- Democrats sweep Republican strongholds in major rebuke to Trump
- NYSC flags four irregularities in Uche Nnaji’s certificate
- ASUU threatens industrial action over Wike’s alleged UniAbuja land allocation
- German ambassador says Nigerians don’t need university degrees for jobs
- Djimon Hounsou urges African filmmakers to build independent film platforms
Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top five Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.
Democrats sweep Republican strongholds in major rebuke to Trump
Democrats have made sweeping gains across the United States, winning seats in traditionally Republican areas and raising fears of a historic midterm defeat for President Donald Trump’s party.
The party flipped eight Republican House seats and won a South Carolina Senate seat for the first time in nearly 30 years. Democrats made major gains in Texas, taking a Senate seat and the governor’s mansion, and flipped a Senate seat in Kansas.
Results showed Democrats performing more than eight points better on average than in the 2024 presidential election. The gains suggest growing voter dissatisfaction with Trump and could put Republicans’ control of Congress at risk.
NYSC flags four irregularities in Uche Nnaji’s certificate
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has identified four irregularities in a certificate linked to former minister Uche Nnaji and insists the organisation did not issue it.
Assistant Director Yusuf Jumare made the disclosure on Tuesday while testifying in Nnaji’s alleged certificate forgery and money laundering case at the Federal High Court in Abuja. He said an investigation requested by the ICPC found the document fake.
Jumare pointed to discrepancies in the certificate, including its number. He said it carried the prefix “A”, supposedly indicating issuance in 1985, although the NYSC only introduced the prefix in 1990.
ASUU threatens industrial action over Wike’s alleged UniAbuja land allocation
The University of Abuja branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has demanded the reversal of an alleged illegal allocation of university land by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, branch chairperson Prof. Sylvanus Ugoh urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene and restore peace on campus. He warned that the union could no longer guarantee industrial harmony if the union did not reverse the disputed allocation to Wike’s associates.
Ugoh described the move as a breach of the law, citing an August 18 court injunction restraining the minister from entering or encroaching on university land.
German ambassador says Nigerians don’t need university degrees for jobs
Nigerians seeking jobs in Germany do not necessarily need university degrees, according to Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany, Senator Ita Enang.
Speaking on Arise TV on Tuesday, Enang said people with vocational and technical skills could also find employment in the European country. He highlighted opportunities in driving, hospitality, woodworking, welding, and construction.
The ambassador urged Nigerians not to assume higher academic qualifications are compulsory to work in Germany. He said many job seekers overlooked available opportunities because they believed employers required extensive educational certificates, stressing that practical skills could also open doors to employment.
Djimon Hounsou urges African filmmakers to build independent film platforms
Hollywood actor Djimon Hounsou has urged African filmmakers to build independent distribution platforms to expand their films’ global reach and change perceptions of the continent.
Speaking to TheCable at a Lagos event marking AFRIFF’s 15th anniversary, the Beninese-American actor said he hoped to inspire young filmmakers to carry the industry forward.
Hounsou stressed the importance of producing films that tell African stories without relying heavily on Western markets. He urged industry stakeholders to create platforms that distribute more African content worldwide and improve how global cinema portrays the continent.
