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Historical Analysis (Steve Bankole Rhodes

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When Steven Bankole Rhodes (1890-1951) was appointed a member of the Executive Council of the then Colonial Nigeria on September 23, 1942. He was the only African to have had the opportunity to participate directly in policy formulation at the central executive level, before that time colonial administrators exempted Africans from participating in policy formulation.

Earlier In January of the same year, he was nominated as an Unofficial Member of the Legislative council of Nigeria. In this capacity he pushed for the nationalisation of all Nigerian industries, he also advocated for the autonomy of native courts.

In 1943, King George VI of England conferred on him the honour of the commander of the said Most Excellent Order – CBE for his dedication to public services in Nigeria.  Justice S.B Rhodes became a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court, King George VI also gave the directives for his appointment on October 9, 1945, thereby becoming the first Nigerian lawyer to be elevated to the Supreme court bench straight from the Bar.

He subsequently became the second indigenous judge appointed to the Nigerian Judiciary, After and before Justice Jibowu and Justice Ademola Adetokunbo respectively.

He also held the position of Chancellor of the Diocese on the Niger, Anglican Communion. At that time the diocese covered Eastern Nigeria, the Mid-West, Kwara and the Middle Belt. He was succeeded by Louis Mbanefo.

His son, Steve Rhodes, a successful musician and broadcaster was Fela Kuti’s manager in the 1960s.

He was Uncle to Justice R.W.A Rhodes-Vivour, Grand Uncle to Supreme Court Justice Bode Rhodes-Viviour and Great Grand Uncle to Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate for Lagos State. Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

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2,400 Kajiado Pupils to Receive Hygiene Support Under New Programme

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About 2,400 school-age children and adolescents in Kajiado County, Kenya, are set to benefit from a new programme providing hygiene supplies and education on water, sanitation and hygiene.

The initiative is being implemented in Bisil, where pupils from Inkati and Noontoto primary schools will participate in sessions focused on practical hygiene habits. Beneficiaries will also receive personal hygiene kits to help them put the lessons into practice.

The programme is part of the Clean Futures Alliance, launched in Kenya by Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) and Feed the Children through the FedEx Cares programme.

Beyond classroom education, volunteers from FedEx are participating in the preparation and distribution of the hygiene kits. The approach is designed to ensure that children have access to both information and basic supplies needed to maintain good hygiene.

The intervention comes as communities in Kajiado continue to face challenges related to access to water, sanitation and hygiene services. Schools therefore provide an important platform for reaching children with health information and practical support.

FedEx’s Managing Director of Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa, Nelson Teixeira, said the company’s community-focused work goes beyond its core logistics business and aims to connect communities with resources that can improve their wellbeing.

Feed the Children’s President and CEO, Emily Callahan, also highlighted the wider benefits of hygiene support, noting that access to essential supplies can contribute to children’s health, confidence and ability to remain engaged in school.

The programme is expected to strengthen hygiene awareness among children in Bisil while providing families and schools with practical resources to support healthier daily routines.

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Calling Christians ‘Infidels’ Is Dangerous. — Prophet Isa El-Buba

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Prophet Isa El-Buba, General Overseer of El-Buba Outreach Ministries, has condemned remarks attributed to Islamic cleric Sheikh Yahya Jingir during a political gathering in Kano State.


Jingir reportedly urged Muslims to support Muslim-Muslim political tickets and was also quoted as referring to Christians as “infidels” during an event organised in support of Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
Reacting to the remarks, El-Buba criticised what he described as religiously divisive rhetoric, warning that such comments could further deepen tensions in a country already grappling with insecurity, poverty, banditry, drug abuse and displacement, particularly in northern Nigeria.


“Somebody is standing there in your meeting, calling Christians infidels. If Christians should do this, who is going to have a country?” El-Buba asked.
While responding strongly to the alleged remarks, El-Buba said religious leaders should use their platforms to promote peaceful coexistence and unity rather than fuel division along religious lines.


The cleric also highlighted his personal efforts to support Muslims across northern Nigeria, claiming that he had assisted more than 10,000 Muslims with issues including their children’s education, housing and other basic needs, despite not having personal relationships with many of the beneficiaries.
According to El-Buba, Nigeria’s political and religious leaders should prioritise addressing the country’s pressing social and economic challenges rather than using religion as a tool for political or communal division.


His comments have renewed discussions about the responsibility of religious leaders and the potential consequences of public statements that could heighten religious tensions in Nigeria.

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NAF Strike Kills ISWAP Commander, Eight Fighters in Borno

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The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says an intelligence-led air operation has killed a senior commander of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and eight other fighters in Borno State.

The operation was carried out by the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai, the military’s counter-insurgency operation in the North-East. According to the NAF, the strike targeted suspected terrorists operating in the Sambisa Forest after intelligence reports provided information about their movements.

The Air Force said it deployed a remotely piloted aircraft to monitor and track the suspected fighters as they moved towards a hideout. After confirming the target, the aircraft carried out a precision strike on the location.

A subsequent assessment of the operation indicated that several fighters had been neutralised. The NAF later received additional intelligence confirming that nine ISWAP fighters were killed, while others sustained injuries.

Among those reportedly killed was Abu Khalid Al Muhajir, whom the Air Force identified as an important ISWAP commander responsible for providing security escorts for senior members of the terrorist organisation.

According to the NAF, Al Muhajir’s death could significantly affect ISWAP’s operations because of his reported knowledge of routes, terrain and movement patterns linking several terrorist enclaves in the Sambisa Forest and surrounding areas.

The Air Force also said intelligence suggested that some of the fighters affected by the strike may have been connected to elements suspected of involvement in a recent ambush on Nigerian troops along the Bita–Yamtage axis in Gwoza Local Government Area.

The latest operation forms part of continued military efforts to weaken terrorist networks operating across Borno and other parts of the North-East.

The NAF said its intelligence, surveillance and precision-strike capabilities would continue to be used in coordination with ground troops to disrupt terrorist movements, weaken their operational capacity and prevent them from regrouping.

The service maintained that the latest strike would also disrupt ISWAP’s ability to protect senior commanders and coordinate activities between its various enclaves.

The military’s intensified operations come as security forces continue to confront ISWAP and other insurgent groups operating in the North-East, while also working to protect communities and military formations from further attacks.

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