Politics
COVID-19: SANWO-OLU, FIRST BANK LAUNCH N5 BILLION SUPPORT CAPITAL FOR LOW-COST SCHOOLS
•Gov: ‘Intervention To Help Mitigate Effect Of Lockdown’
•LSETF, First Bank Float Education Loan Programme
Lagos State Government in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Ltd has launched N5 billion Post-Coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery Support capital for education sector to support low-cost private schools across the State in mitigating the negative impact of the pandemic.

The intervention fund, which targets over 2,000 private schools, was formally launched by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday at a ceremony held at the Banquet Hall in the State House, Alausa.
Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) collaborated with First Bank of Nigeria Limited to facilitate the matching fund, which will be given as loan to schools and vocational education centres across the State.

Sanwo-Olu said the intervention was part of the State Government’s sustainable solutions to limit the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on both residents and businesses.
As the State gradually unlocks socio-economic activities, following the impact of the pandemic, the Governor said the loan programme would help the targeted beneficiaries accelerate recovery and give them opportunity of painless return to regular life.

He said: “It is no longer debatable that the education is one of the sectors that are severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with schools and vocational learning-centres shut since March when we took the tough decisions meant to disrupt the spread of the virus. Given the incidence of the closure of schools in response to the pandemic, it would not be out of context to note that the challenges presently faced by these schools would increase significantly.
“With access to low-cost funding for privately owned schools and vocational training centres in the state, we are confident that this programme will help accelerate sustainable and painless return to world-class learning and skills acquisition of our young population. As a responsible Government, we are obligated to provide intervention that would enable learners in these schools’ study in line with the new normal.”
Sanwo-Olu said the N5 billion Education Loan Programme was a precursor to many more human development sector-specific support programmes that would be unveiled by the LSETF on behalf of the State Government next month.
The Governor explained that the intervention was necessary, given the importance of education to building human capital. He said his administration took education as critical building 21st century economy and realising objectives set out in the T.H.E.M.E.S. agenda.
The beneficiaries, Sanwo-Olu said, will have access to single-digit loan facilities to fund the provision of the amenities and services needed to aid learning.
He said: “It is thus heart-warming to have First Bank of Nigeria electing to be our exemplary partner for this intervention. With their support, players in the education sector would be getting the financial support they need to boost learning at a single-digit interest rate.
“I also commend the Board of LSETF and the management for this significant accomplishment. They have helped the Lagos State Government build an institution that has engendered public trust and elevated the hope of small businesses and young people, irrespective of challenges faced.”
Chairperson, LSETF Board of Trustees, Mrs Bola Adesola, represented by Mrs. Tatiana Mousali-Nouri, said schools that have a minimum of 100 students and have been in operation for, at least, a year are the ones qualified for the loan facility.
She said: “We are confident that this intervention fund, which is complemented by our free professional and institutional support structures, will ensure that education ecosystem in Lagos witness an improvement in the overall learning outcomes for the children, while positively impacting on the local economy through wealth and job creation.”
First Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, said the Bank went into the partnership, having recognised the role played by education towards the growth of the economy.
He praised the State Government’s efforts towards suppressing the burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the education, saying Lagos Government had scored another first.
Adeduntan said: “With the single-digit funding targeted at about 2,000 low-cost private schools in Lagos, we are delighted to demonstrate our commitment to the development of education in the State, thereby contributing our quota to realise the mandate of the State Government and LSETF on economic growth, opportunities for employment and bridging societal gaps in education.”
The loan scheme will be provided to two categories of applicants, which are Micro-Enterprise (ME) and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME). Those in ME category will receive a sum of not more than N500,000, while those in SME will get N5,000,000.
To apply for the loan facility, applicants are expected to submit their applications via the LSETF portal for screening. Details of the successful applicants will be passed on to First Bank for appraisal and disbursement.
Politics
Captain Buratai Joins Borno Assembly Race, Sparks Youth Mobilisation in Biu
Captain Buratai Joins Borno Assembly Race, Sparks Youth Mobilisation in Biu
Pilot Muhammad Tukur Buratai (MTTB), son of former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Yusuf Buratai, has intensified political activities in Borno State after purchasing the nomination form of the All Progressives Congress to contest for a seat in the Borno State House of Assembly.
The young aviator is seeking to represent Biu Constituency, a move many political observers describe as a bold transition from professional service into active grassroots politics.
Supporters of the aspirant insist his emergence represents a blend of youthfulness, exposure and leadership capacity needed in the state legislature at a time when demands for greater youth representation in governance continue to gain momentum across the country.
Unlike conventional political entrants, allies of captain Buratai argue that his aviation background has equipped him with discipline, technical knowledge, calm decision-making and strategic coordination skills considered valuable in public leadership.
