Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has approved the promotion and conversion of 2,061 civil servants, who participated in the 2024 promotion and conversation exercises in the state.

This was even as elated civil servants in the state expressed delight at the prioritisation of their welfare by the Mbah Administration through the prompt payments of salaries and emoluments, improved working environment and capacity.

The development was disclosed by the Chairman of Enugu State Civil Service Commission (ESCSC), Mr. Robison Odo, on Monday.

“The Executive Governor of the state recently gave his approval for the release of the promotion and conversion exercises of 2,061 officers who successfully partook in the 2024 promotion interviews.

“The promotion and conversion exercises affected officers from grade level 01 to grade level 17. On our part, we will waste no time in implementing His Excellency’s approval,” he added.

The chairman, who hailed Mbah for the prompt payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, said the governor had shown resilience and commitment to the welfare of workers in the state since the inception of his administration.

“We want to appreciate the governor in a special way for all he is doing for workers in the state. Despite the enormous work going on across every sector of the state, he still approved ₦80,000 minimum wage in 2024, which is beyond the national minimum wage benchmark,” he further stressed.

According to him, workers in the state would continue to support the governor’s programmes in order to achieve the goals set out by the administration for the benefits of the state.

“On our part, we will continue to instill discipline in the service with the commitment to foster creativity, innovation and productivity that would help the success of the government,” he said.

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In a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Ademola Adesoji, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, the management said in the road accident that occurred around Balogun area, Ikire, 10 lives were lost.

Relying on the report from the Nigeria Police and the Federal Road Safety Corps, Adesoji said the accident occurred when a bus coming from Ibadan and an 18-passenger bus that took off from Osogbo had a head-on collision, resulting in multiple casualties.

“Our university management, upon receiving this distressing news, swiftly dispatched a team to the scene to identify and support any of our students involved in the accident.
“Regrettably, we confirm the loss of the following students: 1. Olagbemide Dotun, a 200-level student of Software Engineering

“2. Suleiman Farouq Adedayo, a 400-level student of Law, 3. Ogundare Pelumi, a 300-level student of Public Health, 4. Ogundare Elijah, a 100-level student of Mechanical Engineering, 5. Olawuyi Mary, a 200-level student of Nursing.
“However, one of our students, Olagbemide Damilola, a 200-level student of Medicine and Surgery, survived the accident and is currently receiving medical attention. The police confirmed a total of 10 fatalities from this unfortunate incident,” Adesoji said.

Lamenting the loss, Adesoji said the management would be providing necessary moral and logistical support to the bereaved families, including funeral arrangements for the deceased students.
The statement added, “This tragic loss has deeply shaken our university community. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the deceased. We urge our students, staff, and the entire university community to remain calm and supportive during this difficult time.

“Osun State University will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving families and pray that they find strength and solace in this moment of grief.”

Punch Credited

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By Amaechi Agbo

Determined to equip the students with the requisite practical skills/know-how to make them better prepared to face the larger society after graduation, the Department of Computer Science, ESUT, recently held a one-day Programming Competition for the students titled “DEV-WAR”.

The competition which was held at the Information and Communication Technology Centre (ICTC) on February 28, 2025 had a total sum of three hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N350, 000. 00) prize money at stake.
The competition which was organised in collaboration with and industrial expert in Computer Software Development – “Digital Dreams Limited” lasted for five hours, from 11am to 4pm with the questions set in two sections. Out of the 69 registered students, only 9 turned up for the contest at the end of which winners were selected.

Although the identities of the winners are not yet made public, ESUT Monitor gathered that the winner scored 72%, first runner up, scored 63%, among others.
The winner will pocket home the sum of N200, 000 reward, the 1st runner up will get N100, 000 prize, while the 2nd runner up will be rewarded with N50, 000. The Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, will present the awards to the winners in his office on Wednesday 26th March 2025.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with ESUT Monitor, the Head, Computer Science Department, Engr Dr Ekene Ozioko said that the competition was a motivation driven-passion organized to upgrade the practical skills of the students to make them better prepared after graduation.

Engr Ozioko who expressed worry that majority of graduates could not write a working programme, noted that as the engine room of computing, Programming is critical. While noting that the competition will be a yearly event in order to encourage the students to take programming seriously, he equally added that the names of the winners will be in the departmental honour’s roll.

