
News
FCC opens new opportunities for Enugu youth, Deputy Gov Ossai urges readiness
Federal Character Commission (FCC) has urged Enugu youths to stop disqualifying themselves from federal employment and other opportunities through fear, misinformation and the erroneous belief that government jobs are already reserved before they are advertised.
The Commission’s Executive Chairman, Hon. Hulayât Motunrayo Omidiran, gave the charge on Thursday at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Enugu, during the Peter Eze Enugu Youth Connect 2026, themed “Beyond Quotas: Unlocking Opportunities for Enugu Youths Through the Federal Character Commission.”
Declaring the event open, the Deputy Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ossai, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, challenged the youths to prepare themselves for opportunities, stressing that government could open doors but individuals must possess the capacity to walk through them.

Onyia said the time had come to stop viewing young people as merely “leaders of tomorrow,” noting that they were already playing critical roles in the development of society.

He urged the youths to acquire knowledge, develop relevant skills, build competitive Curriculum Vitaes and take advantage of every opportunity to improve themselves.
According to him, opportunities would not always be available to people who were unprepared, stressing that preparation was an important part of succeeding in a competitive environment.
He encouraged the participants to listen carefully, take notes and continuously improve their knowledge and skills, noting that “no knowledge is wasted.”
The SSG also emphasised the importance of confidence and self-knowledge, urging the youths to understand their strengths and continually ask themselves what they could do to improve their circumstances
.He said government had a responsibility to create an enabling environment where young people could learn and apply their skills, while the youths themselves must take responsibility for preparing for the opportunities that would come their way.
Onyia commended the organisers of the youth-focused programme, saying initiatives that connect young people with opportunities were important to the development of Enugu State.
He said the state government was committed to investing in young people because of their central role in driving innovation, productivity and economic transformation.
In a Keynote address, the Federal Character Commission Executive Chairman, Omidiran, said the Federal Character principle should go beyond numerical representation to ensure that qualified Nigerians had a fair opportunity to participate meaningfully in national development.
She urged Enugu youths to prepare themselves, acquire relevant skills, embrace technology and actively pursue legitimate opportunities, stressing that equity and merit must work together in building a progressive society.
She said an opportunity might open a door, but competence, character and performance would determine how far an individual could advance.
The FCC chairman also warned youths against fraudulent recruitment schemes and deceptive offers, urging them to authenticate opportunities before applying.
She charged the youths to “dream boldly, prepare intelligently, work diligently, lead responsibly and serve selflessly,” while encouraging them to think nationally and compete globally.
Earlier, the FCC Commissioner representing Enugu State, Hon. Peter Ogbonna Eze, said the programme was organised to bridge the information gap preventing many young people from accessing employment, scholarships, grants, fellowships, training and other legitimate opportunities.
Eze said there were more than 700 Federal Government ministries, departments, agencies, commissions and other establishments providing employment and other opportunities across the country.
He explained that the FCC had the constitutional responsibility to promote equitable representation and ensure that federal institutions complied with the principles of federal character.
According to him, many Enugu youths had missed opportunities because of the erroneous belief that advertised federal jobs had already been shared or given to people before public advertisement.
He urged the youths not to allow such assumptions to discourage them from applying.
“No player has ever won a football match outside the pitch. You can barely get an opportunity you do not apply for,” Eze said.
He further warned that nobody should pay for a legitimate government job, stressing that anyone demanding money in exchange for federal employment should be reported through the appropriate channels.
“You do not need to buy a job; you need to prepare yourself,” he said.
Eze said the Peter Eze Youth Connect initiative was designed to connect young people with credible information, institutions and opportunities, rather than create dependence on godfathers and middlemen.
He said the initiative would expose participants to opportunities in federal employment, grants, scholarships, fellowships, training programmes, entrepreneurship and other areas of personal and economic advancement.
He disclosed that a full scholarship opportunity would be offered through the programme, with five persons to be selected from the participants.
Eze said his vision was to make the programme a continuing platform through which information about opportunities would reach young people across Enugu State.
“If I know that something can change the life of a young person from Enugu State, I believe that the young person should hear about it. If I can open a door, I should open it. If I can connect someone to the right person, I should make the connection, ” he said.
He urged participants to become “ambassadors of opportunity” by sharing useful information and helping others benefit from opportunities they discover.
Participants at the event
The commissioner said true empowerment was not about merely handing someone assistance and taking photographs, but about providing people with the knowledge, skills, information, access and opportunities required to stand on their own and build sustainable futures.
He called on the youths to improve their CVs, acquire relevant skills and remain prepared for opportunities, noting that technology and the job market were constantly changing.
The programme brought together young people and stakeholders across Enugu state to deepen understanding of the mandate of the Federal Character Commission, federal representation and pathways to employment, education, skills development and other opportunities.
The organisers said the initiative was built on the conviction that a young person cannot pursue an opportunity they do not know exists, with the broader vision of producing informed, confident and opportunity-ready youths capable of competing and contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development.
The event’s central message was clear: connect, learn, prepare and pursue opportunities rather than wait for them.
News
Tinubu Booed At Abuja Mosque As Worshippers Chant ‘Tinubu Must Go’ After Friday Prayers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was on Friday reportedly booed by some worshippers and other Nigerians shortly after observing Juma’at prayers at the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Abuja.
Several video clips circulating on social media showed groups of youths chanting slogans against the President as his convoy departed the mosque.
A witness who attended the prayers told PREMIUM TIMES that the protest may have been triggered by restrictions imposed on worshippers ahead of the President’s visit.
The witness, who requested anonymity, said Tinubu arrived at the mosque at about 1:49 p.m., by which time access to the premises had reportedly been restricted.
According to the source, security operatives prevented people from entering the mosque after the President’s arrival. Roads leading to the facility were also blocked, while some security personnel reportedly mounted the perimeter fences as part of the security arrangements.

