Visa applications often come with long wait times, turning travel plans into stressful countdowns, but for eager travellers, there’s good news. Some countries are offering visas processed in minutes or just a few hours.

These hassle-free systems make it remarkably easy to explore new destinations without delay, turning spontaneous trips into a real possibility.

Here are six countries that grant visas in 24 hours or less:

1. Tajikistan – Visa in 1 Hour

Tajikistan’s e-Visa system is among the fastest globally, often delivering approvals within an hour.

The process is fully online, and the visa is available for both tourism and business visits—ideal for adventurers eager to explore the Pamir Mountains without delay.

2. Azerbaijan – Visa in 3 Hours

Azerbaijan boasts one of the world’s quickest visa processes.

Through its ASAN Visa system, travellers can apply online and receive approval in just about 3 hours. The simple digital application requires minimal documentation, making it perfect for impromptu trips to Baku or the scenic Caspian coast.

3. Sri Lanka – ETA Within 24 Hours

Sri Lanka’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system is efficient and tourist-friendly.

Most applications are processed in less than a day, making it easier than ever to jet off to its lush tea plantations, ancient temples, and golden coastlines.

4. Pakistan – Visa in 24 Hours

Pakistan’s digital visa platform offers approvals within 24 hours for many nationalities.

With options for up to 90-day stays, this fast-track visa makes exploring the country’s mountain ranges, historic sites, and bustling cities easier than ever.

5. Turkey – e-Visa in 24 Hours

Turkey offers a seamless e-Visa application that typically concludes within 24 hours. Whether you’re drawn to Istanbul’s historic landmarks or the turquoise beaches of Antalya, this fast-track system helps you get there with ease.

6. Thailand – e-Visa on Arrival (eVOA) in 24 Hours

Thailand’s eVOA system lets travelers apply online and get approval within 24 hours, allowing for a 15-day stay, the eVOA also lets you skip long immigration queues when you arrive.

Is there anyone who could defeat America in a war? This question fuels debates among military strategists, policymakers, and curious citizens alike. For decades, the United States has maintained unparalleled military dominance, with the largest defense budget, a global network of alliances, and cutting-edge technology. Yet, in an increasingly multipolar world, serious competitors have emerged, challenging the notion of guaranteed American victory.

In this article, we’ll analyze:

• America’s military strengths and vulnerabilities
• The nations with the potential to challenge U.S. forces
• Realistic scenarios of conflict
• Why total defeat is unlikely, but costly setbacks are possible

Let’s dive into the facts and sober assessments behind this provocative question.

The Unmatched Power of the U.S. Military

Before exploring potential challengers, it’s essential to understand why the U.S. military is so formidable:

Defense Budget: In 2024, the U.S. defense budget surpassed $880 billion, larger than the next ten countries combined.

Global Presence: Over 750 military bases in 80 countries give America unmatched reach and strategic depth.

Nuclear Triad: The U.S. maintains land, air, and submarine-based nuclear capabilities, ensuring devastating second-strike potential.

Technological Superiority: From stealth bombers to advanced drones and cyberwarfare, U.S. forces often enjoy qualitative advantages.

Professional Force: Highly trained personnel, advanced logistics, and decades of combat experience.

No single nation can simply overpower the U.S. in a conventional global conflict. But that doesn’t mean America is invincible in every scenario.

Countries That Could Challenge the U.S.

While outright defeat is improbable, several countries possess the military capacity to inflict severe damage or potentially win in regional conflicts. Here’s a closer look at the most serious challengers:

China

Strengths:

• The world’s largest standing military, with about 2 million active troops
• A rapidly growing navy, including aircraft carriers and advanced missile forces
• Significant cyber capabilities to disrupt U.S. systems and infrastructure
• Geographic advantage in East Asia

Scenario:

If a war erupted over Taiwan, China’s proximity and advanced anti-access/area denial weapons could challenge American intervention. China would not “defeat America” globally, but could win regionally, altering the balance of power.

Russia

Strengths:

• The world’s largest nuclear arsenal
• Sophisticated air defense and missile systems
• Experience in hybrid warfare and influence operations

Scenario:

A Russian attack on NATO’s eastern flank could trigger a massive conflict. While NATO and the U.S. would likely prevail over time, the risk of escalation to nuclear weapons remains the greatest existential threat.

