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Wike Renames Abuja Conference Centre After President Tinubu
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has officially renamed the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC) after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At a ceremony held on Tuesday to mark the completion of the building’s renovation, Wike unveiled the new name: Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
Originally built in 1991 during the military regime of Ibrahim Babangida, the centre has long served as a venue for national and international events, including government meetings, global conferences, and corporate gatherings.
Describing the upgraded facility as “world-class,” Wike emphasised the need for ongoing maintenance and praised President Tinubu for initiating its renovation. The minister said it was Tinubu’s visit to the venue last year, during the inauguration of the ECOWAS Parliament, that sparked the decision to refurbish the structure.
“At the time, the President expressed his concern over the poor condition of the centre and insisted it be transformed,” Wike explained. “This renovation is a result of that directive—and leadership.”
Wike also revealed that several halls inside the building have been named after key government officials, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Vice President Kashim Shettima; and the Chief Justice of Nigeria.
According to Wike, this reflects the unity of Nigeria’s three arms of government.
The renovation of the conference centre was announced earlier this year, with the total cost estimated at ₦39 billion.
June 10, 2025
Ghana Bans Use of Honorary Doctorate, Professorship Titles in Public
The Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) has issued a ban on the public use of honorary titles such as “Doctor” or “Professor” by individuals who have not earned them through formal academic research.
In a statement signed by Acting Deputy Director-General Augustine Ocloo, the commission warned that it will begin naming and shaming violators, and may take legal action, especially targeting politicians, businesspeople, and religious leaders.
Mr Ocloo described the growing trend as “unethical and misleading”, saying it damages the integrity of Ghana’s higher education system. He explained that the frequent use of honorary titles undermines the value of genuine academic achievements, such as PhDs and professorships, which are awarded after years of study, research, and peer review.
“This notice goes especially to politicians, businessmen and businesswomen, men and women of God, and any other category of persons to desist from officially using the honorary doctorate and professorship titles in their everyday life,” the statement read.
Honorary degrees are typically symbolic and do not reflect the rigorous process required to earn academic titles at accredited universities.
The warning follows increasing concern about “degree mills”, unaccredited institutions that offer fake honorary degrees in exchange for money. These titles are often used to boost personal image and gain social recognition, despite lacking legitimate academic merit.
June 10, 2025
Don’t Bring Back Subsidy! Kalu Warns Tinubu, Says Hunger Still Bites
ABA, NIGERIA – Former Abia State Governor and current Senator representing Abia North, Orji Uzor Kalu, has warned against returning Nigeria to the petroleum subsidy regime, describing it as “a very big scam,” Punch Newspaper reports.
Speaking to journalists at his Igbere residence on Tuesday, Kalu said subsidizing food and agriculture would be more beneficial for Nigerians grappling with economic hardship.
“The President knows people are hungry, and he is working to ensure the country is pulled out of hunger,” Kalu told Punch, backing President Bola Tinubu’s economic agenda.
He called on Nigerians across political lines to support Tinubu, noting, “President Tinubu has done very well in the last two years. Let us come together and support him.”
ALSO READ: Obi Okays Subsidy Removal, Faults Processes
Kalu argued that while economic challenges persist, progress is evident, especially in stabilizing the exchange rate over the past nine months.
“In the next two to three years, the economy will be stabilized,” he said. “I know people are suffering—I pay people, I manufacture, I sell.”
According to Punch, Kalu emphasized that his remarks were based on national interest, not party loyalty. “I’m not part of the economic team. I speak as a citizen,” he clarified.
On security, Kalu defended his record as governor, saying he laid the foundation for a safer Aba through the Bakassi Boys’ collaboration with security agencies.
“There’s nowhere in Africa that doesn’t know Aba and Enyimba City,” he told Punch. “I built Aba to use its resources to develop other places.”
Addressing his recent visit to Governor Alex Otti, Kalu said the meeting focused on development, especially his plan to establish five factories in Igbere within a year.
Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to the All Progressives Congress, stating, “I’m APC to the core. To suspend me, you must go to the NEC.”
He concluded by urging unity and long-term national vision, saying, “We’re building a strong democracy. It’s not a job done in a day,” Truth Live News gathered.
June 10, 2025
Obi Okays Subsidy Removal, Faults Processes
Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The 2023 Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has said that there was nothing wrong with the petroleum subsidy removal but the way and manner it was removed by President Bola Tinubu, that was what was bad.
The former Anambra State governor said he would have also removed the subsidy and floated the naira if he was elected president.
He clarified that, unlike the incumbent President, Bola Tinubu, his approach would have been different. According to him, he would have implemented the policies in a “gradual and organised” manner as against the haphazard method of the incumbent administration.
Recall that the President, during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, at Eagle Square, Abuja, announced the removal of the subsidy on petroleum, otherwise known as petrol.
His controversial “Subsidy is gone” statement immediately spiked the pump price of petrol from N190 to N500.
The price soared to over N1,000 and later dropped to about N880 in Lagos and higher in other states.
The Tinubu-led administration also floated the nation’s currency, a situation which saw the value of the local currency determined by market forces.
But over two years after President Tinubu’s “Subsidy is gone” pronouncement, Obi has questioned the whereabouts of the funds saved from the policy, noting that the gains should have been invested in “critical infrastructure.”
He lamented that critical areas of development have not witnessed any significant improvement since the removal of the subsidy.
He added that he would have negotiated with operators on a fair pricing template for the product.
“I have consistently maintained that I would have removed the fuel subsidy. If you go to my manifesto, it is there and the steps I would have taken in an organised manner.
“There is nothing wrong with the removal of fuel subsidy. What is wrong is the haphazard way in which it was announced and implemented.
“Since we were told that we removed it because we don’t want to borrow, and that the funds will allow for investments in critical infrastructure. Billions saved. Where is it? Where is it invested in critical areas of development?
“Everybody knows critical areas of development — education, health, and pulling people out of poverty. Have any of these three improved?
“No. There is nothing wrong in floating and devaluing your currency. You do this when you have productivity. In all of this, I would have done the same thing in an organised manner.”
He added that he would have ramped up the country’s production capacity in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors before floating the currency.
Weighing in on the floating of the naira, he said: “There’s nothing wrong with floating your currency. There’s nothing wrong with even devaluing your currency. But you do this when you have productivity.
“What devaluation or floating does is that your currency becomes, in terms of value, low. You attract investment. Your products become more marketable.
“But where we are unproductive, you have nothing to sell. So it’s a double whammy. So in all this, I would have done the same thing in an organised manner.”
June 10, 2025
Lagos High Court to Commence Annual Vacation on July 21
The Lagos State High Court is set to commence its annual vacation on July 21, marking the end of the 2024/2025 legal year of the state judiciary.

