Ridoola's blog

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the United Kingdom’s Charity Commission froze the assets of the church, Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) Ministries International, founded by Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya , over financial transparency concerns. The commission released a report revealing serious mismanagement in the finances of the UK branch of the Nigerian church. Following the report, over 100 bank accounts linked to MFM UK were frozen to protect funds and force reforms.  RELATED: The oldest church in Nigeria is in Abeokuta Here are five key facts about what led to this dramatic action: 1) Over 100 Bank Accounts Were Operated by Individual Branches, With No Central Control Each branch of MFM UK had its own bank account. The Charity Commission found that trustees could not demonstrate that they had adequate oversight or control over these multiple bank accounts. This system of little or no accountability allowed the local branches to make decisions independently, sometimes to t...

Outdated learning environments have been a significant limiting factor raised as impacting the quality of education, creativity and practical problem-solving amongst growing talents. According to the World Bank (2020) , every 1% increase in human capital productivity drives up to a 0.5% increase in GDP growth in developing countries. Talent is a nation’s strongest economic driver. To meet the needs of a fast-changing, tech-driven generation (Gen Z) in Nigeria, learning environments must evolve into adaptive ecosystems that spark innovation. In 2024, Spacefinish partnered with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) , Lagos State University (LASU) to create the Centre of Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, a public-private project donated by her excellency, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire , OFR. At the core of Spacefinish conceptualization for this hub emphasises human-centered functionality. The 5,000 sqm sized project was deliberately designed to encourage interact...

After the tragic death of his brother, Oyibo Chukwu, Kelvin stepped into politics and won the 2023 election. Who is Kelvin Chukwu? Chukwu’s entry into politics was unexpected. Before 2023, he was well-known as a businessman, not a politician. Oyibo was a respected lawyer and Labour Party candidate for the Enugu East Senatorial District, was reportedly killed just days before the February 2023 polls. The incident shocked Enugu State, as many linked his death to political violence. In the wake of this tragedy, the Labour Party and Oyibo’s supporters rallied around Kelvin, urging him to continue his brother’s legacy. He accepted and stepped into the race as a replacement candidate, and went on to win the senatorial election. His victory marked both a personal triumph and a symbol of resilience for a family that turned grief into purpose. RELATED: From Kwara to the Senate: What to know about Senator Sadiq Umar Profile Summary (Quick Facts) Full Name  Kelvin Chizoba Chuk...

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the opening of its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, scheduled to run from 23 October 2025 to 31st January 2026. This is contained in a statement signed by Oseyemi Oluwatuyi , Director of Strategic Communications, NELFUND. He expressed appreciation for the continued cooperation of tertiary institutions across Nigeria and called for further collaboration to ensure a smooth loan process for all eligible students. What Is Nelfund? NELFUND is a government-backed student loan programme which was created according to the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024.  Its sole purpose is to provide interest-free student loans to help indigent Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions (universities, polytechnics or colleges) pay their school fees and upkeep costs. Who Is Eligible to Apply? Before applying to the NELFUND loan, you must ensure you meet these key requirements: Y...

Luxury real estate developer Sujimoto Construction Limited has announced plans to take legal action in response to recent reports regarding a $556,000 matter. The company described the situation as a delay rather than an issue of deceit. Dr. Sijibomi Ogundele , Group Managing Director of Sujimoto Holdings, stated: “There is no deceit involved. What exists is a delay — nothing more. We are committed to addressing this matter responsibly.” The company clarified that The LeonardoBySujimoto , its high-rise project, has faced delays due to regulatory processes and macroeconomic challenges but is not abandoned. Approvals were secured in 2024, with full delivery targeted for December 2025. Sujimoto noted that all clients requesting refunds have been attended to through a structured and verifiable process. Projects such as The Giuliano and LucreziaBySujimoto have delivered significant returns for investors, with values appreciating from ₦285 million to over ₦2.5 billion within six years. ...