North Korea

Strengths:

• A large ballistic missile inventory
• A small but credible nuclear arsenal

Scenario:

A full-scale war on the Korean Peninsula could devastate South Korea and threaten U.S. forces stationed there. While North Korea cannot conquer America, the scale of destruction could create political and humanitarian crises.

Iran

Strengths:

• A vast network of regional proxies and militias
• A large missile and drone inventory

Scenario:

In a conflict, Iran could target U.S. bases across the Middle East and disrupt global oil supplies. Iran would not defeat America outright but could inflict serious economic and military costs.

A Global Coalition

Perhaps the most credible scenario for defeating America in a conventional sense would involve an alliance of major powers—China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea—coordinating multiple conflicts. Even then, success would be far from guaranteed, but it would stretch U.S. resources to the limit.

America’s Vulnerabilities

Despite its overwhelming strength, the United States faces serious vulnerabilities:

Overextended Commitments: Global deployments and obligations mean that multiple simultaneous conflicts could exhaust military readiness.

Domestic Divisions: Sustaining public support for long wars is more difficult than it was during the Cold War.

Debt and Spending: Mounting national debt limits future defense investments.

Cyber Threats: Adversaries could attack critical infrastructure without firing a single shot.

The Role of Nuclear Weapons

Any discussion about defeating America must confront nuclear deterrence. No rational adversary would attempt a total war, as it would likely end in mutual destruction. This fact makes outright defeat of the United States almost impossible.

Realistic Scenarios: Local Losses, Not National Collapse

Rather than imagining America being conquered, experts focus on more limited scenarios:

• Losing control over the South China Sea
• Failing to protect Taiwan
• A catastrophic cyberattack on U.S. critical infrastructure
• Losing access to Middle Eastern oil during a major regional conflict

These outcomes could damage U.S. power and credibility without resulting in outright defeat.

Conclusion

So, is there anyone who could defeat America in a war?

In a global conventional sense, it is extremely unlikely. In a regional conflict, however, China, Russia, or a coalition of adversaries could achieve localized victories. Through cyberattacks or asymmetric warfare, adversaries could damage America’s infrastructure and global influence. In a nuclear escalation, mutual destruction remains the most credible path to catastrophe.

The U.S. military remains the most powerful on earth, but strength alone does not guarantee invincibility. Sustaining that advantage will require strategic clarity, modernized forces, and careful diplomacy to avoid catastrophic miscalculation.

Key Takeaways

No single nation can defeat America outright without incurring unacceptable costs.
China poses the most serious regional military challenge.
Russia remains the greatest nuclear threat.
Cyber and asymmetric warfare are increasingly viable options to undermine U.S. power.
A coordinated global coalition could stretch America’s military to the breaking point, but success would still be uncertain.

Immigration is one of the most polarizing issues in American politics. As the number of undocumented immigrants living and working in the United States grows, many people are asking a difficult question: Should the U.S. deport illegal immigrants who have a job? This debate strikes at the heart of national identity, economic interests, and humanitarian values. Whether you support mass deportations or favor more lenient policies, understanding the arguments on all sides is essential.

The Case for Deportation

Supporters of deporting illegal immigrants, even those employed, often cite several reasons:

1. Upholding the Rule of Law
Many Americans believe that immigration laws exist for a reason. If the government fails to enforce them, it undermines respect for the law across society. Deporting undocumented immigrants, regardless of employment status, reinforces legal standards and discourages further illegal entry.

2. Protecting American Jobs
A common argument is that illegal immigrants take jobs that could go to citizens or legal residents. In industries like construction, hospitality, and agriculture, employers may prefer undocumented workers willing to accept lower wages. This can drive down pay and working conditions for everyone.

3. Reducing Public Costs
Critics of illegal immigration often point out that undocumented immigrants use public services such as schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, sometimes without paying taxes. Deportation, they argue, helps alleviate this financial burden on taxpayers.

The Argument Against Deportation

On the other hand, opponents of deporting employed undocumented immigrants highlight these points:

1. Economic Contributions
Millions of undocumented immigrants fill essential jobs that Americans are unwilling or unable to do. They harvest crops, build homes, prepare food, and care for children and the elderly. Removing them could disrupt industries, increase costs, and cause labor shortages. According to research by the American Farm Bureau Federation, deporting large numbers of workers could reduce agricultural output by up to $60 billion annually.

