Author: News Room
The mother of late Nollywood actor, Alex Ekubo, Evangelist Mrs Jane Mmerechi Ekubo-Okwaraeke, has penned an emotional tribute to her son, saying she still longs for his calls, chats, encouragement and prayers weeks after his death. The tribute seen by PUNCH Online on Tuesday was included in the funeral pamphlet distributed at the actor’s burial, held in Arochukwu, Abia State, from June 17 to 18. PUNCH Online had reported that Ekubo died on May 11, 2026, at the age of 40, following complications from advanced metastatic kidney cancer after what his family described as a “brief but courageous battle.” Alexx…
The Federal Government will continue to prioritise skills acquisition, particularly among young Nigerians, as part of efforts to reduce the overreliance on paper qualifications and promote self-reliance, the Registrar of the National Business and Technical Examinations Board, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, has said. Mohammed stated this on Monday while speaking with journalists after monitoring the 2026 NABTEB NBC/NTC examinations at the Government Technical College, Kano. He said the initiative was aimed at transforming graduates from job seekers into job creators and innovators capable of addressing the country’s unemployment challenges. “The era we are moving into is one driven by skills,…
The Love Island USA men were very excited to explore new connections in Casa Amor — but did any of them have sex with the bombshells yet? During the Monday, June 22, episode of the Peacock show, the guys all chose their own bombshell to share a bed with on the first night. Despite running to kiss new women after exiting the villa, the guys all confirmed they didn’t hookup — yet. The girls, meanwhile, had their own experience after 12 guys were brought into the villa. They chose 6 who would remain with them but it remains to be…
The Presidency has dismissed Peter Obi’s call for President Bola Tinubu’s resignation, describing it as misplaced and based on what it called a selective interpretation of developments in Nigeria since 2023. This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who said Mr Obi’s position failed to reflect the country’s constitutional and political realities. Mr Onanuga said Nigeria operated a presidential system of government, unlike the parliamentary system in the United Kingdom, making calls for resignation outside constitutional processes inappropriate. He said that Mr Tinubu was elected for a fixed four-year term…
It is often said that men are ordinarily polygamous in nature, especially the African man. So whilst religion, often Christianity, constrains a man to one wife, it sometimes does not confine this polygamist tendency, but how true is this? Netflix’s South African supernovela, The Polygamist, arrives with all the ingredients of addictive television narrative: wealth, betrayal, family intrigue, forbidden relationships, and a patriarch whose death exposes a lifetime of secrets. Adapted from the 2012 debut novel by Zimbabwean author Sue Nyathi and developed for television by Nigerian filmmaker Akin Omotoso and head writer Busisiwe Zwane, the 22-episode series represents Netflix’s…
Belgium winger Jeremy Doku has become a father after temporarily leaving the Red Devils’ FIFA World Cup camp to be with his family, bringing a heartwarming conclusion to a story that sparked widespread debate across European football. The Belgian Football Association confirmed on Monday that Doku and his wife have welcomed a baby boy named Praise, just days after the Manchester City star travelled to London ahead of Belgium’s World Cup clash against Iran. According to the federation, the decision to allow Doku to leave the national team camp followed consultations with the team’s medical staff after it became clear…
The British High Commission in Abuja has congratulated Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on his re-election while raising concerns over vote trading, technical glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the accessibility of polling units for persons with disabilities during Saturday’s governorship election. This was contained in a statement issued by the British High Commission on Monday. PUNCH Online had reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission had declared Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election after polling 319,224 votes across the state’s 16 local government areas. He defeated his closest rival, Wole Oluyede of the…
The United States has deported a Nigerian national, Ayodeji Ajayi, following multiple criminal convictions, including domestic violence, as part of its ongoing immigration enforcement efforts. The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement disclosed this in a statement posted on its official X account on Tuesday, saying Ajayi had remained in the country illegally after entering on a student visa nearly two decades ago. According to the agency, “Ayodeji Olamide Ajayi, of Nigeria, entered the United States in 2007 on a student visa and eventually left school, but failed to leave the country.” ICE said instead of departing the US after leaving…
The Nigeria Police Force has urged residents and observers alleging electoral malpractice during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State to present concrete evidence, rather than relying solely on photographs. In a statement released to respond to a viral image circulating on social media, the Force’s New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, said police officers seen in the photo at a polling unit in Ikere Local Government Area were carrying out their constitutional duty of providing security. The image, posted by journalist Oseni Rufai, showed two policewomen near an open polling booth, with claim that they were “helping with vote buying.” The…
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (cooking gas) marketers imported 16,642.66 metric tonnes of LPG within the first 19 days of June as part of efforts to bridge domestic supply shortages and ease pressure on consumers facing rising prices. The import volumes formed a significant part of the 95,769.26 metric tonnes of LPG supplied into the domestic market between June 1 and June 19, according to figures released on Monday by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. The data was presented by the Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, Rabiu Umar, during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting convened by the Minister of State…
