By Yusuf Yakubu Muhammad

Youth unemployment is one of the greatest challenges facing Nigeria today. Every year, thousands of young Nigerians graduate from universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and vocational institutions with high hopes of securing decent jobs.

Unfortunately, the number of available jobs is far less than the number of graduates entering the labour market.

This reality has left many young people unemployed, underemployed, or forced into jobs that do not match their qualifications.

According to the World Bank (2024), Nigeria has one of the fastest-growing youth populations in the world, and creating enough productive jobs for this population is essential for reducing poverty and promoting economic growth. The report notes that sustainable employment is critical to unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.

Speaking on the importance of youth employment, Dr. Ndiame Diop, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, stated that “creating more productive jobs is essential for reducing poverty and helping Nigeria achieve inclusive economic growth.”

His statement highlights the need for policies that go beyond creating temporary employment and instead build an economy capable of generating lasting opportunities for young people.

I had an opportunity to interview a phone accessories seller in Beirut market Kano.

Musa Abubakar is a graduate of geography education from Kano State University of Science and technology said his journey into entrepreneurship began after spending a long time searching for employment without success.

He said he applied for jobs in different places and hoped to secure a stable job, but despite his efforts, he was unable to find one.

He communicated that he noticed the increasing demand for mobile phones and their accessories, including chargers, earpieces, phone cases, screen protectors, power banks and USB cables.

He said this encouraged him to start selling phone accessories on a small scale.

The seller narrated that one of the important things he learned was the need to understand customers and provide them with quality products.

He added that some customers are more concerned about price, while others prefer durable and original accessories, so he tries to provide different options according to their needs.

He said his business has helped him become financially independent and has given him the opportunity to create a source of income for himself rather than depending entirely on formal employment.

One of the major reasons behind youth unemployment is the gap between education and the labour market.

Many graduates possess academic qualifications but lack the practical, technical, and digital skills required by employers.

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), strengthening technical education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship programmes can improve young people’s chances of securing meaningful employment.

However, solving unemployment is not only about helping graduates find jobs. It is also about preparing them to create businesses that can employ others.

Entrepreneurship has become one of the most effective ways of addressing unemployment in many developing countries.

Successful Nigerian entrepreneurs have shown that with innovation, determination, and the right support, young people can transform small business ideas into companies that create jobs for many others.

Abba Abdurrazak, a graduate of computer science from ABU said after graduating the situation was initially frustrating because he had expected to get a job after completing his studies.

However, he added that he later realised that waiting for employment was not the only option available to him.

He narrated that he had an interest in graphic design and printing and noticed that there was a growing demand for printing services in his community.

He said this motivated him to turn his skills and interest into a business.

I did not have enough capital when he started the business, so he began on a small scale with the resources available to him.

According to him, he gradually reinvested the money he made into the business and acquired better equipment as the business grew. He said.
He said one of the major challenges he faced was attracting customers because the business was new and there were already established printing shops.

He added that the high cost of printing machines and materials also made the business challenging at the beginning.

He said his experience had taught him that failure to secure a formal job does not means failure in life.

He added that young people should learn practical skills, start businesses on a small scale and gradually build them rather than depending entirely on government or private-sector employment.


The Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony O. Elumelu, has consistently argued that entrepreneurship is the key to Africa’s economic transformation.

According to him, “Africa’s future lies in the hands of entrepreneurs who create jobs and solve problems within their communities.”

Through the foundation’s entrepreneurship programme, thousands of young Nigerians have received funding, training, and mentorship to establish their own businesses.

Similarly, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Nigeria’s former Vice President, has repeatedly emphasized that innovation and entrepreneurship are essential for reducing unemployment.

He has argued that investing in young entrepreneurs will strengthen the country’s economy because small businesses are major employers of labour.

Despite these opportunities, many young entrepreneurs continue to face significant obstacles. Poor electricity supply, inadequate infrastructure, limited access to finance, high interest rates, multiple taxation, and policy inconsistency discourage many business owners.

