Senegalese-American singer, Akon has relished working with the late pop star Michael Jackson.
Speaking in a recent episode of the We Need To Talk podcast, Akon described his collaboration with Jackson as the “proudest moment” of his career.
The ‘Oh Africa’ crooner further stated that he is “a child” compared to Michael Jackson.
“My photo with Michael Jackson is my most proudest photo. I was already a full blown celebrity at the point the photo was taken. But I am a child compared to this man (Michael Jackson).
“I was so happy because I grew up looking up to him. He is like everybody’s Idol,” he said.
The 53-year-old music star also spoke about his support for African music, mentioning that he once signed some Nigerian Afrobeats artists, including P-Square and Wizkid.
He, however, clarified that he didn’t sign Wizkid directly but through his involvement in Banky W’s Empire Mate Entertainment, which Wizkid was signed to.
“Nigerians are the most intelligent people on the planet. They have done amazingly well with Afrobeats,” he added.
Bayelsa United technical adviser, Meremu Okara, has expressed disappointment over his team’s relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.
The Prosperity Boys alongside Wikki Tourists have already been relegated to the second tier.
Two more teams are expected to join them after the conclusion of the matchday 38 fixture this weekend.
Okara said a lot of factors contributed to the team’s poor end to the campaign.
“Honestly we are not happy as we feel sad that we are relegated which is not a good experience,” Okara told frontpage sport.
“The management and the players the coaches are all sad with the development.”
Bayelsa United will lock horns with Kwara United in their last match in the league this weekend.
Signature Bank has reported a strong financial performance for the 2025 financial year, posting a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N3.59bn, a significant increase of 394 per cent from the N726.16m recorded in 2024.
The bank’s audited financial statement for the year ended December 31, 2025, showed that Profit Before Tax (PBT) also rose sharply to N4.93bn from N768.05m in the previous year, reflecting improved operational efficiency and growth in core banking activities.
The impressive performance was driven largely by a substantial increase in interest income, which climbed to N21.92bn in 2025, compared to N9.06bn recorded in 2024.
Despite rising funding costs in the banking industry, Signature Bank maintained a healthy earnings position as net interest income surged to N12.31bn from N3.68bn in the previous year.
The bank also recorded remarkable growth across key balance sheet indicators, underlining increased customer confidence and expansion in business operations.
According to the financial statement, total assets rose significantly to N224.68bn in 2025 from N178.86bn in 2024.
Customer deposits also grew strongly by over N40bn to close at N170.82bn, compared to N130.5bn recorded a year earlier.
Similarly, loans and advances to customers witnessed substantial growth, rising to N30.64bn from N7.56bn in 2024, indicating increased lending activities to businesses and individuals.
Investment in government securities also increased to N46.66bn from N28.61bn, reflecting the bank’s strategy to strengthen liquidity and optimise returns from low-risk assets.
Restricted balances with the Central Bank stood at N64.90bn, up from N48.11bn in the previous year.
The report further showed that property, plant and equipment rose to N5.01bn, while right-of-use assets increased slightly to N743.05m.
On the liabilities side, total liabilities increased to N199.48bn from N167.13bn in 2024, largely driven by the strong growth in customer deposits.
Deposit for shares also rose significantly to N13.93bn from N1.99bn, suggesting growing investor interest and fresh capital inflows into the bank.
The performance reflects Signature Bank’s growing market presence and improved earnings capacity despite the challenging macroeconomic environment characterised by inflationary pressures and high interest rates.
The strong earnings growth is expected to further strengthen the bank’s capital base and position it for greater competitiveness within Nigeria’s banking sector.
The 2025 result places Signature Bank among the financial institutions that recorded notable improvements in profitability and balance sheet growth during the review period.
The Federal Government has partnered with Coursera to equip Nigerian youths with globally relevant digital skills through the Digital Training Academy programme.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, announced this at the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the Education World Forum in London.
Alausa described the initiative as a strategic investment aimed at preparing Nigerian youths for opportunities in the global digital economy. He said the Digital Training Academy reflects the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on youth empowerment, innovation and human capital development.
“The Renewed Hope Agenda recognises that digital competency is no longer optional. It is foundational. The Digital Training Academy is a direct investment in helping young Nigerians compete and lead in the global digital economy,” the minister said.
Through the partnership with Coursera, one of the world’s leading online learning platforms, participants will receive training in artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software engineering and other high-demand digital fields.
According to the Minister, beneficiaries will also earn globally recognised certifications valued by employers.
