By Uzair Adam

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) is participating in the ongoing development and validation workshop for the African Continental Curriculum Framework (ACCF) in Windhoek, Namibia.

The Daily Reality reports that the development was disclosed by the Council on its verified Facebook post on Tuesday, noting that the workshop is being held from August 11 to 13, 2026, as part of efforts to develop and validate the continental curriculum framework.

The workshop provides a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and technical engagement on the development of the ACCF, covering education from Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) through secondary education.

According to NERDC, the meeting is part of broader continental efforts to strengthen collaboration among African member states towards the harmonisation and advancement of curriculum frameworks across the continent.

The initiative is aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), with participants expected to deliberate on key issues that could shape the future of education and curriculum development across Africa.

The Council said participants would identify priority competencies, values and learning areas for African learners, while exploring mechanisms for curriculum harmonisation that would preserve national and regional contexts.

The three-day workshop is organised by the African Union (AU) in collaboration with Namibia’s Ministry of Education, Innovation, Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture (MEIYSAC).

Directors of Curriculum and curriculum experts from AU member states are attending the workshop to discuss and chart the way forward on the roadmap for the African Continental Curriculum Framework.

NERDC is represented at the event by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu, and the Head of its Curriculum Development Centre, Dr. Chima Egbujuo.

Dr. Egbujuo is also scheduled to make a paper presentation at the workshop as participants deliberate on strategies for developing a common continental curriculum framework that responds to Africa’s educational priorities while taking into account the diversity of individual countries and regions.

By Sulaiman Maijama’a

He served a single tenure and was chased out of the corridors of power, and later had the fortune of being smuggled by a cabal after waiting for a good 8 years. When he was announced as the flagbearer of their party, he doubted himself, woke up in the middle of the night and sat on a sofa, talking to himself. Let us peer into his mind and bring out what he is saying to the world.

What is the motive behind bringing me back? When I served my first tenure as a governor, these people ganged up against my reelection and chased me away and ever since I left, I distanced myself from anything to do with the state. I jettisoned party affairs, didn’t honour wedding invitations, didn’t pay homage or send goodwill messages during festivities,  refused to ever pay condolences, refused to make donations for public and private projects. I created both social and physical distancing by relocating to Abuja and abandoning all my people in Bakesu State. Why would these people nominate me? Do they really mean well?

But I am said to be the luckiest politician this country ever produced. I was born in Alfawa State, attended primary school in Babaldu State, and did my secondary school in Dadin Kowa State. When my father was posted to Bakeso State, we lived comfortably enough that I claimed indigene status, rose through the ranks in the civil service, ventured into politics, and miraculously became the state governor. But what did I do when I had the chance?

According to what people are saying on social media, I did not execute physical projects which I can now show to convince people to elect me. But when I was rounding up my first term, I gathered a lot of money, which I intended to use to execute the projects in my second tenure, but they unfortunately elected me out. I left the state treasury with billions of naira, and I suspect it is the money this governor has used to achieve all this development people applaud him for in the state. Why don’t I say I’m the one who gathered the money for him and claim a share of the credit?

My social media handles keep popping up with posts from haters of my return, reminding people of the verification exercises we did when we were in power. I even saw one post saying that in the cemetery there is a section of pensioners who died of hunger during our verifications. But we did that in good faith, and who will die before their appointed time? I think this can be a question of faith!

But wait, how many people did I fight with when I was in power whom I am still at loggerheads with? Traditional title holders accused me of not giving them the respect and resources they deserve. Now, this wicked governor fueled our estranged relationship with them because he built them beautiful palaces and pooled resources they never requested. But why would a lawyer of my standing, who knows very well that these people don’t have any constitutional role, deviate from due process?

My relationship with clergymen of both faiths was—and still is—not cordial. I thought their duty was only to preach to people to be righteous and serve God in order to go to paradise. But when I was in power, they asked to see me during every religious festivity, sent requests or proposals for donations or sponsorship of every religious activity. During fasting period, Sallah, Christmas and Maulud, they requested thousands of textiles, thousands of rams and cows and trailers of foodstuff to distribute to orphans. Whenever I turned down their request, they would quote me a verse in the Qur’an and the Bible, and accuse me of not helping religion. But I’m fasting every Monday and Thursday. Can this not take me to paradise?