2. Tax Payments
Contrary to popular belief, many undocumented workers pay taxes using Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) or false Social Security numbers. The Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy estimates that undocumented immigrants contribute over $11 billion each year in state and local taxes.

3. Humanitarian Concerns
Many immigrants have lived in the U.S. for years, built families, and contributed to their communities. Mass deportations can separate parents from children, cause psychological trauma, and disrupt entire neighborhoods.

Public Opinion: A Divided Nation

Polls reveal that Americans remain deeply divided on this issue. Some surveys show that more than 60% of Americans favor a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants working and paying taxes. Others support stronger enforcement and deportation policies. Political affiliation plays a major role. Conservatives often emphasize border security and legal compliance. Liberals typically focus on compassion and the benefits of integration. Moderates tend to support compromise solutions, such as guest-worker programs or earned legalization.

Possible Middle Ground Solutions

Rather than blanket deportation or blanket amnesty, some experts suggest alternatives:

Pathways to Citizenship: Allow undocumented workers to apply for legal status if they meet certain requirements, such as background checks and tax compliance.

Employer Accountability: Crack down on businesses that knowingly hire undocumented workers to reduce incentives for illegal immigration.

Temporary Work Visas: Expand visa programs for industries heavily reliant on foreign labor.

What Do You Think?

The question “Should the U.S. deport illegal immigrants who have a job?” doesn’t have a simple answer. It touches on economic realities, legal principles, and human dignity. Your opinion matters. The future of U.S. immigration policy will be shaped by public debate, elections, and ongoing dialogue.

Share your thoughts: Do you believe employed undocumented immigrants should be deported, allowed to stay, or offered a path to legal status? Join the conversation and let your voice be heard.

Final Thoughts

Immigration remains one of the defining challenges of our time. By understanding the facts and listening to different perspectives, we can move toward solutions that honor both the rule of law and the human spirit.

I am a man in my mid-50s. Life has taught me that some truths remain elusive, but others have become as clear to me as the lines on my palm. One of those is this: no nation is saved by waiting for external forces or political coalitions built on ambition and recycled influence. A nation is saved when its people, home and abroad, rise in consciousness, strategy, and unity to reclaim their collective destiny.

The salvation of Nigeria will not come from a coalition of politicians who, in previous dispensations, were given the opportunity to serve and failed to shift the national trajectory. These are not new messiahs. They are familiar names, figures with long-standing ambitions and tainted legacies. Some have sought the presidency more times than records can count. Their history is not one of sacrifice for the people but of political gymnastics and opportunism.

Let me be clear: I am not on the side of the current regime, nor am I intoxicated by the coalition positioning itself as an alternative. I am on the side of the people, the struggling masses who have, for too long, borne the brunt of elite failure.

Across the world, we are seeing a return to nationalism and protectionism. In the United States, the uncertainties surrounding Birthright Citizenship and the far-reaching implications of the new “Big Beautiful Act” signed into law on July 4, 2025, are reshaping immigration realities. In Burkina Faso and Mali, we are witnessing the stirrings of grassroots power. These are signs, if we dare to read them.

If we refuse to build our nations and continent, we risk becoming stateless. The world is sending two clear messages: First, no one is coming to save us but ourselves. Second, there is no place like home. As Scripture says, “He determined our appointed times and the boundaries of our habitation.”

I have listened carefully to the leading voices in this new coalition, and what I hear is not a people-driven vision, but personal ambition weaponized by the current socio-economic anguish of Nigerians. It is eerily reminiscent of the hope many placed in the Buhari-led coalition, which rode to power on the back of popular frustration with the PDP’s 16-year reign. That same coalition, now called the APC, delivered one of the most crushing disappointments in our democratic history.

Today’s coalition bears the same fingerprints: familiar actors like Abubakar Atiku returning with new packaging, recycled scripts, and the same desperation for power. It seems the political class has mastered the playbook, emerge during national distress, promise salvation, ride the wave to power, and leave the people stranded.