The World Bank has repeatedly identified these challenges as major barriers to private sector growth and job creation in Nigeria.
Experts believe that government must create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive.

This includes improving electricity, expanding internet access, investing in transport infrastructure, providing affordable loans for young entrepreneurs, reducing unnecessary regulations, and strengthening support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Young Nigerians themselves must embrace lifelong learning. Today’s economy rewards people who continuously improve their skills in technology, communication, agriculture, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, and other emerging industries. Waiting only for government jobs is no longer a sustainable strategy.

Youth unemployment is not a challenge that government alone can solve. It requires collaboration among government agencies, educational institutions, businesses, development partners, communities, and young people themselves.

By investing in skills development, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating an environment where businesses can grow, Nigeria can transform millions of unemployed youths into innovators, employers, and drivers of economic growth.

As Tony Elumelu rightly observed, “The future of Africa depends on the entrepreneurs we empower today.”

If Nigeria successfully shifts its focus from producing job seekers to producing job creators, the country will not only reduce unemployment but also build a stronger, more prosperous, and more inclusive economy for generations to come.

Yusuf Yakubu Muhammad wrote in from Kano State.

By Maryam Ahmad

Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for the killing of between 30 and 40 people in Gaza every night, in remarks made during a podcast interview with former Israeli hostage Rom Braslavski.

Ben-Gvir criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for reducing Israeli military strikes in Gaza and said he supported carrying out targeted assassinations on a nightly basis.

“I think targeted assassinations should be carried out in Gaza, taking down 30 to 40 every night,” Ben-Gvir said. He went further, saying that the targets should not be limited to people posing an immediate threat, claiming that some Palestinians were “not worthy of life.”

Ben-Gvir, who leads the far-right Jewish Power party, is a member of Netanyahu’s coalition government but does not have direct command over Israel’s military. His comments nevertheless come from one of the most prominent hardline figures in the Israeli government and have drawn renewed attention to his calls for an intensified military campaign in Gaza.

The minister has also advocated the establishment of Israeli settlements throughout Gaza and the mass departure of Palestinians from the territory. His latest remarks have been widely criticised because of their dehumanising language and explicit advocacy of killing people beyond those posing an immediate military threat.

Israel has rejected accusations that its conduct in Gaza amounts to genocide, while statements by senior Israeli officials, including Ben-Gvir, have previously been cited in international legal proceedings concerning allegations of genocidal intent.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Iran has claimed that the military conflict ordered by United States President Donald Trump has demonstrated the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Army Chief, General Amir Hatami, described the major maritime route as a “God-given geopolitical asset” for the Iranian people.

Hatami said the strategic influence of the waterway would not return to what it was before the conflict. He also described its leverage as one of the conditions that could help bring the war to an end while preventing future conflicts against Iran.

“One of the legacies of the U.S. president is the activation of the Strait of Hormuz’s potential,” he stated. “Without this conflict, it would not have been activated.”

The Iranian military chief also vowed that his country would prevent the United States from gaining access to the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

He said American military bases in the region would no longer be able to function as they did before, as Tehran would not permit the implementation of such plans.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, claimed that his country had emerged victorious both politically and militarily from the conflict, despite the continued presence of the US military.

Ghalibaf said the United States and Israel launched their attacks against Iran with “nine specific, declared objectives,” but failed to accomplish the goals they had set.

“This was a defeat for the U.S. and the Zionist regime,” he said. “In the diplomatic sphere, the agreement is a source of pride and a victory on the diplomatic battlefield.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has instituted a fresh N10 billion suit against the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged restrictions on visits by members of his family while in detention.

The case was filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja on August 13, 2026, through his lawyer, Ubong Akpan.

El-Rufai is asking the court to enforce what he considers his fundamental rights during his detention. He alleged that ICPC officials prevented his wife, Aichatou Asabe, and son, Abba El-Rufai, from gaining access to him.

