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EXCLUSIVE: Week of Turmoil — Kebbi Schoolgirls Abducted, Kwara Church Attacked, Kanu Jailed for Life

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By Victor Olubiye Symbolic representation of Nigeria in crisis, amid abductions, attacks, and rising insecurity. Credit: Public Domain Nigeria is reeling from a wave of crises that together expose the fragility of its security, politics, and international standing. Twenty-five schoolgirls were abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State in a pre‑dawn raid. In Kwara State, armed bandits fired into a church during evening service, killed several people, and carried off dozens of worshippers. In Abuja, Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on terrorism charges. All this is unfolding against a backdrop of earlier, sharp international pressure — including a warning from U.S. President Donald J. Trump, who last month threatened military intervention in Nigeria if Christians continue to be attacked. In the early hours of Monday, November 17, gunmen on motorcycles overran the Government Girls Comprehensive ...
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Polytechnics Build Creators, Universities Breed Job Seekers: The Nigerian Education Paradox

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Photo sources: Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (left); Federal University Oye-Ekiti main gate (right). By Victor Olubiye In Nigeria today, one of the most debated topics in education circles is the widening gap between university and polytechnic graduates. While universities pride themselves on academic excellence and theoretical rigor, polytechnics are quietly raising a generation of self-reliant young Nigerians who can create, build, and sustain jobs in a country where unemployment remains an unending national crisis. For students of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, education goes beyond lectures and PowerPoint slides. In the engineering workshop, students handle real machines. In the mass communication studio, budding broadcasters produce, record, and edit programmes. Fashion students cut, sew, and design their way into entrepreneurship even before graduation. This practical-oriented system is what sets polytechnics apart. “Here, we are not waiting for anyone to employ us,” says Boluwatif...
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When Ballots Replaced Brawls: How OSPOLY Finally Broke Its Election Violence Curse

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  By Victor Olubiye For decades, election seasons at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (OSPOLY) were synonymous with tension. Once campaign posters appeared on the walls of lecture halls and hostel gates, anxiety followed closely behind. What ought to be a celebration of campus democracy often degenerated into chaos. The Students’ Union Government (S.U.G), Faculty of Information Communication Technology (F.I.C.T), and Mass Communication Department elections – three of the most competitive and influential contests on campus – regularly ended in shouting matches, vandalism, injuries, and sometimes indefinite suspension of student activities. But in 2025, something extraordinary happened. The air was different. The campus, which had once braced itself for conflict, witnessed instead a peaceful and orderly election season that surprised even the most skeptical students. For the first time in living memory, OSPOLY conducted its three most sensitive elections without any violence, protest, or...
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Opa Oranmiyan: The Staff That Holds the Secrets of a Warrior King

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 By Victor Olubiye In the heart of Ile-Ife, the spiritual cradle of the Yoruba people, stands a tall and mysterious monolith that has defied time for centuries. Known locally as Opa Oranmiyan—the Staff of Oranmiyan—this 18-foot granite column is more than a relic. It is a living memory, a cultural compass, and a sacred link to one of the most controversial and legendary figures in Yoruba history: Prince Oranmiyan, the last son of Oduduwa. The tale of Oranmiyan is as layered as the myths of ancient Greece. Oral tradition recalls that he was born of Lakange Anihunka, a slave woman captured during war, but his paternity was shared by two titans—Oduduwa, progenitor of the Yoruba race, and Ogun, the fiery god of iron and war. This unusual origin gave him his name Oranmiyan, which loosely translates as “the child who chose controversy.” Half of his body was said to carry Ogun’s bronze-like complexion, while the other half mirrored Oduduwa’s darker hue. From birth, he was destined to be b...
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Colonel Victor Banjo: The Yoruba Officer Who Crossed the Lines of War

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 By Victor Olubiye On the morning of September 22, 1967, four men were lined up at Enugu and condemned to face the guns of their comrades. Among them was a tall, soft-spoken officer whose life had once symbolized the promise of a modern Nigerian military—Colonel Victor Adebukunola Banjo. Moments later, the sound of rifles tore through the air, ending not just his life but the ambitions of one of the brightest officers of his generation. Banjo’s story is not just the tale of a soldier. It is a window into the turbulence of Nigeria’s 1960s—an era of coups, betrayals, and civil war, when loyalty to tribe or nation could decide between life and death. Born on April 1, 1930, in Ogun State, Banjo grew up in a Nigeria still under colonial rule. In 1953, he joined the Nigerian Army as Warrant Officer 52 and began a journey that would set him apart. He trained at the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, in the United Kingdom, where discipline and intellect combined to shape his ca...
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The Intellectual Giant in Samuel Ajayi Crowther

