Hello and welcome! In today’s trending news stories;
1. Bill Gates described Nigeria’s tax collection as “pretty low” during his address at Nutrivision 2024, a youth dialogue on nutrition in Abuja. He suggested that Nigeria could become a net food exporter if proper credit facilities, advice to farmers, and soil surveys were implemented. Gates said agricultural productivity was important, especially in rural northern areas, to boost income, equity, and nutrition. He also mentioned the need for better funding of health programs, urging Nigeria to prioritize efficient public healthcare systems to build citizens’ confidence in government initiatives.
2. Julius Abure’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the Labour Party (LP) has dismissed the 29-member caretaker committee, led by Nenadi Usman, to prevent a leadership vacuum. Abure whose tenure ended on June 10, 2024, according to a communique released by the party after a meeting in Abia State, labeled it as illegal and unconstitutional. The party established the committee to represent various interests including organizing ward, local, state, and national congresses.
3. Nigerians are calling for justice for Idowu Christianah, a young woman kidnapped and killed by an acquaintance, Adeleye Ayomide, a 200-level student at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). Christianah went missing on August 19 after her abductors, using her WhatsApp, demanded a ₦1.5 million ransom. Her family raised ₦350,000, which was sent to a betting account linked to Ayomide. After the payment, communication ceased. Investigators tracked the bank accounts and arrested Ayomide on August 29, uncovering incriminating evidence. Ayomide later confessed to killing and burying Christianah. The case has sparked outrage, with the hashtag #JusticeForChristianah trending on social media. There are also suspicions that Ayomide may be connected to the deaths of his ex-girlfriend in 2018 and his sister in 2020.
4. Senator John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development has praised Esther Nworgu for winning Nigeria’s second medal, a silver, in the women’s 41kg para-powerlifting category at the Paris Paralympic Games. Nworgu set two Paralympic records, lifting 118 kg, just 1 kg short of the gold, which went to China’s Zhe Cui. Her earlier lifts of 106 kg and 112 kg already marked her as a strong competitor. Enoh celebrated her achievement in a post, expressing pride in her performance and Team Nigeria’s overall success, which also includes Eniola Bolaji’s historic bronze in Para badminton. The minister urged the athletes to continue striving for more podium finishes.
5. Ugandan Olympic marathon runner Rebecca Cheptegei, 33, has died after being set on fire by her former boyfriend, Dickson Ndiema, during a land dispute in Trans Nzoia, Kenya. The attack occurred on Sunday, August 31, 2024, and Cheptegei succumbed to severe burns after being hospitalized. Police reported that Ndiema, who also sustained burns, is in intensive care. Cheptegei had recently competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics, finishing 44th in the marathon, and won gold at the 2022 World Mountain and Trail Running Championships. Her death follows the recent killings of other East African athletes, sparking widespread outrage and calls for justice.
6. Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated for the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or award. The 26-year-old Atalanta player is the only African among the 30 nominees. Lookman played a key role in Atalanta’s historic European trophy win, scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final. He had a strong season, with 17 goals and 11 assists for his club. He also contributed to Nigeria’s runner-up finish in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scoring two goals. Notably, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are absent from this year’s list, which features prominent players like Jude Bellingham, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé.
