
The University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, held its combined 29th and 30th convocation ceremonies, graduating 12,624 students, including 77 First-Class degree holders. The institution's Governing Council issued an urgent appeal to private investors and corporate organizations to address a critical shortage of student accommodation. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, detailed the graduating classes, with 7,158 students from the 2022/2023 session and 5,466 from the 2023/2024 session. He emphasized the university's commitment to character and resilience alongside academic excellence, and highlighted ongoing developments such as new research facilities and partnerships. The university was also selected for a N4bn 2026 Special Intervention Programme. The Chancellor and Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Dr Rilwanu Adamu, and the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr Olanrewaju Tejuoso, both acknowledged the pressure on infrastructure due to the growing student population and called for support in hostel development. Former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon retd., expressed gratitude for the university being renamed in his honor. Oyine James of the Department of Chemical Engineering was recognized as the overall best graduating student for the 2023/2024 academic session. The ceremonies, which began on April 10, are set to conclude on April 18, 2026, with various events including a lecture on artificial intelligence in fintech.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

Professor Sunday Obeka, the Vice Chancellor of Wesley University, Ondo State, has urged all levels of government and stakeholders to prioritize community health development in Nigeria. Speaking at the university's maiden International Conference on Community Health, Professor Obeka emphasized the need for greater government attention and improved budgetary allocation to the community health sector, particularly in rural areas. The conference, themed “Community health in a globalised society: prospects, challenges and way forward,” aimed to advance research, training, and innovation in primary healthcare, attracting participants from Nigeria and internationally. Dr. Bashir Idris, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, commended Wesley University for hosting the conference and praised Professor Obeka's leadership, pledging continued collaboration between the board and the university for the training and development of community health practitioners.
Must ReadProfessor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, a renowned economist and former Senior Special Adviser to the President of the African Development Bank on Industrialisation, stated that privatizing the Ajaokuta Steel Company could add up to $115 billion to Nigeria's GDP and create 70,000 jobs. Speaking at a virtual international conference titled “The Ajaokuta Phenomenon in Tinubu’s Era: A Turning Point or Another Missed Opportunity?”, Oyelaran-Oyeyinka emphasized the steel plant's importance to Nigeria's industrial future. He highlighted potential gains including $9.1 billion in foreign exchange savings. He advocated for the urgent privatization of the steel complex, arguing that decades of government control have been unsuccessful. Oyelaran-Oyeyinka proposed that a capable Nigerian consortium, supported by experienced foreign partners, should acquire the plant, citing South Korea’s POSCO as a successful model for private sector involvement. He described Ajaokuta as a “monumental white elephant,” noting that despite investments of $6-10 billion since the 1970s, the plant remains idle and Nigeria imports approximately $4 billion worth of steel annually. He warned that if reforms are obstructed, an alternative private-sector-led model, similar to the Dangote Refinery solution, should be considered. Other panelists at the conference, including Professor Oladiran Abubakare and policy analyst Collins Nweke, echoed concerns about corruption and execution failures, stressing that Ajaokuta's suc

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his admiration for Arsenal ahead of their upcoming Premier League match. Guardiola stated he enjoys watching Arsenal and learns from their play. Arsenal currently leads the league by six points and is also competing in the Champions League semi-finals against Atlético Madrid. Guardiola described Mikel Arteta's team as one he respects and follows closely. While Arsenal's playing style, particularly their reliance on set-pieces for 37% of their 62 league goals, has drawn varied reactions, Guardiola highlighted their consistency and mentality as key strengths in their title bid. He noted the psychological boost teams gain from ending long trophy droughts, drawing a parallel to Manchester City's past. Recent results, including Arsenal's loss to Bournemouth and City's win over Chelsea, have tightened the title race. Opta statistics indicate a slight decrease in Arsenal's title chances and an improvement for City. Sunday's match is anticipated to be a pivotal moment in determining the Premier League champion.

Guinea has lifted a temporary ban on several social media platforms, including Facebook, Messenger, YouTube, and TikTok, according to bloggers and users in the West African nation. The Association of Bloggers in Guinea ABLOGUI initially reported the disruption. Guinean authorities have not provided an official explanation for the restrictions. The country is led by Mamady Doumbouya, a former army general who took power in 2021. Guinea's communications regulator previously warned about the spread of "verbal attacks, unverified information, and messages harmful to social cohesion," but did not directly link this to the shutdown. ABLOGUI President Baro Conde welcomed the restoration of access, stating that citizens can once again enjoy their freedoms of information and expression. However, he cautioned that similar restrictions could reappear, particularly during election periods. Legislative and municipal elections are scheduled for May 31.