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 By Victor Olubiye On a humid night in 1862, the home of Bishop Samuel Ajayi Crowther in Lagos was consumed by fire. Flames devoured wood and roof, swallowing clothes, furniture, and keepsakes. But what pained Crowther most was not the loss of possessions—it was the destruction of manuscripts. In a mournful letter to Henry Venn, Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, he lamented that eleven years of collected words, proverbs, and carefully prepared notes for the Yoruba Bible were gone “like a dream.” For many men, such a setback would have been the end. For Crowther, it was only another bend in the long road of intellectual labor. It would take him thirty-four painstaking years—marked by revisions, calamities, and unrelenting determination—to complete the translation of the Bible into Yoruba. Yet, this colossal achievement would not only elevate him as a pioneer African linguist but also shape Yoruba identity and African Christianity for generations. Born in 1809 in Osogun, Oy...
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Folake Solanke: The Woman Who Shattered Nigeria’s Legal Glass Ceiling

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 By Victor Olubiye In the grand corridors of Nigeria’s legal history, one name stands out like a shining beacon—Chief Folake Solanke, SAN, OON, CON—a woman whose brilliance and determination broke barriers, inspired generations, and redefined what was possible for women in law. Born on March 29, 1932, Solanke’s path was perhaps destined for greatness. She is the daughter of Chief Jacob Sogboyega Odulate, the celebrated pharmacist and inventor of the iconic Alabukun medicine—a household remedy whose reach spanned decades. With such a legacy of ingenuity and grit, it was no surprise that Folake carved her own path to history. After earning her law degree from the University of Newcastle, she was called to the English Bar in 1962. Returning to Nigeria, she etched her name in the nation’s legal annals by becoming the first woman to be conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)—a feat that made her the first woman to don the silk gown reserved for the country’s t...
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The Woman Who Drew the Line: How Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Shielded Nigeria from Ebola

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 By Victor Olubiye In the sweltering heat of Lagos in July 2014, the air carried more than just the pulse of Africa’s most populous city — it carried a hidden threat. It arrived quietly, tucked inside the body of a man who stepped off a plane at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, carrying nothing visible but fatigue and a fever. That man was Patrick Sawyer, and the illness inside him was Ebola. For most Nigerians, Ebola was a distant nightmare — a deadly epidemic ravaging parts of West Africa but still, they thought, far from home. For one Lagos physician, however, the danger felt very real. Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, a calm but decisive figure in her white coat, would soon be faced with a choice that could save millions — or doom them. Born on October 27, 1956, in Lagos, Dr. Adadevoh’s path seemed intertwined with leadership and public service from the start. Her great-grandfather, Herbert Macaulay, is celebrated as one of Nigeria’s founding nationalists. Through her mother’s...
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FEATURE: When Love Hurts: The Silent Struggles of Nigerian Men in Toxic Relationships

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 By Victor Olubiye  In Nigeria, men are raised to be strong. From a young age, boys are told to “man up,” to swallow pain like bitter medicine and keep walking. They are taught to provide, to protect, and to endure — but rarely to speak about heartbreak. Yet, beneath the stoic expressions and confident strides, there is a quiet epidemic of emotional wounds inflicted by those they love most. For many Nigerian men, romantic relationships are not just a matter of companionship — they are investments of trust, pride, and vulnerability. When such trust is betrayed, the emotional blow can be devastating. Take the story of Tunde, a 34-year-old banker in Lagos. He met his girlfriend during his NYSC year, lavishing her with attention, financial support, and his deepest confidences. “I thought she was the one,” he says. “I opened up to her about things I never told anyone. She made me believe she valued that, until I found out she was mocking me to her friends.” For Tunde, the betrayal ...
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POEM: When Her Smile Became My Wound

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 By Victor Olubiye I gave her my heart like yam in a clay pot, warm, soft, steaming with trust, but she sliced it with cold eyes and served it to silence. I built my love like a house in the dry season, brick upon brick, thinking the harmattan would bless us, but she opened the roof and invited the rain. Her laughter used to heal my tired bones, now it cuts like the edge of a new razor, sharp and careless. They say a man must not cry, but tears know no gender when betrayal lives inside your chest. I walk through the streets with my face strong, but inside, I am a market after fire — empty stalls, burnt memories. O, woman, why call a man “my king” only to sell his crown for the price of another’s attention? Why kiss with honeyed lips, then spit bitterness into the same mouth? I am learning now — love should not be war, but if it must be, let my heart hold the shield next time.
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FEATURE: A Town That Never Stopped Giving — Ife Odan’s Long Wait for Governor Adeleke’s Attention