The former governor also listed the ICPC chairman and the Attorney-General of the Federation as defendants in the suit.

According to the case, El-Rufai maintains that his constitutional rights remain applicable despite his detention. He alleged that preventing his family from visiting him, especially when they sought to bring food, medication and other essential items, amounted to unlawful treatment.

He further alleged that ICPC officials physically restrained and intimidated his wife and son during an incident on July 7.

El-Rufai asked the court to declare that “the respondents’ continued denial of family access without lawful authority is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.”

He also urged the court to compel the ICPC to provide him with “unhindered and reasonable access to members of his family and counsel throughout the period of his detention as earlier directed by the Federal High Court.”

The former governor claimed that the alleged restrictions had subjected him to “humiliation, emotional trauma, anxiety and psychological distress.”

He accused the commission of acting “arbitrarily, unlawfully and in a manner inconsistent with Sections 34, 37 and 46 of the Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

In an affidavit filed in support of the suit, El-Rufai’s Principal Secretary, Mohammed Shaba, stated that the former governor was being detained at the ICPC office in Abuja.

Shaba said El-Rufai’s wife had been regularly providing him with “food, clothing, medication, and other personal necessities required for his comfort, health, and well-being while in custody.”

He also cited an earlier ruling by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court in Kaduna, which directed the ICPC to allow access to lawyers and personal doctors whenever necessary.

Shaba argued that the earlier order demonstrated that detainees should not be held incommunicado and that the ICPC remains subject to judicial oversight over the conditions of detention.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Cristiano Ronaldo has suggested that the 2026/27 season could be his final campaign as a professional footballer.

The 41-year-old Portugal captain and Al-Nassr forward made the disclosure in an interview with lifestyle magazine Vogue, published on Sunday.

Ronaldo, who began his senior career with Sporting Lisbon in 2002, said he hopes to bring his football career to an end with a lasting legacy.

“This is probably my last year of football and I want to leave a spectacular legacy,” he said.

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner also spoke about his plans for life after football, saying he already has several activities that could keep him occupied.

“I have so many things to keep me busy that to tell you just one thing is hard. Because football could leave a big hole, you have to fill your time in various ways, not just one.

“And also have more fun, travel more, watch and play padel, which I really like, and continue to enjoy what I’ve earned — what we’ve earned. Because, after all, it’s been 25 years with a lot of sacrifice.”

Ronaldo has won domestic league titles in England, Spain, Italy and Saudi Arabia. He also holds the record as the highest-scoring player in men’s international football.

The Portuguese star has scored 976 goals for club and country, leaving him 24 goals away from reaching the 1,000-goal landmark.

He has one year remaining on his contract with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Nassr.

Ronaldo was absent from Al-Nassr’s opening league match of their title defence against Al Fateh on Saturday. He watched the game from the stands alongside members of his family.

The development comes only days after his wedding to his long-time partner, Georgina Rodriguez.

By Hadiza Abdulkadir

Somalia’s national carrier, Somali Airlines, is expected to resume operations next month, more than three decades after its flights were grounded following the outbreak of civil war in 1991.

The planned return of the airline marks a significant step in Somalia’s efforts to rebuild its aviation sector and restore a national carrier that once operated domestic and international routes.

The government has acquired two Airbus A320 aircraft as part of the revival plan. Officials say the relaunch is intended to reduce the country’s reliance on foreign airlines, create employment opportunities and improve air connectivity for Somalis at home and abroad.

Somali Airlines ceased operations in 1991 following the collapse of the government of President Siad Barre and the subsequent civil conflict. Its absence for more than three decades left the country dependent on privately owned and foreign carriers for commercial air travel.

The revival has been welcomed by many Somalis, although the government has previously announced several anticipated launch dates that were not met. The latest plan is therefore being watched closely as preparations continue for the return of the national flag carrier.

