Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has reopened its verification portal, resolving a months-long disruption that caused significant hardship for Nigerian healthcare professionals seeking employment abroad. The portal, a critical tool for verifying the credentials of nurses and midwives, had been unexpectedly closed, leaving many professionals in limbo. The closure sparked protests and even legal challenges, with some nurses facing deportation or employment loss due to their inability to provide the necessary verification. The NMCN announced the portal’s reopening on Friday, stating, “Good news, verification requests are back online.” This development has brought relief to countless nurses and…

Port Harcourt, Nigeria — Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former governor of Rivers State, has drawn a firm line in the sand, publicly declaring that he will no longer support his political protégé, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in any future political endeavors. In a recent interview, Wike, who was instrumental in Fubara’s rise to power during the March 2023 elections, expressed his frustrations with what he sees as betrayal by the current governor. “I will never support Fubara in my political life again,” Wike said, underscoring the depth of the fallout between the two political heavyweights.…

A 10-month search for two missing children has come to a heartwarming conclusion for Agnes Forte, a visually impaired mother, who was reunited with her two-year-old daughter, Excel, and her step-sister, Joy, after their mysterious disappearance last November. The children were found at an orphanage in Lagos, bringing a close to the family’s emotional ordeal.  The two girls went missing on November 28, 2023, while playing near their home in Akowonjo, Lagos State. According to Agnes, the last time she heard their voices was when they were playing in the corridor of their apartment. After a brief period of silence,…

The UK government has announced a 31% increase in the maintenance fees requirements for international students applying for student visas. According to the Home Office, students planning to study in London will now need to show proof of £1,483 per month, while those studying outside of London must provide evidence of £1,136 per month to cover their living expenses. This marks a notable increase from the previous rates of £1,334 for London and £1,023 for other UK cities. Under the new rules, students enrolled in courses lasting nine months or more will need to demonstrate that they have at least…

Emmanuel Ihejirika, a Nigerian man who spent nearly 20 years on death row in Indonesia, has been finally released from the prison. Ihejirika, who was 31 years old when arrested in 2004 for smuggling heroin, was initially sentenced to life imprisonment. However, his sentence was later escalated to the death penalty, leaving him on the brink of execution in one of the world’s harshest drug enforcement countries. Ihejirika’s case caught international attention when a high-profile Nigerian delegation, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa and former Chairman of the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Mr. Ipinmosho, along with Ambassador Ojo Madueke, visited…

Manchester, U.K. — In a case that has shocked the community and raised troubling questions about responsibility and care, Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old NHS nurse, has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaving her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, unattended while she worked a shift, resulting in the baby’s death. Auta, a single mother and nurse at Royal Bolton Hospital, left Joshua in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she worked. When she returned, she found her son unresponsive in his cot. Despite her frantic call to emergency services and resuscitation efforts, Joshua was…

Manchester, U.K. — In a case that has shocked the community and raised troubling questions about responsibility and care, Ruth Auta, a 28-year-old NHS nurse, has been sentenced to three years in prison for leaving her 10-week-old son, Joshua Akerele, unattended while she worked a shift, resulting in the baby’s death. Auta, a single mother and nurse at Royal Bolton Hospital, left Joshua in her nurse’s accommodation for eight hours on December 20, 2022, while she worked. When she returned, she found her son unresponsive in his cot. Despite her frantic call to emergency services and resuscitation efforts, Joshua was…

Abuja, Nigeria — Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has been released from custody by security operatives. Vanguard reported that Ajaero was released at approximately 11:10 p.m. on Monday. The Department of State Services (DSS) granted administrative bail to Ajaero following his arrest earlier in the day. Ajaero was detained at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja while traveling to the United Kingdom for an official engagement. His detention sparked significant backlash from various quarters, including numerous organizations, civil society groups, activists, and prominent individuals. The NLC, in particular, condemned the arrest and called for Ajaero’s immediate…

Abuja, Nigeria – In a surprising turn of events, Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was reportedly arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) earlier today at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. He was apprehended while en route to the United Kingdom for an official assignment. Initial reports provided no clear reason for his arrest, sparking widespread speculation. However, there are strong indications that the arrest is not related to an earlier police summons regarding allegations of a “threat to public peace.” This clarification came after the Senior Advocate of Nigeria and legal…

Abuja, Nigeria — As part of a bold effort to alleviate food insecurity, the Nigerian government launched a subsidised rice initiative on September 5, 2024, offering 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice at a discounted rate of N40,000 per 50kg bag. The launch event, led by Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, marked the beginning of what was intended to be a nationwide food relief effort aimed at combating hunger across the country. Senator Kyari, addressing attendees in the capital city of Abuja, emphasized the administration’s determination to ensure that “Nigerians do not go to bed hungry.”…