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Despite War Songs, You Failed To Deliver Buhari In Rivers – Wike Mocks Amaechi

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The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that people of the state overwhelmingly voted for him during the 2019 governorship election because of his outstanding performance and project delivery.

In a response to an allegation made by the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi during his appearance on Channels Television Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Governor Wike said that the former Rivers State Governor failed in his quest to truncate his second term because Rivers people were happy with his work.

He said he wouldn’t have responded to the falsehood being peddled by the Minister of Transportation, but he owes the public the duty to set the record straight.

He said: “It is unfortunate. I extended the Olive Branch and I meant every word of it. It was on that basis that the State Attorney General filed a nolle prosequi to withdraw the charge against Flag Amachree.

“If I did not do well in my first term, PDP wouldn’t have given me the party’s flag to fly. In 2015, the same man vowed that over his dead body would I emerge victorious.

“I have done well for my people. It is for the people of Rivers State to decide. It is not the in the place of Amaechi to decide.

“We have over 6million people and over 3million registered voters. Therefore, Amaechi cannot say I cannot go for a second term. He has only one vote.

“In the past, he said an Ikwerre man cannot succeed another Ikwerre man. Today, he is saying his grouse is that I cannot go for a second term. At every step, he has one story or the other”.

Governor Wike said contrary to the story that Amaechi peddled whilst he was on Channels Television, kidnapping raged during his tenure. He said it was so bad that the State Chairman of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission under Amaechi was kidnapped.

The Governor noted that despite the National High-Rate of insecurity, Rivers State is relatively peaceful, with very high ratings.

“Our internally Generated Revenue has improved due to the peace and security of the state”.

Governor Wike said that the political misfortune that befell the APC during the last general elections in Rivers State was principally due to the impunity of Amaechi .

He said: “It is because of this impunity that his party was not on the ballot. Because of this impunity he has denied so many people their political future “.

He said that the plots by Amaechi to manipulate the Tribunal will fail like other previous plots. The Governor noted that Amaechi’s boast that he appointed the members of the tribunal and they would work for him remains one of his empty boasts.

Governor Wike said that Amaechi’s plot to use the police to illegally certify fake results as he did for Rivers East Senatorial District during the rerun elections tribunal would fail.

“The game he played in Rivers East of using the police to certify fake results will not work. During the rerun Police certified fake results. That game will not work again. We have gone beyond that. We are waiting for the police to certify fake results for Amaechi “.

He stated that there was no way that the defeated AAC Governorship Candidate, Engr Awara would have been coasting to victory when he neither campaigned or printed posters.

He said: “Awara ran for the PDP councillorship in 2018 and lost. For this election, he did not Campaign and never printed posters.

“Look at that kind of impunity. He brought a man that the people of Rivers State never knew three days to the election.

“The AAC had no House of Assembly Candidates, they had no House of Representatives candidates and no senate candidates for the elections. There is no way that such a party would have been coasting to victory “.

He added that the AAC Governorship Candidate could not have been coasting to victory and still approach the Federal High Court for the cancellation of the Governorship Election Results.

On the allegation that the INEC Chairman , Professor Mahmood Yakubu influenced the suspension of the Collation process because he worked under him at the Federal Ministry of Education, the Rivers State Governor said that the position of Amaechi was baseless. He said that at the Ministry of Education, he superintended basic Education, while the INEC Chairman served as TETFUND Executive Secretary under the Minister of Education. He said that the INEC Chairman was appointed by the APC Federal Government and since his appointment, there has been no links

Governor Wike said despite the evil machinations of the Minister of Transportation, he was unable to deliver 25 percent of votes for President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 and 2019

“In 2015, as a sitting Governor, he failed to deliver 25percent of votes for President Buhari. He claimed that Jonathan helped us. In 2019, with all the security agencies, he still couldn’t deliver 25percent for President Buhari.

“He sang war songs, but couldn’t deliver 25 percent of votes for the President “, he said.

On the incident at Obio/Akpor LGA Secretariat, Governor Wike said that the GOC of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Jamil Sarhem sent soldiers to invade the Collation Centre and cart away results .

