IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

After Chelsea's star man Cole Palmer was ruled out in the warm-up of the Premier League encounter at West Ham, teenage sensation Estevao Willian stepped up to show why Blues fans have been so excited about his arrival.

The 18-year-old replaced England international Palmer for his first Premier League start, but gave the ball away with a flick for Lucas Paqueta's stunning sixth-minute opener for the hosts. Yet that didn't faze the Brazilian forward as he proved why Chelsea were willing to pay £29m to bring him to Stamford Bridge, most notably with his first-half assist for Enzo Fernandez as the Fifa Club World Cup winners eventually cruised to a 5-1 victory.

That smart run and pull-back for Fernandez's close-range finish made Estevao, at the age of 18 years and 120 days, the youngest Chelsea player to assist a goal in the Premier League. "He needs to adapt, he needs to make many mistakes to understand how the Premier League is different to Brazil," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca told BBC Sport.

"We conceded after he did the flick. He needs to understand, but he is a fantastic player." 

The Federal Government is currently discussing a loan funding of $238 million from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to expand Nigeria’s national electricity grid network, especially the transmission segment of the power value chain. This was part of the outcome of deliberations at the just-concluded Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, where the Nigerian delegation was led by President Bola Tinubu, and attended by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and others.

The national delegation held high-level engagements with Japanese stakeholders, including Toshiba, Hitachi, Japan’s Transmission & Distribution Corporation, and Energy Exchange corporations, focusing on transmission infrastructure, operational efficiency, and strategies to reduce system losses. The proposed loan was built on the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) approvals for counterpart funding of ₦19 billion to catalyse a loan funding of $238 million from the JICA.

The loan funding will support the expansion of the national grid with the addition of 102.95km of new 330kV double circuit (DC) line, 104.59km of new 132kV double circuit (DC) line, four 330/132/33kV substations, two132/33kv substations, two 330kV line bays extension, two 132kV line bays extension, and one 132kV Substation. The Minister also announced that Nigeria is advancing a $190 million renewable energy loan facility supported by the JICA, designed to scale distributed renewable energy solutions across underserved communities. This builds on the recently launched $750 million World Bank Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme under the Mission 300 Compact, which aims to bring clean and reliable electricity to more than 17 million Nigerians.

In parallel, three substations funded by JICA through a $32 million grant are set for commissioning in Apo (FCT), Keffi (Nasarawa State), and Apapa (Lagos State). The projects will directly strengthen supply reliability to households, businesses, and industrial clusters, including critical facilities such as the Lagos Port and surrounding industrial areas. In addition, through the partnership with JICA, Adelabu said the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria (NAPTIN) has commissioned a state-of-the-art training equipment in Abuja to strengthen the skills of distribution engineers and tackle network losses.

The facility is designed to deepen local expertise and promote long-term sustainability in sector operations through capacity development, which remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s power sector strategy. 

The Abia State government has dismissed claims that it spent ₦7bn on Smart Schools, calling the reports false. Special Adviser on Education, Kenechukwu Nwosu, clarified that a July 12 contract for 20 Green Smart Schools costs less than ₦7bn, with School Road Primary School, Umuahia, as the pilot. 

He said phase one is completed, while phase two is delayed by drainage works. The schools will feature renewable energy, smart boards, digital tablets, CCTV, and AI-driven learning. 

An erudite technocrat and Executive Director of Fidelity Bank, Sir Stanley Amuchie, has stated that the School can thrive when its alumni network strongly, make massive financial contributions and collectively execute developmental projects on the Campus.

Hence, he urged IMSU alumni to be committed and work strongly on one page in order to lift their alma mater, thereby improving academics and moral excellence.

Amuchie stated this while presenting a Keynote Address titled "Reunion, Renewal And The Power Of Giving Back", organized by Imo State University Alumni Association (IMSUAA), held at the University's Auditorium, on Friday.

He underscored that the state government alone cannot build the school to a glorifying status, explaining that there are multiple effects when alumni gave back to their alma mater.

"When alumni invest in their alma mater, the returns multiply exponentially. Harvard's example is instructive - 77% of donations were less than $250, yet collectively they create transformative impact. Every contribution matters", Amuchie said.

Amuchie emphasized that when IMSU alumni network corldinates very strongly they would be able to make collective or individual impact that would grow their alma mater and hence advance teaching and learning; hinting that "global universities thrive on strong alumni networks. More than 30000 College alumni give to Harvard University each year, supporting everything from financial aid to research facilities".

He told the alumni to adopt the Princeton University, Harvard University, Oxford University and the Cambridge models with Law alumni renovating the law library, the Engineering graduates equipping workshops, Medical alumni upgrading laboratory facilities, among others.

Being a proud Imo son, the seasoned banker and Executive Director, harped critically on the alumni mentoring the students, reflecting that "infrastructure needs updating, research facilities require modernization, our students deserve learning environment that match their ambitions".

"The gap between what you had and what current students need has widened as technology has transformed education globally, yet many of the classrooms remain frozen in time. This is where your collective responsibility begins, not to bemoan what is lacking, but to bridge the gap between current reality and future possibilities", he added.

