African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has pledged to disburse funds directly to local government councils if he wins the 2027 presidential election. In a Tuesday statement issued through his campaign spokesperson, Kenneth Okonkwo, Atiku emphasized that this commitment mirrors the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling mandating direct payments to local authorities.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

After more than two decades representing Argentina, 39-year-old Lionel Messi has brought his legendary international career to a close, declaring that he has given everything he has to his country. Announcing his retirement on Monday, the icon leaves behind an unmatched legacy defined by monumental victories and heartbreaking near-misses.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Major Achievements

• Trophy Cabinet: Messi guided the Albiceleste to three major tournament titles, capturing the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, alongside the long-awaited World Cup victory in 2022 where he netted seven goals and starred in the final.

• Scoring Record: He retires as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer, racking up 125 goals across 207 total appearances.

• Tournament Longevity: He made history as the first player to feature in six separate World Cup editions.

• World Cup Footprint: He holds tournament records for most appearances (34), wins (23), and assists (12), while starting in three World Cup finals (2014, 2022, and 2026).

• Scoring Milestones: Throughout his international tenure, he netted 35 goals in major continental and global competitions and registered 11 hat-tricks.

Major Setbacks

• Inauspicious Start: His senior international debut in 2005 against Hungary ended in disaster when he was red-carded less than a minute after stepping onto the pitch.

• Final Heartbreaks: He suffered a grueling 1-0 extra-time defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, and fell short again in the 2026 final, which denied him a final fourth major international trophy.

• Copa América Trauma: The 2016 final brought severe heartbreak when Argentina lost to Chile on penalties—a match where Messi missed his spot-kick and briefly announced his retirement from the national team.

• Uncharacteristic Struggles: During the 2026 tournament, he uncharacteristically missed two penalties during open play, making history as the first player to do so in a single edition outside of shootouts.

The Federal Government has mandated participation in the national tertiary education ranking exercise for all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education nationwide. Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa unveiled this policy in Abuja during a session with the Nigerian Universities Ranking Advisory Committee, which has since been broadened and renamed the Nigerian Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee to match its extended mandate.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Under this unified national framework, institutions will be evaluated based on critical metrics including academic achievement, research output, institutional development, and resource availability. According to Alausa, the evaluation system is designed to help schools benchmark performance, pinpoint areas requiring attention, and monitor long-term progress. Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Ahmad praised the policy as a major milestone for boosting accountability and quality, emphasizing that constructive competition will drive institutions to evaluate themselves, bridge performance gaps, and consistently elevate educational standards.