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 By Victor Olubiye Nestled in the heart of Osun State’s western region lies Ife Odan — a town once known for its robust agricultural contribution, now left in the shadows of neglect. For over ten years, the town has watched its roads deteriorate, its healthcare weaken, and its schools fade, all while continuing to feed the state through unrelenting farming efforts. The resilience of Ife Odan is undeniable, but its patience is wearing thin. The people of Ife Odan believed change had finally arrived in 2022, when they threw their political weight behind Senator Ademola Adeleke’s gubernatorial bid. It wasn’t about party loyalty; it was a vote anchored in hope — a belief that Adeleke’s message of “people-first governance” would bring long-awaited development to their doorstep. But nearly three years into his administration, the town is still waiting. From cassava to maize, yam to leafy vegetables, Ife Odan’s fertile lands continue to supply Osun State’s markets despite minimal governme...
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From Calabar to London: How August 5 Became a Spiritual Turning Point in Nigerian History

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 By Victor Olubiye August 5may seem like just another day—but across centuries, it has quietly marked a series of profound beginnings that helped shape Nigeria’s spiritual and religious landscape. From the arrival of missionaries on African soil to a pivotal moment in the history of Nigerian gospel film, August 5 is a date that ties together threads of faith, resilience, and legacy. 1876: Mary Slessor Sails Into History as “Queen of Calabar” On August 5, 1876, 28-year-old Mary Mitchell Slessor, a humble Scottish Presbyterian missionary, boarded the SS Ethiopia from Liverpool, England, headed for the coastal town of Duke Town in Calabar, present-day Cross River State. With a fiery commitment to the gospel and social reform, Slessor would go on to challenge long-held traditions like the killing of twins and become one of the most revered foreign missionaries in Nigeria. Nicknamed the “Queen of Calabar,” Slessor not only preached the gospel but also adopted abandoned twins and fought ...
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A Day of Spiritual Landmarks: How August 4th Shaped Modern Christianity in Nigeria and Beyond

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 By Victor Olubiye August 4th holds a profound place in the timeline of global and Nigerian Christian history. It is a date that, over the decades, has marked the birth of monumental movements, spiritual visions, and institutions that continue to shape Christian faith and practice today. From the dense terrains of Ogun State, Nigeria, to the remote outposts of Newfoundland, Canada, this day has witnessed the fulfillment of divine instructions, the founding of future-defining ministries, and the laying of physical and spiritual foundations. 1998: Redemption City Receives Legal Backing On this day in 1998, what began humbly as a quiet prayer retreat in 1983 attained a significant milestone. The Redemption Camp—now known as Redemption City—officially obtained its certificate of occupancy from the Ogun State Government, marked with the number 23876. This document transformed a makeshift spiritual campsite into a formally recognized city. Spanning approximately 45,000 acres as of 2015, ...
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Maryam Babangida: The First Lady Who Turned Ceremony into Social Change

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 By Victor Olubiye In a nation where the role of First Lady was once confined to photo opportunities and protocol, Maryam Ndidi Babangida broke the mold—and reshaped it into a powerful platform for rural women across Nigeria. From 1985 to 1993, she transformed her position into a purposeful mission, championing female empowerment through one of the most ambitious social programs Nigeria had ever seen: the Better Life Programme for Rural Women. Born in 1948 in Asaba—now the capital of Delta State—Maryam's life was a rich blend of cultures. Her father, Leonard Nwanonye Okogwu, was Igbo; her mother, Hajiya Asabe Halima Mohammed, was Hausa from Niger State. This fusion of northern and southern heritage perhaps helped shape her unique national outlook, one that would later reflect in the pan-Nigerian character of her empowerment initiatives. She began her education in Asaba, but her path led her northward to Queen Amina College in Kaduna. After training as a secretary at the Federal Tra...
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Wheels of Freedom: How the Kenguru Electric Car is Transforming Mobility for Wheelchair Users

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 By Victor Olubiye In a world where independence often hinges on mobility, a small electric vehicle called the Kenguru is quietly rewriting what freedom looks like for people who use wheelchairs. Originally developed in Hungary and later refined in Austin, Texas, by Community Cars Inc., the Kenguru (pronounced "kangaroo") is no ordinary EV. It’s a revolutionary vehicle designed specifically so that users never have to leave their wheelchairs to drive. At first glance, the Kenguru resembles a sleek, compact bubble car. But its real innovation lies in what you don't see right away: a rear-opening automatic door and a built-in ramp, allowing wheelchair users to roll directly inside and start driving without the exhausting or risky process of transferring seats. Once inside, drivers can steer using either motorcycle-style handlebars or an optional joystick, making it adaptable to various physical needs. The vehicle may be small—with a top speed of about 28 mph (45 km/h) and a...
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FEATURE: Better Eat Well — Your Future Doctors Are Using ChatGPT to Pass Exams