“The essence is that computer is all about programming and we observed that many students leave the university without having in-depth knowledge about computer programming and still have phobia for programming. Not up to 5% of them can comfortably write a working programme, so there is a serious gap between the skills they are supposed to acquire and what actually they have acquired.

“We needed to bridge the gap and reorientate them on the expected industrial skills that will make them an employer of labour and employable. We collaborated with Digital Dream Limited who sponsored the logistics while Computer Department provided the prize money which included N200, 000 for the Winner, N100, 000 for the first runner-up, N50, 000 for the second runner-up and a consolation prize of N10,000 to the other participants.

“Out of the 69 students who registered, only nine participated in the contest which lasted for five hours. We marked and were able to get the best three. We wrote to the VC and he scheduled a date for the award presentation on Wednesday. The winners will be unveiled on that day.

“The competition was meant for the whole students in ESUT. 69 Students cut across various departments in ESUT registered. The winners have emerged but we have not informed them. They will all come to the award ceremony on Wednesday. The best three will take home a total sum of N350, 000 while consolation will be provided for others.

“The competition will be sustained and made a year programme by the department because it is meant to encourage and motivate the students,” Engr. Dr Ozioko said.

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The faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Enugu State University if Science and Technology (ESUT) will on Thursday March 27, 2025 hold Induction/Oath-taking Ceremony for new graduates.

The 5^th Induction ceremony which will feature 63 graduates will hold at the Barr Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Multi-purpose Auditorium in Agbani Main Campus of the university.  

The Registrar/CEO, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, (PCN) Pharm Ibrahim Ahmed Babashehu, will administer the Oath on the students commencing from 10am while High Chief Pham J.C. Agwu, General Manager, Tayiek Pharmacy Limited, will deliver the keynote speech.

The Induction ceremony will be chaired by Pharm Jasper Onyeka, MD/CEO Impact Pharmaceuticals Limited, Enugu; the Vice-Chancellor, ESUT, Professor Aloysius Michaels Okolie is the Chief Host whereas the Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Pharm Prof Chika Mbah will host the guests.

Speaking in an interview, Chairman, Induction/Oath-taking Committee, Pharm Dr Cyril Aninwike, said the induction ceremony marks the official admission of the graduates into the pharmacy profession. He stressed that the ceremony will also give the new graduates the licence to practice the profession having spent five years in the university.

“Induction/Oath-taking ceremony is a professional undertaking because you cannot practice Pharmacy without being inducted. You cannot even say you graduated from a Pharmacy school without being inducted. It is a very critical end-product programme for the training of pharmacists.

“It is coordinated by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN). They are the body in charge of developing policies, Pharmacy education, registration of Pharmacists and controlling of practice. If they have not inducted you, you are not qualified to practice whether you studied in the country or abroad and you want to practice in Nigeria. They administer the oath. On Thursday, the graduate will be administered into an oath and when that is done, they are now qualified to put “Pharm” as their title before their name,” Pharm Aninweike said.

He explained the importance of the induction to ESUT. “This is the 5^th consecutive induction/oath-taking ceremony in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in ESUT. It is a positive indication that the school is operating at optimum and students are inducted as and when due. Since we started our induction ceremony, we have not lost accreditation nor delayed and this is our 5^th induction ceremony. “

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By Amaechi Agbo

Super Eagles Coach, Eric Sekou Chelle has barred visitors and Journalists from the Super Eagles Camp in Uyo.

The Malian tacticaian handed the ban shortly after the team returned to Uyo from Kigali on Saturday as they prepare for their Matchday 6 2026 World Cup qbualifier against Zimbabwe.

Confirming the development on Sunday Morning, Super Eagles Media Officer, Promise Efoghe said Coach Chelle is demanding maximum concentration from the players and have imposed restrictions in and around the team’s camp.

“The Eagles are back home and have started preparing for Tuesday’s fixture. Coach Eric Chelle is not carried away by the win over Rwanda and is demanding maximum concentration from the players prior to the next game.

“To this end, he has imposed restrictions in and around the team’s camp, no visitors, no journalists,” he said.

The team is expected to train twice today out of media coverage.

