Entertainment News March 23, 2026 Gordons, Julius Agwu, Mr. Paul, Others to Perform at Nick B's Comedy Assembly

A great line up artistes are set to thrill guests with their intriguing performances at the forthcoming Comedy Assembly, being organised by a leading Abuja-based comedian, Nick B. 

Among them are veterans, such as Gordons, Julius Agwu, Mr. Paul, Amb. Wahala, Mazi Prosper, Aje Baba Mr Steve, Job Legend and Alhaji Shehu of Wazobia FM. 

Others are, Mr Odey, Mc Nappy, Emperor Kennedy, Deacon Albino, Wafi, Shally White, Mc Sam Funnymic, D2, Ybits, Aminu de Comedian, Funny Bruno and Funny Razaq. 

Emmy Rhymes, Shyne Band and Faith Jay will be on ground to provide good rhythm to put guests in a mood of relaxation and provide the right atmosphere for them to enjoy every bit of the show. 

Coming up Easter Monday, 6th April 2026, Comedy Assembly will take place at 21 Arena, National Council for Arts and Culture, behind Musa Yar'Adua Centre Abuja. 

Nick B is known for pulling high profile guests at his comedy shows which are usually sold out. 

In April last year, he hosted the "Joy is Coming" edition of the Comedy Assembly, recording massive attendance and in December, he also hosted another comedy show, which has a massive attendance. 

The Easter Monday show promises to be entertaining with floor rolling with laughter as invited artistes will be on their their very best.

News March 23, 2026 FG to scrap common entrance exam – Minister

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to abolish the Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination and replace it with a Learner Identification Number aimed at monitoring pupils throughout their educational progression.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Saturday.

The minister explained that the proposed changes are designed to expand access to education and enhance the ability to monitor pupils nationwide.

He stated that the common entrance examination would gradually be discontinued and substituted with a more holistic evaluation approach.

He said, “It will be replaced by Continuous Assessment, CA. The CA will reflect the performance of the pupil from primary one and even if a pupil is transferring from one school to another, he will take it along to his new school.”

Alausa further noted that the reform is expected to tackle challenges associated with the transition from primary to secondary education, particularly the high number of pupils who do not advance.

Citing available data, the minister said millions of children in public primary schools fail to continue into secondary education.

“We have over 50,000 public primary schools in the country with over 23 million pupils. However, from statistics available to us, only a little over 3 million among those pupils move to the junior secondary school level in our public schools, then the question is, where are the about 20 million not enrolled in our public secondary schools?” he queried.

He stressed that the figures highlight a significant access gap and called on state governments to increase school infrastructure.

“It is obvious that we cannot say our private schools accommodate all of them. The issue is simply lack of access and we are working on that. There is need to build more schools and I have met the Nigerian Governors’ Forum over that. State governments need to build more schools to accommodate more pupils and students,” he said.

To improve tracking, Alausa disclosed that the government would implement a Learner Identification Number assigned to pupils from the primary level.

“To also follow up on our pupils and students, we are introducing the Learner Identification Number right from primary school level for our children. It will be unique to each child and they will have the number no matter where they started schooling or later transferred to,” he explained.

He added that the initiative would allow authorities to monitor students’ academic journey and identify those who drop out.

“If somebody is expected to be in JSS class one and he is not there, we will be able to know the reason why he is not continuing his education,” Alausa said.

The minister also revealed that efforts are underway to revive the school feeding programme as part of strategies to boost enrolment in public schools, noting that the programme may be moved to the Federal Ministry of Education for more effective oversight.

The proposed measures are part of broader government efforts to strengthen the education sector, improve retention, and ensure more Nigerian children complete basic schooling.

News March 22, 2026 Chairman Moorex Group Ltd., Engr Chidi Amechi Bags Champion Newspaper Real Estate Personality

A real estate entrepreneur and Chairman of Moorex Group Limited, Engr. Chidi Charles Amechi, has been honoured as the 2025 Champion Newspapers Real Estate Personality of the Year.

The annual awards organised by Champion Newspapers have continued to stand as one of Nigeria’s most respected platforms for recognising excellence, hard work, and impactful contributions across various sectors. The event attracted a distinguished gathering of personalities from government, business, academia, traditional institutions, and the private sector.

Held on Saturday, March 14, at Eko Hotels and Suites, the ceremony celebrated notable achievers who have contributed significantly to national development.

Among other awardees was Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo, who received the Governor of the Year Award for Youth Development and Security. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, also had members of his cabinet recognised with the Star Performance Award 2025.

The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mohamed Buba Marwa, who was represented by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, was honoured as Man of the Year. The NDLEA also emerged as the Most Innovative and Outstanding Public Agency of the Year.

Speaking through his representative Ejike Emmanuel Onwujiobi, Engr. Amechi expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing it as a motivation to further contribute to solving Nigeria’s housing challenges.

“I view this recognition beyond a personal achievement, I see it as a call to do more. At Moorex Group, we remain committed to delivering innovative and affordable housing solutions through Moorex Properties Ltd. that will positively impact lives and bridge the housing deficit in Nigeria,” he said.

Engr. Amechi has continued to attract positive attention in the media space for his contributions to the real estate sector. He recently featured on the cover of Attention Magazine, where his innovations in addressing housing needs, brand growth, and ambassadorial engagements were highlighted.

