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Eberechi Eze discusses England's Premier League intensity at World Cup
via Punch Nigeria8 min read
Eberechi Eze, an Arsenal midfielder, stated that England is playing with the "intensity and passion" demanded by head coach Thomas Tuchel as they aim to secure qualification for the World Cup knockout phase. England began the tournament with a 4-2 victory against Croatia but then had a goalless draw with Ghana. The team is currently at the top of Group L, ahead of Ghana on goal difference, and will face Panama in their final group game in New Jersey. Eze, who made his World Cup debut as a substitute against Ghana, described the experience as "beautiful." He noted that the team's high-energy football and quality make them difficult to play against, even after criticism for failing to break down Ghana's defensive tactics.
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The African Agricultural Technology Foundation AATF, in collaboration with master bakers, has trained over 500 cassava processors to accelerate Nigeria's 20 percent cassava flour substitution policy in bread production. This initiative supports a Federal Government policy, introduced during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, which encourages replacing up to 20 percent of wheat flour with high-quality cassava flour. The program aims to reduce Nigeria's dependence on imported wheat, stimulate agro-industrial growth, create rural jobs, and promote value addition in the cassava value chain. Participants received hands-on training in producing various cassava-based baked products. Samuel Ogunleye, AATF Project Coordinator for the Cassava Mechanisation and Agro-Processing Project, stated that building processor capacity is crucial for a consistent supply of quality cassava flour for bakeries. The project targets training 1,000 processors to bridge supply gaps and support wider adoption of cassava flour in commercial baking. Nura Musa from the Master Bakers’ Association noted that the initiative addresses the gap between cassava production and industrial utilization, improving product quality and supply chain reliability. He added that the policy offers substantial economic benefits, including reducing wheat import expenditure, boosting local cassava production, and increasing farmer earnings.
Slum2School Green Academy, a charity-run school in Lagos State, has been named among the Top 10 finalists globally for the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action 2026. T4 Education, organizers of the World’s Best School Prizes, announced the recognition for the school located in Saga, Epe. The academy serves 250 children from eight riverine communities, advancing education and environmental sustainability through its climate-smart learning model. The school combines experiential, inquiry-based learning with sustainable practices, enabling pupils to achieve significant learning progress. Founder of T4 Education, Vikas Pota, congratulated the school, highlighting its role in preparing young people for a challenging world. Slum2School Green Academy was established to address the lack of formal education in isolated communities. Built with local materials, it operates on solar energy, harvests rainwater, and uses waste-to-biogas systems. Students participate in environmental projects like gardening, composting, and recycling. The school also provides a digital learning lab and coding education. T4 Education reports that 96% of students have improved in literacy, and over 70% in numeracy, with more than 90% reading at or near grade level. Over 700 families have benefited from the school's initiatives in clean water, sanitation, and environmental awareness. The academy's model is seen as a scalable blueprint for sustainable, community-centered education across Africa. S
The Nigerian Communications Commission has introduced a Women in Leadership Programme aimed at strengthening female leadership in the technology sector. The initiative seeks to create a sustainable pipeline of women leaders across Nigeria's telecommunications and digital industries. Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, Rimini Makama, stated that the program is designed to mentor women, prepare them for increased professional responsibilities, and build networks within the NCC and the broader telecommunications industry. Makama emphasized the commission's goal to establish a leadership platform that will outlive its current administration, becoming a permanent feature of the NCC's capacity-building efforts. She highlighted the NCC's progress in gender inclusion, noting that approximately 70 percent of its directors are women, providing an opportunity to transfer experience to younger professionals. NCC Executive Vice-Chairman, Dr. Aminu Maida, added that the program will shape younger women in the sector, serving as a platform for sharing experiences and inspiring career growth, and encouraging women to aspire to top career positions.