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Scotland Varsity appoints Nigerian as Chancellor
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 24-year-old African champion had reached the semi-finals of the event at the Rio Games in 2016, clocking 12.91.
Amusan is also due to represent Nigeria in the women’s 4x100m relay event.
An inspirational entrepreneur renowned for her passionate commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion has been named University of the West of Scotland’s Chancellor-elect.
The university made this known via a statement on its website.
Yekemi Otaru, a tireless passionate supporter of women in business and an active mentor of business owners in the world’s poorest countries, will formally take up the role of Chancellor at the University of the West of Scotland on 1 September 2021, succeeding Dame Elish Angiolini.
Yekemi, 42, holds four degrees and has considerable industrial experience in engineering and marketing.
She is Co-Founder and Executive Director at Doqaru Limited, a prominent Aberdeen-based sales and marketing consultancy.
She is also a board member of Interface, which connects a wide range of organisations from national and international industries to Scotland’s universities, research institutes and colleges, matching them with world-leading academic expertise to help them grow. A bestselling author and social media expert, Yekemi is also known for her innovative use of platforms such as LinkedIn.
As Chancellor, Yekemi will hold formal powers to confer degrees, diplomas and other academic distinctions, and will represent UWS at key events as an advocate and dignitary.
Yekemi said, “I am honoured to have been appointed Chancellor-elect of University of the West of Scotland, following in the footsteps of a remarkable individual in Dame Elish Angiolini.
“We are all living through challenging times, and higher education plays a vital role in society and for our economy. I eagerly look forward to being part of the University, as it continues to carry out world-class research and knowledge transfer initiatives such as in the areas of healthcare and sports science.
“Now is the perfect time for me to be joining the University’s journey in inspiring and educating the next generation of graduates, equipped with the skills needed to help society recover from the pandemic.
Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at UWS, added: “I am delighted with Yekemi’s appointment as the University’s Chancellor-elect. Yekemi’s values very much align with those of UWS, from her passion for advancing equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) to her commitment to enterprise, and her appointment is reflective of our strategic mission to make a positive difference to wider society.
Yekemi is a remarkable example of entrepreneurship and a tremendous role model for our students and wider University community. I am delighted to welcome her to the UWS family.
Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor at UWS
“I would also like to pay tribute to Dame Elish Angiolini, who has been an outstanding Chancellor and ambassador for the University. I am deeply grateful for the committed and inspirational role she has played in our UWS community.”
The appointment represents another important moment in UWS’s history, as the role of Chancellor passes from one major figure to another.
Dame Elish, who steps down from the role, said: “It has been a great honour to represent UWS as its Chancellor, and I have truly enjoyed each one of my eight years in this role. Yekemi has my very best wishes and I am sure that she will enjoy being part of the very welcoming UWS community.”
Ellie Gomersall, President of the Students’ Union at UWS, said, “Yekemi is a great fit for the role as Chancellor of the University. UWS is a 21st century university and, with Yekemi’s impressive background in social media and as a woman in engineering, her modern approach will be really welcomed. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with her and see what we can achieve together.”
Yekemi’s appointment comes at an exciting time for UWS, and follows last year’s launch of Strategy 2025 – a bold vision laying out the foundations for the University to achieve even greater excellence on the world stage.
Yekemi is the first of three children of Dr Raphael and Mrs Sarah Awoseyin of Ayedun in Oke-Ero Local Government Area of Kwara State. Her younger siblings are Mrs Adenike Onyia (a geologist and educationist based in the UK) and Raphael Segun Awoseyin (a software professional based in France).
She attended Auntie Rose Primary School at Ugborikoko in Warri and from there proceeded to Federal Government College, Warri, where she did only JSS1 before going to Oman with her parents in 1990.
She attended American British Academy (ABA)-a multi-racial high school in Muscat, Oman and returned to Nigeria in 1994 to complete her secondary education at Greater Tomorrow Secondary School (GTSS), Benin City.