Alausa said the programme would be implemented in partnership with the National Open University of Nigeria and Yaba College of Technology to ensure nationwide access and effective learning support.
He explained that NOUN’s nationwide presence would help ensure equal access for youths across all geopolitical zones, while YABATECH would provide industry-focused expertise, facilitators and mentors to support participants throughout the programme.
“Access to training alone is not enough. What truly changes lives is completion, support and accountability,” he stated.
Describing the agreement as “a covenant between government and Nigerian youth,” the minister assured that the Tinubu administration would continue to invest in initiatives that equip young Nigerians with the skills, confidence and credentials needed to compete globally.
He commended Coursera, NOUN and YABATECH for partnering with the Federal Government to make the initiative a reality.
“In a landmark demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to youth development, the Federal Government has fully funded 36,000 licences across Coursera and Pluralsight for Nigerian youths in the first year of the programme. This means that every participant will access world-class digital training at no personal cost — the Nigerian government has paid in full, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand between any young Nigerian and a globally recognised qualification. It is one of the largest government-funded digital skills investments in Nigeria’s history.
“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to expanding access to quality education, strengthening digital innovation and empowering Nigerian youths with the skills required to succeed in a rapidly evolving global economy,” the statement said.
An Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Newton Isokpehi, has come under criticism after a now-deleted TikTok video surfaced online showing him threatening Nigerians who record police officers while on duty.
In the viral clip cited by DAILY POST, the officer warned that he would shoot anyone caught filming him during operations.
He said, “Any day I’m on duty as a Nigerian police officer, let anyone record me. That person will provide the officer who gave them the order to be filming us, because I will clear everybody down.”
His statement sparked outrage among Nigerians and media commentators, with many describing the remarks as dangerous and unlawful.
Human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu also condemned the comments and called for disciplinary action against the officer, while several Nigerians tagged police authorities demanding his removal.
Following the backlash, Isokpehi later apologized for the comments, admitting that citizens have the constitutional right to record police officers carrying out public duties.
He explained that his outburst was driven by frustration over distractions faced by armed officers during operations.
The ASP also cited personal struggles, including surviving a bullet wound and poor welfare conditions within the force.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force confirmed that administrative actions are already being taken over the incident.
Watch video
“Any day I’m on duty as a Nigerian police officer, let anyone record me. That person will provide the officer who gave them the order to be filming us, because I will clear everybody down”
There is a growing trend of teenagers sleeping in public spaces across Lagos. This has raised concerns about homelessness, child welfare, poverty, and urban neglect in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
The teenagers, many of whom appear to have recently completed secondary school, are frequently seen around pedestrian bridges, bus terminals, markets, and major roads across the state.
In April, THE WHISTLER correspondent visited Ojodu-Berger and observed at least seven teenagers sleeping beneath and around the pedestrian bridge in the area. Some of them had work tools beside them, suggesting they were shoemakers or artisans trying to survive in the city.
With nothing to sleep on, the teenagers lay directly on the bare pavement in the early hours of the morning. The scene was observed around 6:30 a.m., as commuters moved through the area to begin their day.
At Oshodi, similar scenes have become common. Teenagers are often seen sleeping around pedestrian bridges and bus stops in the early hours of the day, while in Oyingbo Market, some young boys sleep beside their wheelbarrows before beginning daily labour activities.
Bags of some the young people at BRT terminal in TBS, Lagos
At the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) terminal in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), THE WHISTLER also observed teenagers alongside older homeless adults sleeping on waiting seats within the terminal. While some carried bags and personal belongings, others had nothing with them except duvet covers and pieces of clothing.
Observers say some of the teenagers appear to have no identifiable means of livelihood or vocational skills, leaving them exposed to crime, exploitation, drug abuse, and other social dangers.
Along Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue in Victoria Island, several bus stops have gradually turned into makeshift sleeping areas for homeless youths and adults. Some are seen there not only in the early mornings but also during the afternoon, indicating that the spaces may have become semi-permanent shelters.
The situation has sparked growing public concern, particularly on social media.
In February, an X user, YL_IN_LAGOS (@yL_IN_LAGOS), shared photographs of teenagers he claimed were not more than 15 years old sleeping on road pavements in Victoria Island.
The images quickly went viral and triggered widespread reactions from Nigerians who expressed concern over the increasing number of vulnerable children and teenagers living on the streets.
