Economy
Institute Partners China, Sign MoU To Develop Nigeriananguages Keyboards
Institute Partners China, Sign MoU To Develop Nigeriananguages Keyboards
Institute partners China, sign MoU to develop Nigerian languages keyboards. Mr Onuoha said the programme would serve people at home and abroad.
The National Institute for Nigeria Languages, Aba, said it signed an agreement with a Chinese company to develop keyboards incorporating Nigerian languages orthograph for easier language development.
The Executive Director of NINLAN, Prof Ogbonna Onuoha, disclosed this at the institute’s first matriculation of degree students into the institution at its Obikabia-Ovom campus near Aba on Friday.
He said, “We are partnering with a Chinese technology firm to develop specialised computer keyboards with indigenous language characters, to support reading, writing, and digital content creation in some Nigerian languages. The institute is also pioneering text-to-speech and speech-to-text applications powered by natural language processing algorithms to facilitate modern teaching, learning and research in Nigerian Languages.
We have equally designed the NINLAN Nigerian Languages Online (NNLO) Programme, which, when launched, will deliver certificate and diploma programmes virtually to all interested persons.”
Mr Onuoha said the programme would serve people at home and abroad, including foreigners seeking to acquire proficiency in Nigerian languages, for businesses, careers, diplomatic, or cultural purposes.
He said the event, which was the 7th matriculation of about 433 students, was historic because it incorporated the institute’s pioneer degree students.
Mr Onuoha said the institution was currently affiliated to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to position it to take its rightful place in the community of Nigeria’s degree-awarding institutions.
He urged the students to recognise that the opportunity comes with enormous
expectations and responsibilities, hence their watchword must be diligence, discipline and commitment to scholarship ideals.
Speaking, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, welcomed the students and wished them successful learning.
She said that NINLAN, established in 1993, had a unique job in Nigeria’s educational system, of which was to coordinate studies, research, teaching and documentation of Nigerian languages.
Ms Arinze-Umeobi advised the students to shun truancy, cultism, examination malpractice and forgery of credentials, stressing that culprits would be punished.
The UNIZIK VC was represented at the event by Prof. George Onwudiwe of the Department of Igbo, African and Communication Studies.
The Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Prof. Chijioke Okwelle, congratulated the institution and the students.
He said that the matriculating students were pathfinders and carried the honour, responsibility and burden of being its first degree students.
He promised that the NCCE will continue to support NINLAN and prayed that its new era would be bright, urging stakeholders to support its growth.

Institute Partners China
Mr Okwelle was represented by the Provost, Federal College of Education, Ofeme, Ohuhu, Abia, Dr Sunday Ezeme.
The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, represented by the JAMB Coordinator Abia State, Juliet Aniekwe, congratulated the students and charged them to be of good conduct and be respectful.
One of the new students in English and Igbo in the Education faculty, Favour Godwin, said she was glad to be in NINLAN because of the environment, hoping for an impactful and conducive for learning.
She advised other students wishing to study at a university to join NINLAN without wasting time.
Economy
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos Assembly Strongly Seeks Suspension Of Makoko Demolition
Lagos assembly strongly seeks suspension of Makoko demolition. The Lagos state house of assembly has called for the suspension of demolition activities in Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro waterfront communities following protests by displaced residents and growing public concern over the exercise.
The call was announced on Tuesday by Noheem Adams, chairman of an ad hoc committee set up by Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the house, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Lateef Jakande auditorium.
Adams called on all state ministries to cease demolition work and promised compensation to the affected residents.
“On behalf of the speaker and all 40 members of the house, we are directing that all demolitions in Makoko, Oko-Agbon, and Shogunro communities should stop from today until further notice,” New Telegraph quoted Adams as saying.
He called for transparency by demanding the full list of taskforce members and the criteria used for engagement, insisting that residents must be actively involved in the process.
“That the taskforce that was constituted, we want to see the list of the taskforce because we want the residents to be duly involved and to be carried along. So we want to have the schedule of those task forces and the criteria for those that we are inviting,” Adams added.

Lagos Assembly
“To the residents of Makoko, Oko-Agbon and Shogunro communities, as your representatives, we are giving you all assurances that they will stop demolitions henceforth and there will be compensations for all those whose properties have been demolished.”
Stephen Ogundipe, member of the ad-hoc, said there is need for clear communication, adding that residents targeted for relocation or redevelopment must be informed of the government’s plans in advance.
Babatunde Olajide, special adviser to governor of Lagos on E-GIS and urban renewal, confirmed that $2 million had been earmarked since 2021 to transform Makoko into a modern, internationally compliant water city.
He said enumeration of affected properties is underway and reiterated the administration’s commitment to handling the situation with a human face, prioritizing resident safety and fair compensation.
Yusuf Sagra, baale of Makoko, described the assembly’s decision as a “word of peace,” while Orioye Ogungbure, another leader of the community, praised the “democratic responsiveness” of the government.
Crime
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC Arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for Alleged Naira Mutilation In Viral Video
EFCC arrests Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa for alleged naira mutilation in viral video. The Kano Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 arrested a Kannywood Star, Samha Inuwa over alleged Naira mutilation.
Inuwa was arrested following a viral video circulated on social media platforms where she was seen conspicuously cleaning mucus from her nose using Naira notes.

EFCC
Following the release of the viral video, the Commission swung into action by tracing and subsequently arrested her to answer questions.
She is currently being held at the Commission’s detention facility while investigation is ongoing.
The suspect will be charged to court upon conclusion of investigations.
Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
February 3, 2026
Economy
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Access Bank gets new board chair Ifeyinwa Osime. Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29.
Access Bank Plc has appointed Ifeyinwa Osime as chair of the board of directors, following the retirement of Paul Usoro, on January 29, according to a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. on Monday.
Ms Osime, a legal practitioner, joined Access Bank’s board in November 2019 as an independent non-executive director and had chaired its Human Resources and Sustainability Committee and the Governance, Nomination, and Remuneration Committee. This role made her contribute significantly to the bank’s corporate governance, leadership development, and sustainability initiatives.
Additionally, Ms Osime is a director at Ebudo Trust Ltd. and a partner at McPherson Legal Practitioners, where she advises on corporate and commercial matters and contributes to strategic leadership.
She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the Women Corporate Directors, Nigeria Chapter, and the Chartered Institute of Directors, Nigeria, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Women Sectoral Group.

Access Bank Gets New Board Chair Ifeyinwa Osime
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms Osime is committed to mentoring youths and is actively involved in the Autism and Developmental Delays Support Community, reflecting her dedication to inclusion and social impact.
Speaking on her appointment, the group chairman, Aigboje Aig-lmoukhuede, said, “Mrs Osime is a principled and experienced leader with a deep understanding of the Bank’s strategy and values.
“She has demonstrated strong commitment to the bank’s vision and mission, and I am confident that, under her leadership, the bank will continue to advance its strategic objectives of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders in the pursuit of its vision to become the world’s most respected African bank.”
Mr Aig-lmoukhuede also congratulated Mr Usoro on the completion of his tenure and on his exemplary leadership, dedication, and significant contributions to the group, saying he remains a valued member of the Access family.
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