News

Activists Push For Popularisation Of ‘Ogonize’, ‘Sarowiwize’ In Climate, Other Campaigns

Published

4 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

Human rights and environmental activists have pushed for the popularisation of words such as #Ogonize’, #Sarowiwize’; #Shikokize’, #Aigbuhaenze’,
#Awua’, #Brasinize’ #Adanegberize’, #Otogize’, amongst others, in the campaign for human and climate justice.

The activists, including Edo State former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana; Interim Administrator, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Rita Uwaka; Programme Manager, Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Innocent Edemhanria; Comrade Cynthia Bright, Executive Director, Grassroots Women Empowerment and Development Organisation (GWEDO), amongst others spoke at a programme organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) with the theme: Birthing Words for Campaigns.

Speaking on the origin of the words and their usages, the activists said #Sarowiwize’ was derived from an environmental activist name, Ken Saro-Wiwa, which means ‘community mobilising for environmental justice; remembrance of hero in environmental justice,’ and that #Ogonize’ simple means ‘struggle for environmental justice.’

Saro-Wiwa led a nonviolent campaign against environmental degradation of the land and waters of Ogoniland by the operations of the multiple international oil companies, especially the Royal Dutch Shell Company, was tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged in 1995 by the military dictatorship of General Sani Abacha.

According to the activists,
#Chikokize’, means a ‘collective struggle; struggle for impacted communities, mangrove and workers.’

They explained that, #Aigbuhaenze, which was derived from a Benin word means: ‘Do not pollute the water or do not compromise the source or collective welfare for generations to come,’ while #Adanegberize, which was also derived from a Benin word means ‘care for each other even in the struggle.’

They further explained that #Awua’, was also derived from a Benin word, meaning: ‘it is forbidden – economic injustice is forbidden.’

According to them, #Brasinize’ was derived from an Ijaw word, meaning ‘leave the resources in the soil,’ while #Otogize’ was derived from a Yoruba word which means ‘enough is enough for oil extraction.’

The activists, who emphasised the need for the popularisation of these new words, stressed that words, if appropriate applied, are powerful, and could drive authority to speedy action.

In his opening remarks, Executive Director, HOMEF, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, emphasised the need for activists to create new words in their campaign for environmental justice, saying these words can move authorities concerned to speedy action.

According to Bassey, words can be obscure and can also mobilise for environmental struggle if appropriately used.

In his key note address, a language expert, and consultant for Oxford Dictionaries on review of lists of Nigerian English words for possible inclusion, Dr. Kingsley Ugwuanyi, described words as action and powerful.

“When we speak, we are not just describing the words, but we are also acting in it. Because words are action, and words do things,” he said.

The translator and lexicographer, English-Igbo dictionary, and English Language consultant & tutor,
iTutor Group, Taiwan, said
words could shift the struggle for environmental justice, revealing that if these words are repeatedly used for 10 years, they could be considered for inclusion in the Oxford Dictionary.

News

BREAKING: Council Of State Approves New INEC Chairman

Published

1 hour ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

The National Council of State has unanimously approved the appointment of Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission.

This was contained in a statement posted on X by the President’s aide, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday.

President Bola Tinubu presented Amupitan’s name to the Council during its meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Thursday. The appointment follows the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, who completed his 10-year tenure in October 2025.

Tinubu told the Council that Amupitan, a 58-year-old Professor of Law from Kogi State, is the first person from the North-Central state to be nominated for the position.

More details later…

News

Full List: UI Dethrones Covenant University In Latest Rankings

Published

1 hour ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

The University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, has been ranked Nigeria’s best university in the 2026 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings.

The ranking, released on Thursday via THE’s official website, placed UI within the 801–1,000 band globally—reclaiming a position it last held in 2023. The institution moved up from fourth place in the 2025 rankings to surpass Covenant University, which had topped the list in 2024 and 2025.

THE evaluated of 2,191 institutions from 115 countries based on 18 performance indicators grouped under five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry engagement, and international outlook.