Now, the poor say I have zero projects to show; traditional institutions throw questions of disrespect, and clergymen challenge my disregard for their institution. Despite all this, I want to return to this seat. 

What should I do?

Maijama’a wrote via sulaimanmaija@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam

The Kano State Coordination Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has commenced a 10-day residential training for 23 community artificial insemination (AI) technicians as part of efforts to improve livestock productivity and increase milk and meat production across the state.

The training began on Monday, August 10, 2026, at the Artificial Insemination Centre and Farmer Field School, Kadawa, Kano State, and is scheduled to end on August 19.

The training, titled “Artificial Insemination Techniques for 23 Key Community Artificial Insemination Technicians,” is designed to equip participants with practical skills needed to support the project’s planned 5,000 artificial insemination exercises across the 44 local government areas and wards of Kano State.

The programme is expected to improve the genetic quality of livestock through crossbreeding, increase milk and meat production, and make artificial insemination services more accessible to livestock farmers and pastoral communities.

Speaking on the objectives of the training, Abubakar Muhammad Kabiru, an Animal Husbandry Officer with Kano L-PRES, said the 23 technicians were being prepared to participate in the planned artificial insemination programme across the state.

He said the technicians would play a key role in ensuring the successful implementation of the project’s target of 5,000 artificial insemination exercises.

“We are here today to train 23 key community artificial insemination technicians in order to enable them to participate in the forthcoming 5,000 artificial inseminations to be carried out across Kano State, covering the 44 local governments and all the wards,” Kabiru said.

According to him, the programme is aimed at achieving a high success rate while producing about 5,000 crossbred animals capable of increasing milk and meat production.

Kabiru added that the trainees would subsequently provide artificial insemination services to L-PRES beneficiaries across the state in accordance with approved technical standards.

He explained that 22 of the trained technicians would each be assigned to cover two local government areas, while he would supervise their activities.

He further said the technicians would work alongside a consultant who would visit communities to identify suitable animals based on factors such as age, health condition and pregnancy diagnosis before the insemination process.

Also speaking, Gambo Isa Garko, an Extension Officer with the L-PRES Project, described the training as a critical component of efforts to increase the number of cattle benefiting from artificial insemination.

Garko said the specialised nature of artificial insemination services made it necessary to have adequately trained personnel capable of providing the service at the community level.

“Training these 23 artificial insemination technicians will increase the number of targeted cows to be inseminated by the L-PRES Project and help us achieve our targets,” he said.

He explained that artificial insemination offered livestock farmers a relatively affordable method of improving the genetic quality of their animals compared with purchasing high-quality breeding animals, which can be costly.

“Instead of buying breeding cows, which are very costly, getting semen is relatively cheaper. With the semen and highly trained technicians, we can now carry out insemination,” Garko said.

He expressed optimism that the initiative would record a high success rate and contribute significantly to improved livestock productivity in Kano State.

The Director of Public Enlightenment at the Kano State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Abba Dalha Soron-Dinki, also described the training as an important intervention capable of strengthening agricultural and livestock activities in the state.

Soron-Dinki said increased livestock production would improve the availability of milk and meat while contributing to economic growth and better livelihoods for residents.

“It is very important because it will increase and boost agricultural activities in the state. The milk and meat we are getting will become more available and will increase tremendously to the society,” he said.

He added that the Kano State Government was implementing various measures aimed at strengthening agriculture and livestock production.

Meanwhile, Auwalu Musa, a director at the Kano State Ministry of Livestock Development, said artificial insemination was essential to improving the genetic performance of livestock.

He noted that Kano’s large population made it necessary to increase livestock productivity to ensure adequate supplies of milk and meat for residents.

“With artificial insemination, the performance of our animals will be upgraded. Kano is a populated state, whereby there is a need to improve the genetic performance of the animals so that we get more milk and more meat for consumption,” Musa said.

