News

Cash Gifts to TeenEagle Winners, a Personal Gesture from Education Minister, FG Clarifies

Published

3 months ago

September 4, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Education, has clarified the reports making the rounds concerning monetary rewards given to the winners of the just concluded TeenEagle competition, saying it has nothing to do with the federal government.

In a statement dated September 3, 2025, and signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Ministry noted that the monetary rewards was a private show of gesture by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, and not the federal government’s assisted reward.

The statement further clarified that the “Ministry’s financial provisions are strictly dedicated to scholarships and structured educational support, in line with government policy, which is only available to students entering or currently studying at our public tertiary institutions universities, colleges of education and polytechnics,” adding that the minister’s kindness “should therefore be understood for what it is a personal act of generosity and encouragement, intended to celebrate the achievements of these young girls and inspire other Nigerian children to reach greater heights.”

Read the statement in full:

CLARIFICATION ON MONETARY GIFTS PRESENTED TO TEENEAGLE 2024/2025 WINNERS

The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to misinformation circulating on social media regarding the monetary gifts presented to the eight Nigerian winners of the TeenEagle 2024/2025 Global Competition in the United Kingdom.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry wishes to state categorically that the monetary tokens presented at the national recognition event held on Thursday, 28th August 2025, were personal gifts from the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa. These gifts were not funded by the Federal Government or the Federal Ministry of Education.

This fact was clearly announced during the event and further reiterated by the Honourable Minister on his verified social media handle. Any claims suggesting otherwise are false and misleading.

Dr. Alausa emphasised that, “this gift was just a token of my appreciation of the effort made by these young girls and to also serve as encouragement to other girls and young children in Nigeria to excel”.

It must also be underscored that the Federal Ministry of Education does not have any budgetary allocation for cash awards or monetary gifts. The Ministry’s financial provisions are strictly dedicated to scholarships and structured educational support, in line with government policy, which is only available to students entering or currently studying at our public tertiary institutions universities, colleges of education and polytechnics.

The Honourable Minister’s gesture should therefore be understood for what it is a personal act of generosity and encouragement, intended to celebrate the achievements of these young girls and inspire other Nigerian children to reach greater heights.

The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to recognising excellence, building a robust and globally competitive education system, and delivering on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR’s vision of education as the cornerstone of national development. Every Nigerian child deserves access to worldclass learning opportunities, and this remains our unwavering priority.

This clarification should lay to rest any misinformation as we continue to encourage all Nigerian children
to pursue excellence and reach the highest levels of academic achievement.

Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations

News

Appeal Court Affirms Ruling Barring VIO from Impounding Vehicles, Fining Motorists

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday upheld the judgment that stopped the Directorate of Road Traffic Services and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) from seizing vehicles or imposing fines on motorists.

In a unanimous decision by a three-member panel, the appellate court found no basis to set aside the Federal High Court’s ruling of October 16, 2024, which restrained the VIO from harassing motorists.

The appeal filed by the VIO was dismissed for lacking merit. Justice Oyejoju Oyewumi delivered in the lead judgment.

The high court had earlier ruled, in a judgment by Justice Nkeonye Maha, that no law authorizes the VIO to stop motorists, impound vehicles, or impose penalties for alleged traffic offences.

The case arose from a fundamental rights suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023) filed by lawyer Abubakar Marshal.

Marshal informed the court that VIO officials stopped him at Jabi in Abuja on December 12, 2023, and seized his vehicle without lawful reason. He asked the court to determine whether their actions violated his rights.

Justice Maha agreed and ordered the VIO and its agents not to impound vehicles or impose fines on motorists, describing the actions as unlawful. She held that only a court can impose fines or sanctions.

She ruled that the VIO’s conduct breached the applicant’s constitutional right to property under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 14 of the African Charter. She further held that the VIO has no legal authority to seize vehicles or penalize motorists, as doing so infringes on rights to fair hearing, movement and presumption of innocence.

Although Marshal, represented by Femi Falana, SAN, requested ₦500 million in damages and a public apology, the court awarded ₦2.5 million.

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services, its Director, its Abuja Area Commander at the time (identified as Mr. Leo), team leader Solomon Onoja, and the FCT Minister were listed as respondents.

They appealed the decision, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal.

News

Tinubu Nominates Ibas, Dambazau, Enang, Ohakim As Ambassadors

Published

3 days ago

December 4, 2025

Eric

President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, the immediate past sole administrator of Rivers State and a former Chief of Naval Staff, as a non-career ambassador.

Tinubu also nominated Ita Enang, a former senator; Chioma Ohakim, former First Lady of Imo State; and Abdulrahman Dambazau, former Minister of Interior and ex-Chief of Army Staff, as non-career ambassadors.

News

Senate Confirms Chris Musa As New Defence Minister

Published

4 days ago

December 3, 2025

Eric

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed General Christopher Musa, the former Chief of Defence Staff, as the country’s new Minister of Defence.

The announcement was contained in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu.

Musa, who retired from the military just 40 days ago, was nominated by President Tinubu on Tuesday to succeed former Defence Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, who stepped down on health grounds.

According to Onanuga’s statement, the Senate approved Musa’s appointment on Wednesday through a voice vote, following a thorough screening session during which lawmakers posed numerous questions.

“Senate confirms Gen. Christopher Musa as Minister of Defence The Senate has confirmed the former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, as the Minister of Defence. The Senate confirmed Musa on Wednesday via a voice vote after a rigorous screening session in which lawmakers asked him many questions,” the statement read in part.