Earlier, he was among prominent Nigerians honoured at the 2024 edition of the Great Achievers Award for Human and Community Development, organised by the Great Achievers Initiative for Youth and Community Development. 

He also received the Real Estate Personality of the Year award at the Leadership Excellence (LEEX) Awards organised by Igbere TV.

Crime News March 21, 2026 Bandits abduct Kano LG secretary

 

Suspected bandits have kidnapped the Secretary of Kibiya Local Government Area in Kano State after storming his residence in Dinya town in the early hours of Saturday.

The leader of the local government council, Sabo  Usman, confirmed the incident to the BBC, stating that it took place late on Friday night.

“The incident happened around 1:00 a.m. while the secretary was asleep in his house,” he said.

He explained that the gunmen first woke the secretary’s son, who had been sleeping in the outer compound, and compelled him to knock on his father’s door under the guise of having a stomach ache.

“After he knocked, his father asked who it was, and he replied that it was his son. When asked what the problem was, he said he had a stomach ache. The father then opened the door, and the gunmen immediately seized him along with the son,” he said.

According to him, the assailants later freed the son but took the secretary away before security operatives could get to the scene.

Kibiya Local Government Area has generally been regarded as peaceful. However, nearby areas such as Tsanyawa and Shanono, which border Katsina State, have experienced repeated bandit attacks.

(DAILY TRUST)

News Others March 21, 2026 Troops observe Eid prayers in Ngoshe Mosque amid Boko Haram threats

Troops under Operation Hadin Kai have pushed back against terrorist threats by observing Eid-el-Fitr prayers in Ngoshe and Gwoza areas of Borno State, demonstrating renewed control and a return to normal life in the communities.

Security sources revealed that insurgents affiliated with Boko Haram had earlier circulated propaganda claiming plans to take over Ngoshe town and celebrate Sallah at the central mosque, in an apparent attempt to intimidate residents and assert dominance.

A report by security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagozola Makama, indicated that Nigerian Army troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai quickly reinforced the area after an earlier attack on March 4.

“The military response, supported by aerial surveillance and local intelligence, disrupted insurgent movements and led to the neutralisation of several fighters, effectively blunting the threat. On the day of Sallah, Ngoshe and nearby Gwoza remained calm, with residents freely observing prayers and engaging in celebrations without incident,” the report said.

In what observers described as a symbolic counter to the insurgents’ claims, troops were seen participating in Eid prayers at the Ngoshe central mosque, reinforcing government authority and challenging the narrative promoted by the terrorists.

“They boast that they will celebrate Sallah in Ngoshe. But here we are exposing their lies. No single Boko Haram is in Ngoshe,” the source said.

The military also praised residents for their cooperation and vigilance, noting that community support played a key role in the success of the operation.

Authorities further cautioned the public against sharing terrorist propaganda, warning that such actions could weaken ongoing national security efforts.

News March 21, 2026 Sokoto cleric knocks Tinubu’s record, says North not benefiting from 2023 Muslim-Muslim ticket strategy

 

A respected Islamic scholar based in Sokoto, Professor Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, has alleged that President Bola  Tinubu has sidelined Muslims after benefiting from their support to win the 2023 presidential election.

The cleric made the remarks on Friday while delivering his Eid sermon in Sokoto, where he argued that the Muslim-Muslim ticket adopted during the election was primarily a tactic to secure victory.

He further claimed that both Muslims and the northern region have yet to see meaningful gains from the current administration.

According to him, “Tinubu won the election in 2023 using the Muslim-Muslim ticket, but presently Muslims are suffering under him. He is not after Muslims or Islam.

“The northern region which is predominantly Muslim is not his priority either. What he is only after is Lagos, and even in Lagos, his allies are the Christians,” Professor Ibrahim.

He also advised fellow Islamic clerics to avoid mobilising support for the president in future elections based on religious considerations, stressing the need to focus instead on measurable performance.

The scholar maintained that Nigerians should only rally behind the president if there is clear progress in key sectors such as education, healthcare, agriculture, business, the economy, and electricity supply.

“Whosoever will campaign for Tinubu should tell us what he did for us. But if there is nothing to campaign for him with, we should be allowed to try other candidates, maybe we can get relief,” he added.

Attempts to obtain a response from the Presidency were unsuccessful as of press time, with calls and messages sent to presidential spokespersons yet to receive a reply.

(DAILY TRUST)

News March 21, 2026 Top govt official slumps, dies suddenly

 

The Delta State Government has expressed grief over the sudden demise of Mr Sunny Kotor, who served as Senior Special Assistant on Protocol to the State Government.

Kotor, widely known for anchoring official state events as a Master of Ceremony, reportedly slumped and died on Friday.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Warri and signed by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Ifeanyi Osuoza, the government described the death as “a profound loss; not only to his family, but to the Government and people of Delta State who benefited immensely from his professionalism, composure, and unmistakable presence at official engagements.

“He brought dignity, structure, and excellence to every function he handled, leaving behind a standard that will be difficult to forget,” the statement added.

Osuoza further noted that “every passing is indeed a sobering reminder of how fragile and fleeting life can be,” while extending condolences to the deceased’s family, colleagues, and associates who worked closely with him.

The government also prayed that God would grant them the strength to bear the irreparable loss.