Events News Sports August 25, 2026 Miss Football Nigeria Pageant, Soccer Ambassador Awards Set to Honour Nigeria’s Football Icons

The Management of Miss Football Nigeria, in collaboration with Mackjus Consultancy Services, is set to stage the 8th edition of the Miss Football Nigeria Beauty Pageant and Nigerian Soccer Ambassador Awards, with prominent personalities who have contributed to the growth and development of football in Nigeria lined up for special recognition.

The colourful event is scheduled for Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. prompt in Abuja, and promises an evening of glamour, entertainment and celebration of Nigeria’s football heritage.

Twelve contestants will participate in the Miss Football Nigeria Beauty Pageant, with one of them expected to emerge as the new Miss Football Nigeria, taking on the responsibility of becoming an ambassador for the promotion of girls’ education, female participation in sports and the use of entertainment to further develop Nigerian football.

Speaking ahead of the event, Amb. Lion Moses Ebahor, President of Miss Football Nigeria, said the initiative was established in 2015 with a clear vision of combining sports, entertainment and social development.

He expressed gratitude to God and the organisation’s partners for their support over the years, noting that Miss Football Nigeria has continued to create platforms that promote football and empower young people.

Since its establishment, the organisation has been involved in several sporting initiatives, including the Nigerian Unity Cup Tournament in Bauchi in 2015, the Vice Chancellors Cup at Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, in 2017, the Ambrose Alli University Pillar of Sports Award in 2019, Niger Delta Beach Soccer, the FCT ALGON Chairman’s Cup in 2023 and the APC National Chairman Cup Tournament in 2024, among others.

A major highlight of this year’s programme will be the presentation of the Nigerian Soccer Ambassador Awards, which will recognise football enthusiasts, administrators, players, promoters, philanthropists, media practitioners and corporate personalities for their contributions to the development of the game.

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour and is expected to receive the Nigeria Soccer Man of the Year Award 2026.

Other distinguished award recipients include Enugu State Governor, Barr. Dr. Peter Ndubisi Mbah, who will receive the Best Football Governor of the Year Award 2026, while Yobe State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Idi Barde Gubana, will also be honoured.

Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, Chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, is billed to receive the Nigerian Soccer Administrator of the Year Award 2026, while Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, President-General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Clubs, will be honoured as Nigerian Soccer Grand Supporter of the Year.

Super Eagles and Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen is expected to receive the Nigeria Soccer Player of the Year Award 2026.

Other awardees include Mr. Fred Newton Erhuneunse, Chairman of the Edo State Football Association, as Nigerian Soccer FA Chairman of the Year; Mr. Amobi Ezeaku, General Manager of Enugu Rangers International, as Nigerian Soccer Club Administrator of the Year; Prince Efemena Elutabel as Nigerian Soccer Achiever of the Year; and Prince Abdulraheem Olaoye, Chairman of AMU Motors, as Nigerian Soccer Promoter of the Year.

Amb. Lawrence Emmanuel Oloche, Chairman of Promiseland Real Estate, will be recognised as Nigerian Soccer Personality of the Year, while the Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc will receive the Nigerian Soccer Company of the Year Award.

Hon. Kunle Soname, Chairman of Bet9ja/ValueJet, is expected to be honoured as Nigerian Soccer Philanthropist of the Year 2026, while Dr. Raymond Dokpesi Jnr., Chairman of Daar Communications, will receive the Nigerian Soccer Media Station of the Year Award.

Other personalities listed for recognition include Mr. Tolu, sports reporter with ITV Abuja, as Nigerian Soccer Presenter of the Year, and Mr. Dele Omotosho, Chairman of Dele London Design, as Nigerian Soccer Designer of the Year.

A number of other distinguished football stakeholders are also expected to be decorated as National Patrons and Matrons of Miss Football Nigeria.

The organisers said the awards are designed not only to celebrate personalities but also to acknowledge individuals and organisations whose commitment, sacrifice and investment have helped shape Nigerian football.

Beyond the pageantry and entertainment, the organisers believe the event will provide another platform to celebrate the beautiful game, encourage greater female participation in sports and inspire young Nigerians to contribute positively to the development of football.

With football personalities, administrators, supporters, corporate stakeholders and entertainment figures expected at the ceremony, the 8th Miss Football Nigeria Pageant and Nigerian Soccer Ambassador Awards 2026 is set to be a major celebration of football, beauty, entertainment and service to Nigerian sports.