From there, she proceeded to the University of Benin where she studied and graduated with a Second Class Upper Division in Chemical Engineering in 2002.
She got married to Gabriel Oghie Otaru-a Petroleum Engineer with Shell Petroleum, in Port Harcourt in March 2003 during her NYSC.
On completing her NYSC, she was selected by TotalFinaElf in Nigeria to be one of the 20 pioneer intakes into the collaborative MSc Petroleum Engineering programme of France’s Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) and University of Port Harcourt.
She was one of only six graduates of that programme pioneer set offered a permanent employment by TotalFinaElf. She soon moved to the UK when her husband – a Petroleum Engineer with Shell was transferred to Aberdeen.
In 2016, Yekemi teamed up with Sarah Downs to establish Doqaru Limited, providing knowledge-driven sales and marketing consultancy services to a variety of industries.
In 2016, Yekemi was named among the top 40 under-40 business innovators by Scottish Business News. In September 2018, she was appointed to the board at Interface, a public sector backed establishment helping Scottish businesses work more closely with academic institutions to drive innovative projects.
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News
VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
A resident of Lekki has expressed concern after spotting a group of suspected street boys moving around with machetes in the area, raising fresh fears over public safety in Lagos.
The incident, which was shared online, showed the individuals allegedly carrying cutlasses while walking through parts of the Lekki axis, a development that has sparked anxiety among residents and commuters.
According to the resident, the sighting occurred in broad daylight, prompting worries about the increasing presence of armed street gangs in Lagos communities. The individual called on authorities to urgently intervene and ensure the safety of lives and property in the area.
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The development has triggered reactions on social media, with many users expressing concern over the rising cases of youth violence, street gang activity, and insecurity in Lagos State. Some residents said such sightings have become more frequent, especially in rapidly developing urban areas.
As of the time of reporting, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command regarding the incident. However, security experts say visible patrols and rapid response measures are critical to preventing escalation.
Residents have been advised to remain vigilant, avoid confrontations, and report suspicious movements to security agencies.
The incident adds to ongoing concerns about urban safety and the need for stronger enforcement against illegal weapons possession and street violence in Lagos.
Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
Victor Moses | Black Axe | #PastorJerryEze | Wike | Michael Eneramo | Homophobic pic.twitter.com/swzLyPwaZ7
— Newstrends.Ng (@Newstrends_ng) April 24, 2026
VIDEO: Resident Raises Alarm Over Sighting of Armed Street Boys in Lekki
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News
Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing
Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing
The 72-hour ultimatum reportedly issued by Boko Haram-linked insurgents to the Nigerian government over the abduction of 416 residents in Borno State has expired without any official response, heightening fears over the fate of hundreds still in captivity.
The incident is linked to the March attack on Ngoshe community in Gwoza Local Government Area, where armed fighters stormed villages and a nearby military position, abducting civilians and displacing several others in one of the latest mass kidnapping incidents in the North-East.
Security sources and local community representatives confirmed that 12 abducted residents have escaped captivity, with reports indicating that the breakthrough occurred during a military operation in the area. According to accounts from one of the freed victims, Nigerian troops launched an offensive that forced the insurgents to flee, creating confusion that allowed some captives to escape while others were moved deeper into the forest.

404 Abducted Residents
Community groups, including the Borno South Youth Alliance, confirmed that the escapees consist of 10 women and two men, who are now receiving support in a safer location. Despite this development, at least 404 abducted persons remain missing, with growing concern among families over their safety and condition.
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Sources say the insurgents had demanded a ₦5 billion ransom, warning that failure to comply would lead to the permanent disappearance of the captives. The group also reportedly threatened to scatter victims across multiple hideouts if any military rescue attempt was launched, complicating ongoing security operations.