Musa further noted that the training would help address challenges faced by livestock farmers in accessing artificial insemination services, particularly those living in pastoral communities.

He said the community-based technicians would be able to travel to various local government areas and communities to provide AI services, enabling pastoralists and other livestock farmers to access the service closer to their homes.

Musa added that the training would also equip the participants with specialised skills that could create livelihood opportunities for them while contributing to the development of Kano State’s livestock sector.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump was reportedly moved from Turkey to Britain aboard a smaller military aircraft last month after US authorities received what they considered a credible threat from Iran, The Washington Post and The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

The reported security operation occurred during Trump’s visit to Ankara for a NATO summit attended by several world leaders.

According to The Washington Post, Trump initially boarded the former Air Force One in front of television cameras. He was later transferred to another aircraft through an airport catering truck that is normally used to deliver meals and supplies to planes before departure.

A US official told the newspaper that the move was prompted by a credible threat linked to Iran.

The New York Times separately reported that the White House concealed Trump’s actual location from journalists and some members of his travelling staff.

The White House had earlier stated that Trump left Turkey on July 8 aboard the former Air Force One. Trump had also said on Truth Social that he intended to use the older Boeing 747 instead of the newer Boeing 747-8 aircraft donated by Qatar, which had taken him to Turkey.

The Qatar-donated aircraft was on its first international trip during the NATO visit. Its security features and planned modifications had previously attracted public attention.

Before departing Ankara, Trump said he would use the older blue-and-white presidential aircraft “for old time’s sake” to travel to RAF Mildenhall in Britain. He said the newer aircraft would also stop at the British airbase so US military personnel stationed there could inspect it.

However, The Washington Post reported that Trump was first taken aboard a third aircraft before being transferred to the older Air Force One shortly before departure.

The reported operation allowed Trump to enter the older presidential aircraft through a different entrance before later appearing on its stairs in public, creating the impression that he had travelled aboard the plane throughout the journey.

Members of the travelling press pool were reportedly told to keep the window shades in their section closed during the flight.

Some White House personnel travelling with Trump were also reportedly unaware that he was not aboard the aircraft they believed was carrying him.

Reporters later asked Trump why they had been instructed to keep the window shades closed. He responded jokingly that they were “probably on a dangerous flight.”

“But if I go, you go. Right?” Trump added.

The C-32A aircraft reportedly carrying Trump landed in Britain at about 10:20pm local time. The former Air Force One and the media aircraft arrived separately several minutes later.

Trump’s travelling press pool said he came out of the older Air Force One at about 10:56pm. He reportedly gave reporters a peace sign, greeted US service members and proceeded towards the aircraft donated by Qatar.

The reported security manoeuvre was similar to an operation carried out during former US President Bill Clinton’s 2000 visit to Pakistan. Clinton reportedly used an unmarked executive aircraft to enter the country while Air Force One served as a decoy.

White House Communications Director Steve Cheung, in response to questions about the reported operation, said the Qatar-donated aircraft had been fitted with high-level security measures to protect Trump and his staff.

“As the president has said recently, there are many enemies of America who have their sights on him, and we use every tool at our disposal to address those threats,” Cheung said.

By Muhammad Abubakar

A fatal traffic accident claiming the life of a prominent Israeli liturgical singer has triggered a fierce online battle over the musician’s legacy.

Avishai Levy, a 30-year-old paytan (liturgical singer) from the Haredi community, was killed on August 7, 2026, on Adoniyahu HaCohen Street. Authorities report that Levy had just exited his vehicle when it unexpectedly began to roll forward. In an apparent attempt to halt the runaway car, Levy was pinned between the vehicle and a nearby utility pole.

First responders from Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah performed emergency resuscitation maneuvers, but Levy succumbed to severe trauma and was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic police have launched a mechanical investigation to determine why the vehicle failed to remain parked.

While the incident is being handled as a tragic accident, it has sparked a polarized narrative on social media.

