French football icon Zinedine Zidane has strongly supported Lionel Messi in the perennial ‘Greatest of All Time (GOAT)’ discussion, arguing that anyone who continues to doubt the Argentine maestro’s supremacy lacks a true understanding of the sport.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Zidane additionally endorsed Messi for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, noting that he would cast his vote for the Inter Miami forward “100 times” if the opportunity arose. Highlighting Messi’s longevity, Zidane emphasized that maintaining a spot among the world’s elite players at 39 years old is an extraordinary feat worthy of high praise.

“I think people really don’t understand how incredible it is to still be among the best players in the world at 39 years old,” Zidane remarked, as reported by Marca.

At 39, Messi earned a spot on the 30-player shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or following the announcement on Tuesday. As the most decorated figure in the history of the accolade with eight wins—his latest coming in 2023 after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar—Messi continues to set records. Zidane argued that Messi’s high-level displays at his age position him as a legitimate contender for the prize.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if Messi won the award,” Zidane stated, questioning whether alternative nominees surpassed the Argentine’s contributions.

Recently, Messi disclosed his retirement from international competition, drawing increased attention to the closing phase of his legendary career, according to N. Regarding the ongoing GOAT controversy, Zidane took a definitive stance, firmly rejecting opposing views.

“If anyone still has doubts about the GOAT debate, honestly, that person does not belong in football society,” he asserted.

The Federal Government has disbursed funds covering the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) for academic personnel across federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education spanning January through August 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa shared this update on Wednesday right after inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on Accreditation. According to Alausa, this eight-month payment stems from the 2025 pact established between the government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

CATA aims to assist educators in acquiring essential supplies and gear required for teaching, research, and related duties. The minister noted that the impacted institutions should have already been notified and are set to begin disbursing the funds to qualified academic personnel.

“The Office of the Minister of Education is happy to announce that the full CATA payment has now been released by the Federal Government from January to August 2026 to all universities, all polytechnics and colleges of education,” Alausa stated. He further noted, “All these institutions should have received notification to start paying CATA to all academic staff”.

Although specific figures regarding the total disbursement or individual payouts were not disclosed by the minister, he mentioned that funds designated for non-academic personnel are currently undergoing processing. The administration anticipates these resources will become accessible within the coming weeks.

“And also, the payment to non-academic staff, we’re hoping that these funds will be made available, hopefully, in the next few weeks,” Alausa remarked.

Framing the move as part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader push to enhance public tertiary work environments, Alausa stated, “This is another indication of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to our academic and non-academic staff”, adding that staff welfare remains central to the administration’s educational strategy.

Beyond compensation, the minister highlighted that governmental interventions encompass expanded infrastructure funding across tertiary facilities, alongside targeted programs for basic and postgraduate learning.

“Beyond prioritising the welfare of our staff, he has also significantly invested in infrastructure at all our tertiary institutions and also basic and postgraduate education,” he explained.

Stressing that the ultimate goal is elevating educational standards for Nigerian youth, Alausa concluded, “This is a President that believes so much in education. He has delivered beyond his promises to ensure that every single child in this country gets the highest quality of education comparable to anywhere in the world”. He also praised Tinubu’s reforms and reaffirmed the administration’s dedication to honoring agreements made with school employees.

The legal counsel for Moroccan citizen Khadija Diab has refuted accusations that Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi is harboring the woman, clarifying that she traveled back to Morocco in April 2026 to stay with her family.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