Young person sleeping on the walkway of Abule-Egba bridge in Lagos
“Was passing through VI this morning, then I saw (sic) this young young Kids sleeping outside beside the express,” the user wrote.
“(Sic) Non of them is up too 15 years old….I’m really sort of words.”
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, described the trend as troubling and blamed peer influence for some of the cases involving runaway teenagers.
“It is deeply troubling to see teenagers who should be under the care and protection of their parents roaming the streets and sleeping in public spaces across Lagos,” Wahab said.
“Many of the cases we have encountered show that some of these young people are influenced by peers and end up running away from home.”
The commissioner explained that the state government usually transfers such teenagers to the Ministry of Youth and Social Development whenever they are picked up during enforcement operations.
“As a government, whenever such children are apprehended during our operations, they are not abandoned. They are handed over to the appropriate authorities under the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, where they are properly profiled, counselled and kept in safe custody while efforts are made to trace and reunite them with their parents or guardians,” he added.
The issue later took an emotional turn after the mother of one of the teenagers seen in the viral photographs reportedly contacted the X user, saying her 14-year-old son was among those sleeping on the streets.
According to her, the boy had been missing since November 2025. The woman, who said she was unfamiliar with Lagos, pleaded with the public to assist her in locating her son.
Responding to the development, Wahab urged parents and guardians of missing children to report such cases to the authorities immediately.
“If a parent has reached out indicating that a child is missing, I encourage them to formally report at the nearest police station and also contact the Ministry of Youth and Social Development so proper verification can be carried out immediately,” he said.
The increasing presence of teenagers sleeping in public places is becoming a visible social challenge across Lagos. From Abule-Egba on the mainland to Victoria Island on the island, similar scenes are emerging daily, reflecting worsening economic hardship, family instability, migration pressures, and the growing number of vulnerable youths struggling to survive in the city.
Child rights advocates and social welfare experts have warned that if urgent interventions are not implemented, more teenagers could become exposed to criminal networks, substance abuse, trafficking, and long-term homelessness.
A legal practitioner and Principal Counsel of the Basic Rights Council Initiative, James Ibor, described the trend as evidence of deep systemic failures in governance, education, and social protection.
Ibor argued that Nigeria exhibits several characteristics of a failing state, with citizens left to merely survive amid economic hardship and institutional decay.
“Nigeria is a state of particular concern because all the indices of a failed state has manifested,” he told THE WHISTLER.
“Social services are nonexistent. I cannot say it is weak. It is non-existent.”
According to him, the failure of the education system has contributed to rising youth vulnerability, with many children attending school only to obtain certificates rather than acquire meaningful skills.
Ibor warned that the growing number of children heading households, some forced to beg or engage in informal labour to support sick or elderly relatives, signals a broader breakdown in social protection systems.
“We have to deliberately rebuild the nation. Unfortunately, not with the set of leaders we have today.
“And my fear is that we don’t even have young people who have been prepared to take over. So we have to declare a state of emergency in rebuilding our nation,” he added.
In January, the mass arrest of street children along the Lekki-Epe Expressway sparked widespread debate, with social advocates, celebrities and the Lagos State Government expressing differing views on how the issue should be addressed.
Nigerian chess player and coach Tunde Onakoya condemned the arrests as inhumane and ineffective.
He argued that repeated crackdowns fail to resolve the deep-rooted causes of child homelessness.
Onakoya, who said he has spent eight years working closely with street and homeless children, warned that harassment and arrests only offer temporary relief and allow the problem to fester.
He noted that many of the children eventually return to the streets, having nowhere else to go.
According to him, the crisis is driven by multiple factors, including extreme poverty, failure of the public education system and broken family structures. He claimed that a significant number of the children are migrants from neighbouring states such as Ogun, Oyo and Kwara, who travel to Lagos in search of better opportunities that never materialise.
“What you’re doing is inhumane and an absolute waste of everyone’s time,” Onakoya said on X.
“A child who is not embraced by the village will burn it down to feel its warmth.
“This will become an even bigger crisis with time and it’s happening insidiously. it’s the very genesis of why we have such proliferation of Area boys and thugs In every corner of the streets of Lagos. We forget that no one becomes an area boy as an adult, it’s the children neglected overtime that grow up to become the thugs and area boys we complain bitterly about.”
Reality TV star and influencer, Anita ‘Tacha’ Akide, also criticised the government’s approach, insisting that the focus should be on why children are on the streets rather than on arresting them.