The endorsement rally for President Bola Tinubu in Kogi State has sparked a war of words between Senator Sunday Steve Karimi, representing Kogi West, and the Kogi Alliance for Renewed Hope (KARH), a political support group. Karimi, reacting to the gathering in Lokoja led by former governor Yahaya Bello , said Kogi people did not need to be “ bullied ” into backing Tinubu for re-election in 2027 . At the rally, Bello had asked attendees to respond “aye” if they supported Tinubu’s re-election bid, and “nay” if they did not. The senator, unimpressed by the exercise, said the lukewarm response from the crowd showed that forced pledges were unnecessary. “The people of Kogi State do not need to be bullied or coerced into re-electing the President,” Karimi said. ALSO READ: Plan to unseat Tinubu is not a northern agenda, it's national consensus - Tambuwal “East, Central, West — our people appreciate Mr President. They can see he is doing his best to make life better. He has increase...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is once again engulfed in crisis after the discovery of a forged signature belonging to its National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, on an official notice sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the party’s planned national convention. The revelation has cast fresh uncertainty over the opposition party’s November 16, 2025, convention, deepening long-standing internal divisions. According to party insiders, INEC received a convention notice on August 29, 2025, bearing what appeared to be Senator Anyanwu’s endorsement. But in a letter dated October 15, 2025, and addressed to INEC, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Director-General of the DSS, Anyanwu flatly disowned the document. “My attention has been drawn to an official letter to INEC with Ref. No. PDP/DOM/GF.2/Vol. 1M/25 - 140 dated August 25, 2025, purportedly signed by me,” the letter read. “Regrettably, the quoted letter was never signed, authorized, o...

Impeachment is a global political tool and reminder to leaders that power is never permanent. Presidents and Heads of State around the world have been removed from office for different reasons, such as bribery, corruption, and abuse of power. Just a few days ago, Madagascar joined the list of countries where the presidential seat was shaken by impeachment. The African country experienced youth-led protests by Gen Z, who chanted their demands for solutions to water shortages, power failures, and corruption in the country.  RELATED: Full List: 175 Nigerians Granted Presidential Pardon by Tinubu Following the protest and accusation of President Rajoelina 's involvement in corruption, misuse of public funds, and violation of the constitution by the lawmakers, the 51-year-old was impeached. Subsequently, the military immediately seized power.  Colonel Michael Randrianirina was appointed interim president and was sworn in as the new president on Friday, October 17, 2025. This ...

A political storm has erupted in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi , was accused of making disparaging remarks about former Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi . Abdullahi, speaking during a recent television programme, reportedly dismissed the two-term governor as someone who was merely “carrying a bag” for others — a comment that has since triggered backlash within the party. The description has been branded “ reckless ” and “ deeply disrespectful ” by critics, who say such public attacks on senior figures only serve to fracture the PDP further ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Arewa PDP Unity Forum (APUF) on Friday, October 17, 2025, joined the growing list of voices condemning Abdullahi’s outburst. In a statement signed by its National President, Dr Maikanti Adamu , the Forum accused the deputy spokesperson of arrogance and poor judgment. “ Dr. Abdullahi’s statement was both unfortunate and unnecessa...

Tamrose Limited, a leading oil and gas service company, has announced the successful repayment of a $10 million loan it obtained in 2019 from the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund), the dedicated financing scheme managed by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for growing capacity in the oil and gas industry. NCDMB confirmed that the final installment was completed on September 30, 2025, with no missed payments throughout the six-year repayment period. At the time of accessing the loan, Tamrose operated with only four security patrol vessels. With the support of the NCI Fund, the company expanded significantly and today owns a fleet of 15 vessels comprising 10 security patrol vessels and five platform supply vessels. This growth, achieved within six years, positions Tamrose as a leading indigenous marine solutions provider to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. The Executive Chairman of Tamrose Limited, Mr. Ambrose Ovbiebo , disclosed that the repay...

The Federal Government has approved a new admission rule to be implemented across Nigeria’s educational space, making Mathematics non-compulsory for students applying to Arts and Humanities courses.  The newly revised National Guidelines for Entry into Tertiary Institutions (NGETI) were announced on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa. RELATED: History returns to Nigeria’s classrooms after 15 years: What it means for students What exactly has changed For many years, students seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education to study arts and humanities were required to obtain five credits, including Mathematics and the English language, which were compulsory in Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), West African Examination Council (WAEC) or National Examination Council (NECO). With the new guideline, Arts students can now gain admission without having to worry about passing Mathematics as a compulsor...

OpenAI is set to permit mature content in ChatGPT, but only for users who verify their age.  The change, confirmed by CEO Sam Altman , is slated to roll out in December 2025.   Altman says that, in the past, ChatGPT was made “pretty restrictive” to protect users who might be in mental distress, which made the service less enjoyable for many.   In a post on Tuesday, he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) , “We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. “We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue, we wanted to get this right. Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases.” This decision marks a significant pivot for OpenAI amid concerns over user demand, content moderation, and safety. Why The Shift? OpenAI’s...