If successful, the relaunch would restore an important symbol of Somalia’s statehood and reconnect the country with a chapter of its aviation history that ended 35 years ago.

By Ali Tijjani Hassan

There is a difference between a public health system that performs well on paper and one that performs well in people’s lives, and Yobe State is currently teaching us these differences in real time. For over ten days, reports of viral conjunctivitis (Apollo), as it is popularly called, have been spreading across parts of the state. Yet the silence from official quarters has been almost as consistent as the outbreak itself. No public advisory. No visible coordination. No reassurance that anyone in authority is even watching. And silence, in public health, is never neutral. It either means nothing is happening, or it means something is happening and no one has thought to tell the people living through it. Neither of these answers is acceptable. Considering the communicable nature of this outbreak, it is essentially as contagious as yawning. The system should work, and the response should be in place.

I say this, not out of pessimism, because pessimism is cheap and the outbreak deserves better than cheap reactions. Yobe is not a state without human resource capacity. We have a significant number of epidemiologists and precision medicine experts. We have disease surveillance officers, laboratory scientists, environmental health officers, and public health professionals—a full formation of expertise that many states would envy. So, the question is not whether we have the people. The question is whether the system built around those people is actually working, or has quietly become one optimised for reporting rather than responding. Because here is an uncomfortable truth: a health system can hit every donor indicator, produce every glossy report, receive every award, and still fail the basic test of protecting the community it exists to serve. KPIs are not the same as outcomes. A dashboard is not the same as a warned public. You can be commended internationally and still be invisible locally, and that gap between what is reported upward and what is felt on the ground is where public trust quietly erodes.

What sharpens this concern is that we are not operating in isolation. This outbreak is not affecting only Yobe State; it’s spread across northeastern states. Take Adamawa State as an example: it’s currently responding to a similar outbreak of viral conjunctivitis. They already declared a pandemic and activated warning and response systems since the 7th of August, 2026. Coincidentally, Bauchi State is experiencing a cholera outbreak; the state government has been activating its cholera response system since the 1st of August, 2026. These are not distant or hypothetical benchmarks; they are neighbours, operating under comparable constraints, demonstrating that a coordinated response is possible when the will and the system align. So if they can move, what exactly is holding us back?

Is it a failure of surveillance itself, or a failure to verify what surveillance already picked up? Is it risk assessment sitting somewhere in a queue? Is it plain bureaucratic inertia, the kind where information exists but no one owns the decision to act on it? Or is it something more troubling: a culture where we wait for numbers to become undeniable before we treat them as urgent?

I raise these questions not to indict anyone by name, but because public health, by its very design, is supposed to be anticipatory. Its entire justification is that it acts before catastrophe forces it to. A surveillance system that produces reports without triggering timely action has collected data successfully but has failed in its actual purpose. And there is something quietly troubling about a community that learns of a potential outbreak through word of mouth before it hears a single word from the institutions constitutionally responsible for its well-being. That is not just a communication gap. It is a trust gap, and trust, once eroded in public health, is far harder to rebuild than any epidemic curve.

The remedy is not complicated. If there is no outbreak, say so clearly and to everyone, not just to donors. If there is one, say so. If an investigation is currently in progress, please communicate that clearly. If interventions have begun, say so. None of this requires perfect information. It requires the basic respect of keeping people informed while the work is being done. Because silence is not surveillance, and a response no one can see is barely a response at all. The people of Yobe do not need another award ceremony. They need a system that notices early, speaks plainly, and moves before the numbers force its hand. In the end, the truest measure of a public health system was never going to be what it reports about itself. It is what the people living inside it actually experience.

Ali Tijjani Hassan is a public health professional who writes from his personal quarantine after being infected with the Apollo.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

The Islamic community is mourning the passing of the wife of distinguished scholar Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussani, which occurred earlier today.

The family confirmed the sad news in a statement that began with the Islamic expression of grief, “Inna Lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un” (Surely we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return).