Local Hebrew-language media and religious organizations widely mourned Levy, profiling him as a former child prodigy who dedicated his career to traditional Jewish liturgical music, weddings, and faith-based albums.

Simultaneously, pro-Palestinian social media accounts circulated counterclaims, alleging that Levy was an Israeli military major who utilized his platform to perform anti-Palestinian music and nationalist chants for troops.

By Abashi Rahab Ashezi 

There is a man who leaves work every evening but does not head straight home. He is not held back by traffic or delayed by unfinished assignments. He is simply buying time.

Home, for him, is not always a place of rest. It is another arena of responsibilities, expectations and silent pressures. So he sits in traffic longer than necessary, staring at the stream of headlights, listening to nothing in particular, waiting for the weight of the day to ease before stepping into another round of obligations.

Nobody notices because it looks like an ordinary routine. Yet beneath that routine lies a reality many men know too well: exhaustion without an outlet.

From childhood, boys are taught to be strong, provide, endure and never break. They are praised for resilience but rarely taught how to process pain. A crying boy is told to stop. A struggling boy is told to be tough. Gradually, silence becomes confused with strength.

What society often calls masculinity is, in reality, emotional suppression.

As men grow older, many carry fears they can hardly explain. Some are afraid of repeating the mistakes of their fathers. Others fear failure, financial instability or being perceived as weak. Rather than confront these emotions, many retreat into work, isolation or emotional detachment because those are the coping mechanisms they have learned.

Cultural sayings reinforce the pattern. Phrases such as “African men don’t cry” or “a king must never be seen weeping” have created generations of men who are expected to provide but are rarely given permission to be vulnerable. Consequently, many learn that speaking about their fears may attract ridicule, while silence earns respect.

Yet silence does not erase pain. It merely stores it.

Behind countless smiles are men wrestling with financial pressures, disappointments, loneliness and identity crises. What remains hidden often emerges through anger, substance abuse, broken relationships and, in some tragic cases, suicide.

June, marked globally as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, serves as a reminder of this often overlooked crisis. While women are diagnosed with depression more frequently, men account for a disproportionately high number of suicide deaths worldwide. In Nigeria, the challenge is compounded by limited access to mental healthcare, with a severe shortage of psychiatrists and mental health professionals serving a population of more than 200 million.

Statistics, however, only tell part of the story. Behind every number is a father trying to stay strong for his family, a husband hiding his fears, a son struggling with expectations, or a young man quietly questioning his worth.

Untreated emotional wounds do not disappear. They are often passed from one generation to another, creating cycles of silence that become mistaken for normality.

The question before society is not whether men are strong. Their resilience is undeniable. The more important question is whether strength should mean carrying life’s burdens alone.

True strength is not the absence of tears or vulnerability. It is the courage to acknowledge pain, seek help when necessary and speak without fear of judgment.

Perhaps the greatest gift society can give men is not another reminder to be tough, but the assurance that they are human too. Because strength does not die when a man speaks. Sometimes, it begins there.

Abashi Rahab is a student of Strategic Communication at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja. She can be reached at: abashirahab@gmail.com.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Flight operations at the Lagos airport were disrupted on Tuesday after the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) commenced a protest at the facility.

The protest reportedly began around 5am, with the Zulu terminal gate locked, which affected passengers scheduled to travel from Lagos.

An Air Peace flight expected to leave Lagos at 6:30am was unable to depart as passengers remained at the airport amid the disruption.

The development caused frustration among travellers, with some passengers expressing concern over the uncertainty surrounding their journeys.

A passenger told Daily Trust that “the delay had disrupted his schedule, expressing concern that he could not tell when the flight would eventually depart.”

Another passenger said she arrived at the airport early for the 6:30am flight but became stranded without definite information on when flight operations would resume.

A staff member of Air Peace confirmed the disruption when contacted by Daily Trust.

“Yes, it’s true,” the staff member said, but declined to provide the reason for the protest.

However, an operator familiar with the matter said the “protest was intended to enforce Air Peace employees right to join the union”

Attempts to contact Air Peace through its customer care line were unsuccessful, as calls to the number could not be connected at the time of filing this report.

