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Akpabio Advocates For Human Capital Growth

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Akpabio Advocates For Human Capital Growth

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has reiterated the need for greater investment in human capital development in the country.

Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, made the call in Abuja in his speech before declaring open a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, chaired by Senator Muntari Dandutse.

The session was meant to get the input of stakeholders on six bills namely: Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo (Establishment) Bill, 2024;

Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State (Establishment) Bill, 2024; Federal University of Geomatics, Oyo, Oyo State (Establishment) Bill, 2025; Federal University of Technology and Vocational Studies, Yaba, Lagos State (Establishment) Bill, 2025 and Federal University of Technology, Omoku, Rivers State (Amendment) Bill, 2025.”

Akpabio noted that the country is at a pivotal point in its development journey and as such, more investments were needed in the education sector.

“Our population continues to grow, and so must our investments in human capital,” he said.

He said that the universities of technology, health sciences, education, and vocational studies were instrumental in preparing a workforce that was capable of driving innovation and delivering essential services and transforming the nation’s economic fortunes.

“The inclusion of specialised institutions like the proposed University of Education (Special), Oyo and the University of Geomatics highlights our intention to cater to specific educational and developmental needs,” he said.

Akpabio added that the task before the Senate was to ensure that these institutions, once established, are not only sustainable but also adequately funded.

“And also effectively governed, and tailored to meet the dynamic needs of the 21st-century learner,” he said.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC-Katsina), sponsored the Federal University of Health Sciences, Funtua, Katsina State (Establishment) Bill, 2024.

Dandutse said that it was instructive to note that the conventional or mainstream medical practice was gradually being phased out with the advancement in science and technology.

“Also, the advent of Artificial Intelligence and the use of robotics are predominantly being deployed to handle sophisticated medical practices and procedures limiting the chances of medical practitioners.

“This is no doubt will invariably give rise to job losses in the near future,” he said.

He said that it was imperative that urgent and necessary steps were taken for Nigeria to align with the current global phenomena.

Senator Yunus Akintunde (APC-Oyo) sponsored the Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo Establishment Bill 2024 and Federal University of Geomatics, Oyo Establishment Bill 2024.

He said that the proposed establishment of the two universities constituted upgrades rather than establishments from the scratch.

Akintunde said that the Federal University of Education (Special), Oyo aims to provide a just, sound and robust educational system for all Nigerians, including those with disabilities.

“It is predicated on the availability of qualified and well-trained teachers to impart the required knowledge on the students.

“Federal College of Education (Special), Oyo is the only one of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Thus, the need to have a university in our educational sector that can cater for people with disabilities and continuously produce well-qualified and trained teachers as it is obtainable in other developed countries cannot be over emphasised, he said.

He added that there was an unbridled quest for special need education in Nigeria.

“The current administration in Nigeria has shown sufficient determination to commit adequate funds to critical sectors in nation building including education.

“The enactment of this bill will help not only to provide education access, but also reduce difficulties faced by people with disabilities in seeking university education in non-conducive conventional institutions,” he said.

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JUST IN: EFCC Arrests 3 Party Chieftains For Vote-Buying In Anambra [PHOTOS]

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Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested three suspected vote buyers in various parts of Anambra.

The suspects are Emeka Ilokasia arrested at Ward 2, Njikoka Local government, Anambra; Nwachuwu Loretta, arrested at Ward 2(008), Awkuzu, Oyi local government and Emuka Chuwudi, arrested at Umunachi village, Dukonukofia local government.

All the suspects were arrested while participating in the governorship election held on Saturday, November 8, 2025

They will be charged to court as soon as the anti-graft Commission concludes investigations.

 

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Truck Crushes 3 University Students To Death In Lagos, Injures Many- Video

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Lagos, Nigeria – A tragic accident in Ikorodu, Lagos, has claimed the lives of three students of Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) after a sand-laden truck lost control due to brake failure.

According to the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the fatal accident occurred around Powerline Junction, inward Ikorodu Roundabout.

