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Personality in Focus

Betta is Bettering Humanity

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By Nnanna Morgan

Love or hate her, Betta is bettering humanity. She is using her platform to advance common good. She is not new to service. Young, energetic and passionate, she is full of dreams. She is creative and innovative. And she has proven these times without number. She is a go-getter. Anything she touches, turns to gold. She is one with Midas touch.

Appointing her to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation as Minister by the Tinubu administration is therefore a right decision. She is a round peg in a round hole. Her experience and exposure qualify her thus. As former Commissioner of Health in Cross River State, Betta proved her mettle. She showed capacity. When in the role as National Woman Leader of the APC, she exhibited resilience. On the two aforementioned positions, she discharged her jobs creditably and professionally. Today, she is a leading light to womanhood. She is an everyday example of brain and beauty.

With her, realising the fundamental objective principle of State policy which states that ensuring the welfare and security of citizens will be the objective of government is achievable. At her Ministry, Betta has continued to show uncommon determination, zeal and obligation to the wellbeing, welfare and security of Nigerians. She loves Nigeria. She thinks her country. This is why in less than 3 months after being appointed minister, she has not only hit the ground running; she has already left indelible marks for which history will be kind to her.

As Dr. Betta Edu takes charge of the Ministry, Nigerians are upbeat. This is more so that her successes are already being widely felt. Is anyone surprised? Her journey from a young Student Leader to National Party Leader and a Federal Minister sparks hope. Her story is truly inspirational. Her appointment has generated optimism and enthusiasm among Nigerians. She is evidently regarded as a blessing to Nigerian youths and the hundreds of thousands of N-Power beneficiaries who are looking to her for strengthening the social investment scheme and restoring their hopes. And she has not failed.

Not only has she revamped the Social Investment Programme (SIP), she has renamed it the Renewed Hope Conditional Cash Transfer Programme, thus connecting it to the President’s agenda. The main objective is to provide monthly stipends to 15 million vulnerable households to improve their standard of living and alleviate the effect of economic challenges, particularly the removal of fuel subsidies. In order to enhance transparency and prevent the previously identified issues of fraud associated with the programme, she has completely restructured it to exclusively admit individuals with biometric identification. This stringent condition ensures a precise focus on those who are authentically less privileged. Her determination to reach the disadvantaged knows no limits. Betta is making an impact on the nation whilst giving her citizens profound confidence. Not only is she using her platform to advance common good, she is proving herself to be a keystone for growth and development in the country with distinct accomplishments.

It, therefore, comes as no surprise that her outstanding performance in the Ministry is leaving a lasting impression. Even the naysayers cannot deny the significant strides she has made. Her training and exposure have been nothing short of impressive. The various degrees she has obtained in Medicine and Public Health from distinguished international institutions like the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine among others undoubtedly played a crucial role in her achievements. Her journey exemplifies the concept of preparedness meeting opportunity, as she defies conventional expectations to lead alongside seasoned men and women.

The Igbo adage which says that a child that washes his/her hands clean will sure dine with the Kings has Betta in mind. She has washed clean. She is foresighted. A super visionary! Who else would believe a woman born in 1986 could become such a personality of influence, charting a unique course for her generation; and has emerged as a leader in her own right. While many of her peers are searching for employment, she has taken on the role of gatekeeper and protector for them, advocating for the vulnerable in many ways. As a champion of equality, equity, economic justice and political stability, Betta stands for the vulnerable-children, youths, women, poor and the aged. Betta is good, BETTER and Best.

Nigeria is proud of Betta’s contributions. She is indeed a rising star and her prominence is undeniable. As she marks another year in her life journey, we say 37 HEARTY CHEERS to her. At the end, she will be remembered and honoured as an indisputable icon. She will be remembered as a distinguished woman known for her unyielding determination, courage and unwavering resilience. History will record her as one with a heart of gold-who came, saw and conquered. May the sun continue to shine brightly on her path as she, alongside President Tinubu, reshape history and rekindle hope among Nigerians and global populace.

Kudos to a great woman of inspiration. Ride on Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic. March on. Accomplish more for us.

Nnanna Morgan is a Public Affairs Analyst and resides in Lagos

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Personality in Focus

Veteran Actor Olu Jacobs Dies at 84

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Veteran Nigerian actor and elder statesman, Oludotun Baiyewu Jacobs, popularly known as Olu Jacobs, has died at the age of 84.

The actor’s death was announced by his son, Olusoji Jacobs, on Instagram on Wednesday.

Olu Jacobs was one of Nigeria’s most respected actors and a towering figure in the country’s theatre, television and film industries.

For more than five decades, Jacobs built a career that took him from the stage in Britain to international films and, ultimately, to becoming one of the most recognisable faces of Nollywood.

Born on July 11, 1942, in Kano, Jacobs had his roots in the Egba Alake community of Abeokuta, Ogun State. He grew up in Kano, where he developed an early interest in acting through school drama, debating activities, and church programmes.

His passion for the performing arts was strengthened after he watched a performance by legendary Nigerian theatre practitioner Hubert Ogunde. The experience inspired him to pursue acting professionally.

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Personality in Focus

Michael Dell Overtakes Jeff Bezos As World’s Third Wealthiest Billionaire

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Michael Dell, on Tuesday, overtook Jeff Bezos in Forbes’ billionaire rankings, edging past the Amazon co-founder as shares of Dell Technologies reached an all-time high, extending a six-month rally.Dell’s estimated net worth rose $4.6 billion to reach $267.7 billion at market close Tuesday afternoon, making him the third-wealthiest person in the world for the first time ever.

Dell trails Alphabet co-founder Larry Page ($277.9 billion) and Tesla chief Elon Musk ($942 billion).