According to the announcement, the funeral prayer (Salat al-Janazah) will be conducted today, Sunday, August 16, 2026, at precisely 10:00 AM local time. The prayer service is scheduled to take place at the Zawiyyah (Islamic center) of Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussani, where family members, disciples, and well-wishers are expected to gather for the final rites.

Following the prayer, the deceased will be laid to rest according to Islamic traditions. The family has requested the public to pray for the forgiveness and mercy of the departed soul.

In a heartfelt concluding supplication, the family prayed: “May Allah shower His abundant mercy and grace upon her and upon the entire Ummah of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). Amin.”

Sheikh Sharif Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussani is a highly respected Islamic figure in Nigeria, known for his spiritual leadership and scholarly contributions. His wife’s passing marks a profound loss for his family and followers across the country.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Borno State Police Command has recovered an unexploded ordnance, identified as a hand grenade, from a drainage slab in Moduganari, Maiduguri.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Nahum Daso, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday.

Daso said the recovery followed a report received by the police at about 12:40pm on August 15, 2026, about a suspected explosive device found in the area.

According to the statement, operatives of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal-Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (EOD-CBRN) Base 13, Maiduguri, were deployed to the location after the report.

The statement, titled, “Borno Police Command Recovers One UXO (Hand Grenade) in Maiduguri,” said the operatives safely removed the device from the drainage slab.

“Acting on the directives of the Commissioner of Police, CP Naziru Abdulmajid, psc, following a report received at about 1240hrs on 15 August 2026 regarding a suspected UXO found on a drainage slab in Moduganari area, operatives of the EOD-CBRN Base 13, Maiduguri, promptly mobilised to the scene and safely recovered the item,” it said.

The command said the recovered device had been secured for further examination. It added that an investigation had commenced to determine its origin and the circumstances that led to its discovery.

Daso said the Commissioner of Police appreciated residents who alerted the authorities after noticing the suspected explosive.

“The Commissioner of Police commends the vigilance of the members of the public who promptly alerted the Police and reiterates the Command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the State,” he added.

The police spokesperson also warned residents against touching, moving or tampering with objects suspected to be explosive devices.

“The Borno State Police Command remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all residents and urges continued cooperation and timely reporting of suspicious objects or activities,” the statement said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have arrested a suspected explosives courier with 180 units of 20mm Super Power explosives in Zamfara State.

The suspect, identified as 57-year-old Sani Umar, was intercepted on Friday, August 14, 2026, during routine snap checks on vehicles by troops of Sector 2.

The Nigerian Army said Umar was allegedly transporting the explosives from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State to suspected terrorist elements in Jibia Local Government Area of Katsina State.

According to a statement posted by the Army on X on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force (North West), Operation FANSAN YAMMA, Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, said the explosives were discovered after troops searched Umar’s vehicle.

“The suspect, vehicle and recovered explosives are currently in custody for further investigation,” the military said.

The interception took place as troops carried out separate offensive operations against terrorist elements in Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara.

The Army said troops engaged terrorists in a firefight around Garin Kaso, where two suspected terrorists were killed.

The operation also led to the recovery of two rifles, two magazines, nine rounds of ammunition and two motorcycles, according to the military.

The Army said another group of terrorists later tried to attack the troops from concealed positions but the soldiers repelled the assault.

The troops reportedly inflicted additional casualties on the terrorists and forced the surviving fighters to escape from the area.

The exact number of casualties from the second encounter was not immediately established. However, the military said information from residents indicated that the fleeing terrorists evacuated several wounded members as well as the bodies of some of those killed.

The Army said the operations reflect the continued offensive activities of Operation FANSAN YAMMA against terrorist camps and the supply routes used to move weapons and explosives to the groups.

The Theatre Command said it would sustain the operations to disrupt terrorist activities and “deny terrorists and other criminal elements freedom of action across the North West.”