“I went there to stop the Army from carting away results from my Local Government Area “, he said.

Governor Wike said that the illegal activities of the Nigerian Army all through the Governorship Election were well documented by the media and the International community.

He said that the videos of the Army invading the Rivers State Governorship Election Collation Centre has since gone viral.

He said that even the Rivers State Commander of F-SARs has since written him a congratulatory letter on his well deserved victory.

He said that his administration continues to fund all security agencies in the state, including providing needed logistics. He said that the Israelis that Amaechi introduced were only used to siphon State resources .

He wondered why Amaechi finds Pleasure in de-marketing Rivers State, when the State made him Speaker, Governor and Minister of the Federal Republic.

Governor Wike said after four years as a Minister, Amaechi cannot boast of attracting a single project to Rivers State. He noted that as Minister of State for Education, he attracted several projects to the state.

He denied attempting to bribe the GOC, saying that he has never met him at any point. He said by Amaechi’s logic, it means that the Minister bribed the GOC 6 Division to subvert the Electoral Process.

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New Secondary School Curriculum To Include Journalism, Programming Modules [SEE FULL LIST]

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Nigeria’s new secondary school curriculum will introduce modules on journalism, programming, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and fact-checking, according to details released on Wednesday.

Dada Olusegun, senior special adviser to the president on social media, shared excerpts of the yet-to-be-unveiled curriculum document via his verified social media handle.

The new curriculum, which applies to both junior and senior secondary schools, is part of government efforts to modernise education and align learning with global digital and professional trends.

Breakdown of the curriculum

According to the document, journalism will now be taught under English Language at the senior secondary level, while programming is spread across both junior and senior cadres.

Digital literacy has also been expanded to include artificial intelligence and robotics in senior classes.

For junior secondary school (JSS 1–3), subjects include:

  1. Mathematics & Measurement (covering algebra, geometry, statistics, and more)
  2. English Language (essay writing, grammar, comprehension, oral skills)
  3. Integrated Science (physics, chemistry, biology, earth science, lab safety)
  4. Digital Literacy & Coding (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Python basics, Scratch, robotics kits)
  5. Social Studies (history, geography, civics, economy, entrepreneurship basics, global issues)
  6. Languages (mother tongue, French/Arabic)
  7. Creative Arts (drama, crafts, music, film basics)
  8. Physical & Health Education (fitness, nutrition, reproductive health, drug abuse awareness).

For senior secondary school (SS 1–3), highlights include:

  1. English & Communication (academic writing, journalism, fact-checking, public speaking)
  2. Technology & Innovation (Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, data science, AI & robotics, cybersecurity)
  3. Research & Project Work (final-year project, data collection, presentation & defence)
  4. Social Sciences (economics, government, history, philosophy, entrepreneurship).

Focus on digital and practical skills

The curriculum also introduces modules on digital entrepreneurship, cybersecurity, media production, and mental health awareness.

Officials say the new subjects are designed to equip students with both academic and practical skills needed to navigate the evolving global economy.

The Federal Ministry of Education is expected to formally launch the curriculum in the coming weeks.

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Fidelity, Sterling, Other Tier-2 Banks Under Pressure As CBN’s 2026 Recapitalisation Deadline Looms — SBM Report

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Nigeria’s mid-tier lenders are under mounting pressure to scale up operations or face mergers as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) enforces its 2026 recapitalisation programme, a new report has revealed.

The report, released by SBM Intelligence and titled “Capital, Competition, and Consolidation: How Nigeria’s Tier-2 banks are responding to the CBN’s 2026 recapitalisation order,” examined the financial health and capital-raising efforts of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Fidelity Bank, Stanbic IBTC, Sterling Bank, and Wema Bank.

In March 2024, the CBN directed banks to increase their minimum capital base by 2026. Under the new rule, international banks must raise ₦500 billion, national banks ₦200 billion, and regional banks ₦50 billion. The apex bank said the measure will boost financial stability and prepare lenders to support the government’s ambition of building a $1 trillion economy.