Event Details

Venue: Icon Valley Hotel, No. 56 Anthony Enahoro Street, by Olivefield School, Utako, Abuja

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026

Time: 6:00 p.m. prompt

Events News August 25, 2026 Shelter Awards 2026 Set to Celebrate Excellence Across Abuja’s Real Estate Sector Aug. 28

Abuja is set to host an evening dedicated to recognising excellence, innovation and impact in Nigeria’s built environment as the Shelter Awards 2026 holds on Friday, August 28, 2026, at Wells Carlton Hotel.

The event, scheduled to begin at 6:00pm, is designed to celebrate individuals and organisations whose contributions continue to shape the real estate and construction industry, while also inspiring greater professionalism and innovation across the sector.

Unlike awards that focus only on property developers, the Shelter Awards will shine a light on the wide range of professionals and businesses that keep the real estate value chain moving.

The awards will recognise contributions from developers and mortgage institutions, realtors, PropTech companies and facility managers, as well as architects, project supervisors and interior designers.

Other categories will acknowledge the often-overlooked contributions of furniture companies, property electricians, logistics providers and other critical players within the built environment.

Organisers said the awards are intended to provide a platform for celebrating people whose work, whether visible or behind the scenes, contributes to the development of quality housing, infrastructure and sustainable communities.

The event is expected to bring together key players in real estate, construction, architecture, property technology, finance and related sectors for an evening of recognition, networking and celebration.

Adding entertainment and energy to the occasion, the Shelter Awards 2026 will be hosted by popular Abuja-based MC and comedian, Nick B, who is expected to bring his distinctive humour and engaging stage presence to the ceremony.

The organisers described the awards as “an evening of excellence, impact, and celebration,” with a call for stakeholders to come together not only to recognise achievement but also to inspire more people to make meaningful contributions to the built environment.

Education News August 25, 2026 FG releases 2026/2027 Unity Colleges admission list

The Federal Government has released the 2026/2027 admission list for Junior Secondary School One into Federal Unity Colleges nationwide, directing successful candidates to begin the process of confirming their placements.

The admission list, approved by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, is now available to parents and guardians through the Federal Ministry of Education’s admission portal and the notice boards of the respective Federal Unity Colleges.

A statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Folasade Boriowo, said the release was aimed at ensuring a transparent and orderly admission process.

Alausa said the development “reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a transparent, accessible and orderly admission process for prospective students seeking placement in Federal Unity Colleges.”

Successful candidates are required to print their admission slips and proceed to the Federal Unity College indicated on the slip for confirmation and completion of the admission process.

The ministry advised parents and guardians to check their children’s and wards’ admission status promptly and ensure successful candidates report to their respective colleges as required.

The admission status and slips can be accessed through the FME Posting Portal at fmeposting.com.ng/auth/login.

The development followed the conduct of the 2026 National Common Entrance Examination, the examination used for admission into JSS1 of the Federal Unity Colleges.

The National Examinations Council conducts the examination, providing the Federal Government with a basis for selecting candidates for placement into colleges across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

A total of 60,357 candidates registered for the 2026 NCEE, while 56,950 candidates were present for the examination and 3,407 were absent.

The figures underscore the continued demand for places in the Federal Unity Colleges, which are among the federal government’s flagship secondary education institutions.

The Unity Colleges were established partly to promote national integration by bringing together students from different parts of the country and providing them with access to federally funded secondary education.

Admission into the colleges is conducted under an approved quota system designed to balance merit with the principle of equality among states and other considerations.

Parents and guardians whose children have been offered admission are expected to complete the confirmation and other admission formalities at the colleges indicated on their admission slips.

The ministry urged candidates and their parents to adhere to the reporting requirements to avoid delays in completing the admission process.

News Politics August 25, 2026 2027: Melaye vows court challenge over Tinubu campaign council

Former Kogi State Senator and chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dino Melaye, has kicked against the composition of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council, threatening to challenge some of its appointments in court.

Melaye’s objection centres on the appointment of Zacch Adedeji, Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), as Deputy Director of Fundraising for Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

Speaking during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Melaye argued that Adedeji’s role as a public revenue official was incompatible with his involvement in raising funds for the re-election campaign of a sitting president.

According to him, the laws establishing the NRS, alongside existing public service regulations, do not permit Adedeji to occupy both positions simultaneously.