The vacation will conclude on September 12, as announced in a notice signed by the Chief Registrar of the state judiciary, Mr Tajudeen Elias.

Mr Elias stated that the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, approved the vacation in accordance with Order 49, Rule 4(D) of the High Court of Lagos Civil Procedure Rules, 2019.

“Notwithstanding the long vacation, the Criminal Division of the High Court of Lagos State may sit throughout the vacation,” Elias stated.

The Chief Registrar noted that applications for urgent hearings may be brought by summons in chambers before either the vacation judge or the judge to whom the substantive case is assigned.

He also confirmed that the 2025/2026 legal year of the Lagos State Judiciary will commence on September 15, with the legal year service scheduled for September 22.
June 10, 2025
NDLEA Arrests One Foreign Drug Trafficker, 39 Others
Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
Edo State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 18-year-old Nigerien, Mohammed Isah for drugs.
The drugs are four grams of methamphetamine, 54 grams of cannabis sativa, six grams of tramadol tablets (100 milligrams), and 28 grams of Exol-5 tablets.
State Commander of the Agency, Mitchell Ofoyeju disclosed this while presenting his first monthly operational scorecard.
The command also destroyed two cannabis farms, arrested 39 suspected drug traffickers, and seized over 1.3 tonnes of illicit drugs in the month of May.
Ofoyeju said those arrested include: 18 male and 21 female.
He said that the two cannabis farms, measuring a combined 0.783 hectares, were located in Uzebba and Ohosu forests across Owan West and Ovia South West Local Government Areas, respectively.
He said that the Uzebba farm covered 0.266 hectares while the Ohosu farm spanned 0.517 hectares.
Ofoyeju added that the major highlight of the operation was the interception of 74 and a half bags of cannabis sativa weighing 1,115 kilograms at Oke community in Ohunwude LGA, following an intelligence report.
“The two suspects arrested in connection with the seizure are: 33-year-old Isaac Israel from Abak LGA in Akwa Ibom, and a 19-year-old Precious Zion from Ogba LGA, Rivers State .
The NDLEA commander associated drug trafficking to rising violent crimes in the state.
He said the activity undermined public safety, investment opportunities, and placed heavy burdens on the law enforcement and the healthcare system.
“Drug control is germane to Governor Monday Okpebholo’s fight against kidnapping and cultism in the state.
“The Edo Command of the agency will continue to work assiduously in ensuring a safe and secure society for all,” Ofoyeju said.
He reaffirmed the mandate given to him by the NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), to dismantle cannabis cultivation syndicates and expand the War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) campaign.
Ofoyeju called for immediate and coordinated efforts to combat the risks associated with drug trafficking and abuse.
He also advocated proactive strategies and improved resource allocation to address drug and drug-related problems.
June 10, 2025
FG, Meta Launch Program to Fund Early Stage AI Innovators in Nigeria
By Toba Owojaiye
Abuja, Nigeria
In a landmark move to position Nigeria as a hub for responsible artificial intelligence development, the Federal Government has partnered with global tech giant Meta to launch the Llama Impact Accelerator, an eight-month programme aimed at supporting early-stage startups leveraging open-source AI to tackle critical national and regional challenges.
The initiative, unveiled by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, reflects Nigeria’s increasing commitment to fostering a vibrant AI ecosystem and harnessing technological innovation for national development.
According to a statement by Ms. Sade Dada, Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Anglophone West Africa, the programme is designed to “democratise responsible AI” and promote solutions aligned with Nigeria’s socio-economic priorities.
“This partnership represents a significant step in our mission to build a resilient, forward-looking AI ecosystem. Artificial Intelligence is not just a buzzword, it is a transformative tool for solving real national challenges,” said Tijani.