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 By Victor Olubiye  In the lecture halls of Nigeria’s medical and health institutions, a quiet revolution is underway — not in the laboratories or operating theatres, but on smartphones, laptops, and AI chat windows. Increasingly, student doctors are turning to tools like ChatGPT to prepare for — and sometimes cheat in — their examinations. While artificial intelligence has opened new frontiers in learning, educators, students, and health professionals alike are raising a red flag: Are we training a generation of doctors who don’t truly understand medicine? At first glance, using AI-powered tools like ChatGPT for academic assistance may seem harmless — even innovative. After all, the future of healthcare is undeniably intertwined with technology. But as reports grow of students using these tools not just for study but to bypass learning altogether, the issue has become a ticking time bomb in Nigeria’s already strained medical education system. “You had better eat good food,” w...
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The Unsinkable Stewardess: The Incredible Survival Story of Violet Jessop

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 By Victor Olubiye In a tale that defies belief and mirrors the plot of an epic survival novel, Violet Jessop earned her place in maritime history as “The Unsinkable Stewardess” — a woman who lived through not one, not two, but three of the most catastrophic ship disasters of the early 20th century. Born in Argentina to Irish immigrants and the eldest of nine children, Jessop embarked on a life at sea that would test the limits of human resilience. Her first brush with disaster came in 1911 aboard the RMS Olympic when it collided with a British warship. Though shaken, she survived and continued her career undeterred. Only a year later, Jessop was working as a stewardess on the ill-fated RMS Titanic. On the night of April 14, 1912, when the “unsinkable” ship struck an iceberg, Jessop sprang into action, helping women and children into lifeboats. She eventually escaped the disaster herself in Lifeboat No. 16, witnessing the ship’s harrowing descent into the Atlantic. Yet fate was not...
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FG Honours Late Buhari: Five Public Structures Renamed in Borno

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 By Victor Olubiye  The Federal Government has approved the renaming of five major public structures in Borno State after Nigeria’s former President, Muhammadu Buhari, in honour of his service and historical ties to the state. The decision was reached during a special Federal Executive Council (FEC) session held on Wednesday, July 17, just days after Buhari’s passing on July 13. The move is part of efforts to immortalize the late president, who served as military governor of the former North-Eastern State and played a key role in the region’s development. Among the renamed institutions is the University of Maiduguri, which will now be known as Muhammadu Buhari University. The university was established in 1975, during Buhari’s tenure as military administrator of the North-East, before Borno State was carved out in 1976. Other public assets in Maiduguri renamed after the former president include: Maiduguri International Airport, now Muhammadu Buhari International Airport Muhamm...
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Seychelles: Africa’s Hidden Paradise That Quietly Leads the Continent in Progress

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 By Victor Olubiye Tucked away in the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is often pictured as a dreamy escape with white-sand beaches and lush green islands. But beyond its postcard-perfect beauty, this island nation stands as a quiet powerhouse, leading Africa in several remarkable areas of human development. Despite being the smallest and least populated country in Africa, with just over 108,000 residents, Seychelles has achieved development milestones that many larger nations still struggle to attain. According to the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Seychelles is ranked as Africa’s second most developed country, trailing only Mauritius. This is based on key indicators like life expectancy, education, and income per capita. What makes Seychelles even more impressive is that it has done this without the benefit of vast natural resources like oil or minerals. Instead, its government has focused on sustainable tourism, education, and public health, with s...
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PROFILE: Grigori Perelman – The Brilliant Mathematician Who Solved the Impossible and Turned Down a Million Dollars

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 By Victor Olubiye In a world where recognition, riches, and reputation often define success, one man defied them all—and became a legend. Grigori Perelman, a reclusive mathematician from Saint Petersburg, Russia, stunned the scientific world not only with his genius, but with an even rarer quality: indifference to fame. In the early 2000s, Perelman achieved what many believed was impossible—he solved the century-old Poincaré Conjecture, one of the most complex and elusive problems in the history of mathematics. The Poincaré Conjecture was more than just a puzzle. It was one of the seven Millennium Prize Problems, identified by the Clay Mathematics Institute in 2000 as the greatest unsolved problems in mathematics. Each came with a $1 million prize and global acclaim. The conjecture itself dealt with the very nature of space and shape in three dimensions, baffling the sharpest mathematical minds for over a hundred years. Perelman’s solution, published in a series of low-key online ...
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