“What has happened actually shows the desperation of the APC and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Melaye said.

He questioned how an official entrusted with mobilising revenue for the Federal Government could at the same time be responsible for fundraising for the President’s political campaign.

Melaye described the arrangement as both a legal and ethical concern, alleging that the campaign council appeared designed to mobilise funds across different sectors of the economy, with government officials assigned responsibilities linked to their portfolios.

“Nigeria is not a banana republic,” he said, insisting that public institutions must operate within the limits of the law.

The former senator further alleged that Adedeji’s appointment as NRS chairman may have been influenced by political considerations, claiming that the position could have been intended to facilitate access to funds for the 2027 election.

Although reports indicated that President Tinubu had suspended the campaign council’s list, Melaye said the development would not stop him from pursuing legal action.

He suggested that the suspension might have followed pressure from opposition parties, adding that even if controversial names were removed from a revised list, the legality of the appointments would still be tested in court.

“By the time the new list comes out, they may have amended some names and removed Zach Adedeji and others, but we are still heading to court to test the laws,” he said.

Melaye also criticised Tinubu’s decision to serve as chairman of his own presidential campaign council, arguing that the arrangement raises questions about the independence of the campaign structure.

“There is a general saying that you cannot be a judge in your own case. How can you be a candidate in an election and also be the chairman of the campaign council for that election?” he asked.

He interpreted the decision as a sign that the President may be unwilling to fully delegate control of the 2027 campaign machinery to his governors, ministers and other political associates.

The ADC chieftain also warned that the opposition would closely monitor the 2027 general elections, promising to scrutinise the activities of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Federal Government.

“This election is going to be different from every other election held in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Enough is enough. We have become watchdogs, and this time around, we are going to follow the president and the APC bumper to bumper,” Melaye said.

He further raised concerns about the council’s proposed sector-by-sector fundraising structure, alleging that it could place government agencies, contractors and other economic actors under political pressure.

Melaye maintained that the opposition would continue to scrutinise the APC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election and would seek judicial intervention whenever it believes public officials or institutions have acted outside the law.

News Travel August 25, 2026 United Nigeria flight cancellation leaves Lagos-Kano passengers stranded after six-hour wait

Several passengers travelling from Lagos to Kano on United Nigeria Airlines were left stranded at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Monday after their scheduled flight was cancelled following more than six hours of waiting.

SolaceBase reports that the passengers were scheduled to depart Lagos for Kano at about 5:30 p.m. but remained at the airport for several hours without clear information on when the flight would operate.

The prolonged wait reportedly triggered frustration among the affected travellers, who accused the airline of poor communication and inadequate handling of the disruption.

One of the passengers, Alhassan Indabawa, who spoke on behalf of the affected travellers, said the situation was particularly frustrating because many passengers had made time-sensitive plans based on the scheduled flight.

According to Indabawa, the aircraft was initially scheduled to transport passengers from Lagos to Enugu at about 1 p.m., but the flight was reportedly disrupted by issues involving the aircraft.

He said that after the aircraft issue was resolved, Kano-bound passengers expected to board the plane. However, according to him, passengers travelling to Enugu protested and the aircraft was subsequently allocated to them.

Indabawa said the Kano-bound passengers were then asked to wait for the aircraft to return from Enugu, after which they were assured they would be flown to Kano.

“We were told to be patient and that once the aircraft came back, it would take us to Kano. We waited for several hours, only to be told later that the flight had been cancelled,” he said.

He described the development as unacceptable, saying passengers had spent several hours at the airport without receiving timely and adequate information about the status of their flight.

Indabawa also expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding compensation and alternative travel arrangements for the affected passengers.

The incident has again raised questions about passenger welfare and communication during flight disruptions, particularly when travellers are left waiting for extended periods before being informed that their flights have been cancelled.

Air travel is often relied upon by passengers who need to meet important commitments, including business engagements, conferences, job interviews, medical appointments and other time-sensitive obligations.

Consequently, prolonged delays or cancellations without timely communication and appropriate arrangements can result in additional expenses and significant inconvenience for travellers.

Passenger protection regulations provide for certain remedies and compensation in applicable circumstances involving flight delays and cancellations, although the specific provisions depend on the circumstances and cause of the disruption.

As of 12:45 a.m. on Tuesday, the affected passengers were reportedly still stranded at the airport, with no compensation or clear alternative travel arrangement offered to them.