Share price rally

The SBM report highlighted how some tier-2 banks have outperformed expectations in recent years. Fidelity Bank’s share price rose from ₦1.65 in 2020 to over ₦21.20 by mid-2025, representing more than 1,100 percent growth. Wema Bank also recorded a surge from ₦1.50 to nearly ₦15.00 over the same period.

FCMB and Sterling Bank posted steady gains, while Stanbic IBTC maintained resilience despite macroeconomic volatility.

Capital-raising strategies

To meet the recapitalisation target, FCMB has embarked on a three-phase plan to raise ₦400 billion through public offers, divestments in subsidiaries, and offshore placements. Fidelity Bank has already secured over ₦270 billion from an oversubscribed rights issue and public offer, with plans to complete the process ahead of schedule.

Sterling Financial Holdings is pursuing a mix of rights issues, private placements, and a $400 million public offering, while Wema Bank has combined a ₦150 billion rights issue with a ₦50 billion private placement after an earlier ₦40 billion issue in 2023.

Mergers expected

SBM predicted that consolidation in the banking sector will intensify as the 2026 deadline approaches, with mergers and alliances likely among mid-tier lenders.

“The financial performance of these banks in 2025 underscores their capacity to compete and thrive, even as Tier-1 institutions consolidate their dominance,” the report noted.

It added that the ability of tier-2 banks to adapt to regulatory demands, strengthen technology adoption, and implement bold capital strategies will determine their future in Nigeria’s evolving financial sector.

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UBA, Mastercard Launch Prepaid Card To Promote Financial Inclusion

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Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, in collaboration with Mastercard, Tuesday announced the launch of the Mastercard prepaid card to further accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to digital payment solutions across Africa.

The card, which does not require a traditional bank account, is designed to serve individuals who have historically lacked access to formal financial services, particularly young adults, gig workers, and low-income earners. It enables users to top up funds easily, transact both locally and internationally, and manage spending with flexibility and security.

With more than 28.9 million adults in Nigeria remaining unbanked, and digital-first tools increasingly demanded by youth and freelancers, the prepaid card directly addresses pressing gaps in the financial ecosystem.

Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal and Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Shamsideen Fashola, during the the launch of the Mastercard Prepaid Card to further accelerate financial inclusion and expand access to digital payment solutions across Africa, held at the Bank’s headquarters in Lagos on Monday.

Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, United Bank for Africa (UBA), Shamsideen Fashola, who noted this is a demonstration of the bank’s customer-first approach, stated that the bank is committed to ensuring that every Nigerian is banked and gets the best service.

“This collaboration with Mastercard is yet another demonstration of our customer-first approach. We are committed to providing practical solutions that meet the everyday needs of Nigerians, and this card will make payments simpler, safer, and accessible to all”

Mastercard’s Country Manager, West Africa, Dr Folasade Femi-Lawal, said: “At Mastercard, we are relentlessly committed to advancing financial inclusion through innovative and secure digital payment solutions that serve both banked and unbanked Nigerians. Collaborating with UBA enables us to unlock endless possibilities by connecting individuals across all income levels, demographics, and social strata. Together, we are empowering Nigerians with the tools they need to confidently participate in the global economy and shape a more inclusive digital future.”

The prepaid card offers distinct benefits for different user groups. Cardholders can use it as a convenient budgeting tool; freelancers and gig workers gain a flexible expense solution; and the unbanked are empowered through a secure, reloadable allowance card. The product is globally accepted and supported by Mastercard’s trusted infrastructure, providing users with peace of mind and seamless digital payment experiences.

This collaboration aims to pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable financial future in Africa, by striving to break down long-standing barriers, enable underserved communities, and advance economic growth.

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc is a leading pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than 45 million customers across 20 African countries, as well as in the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates. With a strong focus on innovation, financial inclusion, and customer service, UBA provides retail, commercial, and institutional banking solutions, empowering individuals, businesses, and governments through cutting-edge digital platforms and inclusive financial products.

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

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