Listen to their talking points. Though they claim to speak for the people, they ignore the people’s true demands: electoral reform, restructuring, security, education, and justice. Instead, what we see is an orchestra of ambition, individuals who once demonized each other now united by nothing more than mutual convenience.

This is not a movement. It is a merger of motives, not of mandate.

True transformation cannot come from those who are unwilling to build from the grassroots. And let us be honest: a one-party state is not defined by how many parties exist on paper, but by whether any of them truly represent the people’s interest. In Nigeria, our parties often function as senior and junior arms of the same elite club. There is only one coalition in Nigeria, the coalition of the political elites! 

Even figures like Peter Obi, admired by many for his candor and competence, must reconsider the weight of the company he now keeps. It is doubtful he will emerge as the coalition’s presidential candidate. And even if he does, can fresh wine truly be poured into old wineskins?

My conclusion is clear and firm: Nigeria’s salvation is not in this coalition. It is in the hands of Nigerians themselves.

We must look beyond 2027. We must organize, intelligently, peacefully, and persistently. We must build long-term political movements rooted in the people, not in personalities. We must plant seeds that may not bear fruit immediately, but will, in time, yield the Nigeria we dream of.

Let us not be seduced by familiar faces with unfamiliar integrity.

The future is not in their hands.

It is in ours.

Written by Taiwo Akinlami 

Every election cycle in Nigeria, we hear the same cynical mantra: “ADC OR LP can’t win, so why waste your vote?” As 2027 approaches, it’s time we confronted this lazy, defeatist logic—and called it out for what it is: a tool of intimidation wielded by the old guard to keep power locked in the hands of a few.

Let’s get this straight: if every Nigerian who complains about corruption, incompetence, and recycled leadership stopped parroting this narrative and actually voted their conscience, the African Democratic Congress would stand a fighting chance.

But instead, the political conversation in our country is polluted by a toxic fatalism that says if you don’t pick one of the so-called “big two,” your vote doesn’t matter. This is the mentality that sustains the endless carousel of broken promises, mass poverty, decaying infrastructure, and rigged priorities.

When you tell people the ADC can’t win, you’re really saying: “We’re too afraid to try.”

The Myth of “Wasted Votes”

The idea of a “wasted vote” is itself a brilliant trick by establishment parties. Consider this: no political force in any democracy is ever born overnight as a juggernaut. Movements grow because citizens step out of line, refuse to be herded like cattle, and plant their flag behind an alternative—no matter how improbable it seems at first.

In 2015, didn’t we hear that Buhari’s coalition could never dislodge the PDP’s decades-long grip on power? And yet, here we are. The same playbook of dismissiveness is now used to keep ADC—and any genuine reformist movement—perpetually on the margins.

Ask yourself: Who benefits from this story that you must only choose between recycled failures? Certainly not the millions of young Nigerians hungry for honest leadership.

The Real Waste

You know what a wasted vote looks like? Casting your ballot for a candidate you don’t believe in because some pundit told you to be “realistic.” That’s how we ended up with governments that treat citizens as expendable and public funds as personal estates. That’s why we have skyrocketing youth unemployment, dilapidated schools, and a healthcare system that cannot respond to basic emergencies.

Voting out of fear isn’t pragmatism. It’s surrender.

ADC’s Vision Is Not a Joke

Unlike the old guard, ADC’s message has been consistent: rewire the political system from the grassroots, empower local governments, build an economy that prioritizes jobs and small businesses, and end the chokehold of patronage.

While other parties are busy trading insults and plotting alliances of convenience, ADC is quietly recruiting candidates with integrity—people whose names you’ve never heard because they haven’t spent decades pillaging the treasury.

That is the point.

But no movement can grow if citizens remain paralyzed by the myth that nothing can change. No fresh voices can rise if voters keep waiting for permission from the same elites who profit from the status quo.

2027 Is a Chance to Break the Spell

If you are truly tired of the circus, you have two options in 2027:

1. Keep voting for the same conglomerate of recycled politicians, hoping they’ll suddenly transform into saints.
2. Decide your vote is your own—not theirs—and cast it for a party like ADC that has the courage to envision something different.

Let’s be clear: no one is pretending the ADC is guaranteed to sweep the election. But if enough Nigerians who say “I’m tired of this nonsense” act accordingly, what seems impossible today becomes unstoppable tomorrow.