Truth Live News gathered that the novel accelerator programme is part of Meta’s broader strategy to build inclusive, open-source AI communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria, the programme is being implemented in collaboration with the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The Llama Impact Accelerator will kick off with a six-week incubation phase, offering hands-on technical training and mentorship from global AI experts. This will be followed by six months of extended support, including access to infrastructure, technical resources, and ecosystem connections to aid growth and scalability.
Startups will receive up to $25,000 in equity-free funding, with top performers having the chance to pitch for an additional $100,000 during the AMET Summit. The programme culminates in demo days that will highlight promising AI solutions.
Targeted sectors for innovation include:
Agriculture, Security and Safety Healthcare, Wild Card : for bold, high-impact solutions outside the core categories.
“The wild card category is especially important,” said Dada, “because it encourages unconventional, high-risk ideas that could redefine how we solve deeply rooted societal issues.”
The accelerator ties directly into the Federal Government’s broader tech innovation roadmap, including the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme, which aims to train a new generation of Nigerian professionals in high-demand tech skills, including AI, by 2027.
“Partnerships like this allow us to tap into global expertise while empowering local talent. They ensure Nigeria is not just a consumer of technology but also a producer of cutting-edge solutions tailored to our realities,” added Dr. Tijani.
Meta’s open-source Llama models (core to the Programme) are designed to be adaptable, lightweight, and efficient, making them ideal for deployment in resource-constrained environments like rural Nigeria.
Beyond Nigeria, the accelerator is also accepting applications from startups in Kenya, South Africa, and Senegal, underscoring Meta’s intention to catalyze a pan-African movement for locally relevant, globally competitive AI solutions.
“We believe Africa’s AI future must be built on collaboration, openness, and relevance,” said Dada. “This programme is about equipping changemakers with the tools to build solutions that matter.”
Applications opened on May 26, 2025, and close June 27, 2025. The first cohort begins in August 2025, with demo days scheduled for September and October, and extended support running until March 2026.
While the launch has been met with enthusiasm across Nigeria’s innovation space, industry watchers will be closely monitoring the implementation phase to see how inclusive and effective the programme becomes. With Nigeria battling youth unemployment and digital infrastructure deficits, programmes like the Llama Accelerator offer hope: but also raise questions about access and sustainability.
Still, as Nigeria continues to champion digital transformation on the continent, this accelerator represents a strategic intersection of policy, private sector innovation, and open-source technology positioning the country as a potential AI powerhouse in the years ahead.
June 10, 2025
Tinubu Departs Lagos, Sanwo-Olu Pledges Support As He Sees Him Off After Sallah Visit
IKEJA, NIGERIA – Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, escorted President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he departed Lagos after the Sallah holiday.
In a post on his social media handle, Sanwo-Olu wrote, “I accompanied His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu… as he departed Lagos.”
The governor emphasized his commitment to supporting the president’s reform agenda aimed at improving Nigerians’ lives.
ALSO READ: JUST IN: APC Chieftain, Jesutega Onokpasa, Passes Away
Sanwo-Olu stated, “Lagos stands ready to play its part in building the Nigeria we all hope for.”
His presence highlights Lagos State’s strategic role in national development and political unity.
June 10, 2025
JUST IN: APC Chieftain, Jesutega Onokpasa, Passes Away