The protest consequently affected movement at the airport, while passengers on the affected flight awaited further information on the situation.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

US President Donald Trump has warned Fifa against removing its president, Gianni Infantino, amid growing pressure on the football governing body’s leadership over a controversial investment proposal.

Trump said replacing Infantino would be a “terrible mistake”, as opposition to the Fifa Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal continues to grow among major football confederations.

The FFE plan reportedly involved the creation of a new company to oversee the commercial and ticketing rights of Fifa competitions, including the World Cup. Under the proposal, a 21 per cent stake in the company would have been sold to a private investment firm.

Trump made his latest comments on social media, marking his first public defence of Infantino since details of the FFE proposal emerged on 28 July.

“Fifa would be making a terrible mistake if, for any reason, they even considered replacing president Gianni Infantino,” Trump wrote on social media.

“He is fantastic, having just presided over the most successful World Cup, by four times, ever presented. If he is gone, it will never be as successful or profitable again.”

The 2026 World Cup was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Spain winning the tournament after defeating Argentina in the final.

Trump had earlier said on 31 July, when the FFE proposal first came under scrutiny, that he had not discussed the plan with Infantino.

The proposed investment group was expected to be led by Thrive Eternal, an American venture capital firm founded by Joshua Kushner, who is the brother of Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Infantino has maintained a close relationship with Trump. In December 2025, the Fifa president presented the US president with the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize.

The pressure on Infantino has increased after Uefa, Concacaf and the Asian Football Confederation accused him of violating their trust “through deception” over the abandoned FFE proposal.

The three confederations have also threatened further action. Uefa has warned that it could boycott Fifa competitions and pursue legal action over the failed investment plan.

In a joint letter, the confederations said:

“When trust is broken through deception, when an individual places himself above the collective that entrusted him with authority, that duty has been abandoned,”

Although the statement did not identify Infantino by name, sources cited by BBC Sport said it should be interpreted as an opportunity for him to resign.

There have also been preliminary discussions among the three confederations about possible breakaway competitions if Infantino remains in office. However, substantive negotiations have reportedly not started.

Fifa had earlier described the opposition to the proposal as a “concerted and ongoing effort” to “undermine” the organisation and Infantino.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A Nigerian Army colonel, Mohammed Ma’aji, has said his alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration was motivated by patriotism and concern over the country’s worsening condition, rather than a quest for personal power.

Ma’aji, who has been accused of spearheading the alleged coup plot, cited economic difficulties, poor governance and concerns over the welfare of Nigerians and military personnel as factors that influenced his actions.

“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country,” Premium Times quoted Ma’aji as saying.

“What has happened has a very long history, and it is driven by patriotism and I love the job and country,” he said.

“As we are all sitting down here, we have our biases and our thoughts and concerns on what was going on in our country from a state of gradual decline up to now, and we are almost at the point of collapse.”

The colonel also pointed to his personal financial difficulties as part of what shaped his concerns about the country.

“Every time I look at how I’m struggling to raise 5 children with my meager salary, I get worried,” he said.

“I attended Army Day Secondary School, but today, how many of us afford to take our children to these schools, and for one reason or the other, which is connected to the bad governance.”

Ma’aji further raised concerns about the treatment of military personnel, particularly soldiers who suffered injuries during combat.

He alleged that some wounded soldiers receiving treatment at the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna were not getting adequate care. He said the situation reflected wider challenges within the armed forces.

According to the colonel, his concerns convinced him that significant changes were necessary to prevent further deterioration in the country.

“The summary of all this is that this action was driven by the desire to have a prosperous nation and country that we all can be proud of. It got to a point that I was worried that if nothing is done, we may not have a country to call our own in the near future,” he said.

Ma’aji said the alleged plan was still at the mobilisation stage when he was arrested. He explained that the intention was to bring together military officers who shared similar concerns about the state of the nation.

“Nigeria was turning into a banana republic right before our eyes. We know that during the era of the military regime, the country was functioning better. I believe that, as it is now, we are on a dangerous trajectory,” he added.