Refuse to Be Shamed

There will be voices—some on social media, some in your family—who will try to shame you for “wasting” your vote. They’ll claim you are naive or unserious. These are the same voices that laughed when smaller parties made inroads in other countries. They are the same voices that ridiculed the idea of an APC victory in 2015. They are always certain—until they are proven wrong.

The real question is: Will you be among those who dared to imagine change, or those who sat safely in the chorus of cynicism?

History Belongs to the Brave

Nigeria doesn’t have to be a nation where a few political cartels keep reshuffling themselves and calling it progress. The country belongs to 200 million people, not a handful of dynasties.

Your vote is not a lottery ticket you throw away if you don’t think you can pick the winning number. Your vote is your voice—and when enough people refuse to be intimidated, that voice becomes thunder.

In 2027, let’s have the courage to defy the tired slogan that ADC can’t win. Because if we keep believing that lie, the same old actors will keep winning by default—and that, dear Nigerians, is the greatest waste of all.

Following the adoption of African Democratic Congress (ADC) by the opposition elements from different political parties as the political vehicle to use and wrestle power with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2027, Nigeria now has a strong opposition party. 

What we had in Nigeria was a weak opposition with barrages of factions and crisis, but the emergence of ADC as a coalition party has changed the scenario and the ruling party–APC must be vigilant. Anybody telling you that ADC is not a force is biased and not abreast with the dynamics of politics and power in Nigeria. The key political figures in the coalition are not pushovers. The likes of Atiku, Peter Obi, David Mark, Aregbosola, Nasir El-Rufai, Rotimi Amaechi, Dino Melaye, Solomon Dalung, Dele Momodu, Gabriel Suswam, Ireti Kingibe and others. 

APC is a product of coalition, formed in 2013, with/by three major opposition parties; ACN, CPC and ANPP and a faction of APGA. The party shook the country with strong and heartwarming manifestoes and unseated the ruling PDP in 2015. It was unprecedented in the history of Nigerian democracy. There were torrents of endorsement of the sitting president by different groups, but the goalpost was shifted at the peak of the competition. It was a lesson to all political actors and spectators. Of course, the then PDP was not perturbed by the coalition as they were swimming in the euphoria of marathon endorsements, reason it’s not always good to underrate any movement.

Politicians are seemingly the same. Political parties are just vehicles conveying people to power. Those who joined APC to unseat President Goodluck Jonathan were once in PDP. Those who joined APC in recent time were in PDP, LP, APGA or SDP. The same people. A bad man in PDP will still be a bad man when he joins ADC or APC. Nigerian politicians hardly work in corroboration with party’s ideologies. Their personal Interest matters most.

No doubt, these actors who joined the coalition ADC didn’t change Nigeria when they were in power. They are against the ruling party because they are no more in power. When they are in power, they harden their heart, but when they are out of power, they turn critics and suchlike. The masses would think they are fighting for their interest to better the society not knowing they are for their selfish interest. And if these men in ADC later have their way, they won’t also change anything but might be worst. Just birds of same feather.  

Nigerians are too emotional. They easily forget, reason they collect N5,000 from a wicked leader during election and vote him in for another tenure. Someone who has been starving them would please them on the day of election and they would forget and forgive his political sins. Only a few are enlightened such that they can’t be bribed to sell their vote. 

Like I said before, Nigerians are emotional. The person who starved them yesterday can tell them today that they should leave the one starving them now that he will provide food for them in abundant, and they would agree, with every form of equanimity. They wouldn’t remind the one claiming saint today of his past records. That’s Nigerians for you! And that’s why we always find ourselves out of the frying pan into the fire. 

Essentially, the ruling APC must be vigilant. The party should devise a means and new strategies to disorganise the coalition group. They should also take more care of the masses. The easiest way to dislodge power mongers masquerading as coalition elements is to ensure good governance. A good leader doesn’t need to struggle to win second tenure. Your good works will be there to speak for you.