Efforts by SolaceBase to obtain an official response from United Nigeria Airlines on the cause of the cancellation, the welfare of the stranded passengers and plans to transport them to Kano were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

SOLACEBASE

News Politics August 25, 2026 ‘You’ve no business coming back’ — Sowore, Amaechi clash at NBA conference

Former Rivers State governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Chibuike Amaechi, and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, engaged in a heated exchange during the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt on Monday.

The confrontation followed Sowore’s criticism of Nigeria’s political elite, whom he accused of contributing to the country’s economic challenges despite having previously occupied public offices.

Addressing participants at the conference, Sowore urged Nigerians to be wary of politicians returning with fresh promises after failing to deliver during their previous tenures.

“Please, please, don’t let these politicians lie to you,” he said.

Sowore referenced an earlier comment he attributed to Amaechi, saying politicians who had previously served in government had failed and should not seek a return to power.

“I loved one thing that Amaechi said. He said, apart from Sowore and Abiola, the rest of us that have been in government have failed. They have no business coming back,” Sowore said.

He then criticised Amaechi’s record as both Rivers State governor and minister of transportation, questioning some of the projects executed under his watch.

Sowore particularly faulted the railway project linking Rivers State, arguing that its failure to deliver the expected benefits reflected shortcomings in government policy.

“We have a former governor of Rivers State here, Amaechi, who built a rail line that went nowhere,” he said.

He also accused the former governor of failing to adequately support education and other sectors during his tenure, alleging that lecturers and doctors in the state embarked on prolonged strikes.

“You may like him as a person, but he did not perform as a governor. That is the truth,” Sowore added.

Amaechi, however, rejected the criticism and defended his record both as governor and minister.

Responding to Sowore’s comments on his railway projects, Amaechi cited the Lagos-Ibadan and Abuja-Kaduna rail lines, asking the audience whether the projects were operational during his tenure.

“Is the Lagos-Ibadan railway working or not? In my time, it was working. I don’t know what is happening under Tinubu. There is Abuja-Kaduna rail, working or not?” Amaechi asked.

When Sowore attempted to interject and return the discussion to Amaechi’s record as Rivers governor, the former minister interrupted him and challenged him to visit projects executed during his administration.

“Where are the Rivers lawyers? Please take Sowore around,” Amaechi said, asking lawyers at the conference to show Sowore some of the projects.

He proceeded to list roads and schools he said were constructed under his administration.

“I said I built that road. I built this road. I built this primary school. I built that primary school,” he said.

Turning directly to Sowore, Amaechi asked, “Sowore, what is your experience?”

He then warned: “When politicians are talking, close your mouth.”

The exchange drew attention at the conference, with both politicians maintaining sharply contrasting views on their records and the performance of Nigeria’s political class.

News Travel August 25, 2026 US proposes $103,265 H-1B visa fee for foreign workers

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has proposed a fresh $103,265 fee for employers seeking to sponsor certain foreign workers under the H-1B visa programme.

According to a notice published in the Federal Register on Monday, the proposed fee would apply to H-1B petitions submitted under the programme’s annual quota, which covers 65,000 regular visas and an additional 20,000 slots reserved for foreign applicants with advanced degrees from US institutions.

The proposed charge would be paid when an employer files an H-1B petition and would come on top of existing application fees and other mandatory charges.

If implemented, the policy would dramatically increase the cost of hiring skilled foreign professionals through the H-1B programme, which is widely used by US technology companies and other employers facing shortages of specialised workers.

The proposal follows a legal setback for the Trump administration. In June, a federal district court struck down an earlier $100,000 fee imposed on H-1B visa applications.

H-1B visas, which generally allow skilled foreign workers to live and work in the US for three years, with the possibility of extension to six years, currently involve administrative fees of roughly $1,500, excluding other applicable costs.

Defending the earlier policy, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the government should prioritise American workers and graduates.

“If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs,” Lutnick said last year.

The H-1B programme has remained a major source of tension between President Donald Trump’s administration and the US technology industry, which depends heavily on foreign professionals, including workers from Nigeria.

Government data indicate that about two-thirds of H-1B positions are in computer-related fields. The programme is also used to recruit engineers, educators, healthcare professionals and workers in other specialised occupations.

The latest proposal represents another major move by the Trump administration to tighten legal immigration rules and make it more expensive for US employers to recruit skilled workers from abroad.