- Shettima cautions South Africa over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians
- FG launches ‘Hire from Nigeria’ campaign to export local talent globally
- Falana demands action after tear gas disrupts Lagos pensioners’ protest
- D4vd’s lawyers withdraw from murder case as singer gets public defender
- Mo Abudu says she won’t let younger people call her by her name
Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.
Shettima cautions South Africa over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians
Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that Nigeria will no longer tolerate the mistreatment of its citizens in South Africa. He condemned the recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians, saying the situation had reached a point the country could no longer ignore.
Shettima spoke on Monday in Luanda, Angola, shortly before returning to Nigeria, having represented President Bola Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The Vice President also reminded South Africans of Nigeria’s historic support for the liberation struggle in Southern Africa. He urged them to remember the country’s role and said those who benefited from Nigeria’s assistance should learn to remain humble.
FG launches ‘Hire from Nigeria’ campaign to export local talent globally
The federal government has launched the “Hire from Nigeria” campaign to connect Nigerian professionals with international employers and establish the country as a global hub for skilled talent and digital services.
Information Minister Mohammed Idris launched the initiative in Abuja on Monday, saying Nigeria could earn more from its citizens’ skills and services without requiring them to move abroad. He noted that digital technology now allows knowledge, creativity, and professional services to cross borders.
Idris said Nigeria’s young population and growing pool of skilled workers give the country an opportunity to compete globally. The campaign brings together government ministries, the National Talent Export Programme, iDICE, and private-sector partners to connect Nigerian talent with international opportunities.
Falana demands action after tear gas disrupts Lagos pensioners’ protest
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called for the arrest and prosecution of police officers accused of using tear gas to disperse pensioners protesting in Alausa, Lagos, on Monday.
The retirees had gathered at the Lagos State Government Secretariat and House of Assembly to demand unpaid pension adjustments, consequential increases and wage awards. They are expected to meet Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu later this week to discuss their grievances.
Falana condemned the police response, saying the pensioners were exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly. He cited a 2008 Court of Appeal ruling which affirmed that Nigerians do not need a police permit to organise rallies or demonstrations.
D4vd’s lawyers withdraw from murder case as singer gets public defender
The lawyers representing US singer D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, have withdrawn from his murder case as the 21-year-old is accused of killing Celeste Rivas Hernandez and is being held without bail.
David faces a first-degree murder charge with special circumstances, alongside allegations of lewd acts with a minor and mutilation of a body. Prosecutors have also alleged that he bought chainsaws, a body bag, an inflatable pool, and a shovel after the teenager’s alleged killing.
According to the BBC, the court has approved the withdrawal of David’s three defence lawyers, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski and Regina Peter. He has now been assigned a public defender. David pleaded not guilty to the murder charge at his first court appearance following his arrest.
Mo Abudu says she won’t let younger people call her by her name
Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu has revealed that she does not allow younger people to address her by her first name. Speaking on Toke Moments, the 61-year-old said her traditional upbringing in Ondo taught her to respect elders and uphold cultural values.
Abudu explained that she corrects younger people who greet her casually, although she is more understanding when they are from other ethnic backgrounds. She said knowing where a person comes from helps her understand their approach to addressing elders.
Her comments come days after UBA chairman Tony Elumelu corrected a woman who addressed him by his first name at a graduation ceremony. The incident sparked an online debate over first-name culture in Nigerian workplaces and the importance of traditional respect.
