News

I don’t know why Mohbad joined Naira Marley, he passed NECO at one sitting – Ex-principal

Published

2 years ago

September 23, 2023

I don’t know why Mohbad joined Naira Marley, he passed NECO at one sitting – Ex-principal

Abidemi Faboye, the proprietor and principal of Abifab College, Ikorodu, Lagos, the secondary school Ilerioluwa Aloba, aka Mohbad, attended, has spoken on the memories he has of the late singer.

In an interview with The Punch, Faboye said, “I knew him when he enrolled in my school in 2013. His elder sister, Blessing, also graduated from the school in 2013. He was brought from a public school, and he was a quiet boy. He was tall and slim. It was years after secondary school that he added weight.

“He was 17 years old when he joined our school, and was a bit more mature than some of his classmates. He wrote the National Examination Council senior secondary certificate exam in 2015, and made his papers in one sitting. He spent two years in the school, and there was a transformation in his life. He always called me, ‘daddy’. I always wanted my students to call me ‘Abifab’ or ‘Mr Abifab’, but he found it difficult to call me that. Whenever Promise (Ilerioluwa) called me ‘daddy’, I would tell him to call me ‘Abifab’; and he would just laugh.”

Speaking further, the principal said, “When I heard that he was a member of the Marlian group, I was surprised. I doubted if he could cope with such group. Although he was mature, I felt he must have mixed with a few others who joined the record label. I prayed that God would be with him, because after he left school, we did not communicate regularly.

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“Many of us, including the teachers who taught him, were surprised. When we heard about Imole, we were all surprised. I was not familiar with afrobeats music, until one day, my daughter told me, ‘Do you know Uncle Promise is now Mohbad?’ I took my phone and chatted with him via Messenger. He then gave me his number. His dad is a carpenter, and as a student, he often assisted his dad. He learnt carpentry from his father, who is also a pastor.

“Back then, I noticed then that whenever school closed, he did not usually stay for up to five minutes, before going home. His house was a bit far from the school, so I always thought he wanted to get back home on time. He was active in the school’s music club. During quiz competitions, he would lead with songs.

“When he rose to fame; sometimes, I would call him, and he wouldn’t pick up his calls. But, he would call me back and say, “Sir, I am in the studio rehearsing.” He was busy with his music, and he told me that immediately he had inspirations, he would write down the lyrics in a jotter and later develop them.

“When he became popular, I was very happy that I had somebody who was not a doctor or pilot, but a musician. He was a real imole (light) of afrobeats music.

“He was a child of promise; a star. Before his death, he got to a level where if one tuned in to any radio station, one would hear his songs. When people learnt that he passed through this school, they began to ask how I coped with him. It was after his death that people got to know he was a product of Abifab College. Now, I receive condolences as if I was his biological father. His seniors and juniors call me from different places, including the United Kingdom, expressing their condolences. He was a star that we lost too early.”

I don’t know why Mohbad joined Naira Marley, he passed NECO at one sitting – Ex-principal

News

UK deports 43 to Nigeria, Ghana over immigration offences

Published

1 day ago

April 26, 2025

Trends Admin

UK deports 43 to Nigeria, Ghana over immigration offences

The United Kingdom has deported 43 individuals to Nigeria and Ghana, citing immigration offences, including failed asylum applications and criminal convictions.

In a joint statement released by the Home Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) on Friday, UK authorities confirmed the removal but did not specify the exact date of the deportations.

According to the statement, the deportees included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign nationals who had completed prison sentences. An additional seven individuals reportedly returned to their home countries voluntarily.

“Those removed had no right to be in the UK and included 15 failed asylum seekers and 11 foreign national offenders who had served their sentences. Seven people returned voluntarily,” the statement noted.

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However, the government did not clarify how many were sent to each country or confirm if all were nationals of Nigeria and Ghana.

Since Prime Minister Keir Starmer took office, the UK has organized two charter deportation flights to Nigeria and Ghana, removing a total of 87 people. In October, a record 44 individuals were deported in a single flight to both countries.

This shift comes after the collapse of the controversial UK-Rwanda migration deal, which was ruled unlawful by the UK Supreme Court in 2023. The deal aimed to relocate asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing and resettlement.

In response, the UK reportedly signed a deportation agreement with Nigeria to facilitate the return of undocumented migrants.

Following the latest flight, UK Border Security and Asylum Minister Angela Eagle expressed gratitude to the Nigerian and Ghanaian governments for their cooperation, calling the operation an example of strong international collaboration.

The UK government also noted that over 24,000 individuals have been removed from the country over the past year—an 11% increase compared to the previous year.

UK deports 43 to Nigeria, Ghana over immigration offences

News

Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances

Published

2 days ago

April 26, 2025

Trends Admin

Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members posted to Zamfara State are set to receive double their previous state allowances following a directive by Governor Dauda Lawal.

The governor made this known on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ Stream I orientation course in Gusau. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Malam Abubakar Nakwada, Lawal reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to corps members’ security and welfare.

“I am happy to inform you that I have directed the resumption of payment of state allowances to all corps members in the state.“I have also directed the upward increments of corps members’ allowances by 100 percent.“My administration is also willing to pay special allowances to the medical corps members serving in the state,” he stated.

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He also encouraged the 550 corps members deployed to Zamfara to embrace the state’s cultural heritage and traditions.

“I assure corps members of adequate security and warm hospitality throughout their year of service in the state.“I wish to reiterate that we will pay full attention to your security and welfare.“We will give you all the necessary support to carry out your duties and will provide everything necessary to make your stay here a memorable one,” the governor added.

In his remarks, NYSC State Coordinator Mohammad Ahmad expressed gratitude for the state government’s ongoing backing of the scheme.

“We appreciate the state government for adequate provision of additional facilities as well as approval for the payment of state allowances to corps members,” Ahmad said.

Zamfara okays 100% increase in NYSC members’ state allowances

News

Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

Published

4 days ago

April 24, 2025

Trends Admin

Just in: Factional Zamfara assembly leaders want governor to represent budget

A factional House of Assembly has emerged in Zamfara state with members demanding the re-presentation of the 2025 Appropriation Bill by Governor Dauda Lawal.

The group, made up of nine lawmakers who were suspended in February 2024 over allegations of misconduct, conspiracy, and illegal sitting, convened in Gusau, the state capital, and declared the formation of a parallel legislative body.

At the session, the lawmakers elected Hon. Bashir Aliyu Gummi as Speaker of the factional assembly.

During the sitting, the faction addressed several issues, including the state’s deteriorating security situation, economic challenges, and the recent reports of mass sackings within the state civil service allegedly carried out by the Lawal administration.

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The group further demanded that Governor Lawal re-present the 2025 budget, arguing that the process followed in its initial passage was flawed. The governor had originally submitted the N545 billion Appropriation Bill to the widely-known State House of Assembly led by Speaker Bilyaminu Ismail Moriki in December 2024. The bill was passed and signed into law that same month.

Present at Wednesday’s session were Hon. Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South), Ibrahim Tudu Tukur (Bakura), Nasiru Abdullahi Maru (Maru North), and Faruk Musa Dosara (Maradun 1). Others included Bashar Aliyu (Gummi 1), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Amiru Ahmed (Tsafe West), Basiru Bello (Bungudu West), and Mukhtaru Nasiru (Kaura Namoda North).