Economy
Enugu Governor Mbah Urges Overhaul Of Higher Education To Meet Global Standards
Enugu Governor Mbah Urges Overhaul Of Higher Education To Meet Global Standards
Enugu governor Mbah urges overhaul of higher education to meet global standards. According to him, his administration prioritises education, healthcare and technology.
Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has stressed the need to bridge the gap between international best practices and the urgent developmental needs of Nigeria’s higher education system.
He made the call on Monday in Abuja at the inauguration of the Diaspora BRIDGE, with the theme “STEMMing the Gap for a Better Nigeria,” organised by the federal ministry of education.
The BRIDGE platform enables Nigerian scholars and professionals abroad to register as collaborators by submitting their credentials and areas of expertise.
According to Mr Mbah, the initiative is designed to match diaspora expertise with local institutions based on identified needs, fostering targeted collaborations aligned with Nigeria’s development goals.
“In addition to serving as matchmaking-hub for expertise and institutional needs, the BRIDGE empowers Nigerian tertiary institutions to conduct self-assessments, identify gaps in teaching and research, and express interest in specific collaborations.
“This forum offers more than a passive nod to education as the single most important sector upon which Nigeria’s socio-economic fate depends.
“For years, understanding of the role of the Nigerian diaspora was mostly via the basic economic lines of their remittances.
“What has been lacking is a formal platform where their expertise and collective financial part could be hosted. Let us recognise, however, that this gathering is not just for the discussion.
“It is urgent call to reconnect global expertise with local purpose.
“We must build living bridge between rich patterns of our diaspora and developmental needs of Nigeria’s higher education system,” Mr Mbah said.
He reiterated that future generations of Nigerian graduates must not only be globally competitive but also serve as innovators tackling challenges such as food insecurity, climate change, energy, digital transformation, health, and sustainable development.
According to him, the goal should not merely be to train students for the workforce, but to engage them in building a two-way learning ecosystem that connects local innovation with global expertise.
“In Enugu, we are pioneering a 40-60 tertiary education principle. 40 per cent of our curriculum is laser-focused on Enugu’s strategic economic sectors.
“Also, agriculture, tourism, renewable energy, digital economy, creative industries, mineral resources and health technology: 60 per cent prepares our students for national, continental and global opportunities.
“This is to ensure the graduates are world-class professionals who can thrive, innovate and reach anywhere. To build a future of prosperity,”
According to him, his administration prioritises education, healthcare, technology, and science as core components of its human capital development strategy.
He added that, in addition to constructing 260 smart green schools, the state government had allocated 33.2 per cent of its total budget to education to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.
“In the last 18 months and by September this year, we would have constructed 6,500 classrooms. These classrooms are not just sheds, even though we may be enthused about the bricks and mortar structures.
“What is exciting about these structures is that each of these smart green schools features a robotic centre, an artificial intelligence centre, a mechatronic centre among others.
“Where we provide virtual reality and augmented reality for our young people to learn.
“Hopefully, the Diaspora BRIDGE will be integrated to accommodate basic education sector and build from bottom-up,” he added.
He restated that the measures were designed to create enabling environment for the effective teaching and learning where each classroom had smart digital voice, as well as receive tuition from diaspora experts.
“Also, each smart school being powered by a 65 kVA solar system with integrated smart farm will provide platform for e-learning and of course, technology resource.”

Governor Mbah
He identified other achievements recorded in the state to include, construction of 262 family healthcare centres across all the wards in Enugu, five-star hospital for medical tourism and upgrading of nursing programmes.
“We must be able to connect those dots by ensuring a future of prosperity. We believe education is a cornerstone of progress and a bedrock upon which every society’s future is built.
“To achieve human capital development, our graduates must be healers and problem solvers at home, and knowledge economy leaders globally.
“Our universities are becoming a development ecosystem where students, educators, diaspora and communities co-create meaningful, sustainable impact tied to SDGs and local priorities.
“In addition to expanding seven public tertiary institutions, we are establishing the Enugu State University of Education and Technology, and the Enugu State University of Agriculture and Technology.
“Innovation is the language of the 21st century. We are establishing eight science, technical and vocational schools across Enugu State,” the governor said.
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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