Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti State, extended birthday greetings to Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on his 92nd birthday. Soyinka, born in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on July 13, 1934, was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986. Fasoranti described Soyinka as a rare breed and a pride to the Yoruba race, Nigeria, and Africa, whose positive impact transcends ethnic or racial boundaries. He expressed gratitude for Soyinka's contributions and prayed for his longevity and good health. Fayemi, in a statement, hailed Soyinka as a symbol of intellectual excellence, courage, and cultural pride, whose work in literature, human rights, and democratic ideals inspires generations. He noted Soyinka's consistent voice of conscience and mentorship, urging younger generations to draw inspiration from his life of principle and purpose. Fayemi also prayed for Soyinka's continued good health and strength, expressing confidence that his wisdom would continue to guide Nigeria's public discourse.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadNigeria's failure to qualify for a second consecutive FIFA World Cup has led to increased calls for a leadership change within the Nigeria Football Federation NFF. Football stakeholders are urging the current board to take responsibility and step down ahead of the federation's next electoral cycle. Former Nigeria international Abiodun Obafemi supports an overhaul to restore stability to Nigerian football, stating that the country cannot continue with the status quo. Former Green Eagles captain Segun Odegbami attributes the Super Eagles' absence from the tournament to deep-rooted administrative problems rather than a lack of talent, emphasizing that those in charge must accept responsibility for the decline. He also noted the lack of enthusiasm in Nigeria during the ongoing World Cup as a reflection of this disappointment. Calls for accountability have gained momentum, with some fans on social media demanding action from the NFF leadership. However, National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade insists that any change at the NFF must occur through democratic means, not public pressure. Olopade also rejected the idea that the current leadership is solely to blame for the back-to-back World Cup failures, attributing the first missed qualification to the previous administration led by Amaju Pinnick and highlighting the current board's performance in other tournaments as evidence of progress.

The Nigeria Airspace Management Agency and the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority are in a dispute over the sharing formula for the five percent Ticket Sales Charge. A proposal before the National Assembly seeks to increase NAMA's share, leading to concerns from NCAA labor unions that this could weaken safety oversight. However, industry experts argue that NAMA, responsible for operating Nigeria's aviation infrastructure 24/7, carries a significant operational burden. NAMA's responsibilities include maintaining sophisticated Communication, Navigation and Surveillance technologies, which require substantial capital investment and continuous maintenance, often in remote areas with unreliable electricity. Retired pilot Mohammed Badamosi highlighted NAMA's larger workforce and extensive equipment maintenance across the country, contrasting it with NCAA's smaller regional offices. Currently, NCAA receives about 56 percent of the Ticket Sales Charge, while NAMA receives 23 percent. The Joint Action Committee of the NCAA suggests commercializing or partially privatizing NAMA as a more sustainable funding solution. However, proponents of the bill argue that stronger statutory funding is immediately needed. Former Commandant of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Group Captain John Ojikutu, called for a rational review of the revenue-sharing formula based on objective parameters like personnel strength, operational spread, and infrastructure ownership, rather than sentiments or

The search for new Vice-Chancellors is intensifying at the University of Ibadan, Lagos State University LASU, the University of Jos, and Abia State University, Uturu. Selection boards are being formed, but the process is already marked by politicking and controversy over eligibility criteria in some institutions. LASU opened applications for its 10th Vice-Chancellor as Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello's tenure concludes. The university faced criticism regarding the required years of professorial experience for applicants, with some academics faulting the advertisement for not specifying at least 10 years. LASU Registrar, Mr Emmanuel Fanu, stated that no law mandates a specific number of years, and "several years" is open to interpretation. The search for the 14th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan began in April, with the incumbent, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, completing his tenure on November 1, 2026. At Abia State University, a search team has been inaugurated, and candidates must be professors of at least five years' standing. The current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ndukwe J. Okeudo, will complete his two-year tenure on October 31, 2026. The University of Jos has also begun the process to appoint a successor to Prof. Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure expires on December 1, 2026. Applicants for the University of Jos position must have at least 15 years of uninterrupted teaching and research experience, with 10 years as a distinguished Professor. The National Universities Commission st