Opinion

The recently concluded National Security Summit organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists was more than an event. It was an encounter between two institutions that have historically regarded each other with caution, sometimes with suspicion, but which now find themselves confronting a common challenge: the security and stability of…

By Jerome-Mario Utomi There are moments in the life of a nation when leadership is measured not merely by the ability to command institutions but by the courage to transform them. Such moments demand more than administrative competence; they require vision, strategic communication, and an unwavering commitment to rebuilding public…

By Lanre Ogundipe There are moments in the life of a nation when old questions return, demanding fresh answers. The recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa constitute one of such moments. Every few years, the same disturbing scenes replay themselves. Nigerians are assaulted. Businesses are looted and destroyed.…

By Lanre Ogundipe A retired Defence spokesman is abducted alongside his wife. Weeks pass. The security agencies cannot rescue him. He dies in captivity. Then comes the most disturbing development of all. The men who abducted him reportedly handed over his corpse to the Katsina State Government, while his wife…

Shall we, in the fraternity of the pen, pause today to celebrate an icon, indeed, one of the towering figures of our time? Shall journalists, editors, publishers and custodians of public conscience across Nigeria and beyond not rise in unison to salute a man whose life has become inseparable from…

By Jerome-Mario Utomi The Call to Bar ceremony of Jim Beabubari Marshall on Tuesday, July 6, 2026, in Abuja was more than a celebration of one man’s academic achievement. It was a powerful reminder that when leadership is driven by empathy rather than privilege, ordinary encounters can become extraordinary, life-changing…

By Lanre Ogundipe A recent intervention by veteran journalist/legal expert, Richard Akinnola has triggered an uncomfortable but necessary conversation. Predictably, the debate quickly gravitated towards personalities, emotions and entrenched positions. Yet beneath the controversy lies a much bigger question that deserves sober national reflection. Can a country confronting multiple security…

By Lanre Ogundipe Nigeria never disappoints. Just when citizens thought they had seen every conceivable form of political expression, a new masterpiece emerged from an unlikely canvas: the human scalp. There it was, intricately woven into carefully crafted braids – a political declaration boldly announcing support for President Bola Ahmed…

Lanre Ogundipe Some public officials occupy offices, and there are those rare individuals whose character quietly transforms the offices they occupy. Professor Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede belongs to the latter category. As he gradually bows out of public service after decades of distinguished contributions to academia, educational administration, interfaith engagement, and…

By Jerome-Mario Utomi In every generation, providence raises individuals whose lives become enduring testimonies to discipline, excellence, patriotism and selfless service. Such personalities do not merely occupy public offices; they redefine them through competence, integrity and uncommon commitment to national development. One of such distinguished Nigerians is the newly promoted…