Political watchers within Biu also believe his candidacy could energise younger voters and strengthen grassroots participation within the APC ahead of the party primaries.
His growing acceptance, according to supporters, is also linked to his accessibility, community engagement and understanding of the developmental concerns facing youths and rural communities within the constituency.
The aspirant recently met with his father to seek his blessing ahead of the political contest, a development seen by many as a symbolic endorsement of his ambition and readiness for public service.
Stakeholders within the constituency say his entry into the race has already altered political calculations in the area, with consultations and mobilisation intensifying across several wards.
Supporters further maintain that beyond family name recognition, the young aspirant possesses the educational exposure, leadership orientation and communication skills required to effectively represent the interests of the people at the legislative level.
As political activities gather momentum ahead of the elections, many within Biu believe his emergence could usher in a new generation of leadership focused on youth empowerment, education, economic opportunities and community development.
Politics
Ajadi Congratulates Bimbo Adekanmbi, Vows Supports to 2027 Governorship Project
Ajadi Congratulates Bimbo Adekanmbi, Vows Supports to 2027 Governorship Project
Prominent political figures within the Team Seyi Makinde political structure in Oyo State, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo and Hon. Adedeji Stanley Olajide, popularly known as Odidiomo, have congratulated Chief Bimbo Adekanmbi following his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of the political movement ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The duo, who also emerged as consensus senatorial candidates for Oyo Central and Oyo South Senatorial Districts, respectively, pledged total support for Adekanmbi’s governorship ambition, while assuring residents of Oyo State of inclusive governance and continuity of developmental policies associated with Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
“I throw my full support behind Chief Bimbo Adekanmbi as the consensus governorship candidate chosen by our political leaders through a unified process,” Ajadi said.
He added, “His emergence reflects unity, consultation, and the collective resolve of our political family, and we are fully committed to delivering victory in 2027.”
According to him, the endorsement of Adekanmbi was based on competence, loyalty, administrative experience, and the need to sustain ongoing developmental strides in the state.
Also reacting to the development, Hon. Stanley Odidiomo expressed appreciation to stakeholders for the confidence reposed in the candidates selected through consensus.
He assured party loyalists and supporters that the candidates would work collectively to deepen democratic dividends across the state.
“This is not about individual ambition alone; it is about protecting the future of Oyo State and consolidating on the achievements already recorded. We are united, and we are prepared to serve the people with sincerity and fairness,” Odidiomo said.
Sources close to the meeting disclosed that discussions centered on political unity, grassroots mobilization, and sustaining the developmental momentum associated with Governor Makinde’s administration.
The Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, was also said to have witnessed the strategic meeting alongside other influential stakeholders within the political structure.
Lawal reportedly congratulated Adekanmbi and the senatorial candidates while expressing optimism that the political family would remain united ahead of the next general elections.
Political observers in the state believe the consensus arrangement may reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 governorship contest, especially with increasing alignments and consultations among major political actors across the state.
Adekanmbi’s emergence is already generating conversations within political circles, with supporters describing it as an attempt to maintain continuity, stability, and the governance philosophy championed by Governor Makinde over the years.
Politics
CityBoy Movement Denounces ‘False Blasphemy Claim’ Against Seyi Tinubu
CityBoy Movement Denounces ‘False Blasphemy Claim’ Against Seyi Tinubu
The CityBoy Movement has dismissed as false and malicious a viral social media post alleging that its patron, Barr. Seyi Tinubu, made blasphemous remarks concerning God and the 2027 presidential election.
In a statement issued on Monday by the group’s Deputy Director-General for Communication and Public Affairs, O’tega Ogra, the movement described the publication as “deliberately inflammatory” and aimed at creating religious tension in the country.
The group said the statement, allegedly authored by one “Albaabu Abudulahi,” falsely attributed comments to Tinubu which he never made “at any time, in any place, through any channel, or under any circumstance whatsoever.”
According to the statement, the allegation was “entirely false, malicious in intent, reckless in circulation and dangerous in consequence.”
The movement maintained that Seyi Tinubu is a man of faith who believes that all authority comes from God alone and would never insult or diminish the supremacy of God or Allah.
“He has never insulted, mocked, questioned or diminished the supremacy of Almighty God or Allah, and will never do so,” the statement read.
The group further accused unnamed individuals of attempting to damage Tinubu’s image and provoke unnecessary religious controversy ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While reaffirming Tinubu’s support for the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, the CityBoy Movement stressed that all political ambitions and public service efforts remain subject to “the will and guidance of Almighty God.”
The organisation urged Nigerians to disregard the circulating claims, describing them as a calculated attempt to mislead the public and sow division along religious lines.
It also called on media organisations, digital publishers and social media users to verify information before sharing materials capable of threatening national unity and peaceful coexistence.
The statement reiterated the movement’s commitment to democratic engagement, responsible public conduct and respect for all faiths.
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