He extended gratitude to the University for the sacrifices the put through in impacting academic knowledge and skills to the younger generation and all those who seek knowledge; promising to intensify contributions to add to the growth of the University through impact driven alumni partnership.

"But today is not just about nostalgia. It is about reconnecting with your roots while planting measurable seeds for the future. It is about understanding that your success stories remain incomplete until you help write new chapters for those who come after you", Amuchie said.

Hailing the alumnus for the insightful Keynote Address and the selfless donation of the sanitation items to IMSU, IMSUAA President General, Dr. Charles Nwosu, disclosed that Operation Keep IMSU Clean 2025, is not just only to maintain neatness, but to nurture a culture of excellence, responsibility and pride.

The highlight of the event was the official handover of 8 pieces of Lawnmower Machine, 24 pieces of Bin, 12 Rolls of Extra Thick Disposal Bags donated to the university by Sir Stanley Amuchie to facilitate Operation Keep IMSU Clean Project initiated by IMSUAA. 

By Anselem Anokwute, Owerri

The Ihitteafoukwu Autonomous Community in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State was aglow with colour, culture, and celebration as it held a grand coronation ceremony for its new traditional ruler, His Royal Majesty Eze Dr. Okwudiri Divine Nwandu, Akaraka III of Ihitteafoukwu Ancient Kingdom.

The well-attended event was a double celebration, marking not only the coronation of the monarch but also the annual Iriji (New Yam) Festival—a thanksgiving for a bountiful 2025 harvest. The festivities took place at the royal palace and drew crowds from across the state and beyond.

One of the major highlights was the traditional wrestling competition, which featured representatives from various villages within the Ihitteafoukwu Ancient Kingdom. Mr. Thaddeus Ononiwu emerged overall champion and was crowned Mr. Ihitteafoukwu 2025, receiving a cash prize of ₦700,000. Ebegbulem Peter came in second with ₦500,000, while Somtochukwu Enwerem and Chukwunenye Egwim clinched the third and fourth positions, taking home ₦300,000 and ₦200,000 respectively.

The wrestling event, supervised by Mr. Chika Umeyo (popularly known as Oka Mgba Imo), President of the Imo State Wrestling Association, was conducted in line with international standards. Primary health workers were on ground to ensure safety and manage any emergencies.

In his address, Eze Okwudiri Divine Nwandu emphasized the cultural importance of the inter-village wrestling competition, describing it as a tool for youth engagement, community cohesion, and crime prevention. He highlighted the need to revive cultural values that promote discipline, hard work, and peace.

“I want to reawaken the consciousness of our youth toward productive ventures and reduce involvement in drug abuse and criminality,” the monarch stated. He also pledged to introduce additional sporting and cultural initiatives to harness local talent and promote job creation within the community.

The monarch thanked the people of Ihitteafoukwu for their unity and support, promising to lead with humility, fairness, and a spirit of brotherhood, regardless of political or religious affiliations.

The event also reflected interfaith harmony, as dignitaries from various religious backgrounds joined in the celebration. Notably present was the Chief Imam of Imo State, Barr. Suleman Yusuf Njoku, a proud son of Ihitteafoukwu, alongside Alhaji Prince Bashir Uwakwe, President of the Imo State Muslim Community, and Imam Aminu Ahmed. They described Eze Nwandu as a God-sent leader—young, God-fearing, and compassionate—capable of bringing progress to the community.

Other prominent guests who spoke at the event included HRH Eze Samuel Ekezie (Eze Igbo of Accra, Ghana), Hon. Princess Doris Tony Anyanwu, Dr. Chinedu Anyanwu (Miri na Ezuroha I of Ihitteafoukwu), and Chief Nduka Okoro of Egberede Nguru. Also in attendance were Hon. Larry Chikwe, Executive Chairman of Ahiazu Mbaise LGA, Chief Emeka Anyandu, Chief Francis Nzenwata, Hon. Val Echebelem, Chief Ugochukwu Angus Okoro (Agbara Mbaise), Chief Chima Onuoha, Chief Peter Dede, and Barr. Chidi Ojinere, Prince of Oil Kingdom, "the Joke is over".

The cultural grandeur was elevated by performances from women’s dance troupes, Mbaise cultural groups, and music ensembles including Okunwa Mama and Ababa Nna. The event was compered by veteran broadcaster Chief Joe Ihioma of IBC Orient FM/TV (retired), who added his signature style and flair to the occasion.

With traditional leaders (Ndi Obi) of Ihitteafoukwu adorned in regal attire, the coronation of Eze Nwandu Akaraka III marked a historic milestone and set the tone for a renewed era of peace, unity, and cultural renaissance in Ihitteafoukwu Autonomous Community.

This season is set to be the most important in Mikel Arteta's five and a half years in charge of Arsenal. They have revamped their squad with £190m worth of signings as they look to win the Premier League for the first time in 21 years.

The Gunners have finished second for the past three seasons in a row but have now made a big push over the summer to end that drought.

Arsenal have added two important cogs to the spine of their team with the signing of midfielder Martin Zubimendi and striker Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal - who begin their campaign away to Manchester United on Sunday (kick-off 16:30 BST) - believe they are now ready to win the league this season.