The sand-laden truck reportedly rammed into several vehicles and injuring seven others.

LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the truck was travelling at high speed before it lost control and collided with multiple vehicles and tricycles along the busy corridor.

“In an incident of profound tragedy that cast a pall of grief over the Ikorodu metropolis, three promising students at the Lagos State University of Science and Technology, Ikorodu — two males and one female — lost their lives instantaneously in a fatal multiple-vehicle collision,” Taofiq said.

He added that seven others, including tricycle operators, sustained serious injuries in the horrifying crash.

The vehicles involved included a sand-laden tipper (unregistered), a Toyota Corolla (SMK 42 AJ), an MPV bus, and four tricycles.

LASTMA said preliminary investigations by traffic operatives revealed that the truck’s excessive speed and mechanical brake failure caused the driver to lose control, leading to the deadly crash.

Emergency responders from LASTMA, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), and the Nigeria Police were quickly mobilized to the scene.

Taofiq said the injured victims were rushed to nearby hospitals, while the remains of the deceased students were deposited at the Ikorodu General Hospital mortuary.

“Together, they swiftly conveyed seven critically injured victims to nearby medical facilities for urgent treatment, while the three deceased casualties were evacuated and deposited at the General Hospital, Ikorodu mortuary,” the statement read

LASTMA also confirmed that the wrecked vehicles had been removed to restore free vehicular movement in the area.

Reacting to the tragedy, the General Manager of LASTMA, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, expressed sadness over the deaths, describing the crash as “avoidable.”

Bakare-Oki urged truck operators and commercial drivers to maintain their vehicles and avoid over speeding. “This tragedy is avoidable. Over speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and defective braking systems continue to cause, on Lagos roads,” he lamented.

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Tension In Kano As Shi’ite Members Protest Trump’s Invasion Threat, Drag US Flag On Ground

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Shi’ite members in Kano protested President Donald Trump’s “false genocide claim” and invasion threat in Nigeria

Protesters who dragged and burned the U.S. flag accused Trump of inciting religious division

The movement also called for unity amongst citizens, saying Nigeria’s problems are political, not religious

Kano, Nigeria – Tension erupted in parts of Kano on Saturday, November 8, as members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shi’ites, took to the streets to protest the recent statement by United States President Donald Trump threatening to invade Nigeria.

The protest, which took place in several parts of the Kano metropolis, saw large crowds chanting anti-US slogans while carrying placards expressing displeasure with the alleged remarks.

The members are described as “a dangerous and false narrative” by the U.S. president. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria dismissed Trump’s remarks as “provocative, inflammatory, and deeply misleading.”

A spokesperson for the movement, Abdullahi Danladi of the IMN Resource Forum, told journalists during the protest that the group would not tolerate attempts by foreign leaders to sow religious division in the country.

“The statement by President Trump is false and provocative. It is part of a long pattern of Western propaganda designed to pit Muslims and Christians against one another. Nigeria’s challenges are driven by corruption, greed, and poor governance — not by religion,” Danladi said.

He accused the U.S. government of double standards, noting that America had no moral ground to lecture other nations about human rights when it continues to fuel wars and instability across the Middle East.

“We reject this form of neo-colonial arrogance. Nigeria does not need military intervention. What we need is peace, justice, and equity,” he added.

During the protest, some demonstrators were seen dragging the American flag on the ground, while others set effigies of the U.S. president ablaze.

Placards carried by the protesters bore inscriptions such as “We condemn Trump threats,” “Stop dividing Nigeria,” and “Trump, mind your business.”

According to sources who spoke to Legit, Security operatives were deployed across key areas to monitor the march, which later converged near the Emir’s Palace before dispersing peacefully

Danladi urged citizens to remain calm and avoid being manipulated by political or foreign interests seeking to destabilize the nation.

“Both Islam and Christianity teach love, justice, and compassion. Those who exploit religion for politics are the real enemies of peace,” Danladi said.

Let us stand together as Nigerians. Let us reject foreign interference. Our destiny is in our own hands,” he added.

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