a fresh chance to secure their first-ever win over the French team, a feat that would boost their confidence ahead of WAFCON.

The National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate action on its pending demands or face an indefinite strike. NAAT President, Comrade Ibeji Nwokoma, announced this decision on Wednesday during a peaceful protest at the University of Maiduguri. Nwokoma expressed disappointment at the Finance Minister’s refusal to pay withheld salaries, despite President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval. He described the situation as “unfortunate and regrettable” and questioned the government’s commitment to resolving issues affecting NAAT members. If the government fails to respond positively by November 13, 2024, NAAT will embark on a national protest and indefinite strike.

As communities across the nation celebrate their rich cultural heritage, a growing chorus of voices is urging a reexamination of traditional chieftaincy systems. Advocates of reform argue that while these institutions play a vital role in local governance and cultural preservation, they must adapt to contemporary societal needs. Traditional systems have served our communities for generations, but they must evolve to reflect modern values and needs. A recent survey conducted by the National Institute for Cultural Studies revealed that nearly 70 percent of respondents support some form of reform in traditional leadership structures. In a rapidly changing world, the time may be ripe for traditional system to adapt, ensuring they remain relevant and beneficial for all citizens.

There are growing fears about potential unrest in the days following the declaration of the result of the United States highly contentious presidential election. To mitigate the risk of unrest, Washington D.C. and several key swing states ramped up security measures in anticipation of election night and beyond. Law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Capitol Police, are preparing for potential protests, particularly near government buildings like the U.S. Capitol, White House, and federal courts. “We are preparing for a peaceful process, but we are also aware of the potential for unrest,” said Bowser at a recent press briefing. However, the nation is hoping that whoever wins the election that the long-standing tradition of peaceful transitions of power will hold.

The Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Hashimu Argungu, has expressed concern over the presentation of suspects in chains and neglect of crime victims by law enforcement agencies. He said the PSC boss spoke during a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission(NHRC), Tony Ojukwu. The PSC chairman said extra-judicial killings, illegal arrests, searching and detention, and sexual abuses were some of the issues haunting the nation’s human rights record. Mr Ani said Mr Ojukwu told the visiting delegation that the National Human Rights Commission was building a digital platform for processing human rights cases. Mr Ojukwu appealed to the PSC chairman to partner with his commission to give the nation something to cheer.

Hindu worshippers of Anushanath’s Anukragni Organisation led by Ballu in southern India gathered on Monday to pray for Kamala Harris’ victory, joining others around the world who were closely watching the U.S. election. In a video uploaded by Reuters and ANI News showed banners featuring Harris’ face displayed alongside Hindu idols, with priests offering prayers and showering the idols with flower petals. Ballu said, “Our Indian as well as Tamil ancestral leader, Kamala Harris, is going to participate in the presidential election. Her mother, who hails from Tamil Nadu, moved to the U.S. to pursue a doctoral program. Reflecting on her childhood, Harris has shared memories of visiting her grandfather in Chennai, emphasising the strong connections she maintains with her Indian roots. ]

Hundreds of activists took to the three Arms Zone in Abuja on Tuesday to demand the resignation of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), citing the current hardship occasioned by fuel crisis. The protesters under the auspices of the APC Solidarity and Development Forum, comprising youths and civil society organizations, decried the skyrocketing fuel prices, endless fuel queues, and economic hardship plaguing the nation. Tajudeen Abbas, the conveners Comrade Kabir Matazu and Danielsi Momoh said the ongoing fuel scarcity has revealed a systemic failure in leadership and operational oversight within NNPCL. Despite assurances of resolving fuel scarcity, they lamented the situation remains dire, causing untold hardship to Nigerians. The protesters criticized Kyari’s management for failing to operationalize local refineries, despite the Federal Government’s $4 billion investment.

If you listen to the media or to Nobel prize-winning economists in their ivory towers, the US economy is marvelous. But the only verdict on the economy that matters will come from voters on Tuesday. Hispanic Americans fared even worse in the Biden-Harris economy. Many reasons other than the economy — national security, crime, abortion, the environment, personality — may spur voters to choose Trump or Harris. But our analysis shows that if Americans opt for Harris on Election Day, they may be voting to make themselves poorer.

In spite of global advances in the fight against malaria, Nigeria continues to grapple with this leading killer disease. With a tropical climate and a vast population, Nigeria carries a disproportionate portion of the global malaria burden. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria accounted for nearly 30 per cent of global malaria cases and an estimated 194,000 deaths annually as of 2021. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, recently called for a review of Nigeria’s malaria strategies. During a visit by Malaria Alliance partners, RBM Malaria Partnership, and the WHO Global Malaria Programme, Mr Pate acknowledged that in spite of over 70 years of efforts, Nigeria still struggles with a high malaria burden.

Nigerians rank among the world’s top social media users, with 2024 data placing the country fifth globally for average daily time spent online. Leading the list is Kenya, where people spend the most time on social media, at 3 hours and 43 minutes daily. Nigeria’s average of 3 hours and 23 minutes places it just behind these countries in social media engagement. Other countries with high social media usage include Colombia (3:22), Chile (3:11), and Indonesia (3:11). Among European nations, Portugal (2:23), Romania (2:20), and Italy (2:17) rank lower on the list, indicating that social media usage varies significantly by region.

The grievances of the protesters stemmed from skyrocketing fuel prices and the never-ending queues, which they argued have driven inflation and plunged millions of Nigerians into poverty. They called for full deregulation in the oil sector to ensure transparency, competition, and fairer fuel pricing. Highlighting the impact of the fuel crisis on the economy, protesters cited inflation surpassing 24% and a 200% rise in fuel prices, factors they say are deepening poverty across the country. “Today, we call for the immediate resignation of the current leadership in the country’s oil sector. “Under their watch, we have seen fuel prices skyrocket without consultation or consideration of the devastating impact on the people.

If Balewa were to come back from the dead today and is asked to pick his army chief, would he still go for Ironsi? He was wide awake, mixing his nationalist broth with condiments of small nepotism here, a little of altruism there. In her review of Adam Bellow’s ‘In Praise of Nepotism: A Natural History’, Joanne B. Ciulla says “nepotism was very much on the minds of America’s founding fathers. But that cautious beginning notwithstanding, America has evolved to mint its own brand of ‘safe’ nepotism. In all these nepotism matters, the peace of the country and the happiness of the people are the casualties.

Marketed and packaged as a “horror-comedy” after the stupendous response to the ‘Stree’ franchise, it lacks the punch of the former and the fizz of the latter. Interestingly, the coming together of Vidya Balan and Madhuri Dixit Nene has not got the marketing space it deserves. Madhuri has been with Aishwarya, Juhi, Karishma, Shabana and is now with Vidya Balan. Vidya Balan has a very small role in her return vehicle with the franchise. The support cast is a good ensemble including the likes of Vijay Raaz, Rajpal Yadav, Sanjay Misra, Denzil Smith but none have roles worth mentioning.