By Ajibola Amzat I had been trying for months to interview Dapo Olorunyomi, the publisher of Premium Times, popularly referred to as Dapsy, and he had been “running away” from me, as he later admitted when he finally agreed to a one-on-one interview at his office on Mabolo street, Abuja. It is easy to look past that shortcoming. Dapsy himself is a gracious man: always noble and generous in overlooking the mistakes of others. I got that impression from many people who had encountered him. A complex and contradictory personality In a book of tributes titled Testimony to Courage, published…
Author: Development Reporting
The Alumni Association of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has hailed the appointment of a professor of soil ecosystem, Joshua Ogunwole, as the institution’s 5th substantive vice chancellor. A statement issued at the weekend by the association and signed by its President, Temitope Arogundade, describes the appointment as “a defining moment that promises renewed academic vibrancy, strengthened administration, and deeper global engagement for the institution.” According to Mr Arogundade, Mr Ogunwole’s appointment has been widely commended by critical stakeholders in the university’s project, saying his choice is “a testament to his scholarly pedigree, transformational leadership style, and purposeful vision for…
The African Union Commission (AUC) has reaffirmed its commitment to the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, religious freedom, and the rule of law, as enshrined in the African Union Constitutive Act and related instruments. The commission said this in a statement on its official social media handles on Friday, expressing concern over recent statements by the United States President Donald Trump, alleging that Nigeria’s government is complicit in the targeted killing of Christians and threatening military action. The AUC named Nigeria as its longstanding and valued member state, playing a key role in regional stability, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping initiatives, and continental integration.…
The authorities at the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Thursday announced the appointment of a new substantive vice chancellor to take over from Abayomi Fasina, a professor of soil sciences, who is billed to end his tenure in February, 2026. A statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Foluso Ogunmodede, noted that the appointment was made by the institution’s governing council. The newly appointed VC, Joshua Ogunwole, a professor of soil ecosystem, is the incumbent deputy vice chancellor in charge of Strategic Partnership Research, Innovation and Linkages. ALSO READ: Nigerian pensioners threaten nationwide naked protest over unpaid arrears The…
A total of 14 journalists across print, online, and broadcast media have been selected by DevReporting to participate in a story project on the education sector in Oyo State, Southwest Nigeria. The successful ones, according to a statement signed by DevReporting’s Programme Manager, Samson Ademola, were drawn from a pool of about 40 journalists whose pitches were received before the deadline set for the application. The newspaper had, in September, asked journalists based in Oyo State or other nearby states to submit compelling story ideas exploring transparency and accountability in education financing, gender-responsive planning and budgeting, barriers to girls’ education,…
The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has announced plans to stage a nationwide naked protest on Monday, 24 November, to draw attention to what they describe as years of neglect, unpaid arrears, and worsening hardship among retired public workers. According to the retirees, the decision was reached after a meeting held at General Post Office (GPO) Marina, Lagos, on Tuesday. They also fixed a press conference for Tuesday, 11 November, to mobilise members across the country ahead of the protest. In a statement signed by the National Chairman of the coalition, Mukaila Ogunbote, who is also the chairman of…
By Malik Samuel and Dr. Ola Bello The recent threat by United States President Donald Trump to authorise military action in Nigeria has ignited unease both within and outside the country. His remarks, reportedly grounded in allegations of a so-called genocide against Christians, risk injecting volatility into an already fragile security environment. While such statements may appear as mere political rhetoric, they carry serious implications that Nigeria – and indeed the United States – cannot afford to ignore. It is possible that Trump’s comment was intended as a diplomatic lever; a way to compel Nigerian authorities to respond more decisively…
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced an extension of the deadline for the conclusion of admission into the public universities in Nigeria, “due to some emergent and compelling circumstances.” Earlier in July, at the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, chaired by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, a medical doctor, the deadline for admissions into public universities was fixed for Friday, 31 October, so that admissions into private universities and other tertiary institutions could be addressed. JAMB, in a statement signed by its Public Communication Advisor (PCA), Fabian Benjamin, said the new deadline has been fixed for…
“The most critical country for the future of sub-Saharan Africa is Nigeria.” When Bill Gates made the above statement earlier this year at the Bloomberg Philanthropies Global Forum 2025, he captured what economists, demographers, and security experts have long understood. Africa’s future — its prosperity, stability, and influence — will depend above all on what happens in Nigeria. With an estimated 231 million people in 2023, Nigeria accounts for close to one fifth of sub-Saharan Africa’s population. By 2050, with a population of 440 million people, Nigeria will be the third most populous country in the world after India and…
Media and development practitioner, Samson Ademola, has joined DevReporting as Associate Editor and Programme Manager under a partnership designed to strengthen the organisation’s editorial systems, development communication practice, and programme delivery. In this role, he will provide advisory and coordination support across editorial planning, project design, and monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL), while working with the DevReporting team to deepen storytelling innovation and strengthen learning systems around development issues. DevReporting, a niche media and cinematic platform that focuses on development issues in Nigeria, and Africa by extension, has developed a few programmatic initiatives aimed at addressing noticeable gaps in development…