
Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Peter Akpe, stated that Nigeria's primary obstacle to national development is the ineffective implementation of public policies, rather than a lack of good policies. He made this observation at the public presentation of Professor Peter Owonaro’s book, “Pills to Policy: Pharmacy Practice Research in the Niger Delta,” held in Yenagoa. Akpe noted that poor policy implementation is particularly evident in the pharmaceutical industry, rendering healthcare service guidelines ineffective. He commended Professor Owonaro for his book, which provides operational guidelines for pharmaceutical practice, and for his academic contributions. Akpe emphasized the importance of policies in combating drug abuse, citing the Bayelsa State Drug Abuse, Addiction Prevention and Rehabilitation Committee BADAPARC, where Professor Owonaro serves as Chief Executive Officer and collaborates with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA. Gloria Diri, the governor's wife, also praised Professor Owonaro's work. Professor Owonaro expressed gratitude to Governor Douye Diri and Deputy Governor Akpe for their support and for his appointment as Chairman of BADAPARC, and acknowledged others who contributed to the book's success and the establishment of health institutions in the state.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadOlisa Agbakoba, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, has endorsed the proposed introduction of state police in Nigeria, commending President Bola Tinubu for transmitting a bill to amend Section 214 of the 1999 Constitution. Agbakoba, however, warned that the reform's success hinges on constitutionally insulating law enforcement agencies from executive interference. In an open letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, Agbakoba suggested that the creation of state police also presents an opportunity to devolve additional responsibilities to state governments, such as driver's license issuance, prison administration, and marriage registration. He cautioned that without institutional protection, state police could become tools of executive power, similar to the challenges faced by State Independent Electoral Commissions. Agbakoba proposed a constitutional framework akin to South Africa's, where independent institutions derive autonomy directly from the constitution, enjoy security of tenure, guaranteed funding, and are accountable to the legislature. He also suggested a shared appointment and removal process for state police leadership, involving the Police Service Commission, the governor, and the State House of Assembly, to prevent political interference. Agbakoba emphasized that establishing state police without these constitutional safeguards would undermine the reform's objective and could lead to oppression.

The Federal Government has inaugurated the Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Committee to launch a ₦365 million annual prize program. This initiative aims to reward outstanding academic research, innovation, and research commercialization in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, stated that the National Laureate Programme is a strategic intervention to reposition academic excellence as a national priority and inspire young researchers to develop solutions for the country’s development challenges. The program seeks to transform Nigeria’s reward system by giving scholarly achievements national recognition. The committee, chaired by Emeritus Prof. Abubakar Sambo, President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, is tasked with developing transparent eligibility criteria and overseeing the selection process for the inaugural National Laureate Awards in November 2026. The awards include ₦35 million for the best undergraduate dissertation, ₦50 million for the best master’s thesis, and ₦100 million for the best doctoral thesis. Additionally, there are six National Laureate Excellence Awards of ₦30 million each in various fields, including Medicine and Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, and Agriculture. One special honor will be named the Dr. Stella Adadevoh Excellence Award in Medicine and Medical Innovation. The program is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s higher education sector by promoting research excellence and encouraging the

Aare Afe Babalola, Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti ABUAD, has challenged staff and stakeholders to work towards the institution ranking among the top 50 universities globally. This new target follows ABUAD's recent achievement of being ranked 72nd worldwide in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rating, making it the only Nigerian institution in the top 100. Vice Chancellor, Professor Smaranda Olarinde, speaking on behalf of the founder, acknowledged the fulfillment of Babalola's previous aspiration to see ABUAD in the top 100. She stated that the founder has now set an even higher goal for the university to continue its upward trajectory and secure a place among the world's top 50 universities. Professor Olarinde attributed ABUAD's success to visionary leadership, strategic planning, institutional discipline, resilient governance, staff commitment, and the support of students, parents, partners, and stakeholders. She highlighted key pillars driving ABUAD's success, including full accreditation of all programs, over 70 institutional partnerships, state-of-the-art facilities, a stable academic calendar, uninterrupted power supply, a functional Planetarium, extensive scholarship programs, and the founder's prioritization of staff and student welfare, including salary reviews.