🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Lagos to host prayer rally for Nigeria and President Tinubu
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
Approximately 55,000 Nigerians are expected to gather at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on Sunday, May 10, 2026, for a "Special Congregational Prayer" for Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu. Mohammed Danmole, Director-General of the Renewed Hope Network, Lagos State, announced the event, which will include both Muslim and Christian participants from various states. The prayers will focus on peace, progress, and prosperity for Nigeria, as well as divine guidance for President Tinubu's administration. The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, along with other Christian and Muslim clerics and Lagos Muslim community leaders, will lead the prayers. The Renewed Hope Network, a grassroots political movement, aims to endorse Tinubu for a second term and Lagos Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat as the All Progressives Congress candidate for the next governorship election. Danmole stated that the endorsement is in recognition of Tinubu's reforms in the economy, infrastructure, education, social investment, security, and national productivity. The event will also unite members of the Mandate Movement and Justice Forum, two rival political factions in Lagos. The Renewed Hope Network plans extensive grassroots mobilization to secure Tinubu's re-election in 2027, engaging with Nigerians in their local languages and localizing the Renewed Hope Agenda across the country. Danmole expressed confidence that the All Progressives Congress would significantly increas
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Federal Government announced that the National Examinations Council NECO will begin computer-based examinations this year. This initiative aims to combat examination malpractice and modernize Nigeria's assessment system. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made this disclosure during NECO's 25th-anniversary celebration in Abuja, highlighting it as a crucial step towards enhancing the credibility of public examinations and elevating Nigeria's global education standards. The new model will enable real-time monitoring of candidates, detection of suspicious activities, and reduction of examination fraud. Dr Alausa emphasized NECO's role in ensuring integrity and accountability in education, noting its evolution into a reliable examination body over 25 years. He added that NECO has improved examination security, enhanced scoring reliability, and expanded access to examinations in underserved communities through technological innovations. The Minister stressed the importance of educational assessments focusing on modern skills like critical thinking and digital literacy. Prof. Dantani Wushishi, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, stated that the council now conducts examinations in eight countries, signifying international acceptance of its certificates. He mentioned NECO's reforms, including digital verification systems and e-certificates, and infrastructure expansion projects. The introduction of computer-based examinations is seen as a significant shift to imp
Interswitch has welcomed its third and largest group of developer interns into its Developer Academy. This initiative aims to bolster Africa's technology talent pool and support the continent's expanding digital economy. Over 20,000 applications were received for the program, which involves a multi-stage selection process including technical assessments and interviews. The nine-month program offers intensive training in various engineering fields such as backend development, DevOps, mobile development, frontend engineering, and quality assurance. It combines theoretical learning with practical exposure to enterprise-grade systems, equipping participants with essential technical and workplace readiness skills. Mitchell Elegbe, Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch, stated that the company is focused on building long-term capacity within Africa’s technology ecosystem despite the migration of skilled professionals. He emphasized Interswitch's commitment to enabling individuals to contribute to the technology ecosystem locally and globally, thereby strengthening the industry and reinforcing Nigeria's position as a source of globally competitive engineering talent. Franklin Ali, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Interswitch, added that the program equips young professionals with both technical and adaptive skills. The Developer Academy is part of a broader strategy to meet the increasing global demand for software engineers and address the migration of skil
Must ReadThe Nigerian Senate has passed an amendment to the 2026 Electoral Act Bill, aiming to establish a clearer legal framework for pre-election disputes. The bill, which amends Section 29 and introduces a new Section 29A, seeks to address persistent jurisdictional issues in pre-election matters. Senator Simon Lalong, chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission, stated that the amendment is necessary due to ongoing legal and constitutional controversies surrounding the interpretation of pre-election cases. He highlighted that the current situation leads to conflicting court decisions, abuse of judicial processes, and delays. The revised Section 295 allows aspirants to file actions in the Federal Capital Territory or where the cause of action arose, which Lalong described as practical and equitable. The new Section 29A establishes a distinct hierarchy for adjudication: disputes for National Assembly, governorship, and state Houses of Assembly elections will originate at the Federal High Court, with appeals to the Court of Appeal. For presidential and vice-presidential elections, matters will originate directly at the Court of Appeal, with appeals to the Supreme Court. This arrangement is intended to promote judicial efficiency and align with the constitutional importance of presidential elections. Lalong also noted that the amendment would curb the practice of litigants filing multiple suits and introduce certainty and procedural discipline into
Must ReadAspirants from the All Progressives Congress APC, including President Bola Tinubu, formally submitted their nomination and expression of interest forms to the party's national secretariat on Thursday. Vice President Kashim Shettima submitted President Tinubu's forms, officially launching his bid for re-election in the 2027 presidential election. This submission, witnessed by governors, National Assembly members, and APC National Working Committee members, marked the start of Tinubu's re-election campaign, which Shettima stated is anchored on economic reform. Shettima rallied party members behind Tinubu's candidacy, highlighting his leadership in navigating difficult economic conditions. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and APC National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, also expressed confidence in Tinubu's performance and capacity for a second term. The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, affirmed the party's unanimous support. Other aspirants who submitted forms include Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda, former Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, former Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ethics and Privileges Nicholas Ossai, Deputy President of the Senate Jibrin Barau, and Lagos State consensus governorship aspirant Obafemi Hamzat. Aspirants expressed differing views on the adoption of direct primaries versus consen