News

Ondo Poll: INEC Announces Date For Mock Accreditation

Published

2 years ago

October 24, 2024

Editor

The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced plans to conduct a mock accreditation of voters ahead of the Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for November 16, 2024.

The exercise, set for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, will test the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the real-time result upload to the INEC Result Viewing portal.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, disclosed this on Thursday.

Olumekun urged registered voters in the designated polling units to participate in the exercise, which will run from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.

“The mock exercise will be held on Wednesday, 6th November 2024, at the designated polling units from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm,” he noted.

According to INEC, the mock accreditation will take place at 12 designated polling units across six Local Government Areas in Ondo State.

They are spread across the three senatorial districts of the state: Ondo Central, Ondo North, and Ondo South.

“In the Ondo Central Senatorial District, the exercise will take place in Akure South and Idanre LGs. In Akure South LG, the centres are Alagbaka Primary School in Akure and Ijapo High School also in Akure, while in Idanre LG, Our Saviour Primary School, Aiyetoro/Owena I, and the open space in front of Plot 6, beside the Teaching Service Commission, Owena, are the designated venues.

“In the Ondo North Senatorial District, the two LGs are Owo and Akoko South West. In Owo, Methodist Primary School, Fajuyi Road, and Imade College Gate, Ajaka Street I, shall serve as centres, while the open space at Ago Ajayi, Oba, and L.A. Primary School, Oba, are the designated locations for Akoko South West LG.

“In the Ondo South Senatorial District, the two LGAs are Odigbo and Okitipupa. In Odigbo LGA, the selected locations are St John’s Primary School, Ajue, and Isero Grammar School, Odigbo. In Okitipupa LGA, the open space at Oladipupo Lebi Street, by Zhomelo Lodge, and Baptist Primary School, Ode Aye, shall serve as centres,” the national commissioner listed.

He further explained, “In Ondo Central, the accreditation will be conducted at Alagbaka Primary School and Ijapo High School in Akure South LGA, as well as at Our Saviour Primary School and the open space near Plot 6 in Idanre LGA.

“In Ondo North, the exercise will take place at Methodist Primary School and Imade College Gate in Owo LGA, and at two locations in Akoko South West LGA: the open space at Ago Ajayi, Oba, and L.A. Primary School, Oba.

“In Ondo South, the designated centres include St John’s Primary School and Isero Grammar School in Odigbo LGA, as well as two locations in Okitipupa LGA: the open space at Oladipupo Lebi Street and Baptist Primary School, Ode Aye.”

He added that only registered voters with Permanent Voter Cards from these units will be allowed to take part, and no voter from outside the selected units will be accredited by the BVAS during the exercise.
So far, 55,859 PVCs have been collected by new registrants in the state.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

4 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

6 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.