“Sunday’s training is closed. Mbonday’s session will be opened for the mandatory 15 minutes and this will be shortly after the official press conference.

“Provisions will be made for mixed zone interaction with the players on match day,” the Media Officer concluded.

Super Eagles beat Rwanda 2-0 in Kigali on Friday to rekindle their 2026 World Cup Qualification Hope.

The team currently placed 4th on the log with 6 points from 5 matches, is hoping to beat Zimbabwe on Tuesday when both nations clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

The match will kick-off at 5pm local time.

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Forward Victor Osimhen, who had not played any part in the campaign previously, rose stoutly to the occasion and boldly revamped Nigeria’s campaign for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.

The Super Eagles’ 2-0 win over Amavubi in Kigali on Friday did not take them to the top of group C of the African series, but it planted them back as one of the contenders in a pool in which they inexplicably fluffed nine of a possible 12 in their previous four matches. Turkish-based 2023 Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen played no part in any of those matches, for reasons of injury. Now, they have gone to six points, only four away from top-placed South Africa, who defeated Lesotho in a game played simultaneously as the one in Kigali.

On his first run-out in the campaign, it took Osimhen only 10 minutes to make a mark. Nigeria were awarded a free-kick on the left side of Rwanda’s area, and Ademola Lookman heaved it into the box where three white shirts were lurking. The best-placed of them, Osimhen, connected brilliantly and there was no attempt from goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari.

Six months ago, Ntwari was the hero as he denied the Eagles on so many occasions, with their 2025 AFCON qualifying match at the same venue ending scoreless. As Osimhen wheeled away in celebration, the full house inside the magnificent Amahoro Stadium, who had sung and clapped endlessly for three hours, fell silent.

Nigeria continued to dominate. Three minutes later, captain William Ekong headed over from Lookman’s corner, and in the 24^th minute, France-based Simon Moses came close with an angled shot that Fiacre saw in good time and pushed over the sticks.

Two minutes into added time of the first period, Osimhen got his second. The Amavubi had launched another futile onslaught, and in a furious counter, Samuel Chukwueze headed the ball cleverly to beat the rearguard and set up Osimhen, who easily beat his marker and raced away, chipping the ball past a hapless Fiacre.

The three-time African champions spent the second half simply ensuring they controlled the pace of the game, as they look ahead to Tuesday’s home game against Zimbabwe on Day 6 of the qualification series.

In the event, Osimhen rose above Olusegun Odegbami in the number of goals for Nigeria: he now has 25 in 48 matches, making him second only to Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) who netted 37 goals in 58 matches. Odegbami had 23, while Yakubu Ayegbeni scored 21 and Ikechukwu Uche and Obafemi Martins scored 19 and 18 goals each.

The Super Eagles contingent flew into Uyo on Saturday afternoon.

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18 year – old Nigerian goalkeeper, James Samuel Friday has been listed to start for his European club SJK Seinäjoki in Finland against Siirus of Sweden in an international club friendly game.

Friday, who joined SJK Seinajoki less than two months ago has shown tremendous improvement in training sessions with the senior team and it is therefore not a surprise that he has been given the opportunity to start a game.

With this, Friday has achieved significant milestone in his career as the first home- grown African goalkeeper to make the starting 11 of a European club at 18 years old.

Interestingly, he achieved this feat less than two months after joining the team from Mavlon FC of Lagos, Nigeria.

It’s gathered that SJK Seinäjoki will participate in 2025/26 season of Europa Conference League, where there will be have away games to play internationally, it is therefore neccessary to expose the young Nigerian goalkeeper to the challenges that lies ahead in the competition.

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The Nollywood industry has been thrown into mourning again following the death of popular actress, Nkechi Nweje.

Nweje passed away on Friday at the age of 60 after a brief illness.

Movie producer Stanley Ajemba, popularly known as Stanley Ontop, confirmed the news on Saturday. Sharing his grief on Instagram alongside her picture.

He wrote, “Nollywood in tears as we lost one of our vibrant Nollywood actresses, @nkechi.nweje, after a brief illness.

“Couldn’t post since morning because it was like a dream to me. Ezigbo Nwanyi Onitsha. Rest in peace, ma’am.