The restrictions allegedly continued after the prayers, with some worshippers prevented from leaving until the President’s departure.
The witness said the situation angered some of those affected, prompting them to express their frustration through chants directed at the President.
Some were heard chanting, “Ba mayi, ba ma so,” a Hausa expression loosely translated as “We do not support you,” while others shouted, “Tinubu Must Go,” a slogan associated with opposition to the President’s re-election bid.
Another source at the mosque also attributed the incident partly to the security arrangements, which were described as excessive and inconvenient to worshippers.
“People were stopped from entering the mosque after the President had entered. Several people were stuck outside,” the source said.
The source added that some worshippers were also prevented from leaving until Tinubu departed, alleging that the booing started from the area where people had been barricaded.
The incident comes amid growing political activities and opposition mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Presidency were unsuccessful, as Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, did not respond to calls seeking his reaction as of the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, during the Friday service, the Chief Imam of the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque, Area 1, Garki, Rabiu Suleiman, delivered a sermon focusing on lessons from Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Quran.
The Imam urged Muslims to uphold the oneness of Allah and seek steadfastness in their faith.
He also prayed for peace, the President’s good health and greater wisdom, asking Allah to guide Tinubu in leading Nigeria towards prosperity.
Suleiman further acknowledged the President’s contributions to the renovation of the mosque.
Tinubu was accompanied by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ibrahim Masari; Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila; and former Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
The presidential election is scheduled for January 2027, with Tinubu expected to face significant opposition from prominent political figures, including Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
It would be recalled that on the eve of the 2023 general elections, Tinubu, who was then the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), observed Friday prayers at several mosques, including Berger Mosque, the Shehu Shagari Central Mosque in Area 1, and the National Mosque in Abuja.
However, no similar incident of public booing was reported during those visits.
News
Archbishop Ibezim Withdraws Lawsuit Against Primate Ndukuba, Dean Enyindah, Signals Move Towards Reconciliation
The Archbishop of Awka Diocese discontinues legal action against two top Anglican leaders, raising hopes of an amicable settlement and restoration of unity within the Church of Nigeria.
The Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Awka, Most Rev. Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, has withdrawn his lawsuit against the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Henry C. Ndukuba, and the Dean of the Church, Most Rev. Blessing Enyindah, in a development that could pave the way for an amicable resolution of the dispute.
The withdrawal is seen as a significant step towards resolving the disagreement through dialogue and reconciliation rather than prolonged legal confrontation.
The development was conveyed in a Notice of Discontinuance/Withdrawal of Suit filed at the High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division, in Suit No. A/371/2026.
In the notice dated Friday, November 13, 2026, and signed by the plaintiff’s counsel, Chief B.E.I. Nwofor, SAN, Archbishop Ibezim formally notified the court of his decision to discontinue and withdraw the suit to allow room for an amicable resolution of the dispute.