Shares of Dell Technologies rose 1.9% to close at an all-time high of $533.88 on Tuesday, and traded as high as $538.47 earlier in the day.

Bezos’ estimated net worth dropped $1.4 billion to $265.2 billion as Amazon shares fell 0.6%.

Dell’s net worth has more than doubled since last year as his company has benefited from booming demand for artificial intelligence hardware.

327%. That is how much Dell’s stock has rocketed since the start of the year, when shares were priced around the $128 mark. Michael Dell holds a roughly 40% stake in his company and has much of his fortune wrapped up in his private investment firm DFO Management, which invests in hotels and liquid corporate credit. Dell’s net worth has soared alongside his company’s earnings, allowing him to surpass Meta co-founder Mark Zuckerberg and Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison in recent months.

Dell Technologies is a week removed from its second-quarter earnings report in which it logged $47 billion in revenue, a 58% jump year-over-year, and adjusted earnings per share of $7.04, a threefold increase from the same period last year. The company’s AI server business logged a record $60.9 billion in orders and accounted for $16.4 billion in revenue. The growth, and what chief financial officer David Kennedy called “AI momentum,” resulted in Dell Technologies raising its full-year revenue guidance $25 billion to an anticipated $192 billion.

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Personality in Focus

NAOSNP President, Oki Samson Bags Police-Youth Advocate Award

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The Lagos State Police Command under the leadership of the Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Tijani, on Thursday, honoured the President of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), Mayor Oki Olatunji Samson, as a Police-Youth Advocate for his contribution to youth engagement and advocacy, responsible security journalism and community safety.

The recognition came during the Command’s commemoration of International Youth Day 2026, themed “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations,” held at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Secretariat, Oduduwa Street, Lagos.

The event also featured the launch of the National Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery and a Police-Youth Dialogue designed to build stronger partnerships between law enforcement and young Nigerians. The initiative, in line with the vision of Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, placed youth participation, responsible citizenship and peacebuilding at the centre of contemporary security discourse.

In his address at the event, the NAOSNP President, a respected security journalist, stressed that youth advocacy must move beyond rhetoric to deliberate investment in the values, opportunities and relationships that enable young people to become agents of stability. He argued that the youth should not be viewed simply as potential victims or perpetrators of insecurity, but as indispensable stakeholders in preventing it. According to him, the digital space has become an extension of society and therefore requires the same standards of responsibility expected in the physical world.

The NAOSNP President urged young Nigerians to recognise the power of their voices, particularly on social media, and deploy that influence constructively. “Your phone is powerful. Your social media account is powerful. Your voice is powerful. Please use that power to build, not destroy.” He further challenged young people to resist political manipulation, stressing that no temporary political reward could justify sacrificing one’s future.

“Do not allow anyone to use your future to settle their present disagreement.”

He advocated a culture in which political differences could be expressed without becoming personal hostility, urging youths to verify information before sharing it and to understand that digital actions can have real-world consequences.

The intervention resonated strongly with the message of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, who warned young people against allowing politicians to exploit them for electoral violence as the country approaches another election cycle. Fatai said youths must look beyond immediate gratification and recognise the importance of preserving their future.
“Tomorrow is there for us. We should not think of today. We should always think of tomorrow. That tomorrow is more important than what we are today.”

The CP also delivered a particularly strong message against the recruitment of young Nigerians into political thuggery, noting that political actors rarely expose their own children to the dangers of electoral violence. “None of these politicians will use any of their children for electioneering, thuggery, violence or what have you.”

He urged youths to reject attempts to use them for ballot-box snatching, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of electoral violence, while stressing that political participation remained a legitimate right when exercised responsibly.

The Commissioner equally identified the digital environment as an emerging frontier of security, urging young Nigerians to think carefully before posting, sharing or reacting to provocative content. His message was clear: political participation must never become political violence, whether offline or online.

In his goodwill message, Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi, described the campaign as timely and commended the Police for strengthening engagement with young Nigerians. Owolabi noted that the energy, creativity and resilience of young people remained indispensable to Nigeria’s peace, security and development. He emphasised that national security could no longer be regarded as the exclusive responsibility of security agencies, but required a whole-of-society approach in which young Nigerians become active partners. He particularly warned against the misuse of digital platforms and physical spaces for violence, intimidation, misinformation and destructive engagement, while calling for stronger trust and communication between young people and security institutions.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Coordinator of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), SP Olivia Amarachi Ugochukwu, urged young people to become the change they desire in their communities.
“Policing is everybody’s business. If you see something, say something.”

She also charged the media to ensure that only verified information was disseminated, noting that responsible information management was essential to preventing fear, confusion and conflict.

The well attended event attracted representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, FRSC and NSCDC, alongside NYSC, POCACOV, PCRC, NYCN, NANS, NURTW, RTEAN, CRAN, NAOSNP, POWA and youths from Police Barracks across Lagos. The programme featured an extensive Police-Youth Dialogue on security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery and emerging threats.

The recognition of Mayor Oki Samson as Police-Youth Advocate therefore represented more than an individual honour. It underscored the growing importance of credible voices capable of connecting young people, the media and security institutions around a shared commitment to peace.

In a society where insecurity can be amplified by a rumour, a provocative post or a manipulated young mind, youth advocacy has become a frontline security intervention. The future of Nigeria cannot be secured merely by policing the streets; it must also be secured by winning the minds, trust and participation of its young people.

The challenge before advocates such as Mayor Oki Samson and institutions such as the Police is to ensure that the message does not end with an award or a commemorative event. It must travel into schools, communities, newsrooms, transport parks and digital spaces—until peace becomes not merely a campaign slogan, but a conscious choice made by a generation whose future is ultimately at stake.

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