The APC should understand that opposition is imminent in democratic setting and should always proactively prepare for their strategy. They should learn to reward hardwork among party members. It’s unfortunate that APC is favouring opposition much while its members watch. The same opposition element you want to satisfy against your fellow party members would at the long run join forces against you using the resources he had got from you. Somebody supported you to win election in first term; after victory, you now take care of those who did everything possible to ensure you didn’t emerge more than those who staked everything they had to ensure your victory. Every leader must have enemies. You can’t please everybody. But you must always ensure “greatest happiness for the greatest number” as put forward by a UK born philosopher, Jeremy Bentham. 

So, APC should restrategise and match the coalition group hands down. They should ignore those telling them the coalition is a jamboree, that they can’t do anything. A good politician must always have plan A and B, even C. In politics, you keep strategising and never underrate. If you killed a lion confronting you with AK 47 gun, use same gun to kill an ant that comes your way. We played excellently in the football match and dribbled everyone in the field, but the question will be, did you later score goal? It’s about who scored goal and won and not who played well, and politics is like a football match.

Written By Polycarp Obinna Alegu

When the chilling news broke that 13 innocent Ebonyi indigenes were butchered in Anambra State, many struggled to grasp the scale of the horror. But as the details emerged—one victim each hailing from the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi—the contours of something far darker than random violence began to take shape. This was no accidental massacre. This was a message: a cruel, deliberate assault on the collective identity of an entire people.

It is impossible to ignore the symbolism. Thirteen lives—each representing a distinct part of Ebonyi—erased in a single wave of bloodshed. Are we to believe this was coincidental? Are we to look the other way as if this were some ordinary act of criminality? No thinking person should. The pattern is too precise to dismiss as happenstance.

This attack reeks of orchestration—of a sinister strategy to humiliate and cow the proud sons and daughters of Ebonyi State. It smacks of an attempt to fracture our resolve, to send our communities scurrying into fear and silence. But those behind this calculated carnage should know that they have failed before they even began. Ebonyi has never been a people to kneel before terror.

Governor Francis Nwifuru’s condemnation is an important first step. His vow to secure justice is necessary. But words alone will not suffice. Ebonyi people everywhere must demand a full accounting: Who planned this atrocity? Who funded it? Who in Anambra’s corridors of power looked the other way? And why has such an outrage not ignited national alarm?

We must be clear: If 13 indigenes of any other state were executed systematically across such geographic breadth, Nigeria’s security architecture would be in overdrive. Television anchors would be broadcasting wall-to-wall coverage. Federal agencies would swarm the crime scenes. Yet here we are, watching tepid reactions and evasive statements. This cannot stand.

To the perpetrators, know this: You have not cowed Ebonyi. You have only awakened a united front determined to expose your sponsors and bring your evil enterprise crashing down. To the leaders of Anambra State, understand this: If you fail to root out those who carried out this monstrous act on your soil, history will indict you as enablers of ethnic violence.

It is time for Ebonyi communities across Nigeria to speak with one voice. We must demand an independent investigation—transparent, credible, and unconstrained by political calculation. We must insist on decisive arrests and prosecutions, not press conferences and half-hearted condolences. The blood of these 13 martyrs cries out for justice.

Let it be known: Ebonyi is watching. Nigeria is watching. And no amount of spin will erase the truth—that this was a targeted slaughter designed to send a message. But our answer is simple and unshakable: We will not be broken. We will not forget. And we will not rest until every conspirator faces the full measure of accountability.

This week on Asiwaju Media, political tensions, community heroics, and celebrity extravagance dominated public discourse. From high-profile arrests to remarkable acts of generosity, here are the top stories that captured national and global attention:

National Shock as 26 Arrested Over Yelwata Massacre That Killed 47 in Benue
The Inspector-General of Police confirmed the arrest of 26 suspects linked to the horrific Yelwata massacre in Benue State, where dozens of villagers were killed. The announcement followed mounting pressure on authorities to bring perpetrators to justice.
Read More

Ebonyi Rep Member Threatens Constituent for Supporting Charity Foundation
In a shocking display of political intolerance, an Ebonyi House of Representatives member was accused of threatening a constituent for endorsing a rival charity foundation. The incident sparked outrage over growing hostility in local politics.
Read More