The suit was instituted against Ndukuba, who is the Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, and Enyindah, who serves as the Dean of the Church of Nigeria and chairman of the visitation team to the Diocese of Awka.
The legal dispute arose from the constitution of a visitation team by the Primate, which Archbishop Ibezim had challenged on grounds of its legality.
Specifically, the Awka diocesan bishop questioned the constitution of the team by the first defendant in a letter dated June 17, 2026.
However, his decision to withdraw the case signals a possible shift towards dialogue and mutual understanding among the senior Church leaders.
The development is expected to create an opportunity for the parties to address their differences through the established structures of the Church and work towards restoring cordial relationships.
It could also help ease tensions within the Anglican Communion, particularly at a time when unity, institutional stability and confidence in the Church’s leadership remain important considerations.
Disagreements involving senior clerics can have wider implications for the Church, its clergy and congregation. Consequently, an amicable resolution would be significant in preserving the unity and spiritual integrity of the institution.
Nevertheless, the Notice of Discontinuance does not disclose the specific terms of any proposed settlement or indicate whether the parties have already reached an agreement.
It also remains unclear whether a formal reconciliation process has commenced or what arrangements may be adopted to resolve the substantive issues that led to the litigation.
The withdrawal, however, marks an important development in the dispute, with attention now shifting to whether the parties can translate the decision into a lasting and mutually acceptable settlement.
News
UNN Party Horror: ‘I Woke Up At 9pm To Find My Friends Lying Lifeless’ – Survivor
• ‘I Thought I Was Going To Die’ – 24-Year-Old Student Narrates How He Survived Mysterious Party Incident That Claimed Four Lives In Nsukka
A 24-year-old student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), has recounted his terrifying experience at an off-campus party where four students reportedly died after participants suddenly became unconscious.
The survivor, an Art Education student, said he lost consciousness during the gathering and only regained awareness several hours later, when he discovered his friends lying motionless on the floor.
Recounting the incident in an interview with Vanguard, the student disclosed that the gathering was organised by his friend, identified as David, to celebrate the completion of his final examinations.
According to him, the host purchased two bottles of alcoholic drinks, Magic Moment and Best, which they took to his residence in the Hilltop area of Nsukka, where approximately 10 people gathered for the celebration.
He said the party commenced at about 11:30am, with participants sharing the drinks and engaging in a game of Truth or Dare.

Narrating how the incident unfolded, the survivor said one of the participants suddenly started vomiting, prompting him to assist the individual to the toilet.
He explained that after helping his friend, he returned to clean the vomit on the floor before suddenly losing consciousness.
“During the party, one of the participants started vomiting. I took him to the toilet and asked him to clean himself up. I then came out to clean the vomit on the floor.
“After that, I suddenly lost consciousness. However, I noticed that my legs had become stiff, and I could no longer walk,” he narrated.
The student said he regained consciousness at approximately 9pm, several hours after the incident began.
He recalled hearing someone making a strange remark before managing to look into the parlour, where he saw the host and other participants lying motionless.
“When I regained consciousness at about 9pm, I heard someone saying that a ghost was shaking. I woke up and managed to look into the parlour, where I saw the host and other participants lying on the floor,” he said.
The survivor disclosed that he immediately contacted a friend, who arrived at the residence, observed the situation and subsequently left.
He expressed disappointment that another individual who reportedly came to the scene allegedly chose to record the victims instead of making efforts to secure emergency assistance.
He said another friend later arrived and helped convey the affected students to Bishop Shanahan Hospital and other medical facilities in Nsukka for treatment.
Generator Was Operating Outside Room
Providing further details about the circumstances surrounding the incident, the survivor said the participants were inside the parlour with the doors and windows shut, while a generator was operating outside in the corridor.
He added that the room’s fan was switched on during the gathering.
The student also dismissed suggestions that the participants might have consumed illicit drugs, insisting that alcohol was the only substance taken at the party.
“We didn’t smoke, and there was no drug there. We took only alcohol. We had just two bottles for about 10 people, so the quantity each person drank was very little, not even up to a quarter of a party cup,” he said.
Police Question Poisoning Allegations
The survivor disclosed that police officers had visited him and questioned him about the possibility of poisoning or deliberate interference with the drinks.
He said investigators asked whether the participants had disagreements with anyone or suspected that somebody might have tampered with the alcoholic beverages.
However, he maintained that he had no reason to suspect the host, whom he described as someone who did not harbour grudges against others.
He added that he also saw the host lying on the floor when he regained consciousness, while the host’s brother later confirmed that he was receiving treatment at Bishop Shanahan Hospital.
The student further disclosed that the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Otuanya, had visited him to assess his condition.
He said representatives of the local government, friends and police officers had also visited him.
Survivor Still Experiencing Leg Stiffness
Despite surviving the incident, the 24-year-old said he was still experiencing stiffness in his legs, although his condition was gradually improving.
Reflecting on the frightening experience, he said the incident had completely changed his attitude towards alcohol consumption.
“This was the first time I took alcohol and experienced such a condition. I think this will be the last time I will ever take alcohol,” he said.
The circumstances surrounding the deaths remain a subject of investigation, with questions about the possible role of the generator, the conditions inside the room and the possibility of drink contamination yet to be conclusively established.
Authorities are expected to determine what led to the sudden loss of consciousness among the participants and establish the precise cause of the deaths.
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