“The plan was to get enough officers of like minds who could participate. We were still at the stage of mobilizing to get more officers involved.

“This team has not been fully formed because there were supposed to be other meetings. There was no D-Day. We were waiting for the availability of resources and more officers and soldiers.”

He claimed that he personally financed a significant portion of the alleged plan, while Timipre Silva was said to have provided about N400 million.

Ma’aji denied any foreign involvement in the alleged plot and said no specific date had been fixed for its execution.

He also denied contacting some senior military officers. However, he said dissatisfaction among members of the armed forces and his unsuccessful promotion attempts were among the factors that contributed to the revival of the movement.

The colonel called for the establishment of a formal avenue through which military officers could present their grievances to the Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, without fear of punishment.

He also advocated better salaries, improved welfare packages, stronger pension benefits and better educational opportunities for military personnel. He called for stronger measures against corruption within the country and the armed forces.

Ma’aji also criticised the removal of the fuel subsidy, arguing that the policy should have been phased out gradually.

Following his arrest and subsequent interaction with the panel investigating the matter, the colonel said he had reconsidered his approach and appealed for leniency.

“From the time I have been arrested till now, If I were to be released and these issues in the country persist, I will consider a different approach,” he said.

“We are pleading for leniency and pardon as first offenders. The system should take a deep breath and pardon us. They should give us a chance to mend our ways. We have no other country than Nigeria and no other job.

“This incident has really opened our eyes and has changed our mindset forever. It was not intended to destabilize the country at all.

“Everything we planned was born out of patriotism, love of country, and the desire to have a prosperous Nigeria that we all can be proud of.”

The alleged coup plot, which was uncovered in late September 2025, led to the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade and changes within the military hierarchy.

The development also resulted in the removal of Christopher Musa as Chief of Army Staff at the time.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The United States government says it has revoked more than 175,000 visas issued to foreign nationals under President Donald Trump’s administration over alleged criminal activities, violations of visa conditions and security concerns.

The US Department of State disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, explaining that most of the cancellations followed encounters with law enforcement agencies.

According to the department, the major reasons included assault, driving under the influence, theft and drug-related offences.

It said other visas were cancelled over “reckless driving, sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, embezzlement and other crimes”.

The department said the action formed part of its continuous screening of visa holders to determine whether they were complying with immigration conditions and whether they posed risks to Americans.

Some of the affected individuals, it said, had faced serious criminal allegations, including “felony rape and sexual battery, kidnapping, human trafficking, sexual exploitation of minors, child sexual abuse offences and domestic violence”.

The department also disclosed that a US embassy in North Africa cancelled more than 100 visas issued to parents accused of engaging in “birth tourism”. The practice involves travelling to the US mainly to give birth so that children can acquire US citizenship.

Other cases cited by the department included a foreign national who was arrested for allegedly driving with heroin while having a blood alcohol concentration more than three times the legal limit.

The US government also reported cases involving alleged financial crimes and fraud.

One foreign national who reportedly claimed to operate a legitimate business that assisted vulnerable patients with healthcare was accused of helping to organise a Medicaid fraud scheme involving more than $5 million in fraudulent claims.

Another individual was accused of falsifying company revenue and forging letters to mislead investors and fraudulently secure a US visa, according to the department.

The State Department also cited visa revocations involving foreign nationals accused of celebrating the assassination of Charlie Kirk. It said some of the individuals had made statements that appeared to support or celebrate his death.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also determined that several foreign nationals are deportable on foreign policy grounds, the department said.

Among the cases were a Cuban national allegedly linked to an influence operation associated with Cuba’s communist government and Iranian nationals accused of having connections to the Iranian government.

The department also listed a Laotian child sex offender who had been pardoned by Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and a Kuwaiti national accused of expressing a desire to attack the US president and describing Americans as his “enemy”.

The State Department said it would continue to investigate foreign nationals who it considers threats to public safety and cancel their visas where necessary.

“A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,” the department said, adding that it would use available measures to protect American communities from individuals who abuse the immigration system.