“My best friend, she always called me on the phone, advising me. The last time we spoke was during the Queenth saga. She said, ‘Ontop, stop.’ I’m still speechless.”

Nweje, renowned for her compelling portrayals in motherly roles, built a remarkable legacy in the industry through her outstanding performances.

Her passing has left a void in the hearts of fans and colleagues alike.

Fellow actress, Rita Edochie, also mourned Nweje’s passing, posting a candlelight image on Instagram with a dark background.

She wrote, “This world is really not our home.”

Other Nollywood stars, including Destiny Etiko and Anita Joseph, joined in paying tribute to the late actress.

Nweje is survived by her husband and six children. May her soul rest in peace.

Leadership Credited

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James Samuel Friday, a very promising young goalkeeper from Nigeria, has recently made headlines following his transfer from Mavlon FC to SJK Seinäjoki II in Finland. Born on April 5, 2006, Friday is currently 18 years old and has already began to establish himself in the football scene between the sticks

Mavlon FC, a modest Nigerian side known for discovering and nurturing talented footballers beamed their search light on Friday at the cradle when he joined the club as a young boy in 2018. This early recruitment under the ‘catch them young’ policy of Mavlon, underscores the club’s confidence in his talent and highlights Ftiday’s unwavering dedication, which has been instrumental in his development as a promising footballer.

During his time with Mavlon FC, Friday also showcased his skills on the international stage, participating in prestigious events like the 73rd and 74th Viareggio Youth Tournaments in Italy.

On February 1, 2025, Friday officially joined SJK Seinäjoki II, a Finnish club where he aims to gain vital experience in a competitive environment and further develop his skills as a professional footballer.

Prior to this significant milestone for the young goalkeeper, who stands at 1.95m, Charlton Athletic of England has invited in to a training and development programme in London, where he displayed strong goalkeeping prowess to the delight of the technical crew and management.

On the international stage with Nigeria,
Friday has represented Nigeria at the U20 level, making his debut on March 7, 2024, under coach Ladan Bosso, where he showcased his potential by earning one cap for the national team, and he has from then continued to work hard and improving his game.

In modern day football where ball playing goalkeepers are now essential in all round play of a team from the defence to attack, Friday is blessed with quality ball passing skills that can connect his teammates from both far and near on the pitch, in a quick build up of transition from defence to attack

He is your ideal goalkeeper with great presence and command of his defenders to ensure safety of his goal area from rampaging attackers of the opponents.

There is no doubt that he will definately come good in the colours of SJK Seinäjoki II in Finland.

The post James Friday, Ex Malvon FC Goalkeeper Shining in Europe appeared first on ESUT Monitor.

The Director of ESUT JUPEB, Professor Clementina Obiageli Okafor, made this known during the orientation ceremony held for new students at the Sule Ahman Complex, ESUT.

She stated that the one-year programme is not only an academic preparatory stage but also a period for character building and discipline, reminding the students that their attitude toward learning and moral conduct would determine their progress into full undergraduate studies.

Professor Okafor warned against involvement in activities capable of jeopardizing their future, including cultism, examination malpractice, and other forms of misconduct, stressing that ESUT JUPEB upholds strict discipline.

She also advised the new students to remain focused and avoid distractions. While assuring them of the programme’s support system, she encouraged them to seek help from their teachers and mentors whenever they face academic challenges.

In his keynote address, Professor Sunny Udeze, a former Head of the Department of Mass Communication and past Dean of the Postgraduate School, highlighted the importance of ethical conduct in academic life.

He described JUPEB as a stepping stone to greater achievements and advised the students to uphold integrity in their studies. Professor Udeze further urged them to engage actively in learning, as the habits they develop at this stage will shape their future.

Speaking on the acceptable dress code and examination regulations, Dr. Chidi Ezinwa, Head of the Department of Mass Communication, emphasized the need for students to maintain a decent appearance and adhere strictly to academic guidelines. He noted that discipline in conduct and presentation contributes to an individual’s identity within and beyond the university environment.

The event featured testimonies from past JUPEB students who successfully advanced to full undergraduate programmes at ESUT. They shared their experiences, encouraging the new students to remain serious about their studies and take advantage of the resources available to them.

The event also had an interactive session where students asked questions and received clarifications on various aspects of the programme.

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