Uma Ukpai was a Nigerian Christian leader, evangelist and preacher. He was the founder of Uma Ukpai and president of Uma Ukpai Evangelistic Association (UUEA), a non-denominational gospel ministry located in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. Ukpai was also a leading voice of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN). The evangelist embraced public ministry, but many say he was reluctant at heart because he preferred to let his works speak louder than his words . His Christian journey proves that sometimes the greatest generals in God’s army are forged in the fire of pain and perseverance. RELATED: Meet Prof Amupitan, Tinubu’s pick for INEC chairmanship Intriguing Early Life and Education Uma was born on 7th January, 1945, and he hailed from Asaga, Ohafia, in Abia State, Nigeria. He lost his father at age 10, a heartbreaking event that almost ended his educational pursuit.  Though he had uncles who could sponsor his educational pursuit, he refused because his Christian background displ...

A northern socio-political group, the Northern Patriots , has accused lawmakers from the region of betraying their people by keeping silent over what it described as the diversion of national resources into projects outside the 2025 budget , most of which are concentrated in the South-West. The group alleged that members of the National Assembly, particularly northern legislators, have failed to challenge what it calle d “a grand betrayal of trust” and “a deliberate attempt to economically isolate the North.” In a statement signed by its president, Alhaji Babagida Muazu , the Northern Patriots said it has obtained intelligence showing that several infrastructure and social projects currently being executed by the Federal Government were not captured in the 2025 Appropriation Act. According to the group, these projects—worth billions of naira—are being undertaken outside the approved budgetary framework, raising serious concerns about transparency and fiscal discipline. ALSO REA...

Nigeria’s oil and gas upstream sector has recorded sweeping reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) driving a data-driven transformation that has yielded more than ₦12.25 trillion in revenue within two years. Anchored on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the reforms have not only strengthened transparency and accountability in the sector but also revived investor confidence, repositioning Nigeria as an emerging energy hub on the continent. A cornerstone of the new order is the deployment of electronic production reporting platforms, which allow real-time tracking of crude output and cargo declarations. For decades, Nigeria struggled with uncertainty around production volumes, but regulators now say “the data speaks for itself.” The Commission has also introduced robust frameworks for flare gas measurement, royalty tracking, and environmental enforcement, cutting out leakages that once drained national revenue...

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been cleared of allegations that it imported substandard petrol into Nigeria, following an independent investigation by a United Kingdom–based watchdog, Impact Investigators Platform (IIP) . The IIP, in a detailed report released on Friday, October 10, 2025, dismissed the claims as “technically inaccurate, commercially implausible, and unsupported by verifiable evidence.” Reports had earlier suggested that a shipment of high-sulphur petrol was imported into the country by Dangote Refinery , sparking public concern. But IIP’s findings showed otherwise. “Our independent review of shipping data, customs declarations, and refinery process documentation found no indication that the Dangote Refinery imported or sold finished Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) with sulphur levels above Nigeria’s approved limit of 50 parts per million (ppm),” said Raymond Neil , IIP’s lead investigator. ALSO READ: Reaction trails court order stopping PENGASSAN’s strike again...

Born in Kaiama, Kwara State, Sadiq Suleiman Umar has built his name as a public health pharmacist and development specialist before entering politics. He currently serves as Senator representing Kwara North in Nigeria’s National Assembly and holds key leadership positions within Senate committees. RELATED: Adams Oshiomhole Biography: From Labour Battles to Legislative Power Who is Sadiq Umar? Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar is a distinguished Nigerian politician, public health expert, and development professional. He hails from Kwara State and has served in several development roles before transitioning fully into political leadership. He was elected Senator for Kwara North Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has held influential Senate committee appointments. RELATED: Meet Ned Nwoko: The Billionaire Senator Behind Regina Daniels Profile Summary (Quick Facts Table) Full Name Sadiq Suleiman Umar Date of Birth / Age 8 ...

Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan has long been a respected figure in Nigeria’s legal and academic circles. With decades of scholarship, administrative leadership, and commitment to electoral reform, he has now gained national prominence after being nominated by President Bola Tinubu to the chairmanship of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). To many, his appointment exudes hope of a shift from purely academic and legal influence to leadership in Nigeria’s electoral governance. RELATED: If you like, appoint your son as INEC Chairman, you'll lose in 2027 - Dalung tells Tinubu Who is Prof Joash Amupitan? Prof Joash Amupitan is a distinguished legal scholar, academic administrator, and public servant who hails from Kogi State. Born in 1967 in Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area, he has built a reputation as a scholar in corporate governance, evidence law, privatisation, and electoral law. Over the years, he rose through the ranks of academia, held key positions...