Tacha described the situation along the Lekki–Epe Expressway as a daily reminder of government failure, noting that hundreds of children beg and wash car windows in dangerous traffic conditions, with some sustaining injuries or losing their lives.
In response at the time, the state government defended the enforcement exercise, stating that advocacy and intervention must be guided by law, data and long-term social responsibility rather than emotion.
A former Director of Mobilization of the Obidient Movement, Morris Monye, has publicly apologized to the Movement and the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his past criticism of the organization and its leadership.
He apologized in an open letter posted on his official X handle on Thursday.
It read: “Open Apology Letter to the Obidient Movement.
“My Dear Obidient Family, I come before you today with a heavy heart, deep humility, and no excuses. Some time ago, in a moment of frustration and immaturity, I wrote and released a resignation letter as Director of Mobilization. In that letter, I allowed deep frustration & personal emotions to cloud my judgment.
“I made statements that subtly and unnecessarily dragged Peter Obi, a man I still respect for his vision, integrity, and sacrifice for this nation. That was wrong. It was childish, and beneath the standard I should have upheld, especially as someone who once held a leadership position in this movement.
“I take full responsibility. No one forced me to write it. No one edited it. It came from me, and it was a mistake. I deleted the letter afterwards, but I know deletion does not erase the damage, the disappointment, or the loss of trust many of you felt. I understand why some of you no longer respect me the way you once did. You had every right to feel let down.
“To Peter Obi himself (fondly called PO): Sir, I am sincerely sorry. My words were not a true reflection of the values of sacrifice, accountability, and constructive criticism that you preach. I failed in that moment. To every single Obidient, the ones who stayed grinding, the ones who defended the vision even when it was tough, the ones who felt betrayed by my actions, I am deeply sorry.
“You are the real heroes of this movement. Many of you are young people full of hope and fire for a better Nigeria. You didn’t deserve to see internal cracks turned into public drama. I let you down.
“I am not writing this because I want something or a position in the movement as I’m enjoying private life. I am writing it because it is the right thing to do. Leadership is not only about when the road is sweet and smooth; it is also about owning up when you mess up. I own this fully.
“I am committed to rebuilding trust through consistent actions, not just words. But I also know trust is not demanded, it is earned back slowly, if at all. Thank you for reading this.
“Whether you accept my apology or not, I respect your feelings and your right to hold me accountable. The love I have for a better Nigeria has not changed. You all know me. My respect for the Obidient spirit remains. I am sorry truly.
“With humility and hope for forgiveness. Your brother in this struggle.”
The Kwankwasiyya Movement, has lambasted the spokesperson of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa over his recent remarks on their leader, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, reminding Bature that he lacks the standing, authority and proximity to speak on matters concerning the political decisions, alliances or consultations of the movement.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Movement, Dr Habibu Sale Mohammed said their attention was drawn to the reckless, contradictory and politically desperate comments by the Director General, Media and Publicity to the Kano State Government, Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, during his appearance on Arise TV.
He said, “Ordinarily, such confused political speculation would not deserve a response, but considering the deliberate attempt to mislead the public and distort the political realities in Kano and Nigeria, it has become necessary to set the record straight.
“First, it is both shocking and embarrassing that a government spokesperson could go on national television to openly promote rumours, assumptions and fabricated political gossip as official communication. One moment, he claims Sen. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is working for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the next moment, he says Kwankwaso has thrown the opposition into disarray. These contradictions clearly expose the confusion within their camp.”
He argued that if Kwankwaso is politically irrelevant as they want Nigerians to believe, why then is the entire machinery of government obsessed with his movements, meetings and political decisions on a daily basis?
“The truth is simple: the growing acceptance of the Kwankwasiyya Movement across Nigeria has unsettled many political actors who now see Sen. Kwankwaso as one of the most strategic and influential political leaders in the country today.
“It is also important to remind the public that Sunusi Bature Dawakin Tofa was never at any point an official spokesperson of the New Nigeria Peoples Party or the Kwankwasiyya Movement. He merely served as media aide and spokesperson to Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf during his political journey in both the Peoples Democratic Party and later the NNPP.”
Therefore, it is dishonest and misleading for him to present himself as someone with knowledge of internal consultations, strategic discussions or high-level political negotiations involving Sen. Kwankwaso and the Kwankwasiyya leadership.
He said People should also recall that “this same false narrative was earlier circulated through sections of the local media using the name of Ibrahim Shekarau as the supposed author. However, Malam Shekarau publicly distanced himself from the publication and denied any involvement with such claims.