While efforts continue to trace the missing persons, insecurity in the region has worsened. At least 18 farmers and firewood collectors were killed in a separate ambush on the outskirts of Gwoza, with attackers targeting civilians working on their farms ahead of the rainy season. Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume confirmed the killings, describing the attack as deeply disturbing and calling for stronger protection of rural communities. Local officials warned that additional victims may still be unaccounted for.
Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have intensified counter-terrorism operations across the North-East, killing 24 insurgents in Kukareta during a separate encounter. Military authorities said the latest operations bring the total number of insurgents killed in recent days to 54, following earlier engagements around the Lake Chad region. Recovered weapons include rifles, machine guns, rocket-propelled launchers, and ammunition, while two soldiers were injured and an armoured vehicle sustained damage.
The worsening security situation has drawn political reactions from lawmakers and public officials. Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi blamed the ongoing insecurity on governance failures, calling for urgent national measures focused solely on restoring peace. He warned that Nigeria risks deeper instability if security is not prioritised above political activities.
In Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri visited communities affected by a separate attack in Hong Local Government Area, where at least nine people were killed. He pledged continued government support and security reinforcement for affected communities.
At the federal level, the House of Representatives has called for the deployment of additional security personnel to Borno and Kaduna States, warning that continued attacks could escalate into a wider humanitarian crisis in the North-East.
Humanitarian organisations say repeated attacks, mass abductions, and ongoing military operations are worsening displacement and food insecurity across the region. They warn that rural communities remain highly vulnerable as farming activities are disrupted and access to affected areas remains limited due to insecurity.
Boko Haram Ultimatum Expires as 404 Abducted Residents Remain Missing
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News
BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan
BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested Senate approval for a $516,333,007 external loan to finance key sections of the ambitious Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway project, a flagship infrastructure initiative aimed at boosting national connectivity.
The request was conveyed in a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio and read during Thursday’s plenary session.
According to the President, the proposed funding will support the execution of Section 1, Phase 1a and 1b, covering about 120 kilometres of the planned 1,000km highway corridor linking Nigeria’s Northwest to the Southwest.
Tinubu explained that the highway will originate from Illela in Sokoto State and pass through Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, and Ogun states before terminating in Badagry, Lagos State—creating a strategic economic route connecting inland production zones to coastal trade hubs.
The financing arrangement, the President noted, is structured as a syndicated loan from Deutsche Bank, backed by a partial risk guarantee from the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit, an arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group.
He added that the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding of ₦265.54 billion to cover land acquisition, compensation, and other ancillary infrastructure tied to the project.
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Details of the loan show a nine-year tenor, including a grace period of up to three years, with an interest rate capped at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) SOFR plus 5.3 percent annually.
Tinubu informed lawmakers that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has already approved the financing structure and urged the Senate to incorporate the loan into Nigeria’s rolling borrowing plan.
The President emphasized that the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway is expected to significantly enhance North-South connectivity, improve road safety, and reduce logistics and transportation costs across the country. He added that the project would strengthen trade, boost food security, and promote national cohesion by linking agricultural production zones to markets and ports.
The design also includes provisions for future development, with the central median reserved for rail integration and utility corridors, positioning the route as a multi-modal transport backbone.
Following the presentation, Akpabio referred the request to the Senate Committee on Foreign and Local Debts for further legislative scrutiny, with a report expected within one week.
Speaking in support of the project, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) described the highway as a long-awaited development, noting that it had been under consideration for over five decades.
Aliero said he had personally inspected ongoing work and expressed satisfaction with the progress, revealing that sections of the road are being constructed using both concrete and asphalt, alongside modern features such as solar-powered streetlights.
He projected that upon completion, travel time between Sokoto and Lagos could be reduced by more than 70 percent, cutting a typical 13-hour journey to about six hours.
The proposed loan forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader strategy to leverage external financing for large-scale infrastructure projects considered critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and regional integration.
BREAKING : President Tinubu Seeks Fresh $516m Loan
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