Nigeria and Qatar have deepened their partnership in combating illicit drug trafficking with the symbolic exchange of instruments of ratification between both countries. The exchange was conducted by the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mohamed Buba Marwa, and the Ambassador of Qatar to Nigeria, Ali Bin Ghanem Al-Hajri. It follows the historic signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on March 3, 2024, in Doha. The agreement focuses on cooperation in tackling the illicit trade in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances,…
Author: TheStories
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC), Prof. Musa Garba Maitafsir, has revealed that over 60 million adults in Nigeria lack basic literacy and numeracy skills. He disclosed on Tuesday in Kano during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Nigeria National Council for Adult Education (NNCAE) Annual National Conference, held at the Convocation Arena of Bayero University, New Campus, Gwarzo Road. The five-day event, running from October 6 to 10, 2025, features the theme: “The Future of Adult Learning in Nigeria: Leveraging the 5th Industrial Revolution for Inclusive, Equitable, and Sustainable Development.”…
The National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education has empowered adult learners across the North-West with starter packs to help them start small-scale businesses. Speaking in Kaduna on Monday, Executive Secretary of the Commission, Prof. Musa Garba Maitafsir, said the beneficiaries were graduates of the second phase of the Literacy Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (LEEDS) initiative. He said the learners acquired vocational skills in beauty and cosmetology, fashion and design, and home economics, aimed at making them self-reliant and financially independent. Prof. Maitafsir noted that the initiative aligns with UN SDGs 4, 5 and 8, as well…
In the US, the terms socialism and communism are often conflated, especially by some right-wing politicians and media, to stir emotional responses and discredit opposing views. This is rooted in the country’s historical experiences with the “Red Scares”, which ingrained deep fears or rejection of communism. As a nation strongly aligned with free-market capitalism, any association with state control or socialist ideas is culturally and politically sensitive. Consequently, labeling someone a “socialist” can carry heavy negative connotations and is often used as a tool for disinformation, wrongly branding even moderate or interventionist ideas as un-American. Western Europe is not the…
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State has accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of circulating outdated video clips and reports in a bid to discredit Governor Ahmed Aliyu’s administration. In a statement on Monday, the APC described the move as a “deliberate and mischievous campaign” by a “desperate opposition” trying to mislead the public with recycled materials from over eight years ago. “These outdated clips are being paraded as fresh evidence of supposed PDP performance,” the party said. “It is a futile attempt to tarnish the image of Governor Ahmed Aliyu and our leader, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.”…
In an era characterized by unprecedented access to information and global interconnectedness, the plight of the Palestinian people—particularly those in Gaza—resonates profoundly within the hearts of millions. The recent humanitarian missions aimed at alleviating the suffering of this besieged population serve as a poignant reminder of the dire circumstances that persist in this region. As we reflect on the courage of those who embarked on a journey of hope, we must confront the harsh realities of aggression and oppression that define the current state of affairs. From more than forty countries, individuals united under a common cause, boarding ships laden…
In human history, the role of the journalist has often been one of peril, yet also one of profound significance. Journalists have served as the custodians of truth, bearing witness to the unfolding narratives of human existence. However, in recent years, particularly during the ongoing crisis in Gaza, the very essence of journalism has been tested. For 23 months, a relentless tide of misinformation has swept through our media landscapes, casting shadows over the stark realities faced by those in conflict zones. It is not merely the actions of a singular nation that warrant scrutiny, but also the complicity of…
The values that once defined morality are being quietly auctioned off to the highest economic bidder. Across nations—and particularly in societies like Nigeria where religion and culture have long shaped identity—the tension between economy and morality has become a silent war. For years, economic realities have held entire countries hostage, forcing even the devout to bend their moral compass toward survival. Nigeria, one of the most religious countries in the world, finds itself in the paradox of praying hard and hustling harder. The pulpit still echoes with verses about virtue, yet the wallet has become the true measure of righteousness.…
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has signed into law the revised 2025 Appropriation Bill of N43.29 billion, earlier passed by the State House of Assembly. The governor assented to the bill on Thursday at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, in the presence of the Speaker, Usman Muhammad-Zuru, and other lawmakers. Idris commended the assembly for its cooperation with the executive, describing the cordial relationship as beneficial to the people. “I appreciate the House of Assembly for being alive to its responsibilities and working closely with the executive for the betterment of our people. Since the inception of this administration, we…
It was the German philosopher Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel who once declared that the state is “the march of God on earth.” In those words, government became something more than a bureaucracy; it was elevated to a near-divine agency of history, the vessel through which rationality unfolds. Martin Luther, in his own turn, described secular authority as “God’s mask” in the world. Both thinkers, though writing centuries ago, imagined rulers as guardians of morality and legitimacy, entrusted to reflect something higher than the whims of ordinary men. But when that same “mortal god” begins to patronize the very things it…