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Shock Report: UNICEF Warns Poor Early Education Could Undermine North West’s Future.

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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised concerns that limited access to Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Northwest Nigeria is severely affecting learning outcomes across the region.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Dr. Karanveer Singh, Officer-in-Charge of UNICEF’s Kano Field Office, made this known at a media dialogue on strengthening early childhood education in Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina, held in Dutse.

He disclosed that only about 24 per cent of children in Jigawa State have access to ECE, compared to 29 per cent in Kano and 32 per cent in Katsina.

Dr. Singh described the figures as worrying, noting that most children in the region are missing out on the crucial early learning stage that supports cognitive, emotional, and social development.

He explained that children without access to quality early education often begin primary school at a disadvantage and struggle to catch up, contributing to the rising number of out-of-school children in the region.

He also revealed that foundational literacy levels remain below 15 per cent in some areas, meaning many children cannot read at a basic level.

According to him, the situation is driven by low parental awareness, shortage of trained teachers, poor infrastructure, and lack of learning materials, all of which hinder the expansion of early childhood education.

Despite the challenges, he stressed that the situation can be improved with stronger political will and increased investment from state governments.

He urged authorities in Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa to prioritise early childhood education by increasing funding, recruiting qualified caregivers, and expanding access to child-friendly learning centres.

UNICEF Education Specialist, Mustapha Shehu, also noted that data from MICS 2022 shows that only 37.8 per cent of Nigerian children aged three to four are enrolled in early childhood education.

He highlighted wide inequality, stating that 75 per cent of children from the richest households attend early learning programmes, compared to just 11 per cent from the poorest households.

Education consultant Dr. Sunday Jacob added that Nigeria currently has about 18.3 million out-of-school children, with Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina accounting for 30 per cent of that number.

He emphasised that investing in early childhood education is key to reducing the crisis, noting that it supports up to 90 per cent of brain development in early life.

He further recommended that states establish dedicated budget allocations for early childhood education.

In response, Commissioners for Basic Education from Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa pledged to prioritise funding for early childhood education and ensure timely release of resources to strengthen the education sector.

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AMVCA 2026 Shock: Funke Akindele Misses Out Despite Massive Online Hype

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Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele missed out on the Best Supporting Actress award at the 12th Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), losing to her colleague Linda Ejiofor for her performance in The Herd.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports indicate that Akindele, despite widespread expectations, left the ceremony without a win even though her film Behind the Scenes received four nominations across major categories.

The movie, which grossed over ₦2 billion at the box office, was nominated for Best Movie, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

However, Ejiofor clinched the Best Supporting Actress award in a highly competitive category that included top stars, with Akindele also among the favourites due to strong online buzz surrounding her performance.

Other nominees in the category included Bisola Aiyeola (Gingerrr), Sola Sobowale (The Covenant), Nadia Dutch (Aljana), Amal Umar (The Herd), Juliebrenda Nyambura (MTV Shuga Mashariki), and Olamide Kidbaby (Oversabi Aunty).

Ejiofor’s winning role in The Herd saw her portray the wife of a kidnapped man played by Daniel Etim-Effiong in a socially driven satirical drama focused on insecurity and societal challenges in Nigeria.

Although The Herd had a modest box office performance compared to Behind the Scenes, it gained stronger traction on streaming platforms and secured multiple AMVCA nominations.

Ahead of the awards, Akindele had topped several online prediction polls, but the final decision rested with the AMVCA jury chaired by veteran actress Joke Silva.

In the Best Supporting Actor category, Bucci Franklin emerged winner for his role in To Kill A Monkey, beating nominees including Lateef Adedimeji, Gabriel Afolayan, Femi Adebayo, Femi Branch, Uzor Arukwe, and Simileoluwa Hassan.

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“It Is A Lie” — Lere Olayinka Debunks Claims Of Supreme Court Ruling Against Wike-Backed PDP Faction.

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Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed reports claiming that the Supreme Court nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convention held in Abuja on March 29–30, 2026.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports suggest that Olayinka’s reaction follows claims tied to a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a recent Supreme Court judgment in the PDP leadership dispute, which allegedly favoured one faction over the other.

There were also claims that the apex court declared the Abuja convention invalid and upheld the suspension of key figures in the Wike-backed faction, including Senator Samuel Anyanwu and Kamaldeen Ajibade.

However, speaking in an interview with ARISE Television on Saturday, Olayinka insisted that such claims were false, stating that the issue of the March 29 convention was never before the Supreme Court.

He argued that the Supreme Court only dealt with matters that originated from the Court of Appeal, stressing that the apex court cannot rule on issues not presented before it.

Olayinka explained that the case in question concerned the suspension of Samuel Anyanwu, which he said was addressed at the appellate level and affirmed by the Supreme Court.

He further maintained that if a matter or individual was not referenced at the Court of Appeal, it could not suddenly become part of the Supreme Court’s judgment, insisting that claims about the convention being nullified were misleading.

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2027: Seriake Dickson Declares “Everyone Is Free To Contest Any Position” In NDC

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The National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Seriake Dickson, has stated that all aspirants in the party are free to contest any position in the 2027 elections without restrictions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Reports indicate that Dickson made the remark on Saturday during the party’s first national convention held in Abuja.

He explained that the NDC does not have internal factions like other political parties in the country and is not facing any legal disputes or internal conflicts.

According to him, there is currently no court case or appeal against the party, and all members are at liberty to contest for any leadership position in the 2027 elections.

Dickson also emphasized that the party remains united, stressing that no group or bloc exists within its structure that could create division.

He further maintained that any actions taken in the past that appeared to challenge freedom of association were violations of constitutional rights.

Reaffirming confidence in the party’s future, Dickson said the NDC, despite early opposition, has come to stay and has gained unprecedented public acceptance within a short period.

He claimed that no political party in Nigeria’s history has enjoyed the level of trust and enthusiasm currently being shown toward the NDC.

The former Bayelsa State Governor also stressed the importance of sustaining multiparty democracy in Nigeria, noting that the NDC was formed after concerns that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been weakened.

He recalled the legal and administrative challenges faced during the party’s registration, which was eventually approved by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following a court ruling.

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