By Njoku Chijioke

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has been honoured with the prestigious chieftaincy title of Ugosimba 1 of Enugu, meaning “Jewel of Women Empowerment,” in recognition of her unwavering commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of women across the country.

The title was conferred on Senator Tinubu during her working visit to Enugu State, where she also distributed professional kits to midwives as part of her advocacy for improved maternal healthcare.

The event underscored her alignment with the current administration’s goal of enhancing the health and well-being of women nationwide.

The honour celebrates her impactful initiatives under the Renewed Hope Initiative, which supports women-owned businesses, promotes girls’ education, and extends healthcare and social support to vulnerable communities.

Dignitaries present at the event included Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah and a host of traditional rulers who commended her strides in women empowerment.

This latest honour comes shortly after her husband, President Bola Tinubu, received the title Dike Si N’Mba 1 of Anambra State, further cementing the First Family’s growing connection with the Southeast.

A seasoned politician and advocate, Senator Tinubu previously served as First Lady of Lagos State and as Senator representing Lagos Central.

Her decades-long commitment to nation-building and gender equality has earned her numerous local and international accolades.

By Patrick Idowu

A woman, Maimuna Umar Gora, has petitioned a Kano Shari’a Court in Danbare, Kumbotso Local Government Area, to dissolve her two-year-old marriage, claiming her parents forced her into it because of material gain.
Gora told the court that her husband, Sabo Shehu Kabara, was chosen by her parents due to his wealth and ownership of a farm in their hometown. She said she had no prior relationship with him and never gave her consent.
“I am in love with my boyfriend, but my parents consummated the marriage with the man I do not know, because he owns a farm in our town where he has been visiting and sought the consent of my parents to marry me,” she stated.
The marriage, which she said has brought her no peace, was previously challenged in other courts without success.
Presiding Judge, Khadi Munzali Idris Gwadabe, directed that Kabara be served a court summons and adjourned the matter until June 12 for further hearing.

By Adewunmi Oluwaseun 

Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has made a stirring appeal for the preservation and promotion of Nigeria’s indigenous languages and cultural identity, describing language as the lifeblood of any people and essential to national development.

Soyinka, who spoke during a visit to the Centre for Cultural Studies and Creative Arts at the University of Ilorin, as part of the institution’s maiden Cultural Week, warned that the erosion of native languages poses a threat to Nigeria’s future.

He called for the integration of local languages into formal education, urging schools to make them compulsory.

“Language is not just a means of communication. It is the repository of a people’s memory, history, and creativity,” Soyinka said. “We must read, write, invent, and conduct research in our native tongues if we truly seek progress.”

While acknowledging the importance of global languages, he stressed that this should not come at the expense of Nigeria’s diverse linguistic heritage, noting the existence of over 300 native languages across the country.

Soyinka encouraged young Nigerians to reconnect with their roots by embracing traditional foods, music, and indigenous knowledge systems that once offered practical solutions to everyday problems.

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, hailed Soyinka’s visit as a moment of pride, noting that the newly established cultural centre was built with visionaries like Soyinka in mind.

He expressed optimism that the centre would become a global hub for cultural scholarship, especially with Soyinka’s endorsement.

Soyinka’s message was clear: for Nigeria to rise, its people must first rediscover themselves.