IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

Team Nigeria has delivered a sensational performance at the 2025 African Senior Weightlifting Championship in Moka, Mauritius, closing out its campaign with an impressive 18 medals — 13 gold, 4 silver, and 1 bronze in a show of strength that reaffirms the country’s dominance on the continental stage. On the final day of competition, Sarah Ovayioza stole the spotlight in the women’s 76kg category, lifting a combined 237kg across the snatch, clean, and jerk events. Her flawless routine earned her a trio of gold medals, igniting cheers from spectators and rounding off Nigeria’s campaign in spectacular fashion.

Earlier in the championship, Ruth Imoleayo Ayodele claimed three gold medals in the women’s 64kg category, while Onome Omolola Didih replicated the feat in the 55kg division with a commanding performance that left no room for challengers. Rafiatu Folashade Lawal, a two-time African Games gold medallist and Commonwealth Games champion, maintained her winning streak in the women’s 59kg event. Her lifts of 95kg in the snatch and 118kg in the clean and jerk secured yet another trio of golds for Nigeria.

In the men’s events, Umoafia Joseph Edidiong clinched gold in the 73kg snatch with a 147kg lift, and added two silvers in the clean and jerk. Meanwhile, Tuesday Emmanuel contributed two silver medals and a bronze in the 67kg class, finishing with a combined lift of 276kg. Although the championship continues through April 28, Nigeria has concluded its events and exits the tournament as one of the top-performing nations. The 18-medal haul is one of the country’s best in recent memory and signals a continued upward trajectory for Nigerian weightlifting on the international stage. 

Many had woken up at dawn while others slept in their cars before Catholic faithful poured into St Peter’s Square from all corners of the globe on Saturday, fuelled by a desire to honour Pope Francis. As the first rays of the day rose over the sprawling Baroque plaza, mourners rushed towards empty chairs once they had passed through metal detectors, anxious for a front-row seat to history.

Among them was Jean-Baptiste Leclezio, a 22-year-old from Lyon, who slept on the ground overnight at the seat of the Catholic Church to be among the first to enter for the funeral of Francis, who died on Monday age 88. “We took floor mats and sleeping bags and we slept there with 400 people, a lot of young people, scouts,” he told AFP. “There were people singing all night but we managed to sleep,” he said.

Australian Eloise Bird, 38, said she was tired but happy to have made it into the square after having queued up since 5:15 am with her four children. Determined to make the most of a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” she said it had been “very hard getting in here”.

“There was so much pushing. The little children were just getting squished from every side,” she said. “We know that it’s not the end for him, God willing, he’s going to heaven and he will live for eternity there,” she said of the Argentine pontiff.

Peruvian social worker Gabriela Lazo, 41, said she and her family had arrived on Friday in Rome and “spent the whole night here in the car”. “Being at the funeral with my family and being able to hear the mass is the most beautiful thing,” she said. “We would have liked to see him in person… but thank God and him that we are here at this moment.” 

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, has announced the release of ₦50 billion by the Federal Government to the academic and non-academic staff unions of federal universities for the settlement of earned allowances, as promised by President Bola Tinubu.

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Director of Press at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo. Boriowo described the move “as yet another testament to Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to fundamentally transform Nigeria’s education sector. It reflects the administration’s bold resolve to transition the nation from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy through strategic investments in education, infrastructure, and human capital.”

“This intervention is not just a financial transaction—it is a reaffirmation of our President’s belief in the capacity of Nigerian youth and the invaluable role that academic and non-academic staff play in nurturing them,” she quoted the minister as saying. “By prioritising their welfare, we are laying the foundation for a future where every Nigerian child receives highly qualitative and globally competitive education.”

Alausa expressed Tinubu’s heartfelt appreciation to the academic and non-academic unions for their sustained trust in his administration and for fostering an atmosphere of peace and cooperation across Nigeria’s federal institutions. “Notably, the country is currently experiencing one of the longest uninterrupted academic sessions in recent history—a feat attributed to the mutual understanding and shared commitment between the government and the university community,” the statement read. 

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has summoned officials of the FCT Administration, Julius Berger, and Abuja Investments Company Limited over an unauthorised subcontract in the International Conference Centre renovation.

During a site visit, Wike expressed disapproval after learning that furniture installation was reassigned without his approval, insisting the contract was solely awarded to Julius Berger.

He demanded explanations from the involved parties and warned that any irregularities would be met with strict sanctions. Despite commending the overall work quality, Wike stressed the need for transparency and adherence to due process. 

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Nigeria to enhance efficiency in government spending and improve revenue mobilization to manage its rising debt burden and economic uncertainties.

Speaking at the Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington, Davide Furceri, Deputy Division Chief in the IMF’s Research Department, emphasized the need for stronger fiscal discipline, targeted investments, and social spending.

The IMF’s April 2025 Fiscal Monitor projects Nigeria’s debt-to-GDP ratio will decline from 52.9% in 2024 to 45.4% by 2030. However, the Fund warned that global debt pressures—exacerbated by trade tensions—require countries like Nigeria to adopt prudent, transparent, and targeted fiscal strategies.

Furceri stressed the importance of building strong fiscal institutions and frameworks to ensure stability and reduce uncertainty. 

Chairman of the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG), Prof. Peter Okebukola, has announced that 501 blind candidates will take the 2025 UTME across 11 centres nationwide on April 28–29.

Okebukola confirmed that the candidates will write the same exams as others without lowered standards. He also revealed that 84 SSCE-qualified blind candidates will have their registration fees refunded on-site.

Since 2017, JAMB has supported blind candidates with free accommodation, meals, transport aid, and exam materials under the leadership of Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede.

This year’s exam will feature two formats: Fully-Braille and Fully Read-Aloud. Lagos and Kano have the highest number of blind candidates, with experienced professors coordinating the centres.