Following UI in Nigeria’s ranking are the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), and Covenant University (CU), ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The 2026 global ranking also reflected a changing higher education landscape, drawing on 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars worldwide.

Among Nigerian universities, UNILAG achieved the highest score in research quality, with 66.7 points. BUK ranked best for international outlook, while Covenant University led in industry engagement.

Of the 51 Nigerian universities featured in the 2026 ranking, only UI and UNILAG were placed within the 801–1,000 band. BUK, CU, and Landmark University were ranked between 1,001–1,200, while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, and University of Nigeria Nsukka fell within the 1,201–1,500 range.

Additionally, 14 Nigerian universities were placed above 1,500, while 27 institutions were listed as “not ranked.”

THE is a globally recognised independent organisation that provides data and insights on higher education performance.

Universities are considered for the rankings if they teach undergraduates, produce multidisciplinary research, and have published at least 1,000 research papers between 2020 and 2024, with a minimum of 100 annually.

See the full list below:

1. University of Ibadan (801–1000)

2. University of Lagos (801–1000)

3. Bayero University (1001–1200)

4. Covenant University (1001–1200)

5. Landmark University (1001–1200)

6. Ahmadu Bello University (1201–1500)

7. Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201–1500)

8. University of Ilorin (1201–1500)

9. University of Jos (1201–1500)

10. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201–1500)

11. Babcock University (1501+)

12.Delta State University, Abraka (1501+)

13. Ekiti State University (1501+)

14. Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+)

15. Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+)

16. Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+)

17. Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+)

18. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+)

19. Lagos State University (1501+)

20. Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+)

21. Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+)

22. University of Benin (1501+)

23. University of Calabar (1501+)

24. University of Port Harcourt (1501+)

25. Admiralty University of Nigeria

26. Akwa Ibom State University

27. Al-Hikmah University

28. Augustine University

29. Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti

30. Bauchi State University, Gadau

31. Bayelsa Medical University

32. Baze University

33. Bells University of Technology

34. Bowen University

35. Evangel University, Akaeze

36. Federal University of Lafia

37. Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun

38. Fountain University

39. Godfrey Okoye University

40. Igbinedion University Okada

41. Kaduna State University

42. Lagos State University of Education

43. Lagos State University of Science and Technology

44. Lead City University

45. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria

46. Nasarawa State University, Keffi

47. Redeemer’s University

48. Rivers State University

49. Thomas Adewumi University

50. University of Cross River State

51. University of Delta.

News

Elon Musk Joins ‘Cancel Netflix’ Campaign

Published

1 hour ago

October 9, 2025

Editor

Elon Musk has urged his 227 million social media followers to cancel their Netflix subscriptions, accusing the streaming platform of promoting what he describes as transgender propaganda.

In his latest culture war campaign, the Tesla tycoon joined a trend launched by conservative social media account Libs of TikTok that cited the animated series “Dead End: Paranormal Park” and Netflix’s corporate diversity efforts as a cause for dropping the streaming service.

The show’s creator, Hamish Steele, is accused of making social media remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September that were seen by conservatives online as disrespectful and led to the backlash.

Netflix’s shares fell two percent on Wednesday when the controversy gained traction and were down as much as another two percent Thursday on Wall Street.

“Cancel Netflix,” Musk wrote in a Wednesday post on X, the platform he owns, quoting another post made by Libs of TikTok.

That post shared screenshots of a Netflix company report that said it had increased the number of non-white directors and lead actors on its programs.

In a later post on the issue, Musk encouraged his followers to “Cancel Netflix for the health of your kids.”
Steele addressed the controversy in a few Bluesky posts that have since been deleted: “It’s all lies and slander!”

Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, has a personal connection to transgender issues. His eldest daughter, Vivian
Jenna Wilson, publicly transitioned in 2022 and legally changed both her name and gender identity.

Musk has claimed his child was “killed” by the “woke mind virus” instilled at an elite California school.