Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a steady increase in divorce cases. This challenges an established cultural and religious norm that traditionally accentuate the sanctity and permanence of marriage. While marriage is still significant across the country, economic hardships, varying social values, and generational shifts are gradually altering the way Nigerians view and experience wedlock. Divorce Trends According to recent statistics published by Divorce.com cited by The Nations Newspapers, Nigeria’s divorce rate stood at 2.9% in 2023. This figure, amounting to roughly 1.8 divorces per 1,000 people, may appear modest compared to some Western nations, but it marks a significant…

Dublin, Ireland – In a move that has sparked renewed attention on Europe’s immigration enforcement policies, the Republic of Ireland has deported 35 people, including five Nigerian children, on a chartered flight from Dublin Airport, following the rejection of their asylum applications. According to the Irish Times, the deportation, carried out on Wednesday, was overseen by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and involved 21 men, nine women, and five children. Authorities confirmed that the children were removed as part of family units. In a statement issued after the operation, An Garda Síochána stated that it “continues to work closely…

Trump Revives Travel Ban: 12 Countries Barred From Entering U.S., Including Seven African Nations In a sweeping and controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump has reinstated a travel ban for 12 countries, citing national security concerns and the need to protect American interests. The executive proclamation, signed late Wednesday, marks a revival of one of Trump’s most contentious policies from his first term in office. The ban, which takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, impacts a wide swath of the globe, with a notable focus on African nations. Out of the 12 countries now fully barred, seven are located…

LONDON — In a case stirring debate over the intersection of national security and human rights, a Georgian asylum seeker who claims he was tortured and pressured to spy on Islamic State (ISIS) operatives has won the right to remain in the UK Migrant Avoids Deportation After Claiming He Was Targeted to Spy on ISIS— for now. The 41-year-old Muslim man, whose identity has not been disclosed for safety reasons, argued that he fled his native Georgia after security forces in the former Soviet republic attempted to coerce him into becoming an informant on Islamic extremists. According to the man,…

LAGOS — Pastor Tunde Bakare, the founder of the Citadel Global Community Church (The Latter Rain Assembly), recently visited President Bola Tinubu in Lagos to discuss the state of the country. The private meeting between the two leaders focused on national issues and Pastor Bakare’s desire to see Nigeria improve in his lifetime. Speaking after the visit, Pastor Bakare said his main reason for seeing President Tinubu was to share his vision for a better Nigeria. He said he wants to see real change and progress happen in the country while he is still alive. “Well, my visit to President…

What began as streetwise chatter echoing through the lively neighbourhoods of Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt has now evolved into a global linguistic force—heard in everyday conversations from Harlem to Hackney, from London to New York. Fuelled by the meteoric rise of Afrobeats, Nollywood, and the growing influence of the Nigerian diaspora, local slang from West Africa’s most populous nation has crossed continents, shaping the rhythm, humour, and voice of a new global generation. From the viral “Wahala” (trouble) to the ever-popular “Japa” (to flee), Nigerian slang now appears in TikTok challenges, Instagram captions, pop lyrics, streetwear slogans, and even…

In a major cultural shift, no fewer than 25 Nigerian languages are now enjoying growing global recognition—thanks to the meteoric rise of Afrobeats, Nollywood, digital media, and a widespread Nigerian diaspora. From classrooms in Harvard to dance floors in Havana, Nigerian languages are traveling the world and gaining new speakers, researchers, and relevance. Soft Power in Action Languages once considered local—like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa—are now at the heart of global pop culture, with Pidgin English slang like “Wahala”, “Omo”, and “Japa” has become a regular feature in music, comedy, and even advertising abroad. Most of these words are also…

Drug Dealer Exploits Human Rights Loophole to Remain in UK After Illegal Re-entry and Repeat Offences An Albanian drug dealer deported from the UK for serious drug offences has been allowed to remain in the country—despite re-entering illegally and committing further crimes—exposing what critics see as a judicial failure enabled by a lenient interpretation of human rights laws. Stiljano Ziu, previously jailed for cannabis production and deported in 2018, defied a deportation order and returned to the UK unlawfully. Yet instead of facing swift removal, he exploited EU treaty laws and the UK’s human rights framework to secure residency—by marrying…

In a fresh controversy casting doubt on Donald Trump’s approach to Russia, a top State Department official appointed by the president has come under scrutiny for dismantling a key U.S. counter-disinformation unit—while maintaining ties that lead uncomfortably close to the Kremlin. Darren Beattie, the acting Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, oversaw the shutdown of the U.S. government’s Russian disinformation watchdog known as R/FIMI, despite his own past praise for President Vladimir Putin and apparent sympathies with authoritarian regimes. Beattie, who once called for Western institutions to be “infiltrated” by Putin, is married to a Russian woman whose uncle,…

A 12-year-old boy tragically ran over and killed his foster carer just six days after moving into her home, an inquest in Sheffield, England, has heard. Marcia Grant, 60, died from serious injuries after the child reversed her car over her outside her home on 5 April 2023. She had worked as a foster carer for seven years and was described by her family as “a soul like no other,” with “an unshakeable ethical compass.” The boy—referred to only as Child X—was placed with Marcia and her husband, Delroy, in an emergency arrangement after a call went out for urgent…