“This clearly points to a deliberate and coordinated attempt to manufacture confusion, spread propaganda and create imaginary divisions within the opposition ahead of 2027.
“It is unfortunate that Sunusi Bature attempted to drag the person of Peter Obi into divisive ethnic and regional narratives. Nigeria has gone beyond the politics of hate, intolerance and manufactured fear. Any attempt to label political cooperation between patriotic Nigerians from different regions as “pro-Biafra” is irresponsible, dangerous and unacceptable in a modern democracy.
“The Kwankwasiyya Movement believes strongly in national unity, social justice, inclusion and issue-based politics. We will never subscribe to politics built on ethnic suspicion, regional blackmail or religious manipulation.
“We also reject the childish attempt to create imaginary hostility between Sen. Kwankwaso and Peter Obi. Political leaders may hold different opinions on national issues, but mature democracies are built on dialogue, consultation and cooperation in pursuit of national development. Only insecure politicians are afraid of alliances and consensus building.
“On the issue of the crowd that welcomed Sen. Kwankwaso, Nigerians do not need propaganda to confirm political realities. The overwhelming public support witnessed in Kano was visible to the entire world. No amount of media distortion can erase what millions watched physically and across multiple media platforms.
“Ironically, those questioning crowd figures are the same individuals who once rented crowds during elections and used state resources to sustain artificial popularity. The Kwankwasiyya Movement remains one of the few organic political movements in Nigeria built on ideology, sacrifice, loyalty and direct connection with the people.
“Furthermore, it is extremely irresponsible for a government official to claim that Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf approached President Tinubu for defection with Sen. Kwankwaso’s consent, while at the same time portraying Kwankwaso as politically confused. Such statements only expose internal contradictions and growing mistrust within their own ranks.
“If indeed there are discussions about political defection, the Kano people deserve honesty and transparency instead of media trial, gossip and emotional blackmail.
“The people of Kano are politically sophisticated and cannot be deceived by desperate narratives designed to create division within the Kwankwasiyya family.
“Let it be known clearly that the Kwankwasiyya Movement remains focused, united and committed to the struggle for a better Kano and a better Nigeria. No amount of propaganda, media attacks or sponsored narratives can weaken a movement built on the trust and sacrifices of the masses.
“We advise Sunusi Bature and others engaging in political panic to focus more on governance and less on attacking perceived political opponents on television.
“History has consistently shown that no amount of propaganda can defeat a movement genuinely rooted in the people.”
The Democratic Republic of Congo has cancelled its pre-World Cup training camp in the capital, Kinshasa, because of an Ebola outbreak in the east of the country.
Preparations have been moved to Belgium amid the upsurge, which is thought to have killed more than 130 people.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has called the outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern”, but said it was not at pandemic level.
Jerry Kalemo, a spokesperson for the national football team, told international media that pre-tournament games in Europe would go ahead as planned, as the squad gears up for their first World Cup since 1974.
DR Congo are due to play friendly matches against Denmark, on 3 June in Belgium, and Chile, on 9 June in Spain, ahead of the World Cup finals.
They play their first match of the tournament in the US city of Houston on 17 June against Portugal.
A spokesperson for the DR Congo team told the Reuters news agency that the squad’s training camp had been cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed by the US, who are hosting the World Cup this summer, along with Mexico and Canada.
The US’ public health agency has banned entry from non-Americans who have been in the DR Congo, Uganda or South Sudan in the previous 21 days, in response to the Ebola outbreak.
All DR Congo’s players, as well as the team’s French coach, Sébastien Desabre, are based outside the central African country and will therefore not be affected by the restrictions now the training camp has been cancelled.
Some team staff based in DR Congo left the country on Wednesday, Kalemo told the Associated Press, ahead of the 21-day deadline.
The high-profile event in Kinshasa was supposed to have been attended by fans, along with DR Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi, according to Reuters.
Kinshasa is roughly 1,800 km (1,120m) away from the eastern Ituri province, the epicentre of the Ebola outbreak. There have not yet been any reported cases in the city.
On Wednesday, the WHO said 139 people were thought to have died, out of 600 suspected cases. However, on the same day, Congolese health minister Samuel Roger Kamba told state broadcaster RTNC TV that authorities had registered 159 deaths.
The outbreak has been caused by a rare species of Ebola known as Bundibugyo. There is currently no vaccine for this species and the WHO has said it could take up to nine months for a jab to be ready.