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Jesutega Onokpasa, is reportedly dead.
The lawyer and prominent political commentator died on Monday.
Announcing his demise on his X account on Tuesday, a pro-APC crusader, Okezie Atani, said the prominent political commentator was survived by his wife and children.
He wrote, “We lost Barr. Jesutega Onokpasa, may his soul rest in perfect peace.”
June 10, 2025
PHOTOS: Nigerian Chess Prodigy Onakoya Meets Tinubu, Shares Vision for Global STEM Hub

Nigerian chess champion Tunde Onakoya, founder of Chess in Slums Africa, met President Bola Tinubu on June 9, 2025, at his Lagos residence, marking a pivotal moment for chess and education in Nigeria.
Nigerian Chess Prodigy Tunde Onakoya Meets President Tinubu
Onakoya, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon after playing for over 60 hours in New York’s Times Square, presented Tinubu with a gold-plated Adire chessboard and his world record certificate.
The meeting, widely shared on social media, highlighted Onakoya’s transformative work empowering underserved children through chess.
Nigerian Chess Prodigy Tunde Onakoya Meets President Tinubu
Tinubu praised Onakoya’s journey from Lagos slums to global acclaim, noting his resilience as a symbol of Nigerian youth potential.
The President expressed eagerness to support Onakoya’s vision of building the world’s largest Chess and STEM institute, a hub where children from all backgrounds can learn and dream. “Tunde’s work aligns with our no-child-left-behind initiative,” Tinubu tweeted, pledging collaboration to scale Chess in Slums Africa nationwide.
Nigerian Chess Prodigy Tunde Onakoya Meets President Tinubu
Onakoya, who learned chess at a barber’s shop in Ikorodu, emphasized that “great things can come from small places.” His initiative has already impacted thousands in slums like Makoko and Oshodi, using chess to foster education and opportunity.
Tinubu invited Onakoya to Abuja to discuss further government support, signaling a commitment to youth empowerment.

June 10, 2025