Cable Vandals Nabbed by Hunters in Okpuitumo, Handed Over to Police
Vigilant community hunters in Okpuitumo apprehended suspected vandals caught stealing critical electricity cables. The suspects were later paraded and handed over to security agencies, earning praise from residents for protecting public infrastructure.
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AE-FUNAI to Split Mass Communication into Eight New Disciplines
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike announced plans to unbundle its Mass Communication programme into eight specialized degree tracks. The move aims to modernize the curriculum and improve graduate employability.
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CDCFIB Opens Nationwide Recruitment Into Paramilitary Agencies
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board began a fresh recruitment drive into major paramilitary agencies. Thousands of applicants nationwide rushed to submit applications before the deadline.
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NYSC Official Warns Corps Members About BVN Errors in Allowance Payments
An NYSC finance officer clarified recurring issues with corps members’ allowances, warning that incorrect BVN details could delay payments. The advisory came as many service members complained of unpaid stipends.
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Tems Gifts Fan ₦3 Million for Stunning Crochet Portrait
In a feel-good moment that lit up social media, award-winning singer Tems surprised a fan with ₦3 million after she created a viral crochet portrait. The gesture was widely celebrated as a testament to the power of creativity.
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Victor Osimhen Buys 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan Worth Over ₦900 Million
Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen made headlines after acquiring a brand new 2025 Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The luxury purchase reinforced his standing as one of Africa’s most successful footballers.
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Sanwo-Olu Marks 60th Birthday with Heartfelt Message of Gratitude
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu celebrated his 60th birthday with a moving message thanking Lagosians and reflecting on his journey in leadership. The tribute inspired messages of goodwill across the country.
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IPOB Rejects Tinubu’s Proposed Cattle Ranches, Labels It “Repackaged RUGA”
The Indigenous People of Biafra issued a strongly worded statement rejecting the federal government’s plan to establish cattle ranches, describing it as a covert attempt to seize ancestral lands.
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Ogah, Nwizi, Others Celebrate Arch. Christian Asaga Nwali at 43
Political leaders including Chinedu Ogah and Austin Nwizi paid glowing tributes to Architect Christian Asaga Nwali on his 43rd birthday, highlighting his contributions to community development and public service.
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Editorial: Ebonyi’s Brain Trust—Mobilizing Professors for Development
An in-depth editorial argued that Ebonyi State must harness its wealth of professors and intellectuals to drive development and innovation, instead of relying solely on political patronage.
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FG Introduces Dual Degree Programmes in 15 Federal Colleges of Education
The federal government launched new dual-degree programmes in education colleges across Nigeria, in a bid to improve teacher quality and modernize higher education.
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The unbundling of Mass Communication programme into seven (7) different disciplines by National Universities Commission, (NUC) has created the opportunity for students of communication in Nigerian universities to start thinking of specialisation from their very first day as undergraduates in any of the departments created from the hitherto omnibus Mass Communication programme in Nigerian universities. The seven (7) departments created from Mass Communication are: Media & Journalism Studies, Public Relations, Advertising, Photo Journalism, Film Studies, Radio & TV Broadcast and Development Communication Studies.

Like the other five areas, Advertising and Public Relations are two professions that are long overdue to stand as full disciplines of study because they have evolved over the decades. Less than two decades ago, advertising agencies had full blown creative strength with different departments including Client Service, creative, media, Public Relations and other departments. On the job experience and passing the final stages of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR & Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria APCON) examinations are the only ways to qualify to be called a professional, (Advertising or Public Relations Practitioner). Graduates of Mass Communication are expected to spend between two to three years with these agencies before they are regarded as professionals, Advertising and Public Relations professions have developed so much over the years that each department within the advertising agencies can also now stand independently. Examples are media departments now known as Media Independent Agency and creative department known as creative hot shop agency.

Media Independent Agencies now operate with a professional software that with the profile of your target audience, will generate for you their media habit and the accurate media vehicle to reach them. For Creative hot shop agencies, they have a team of copy writers and graphic artists that can merge good copy with visual elements to develop quality advertisement that will make customers buy products

With the independence of these two professions from Mass Communication programme, students with preference for Advertising and Public Relations will now be groomed in Nigerian universities in line with the above mentioned developments and many more for the marketing communication industry as undergraduate. It is after this they will be awarded their First Degree in either Advertising or Public Relations. The study of the two relevant regulatory bodies – APCON for advertising and NIPR for Public Relations – are now also included in the curriculum that students can now study to enable them know what to expect when they go into practice.

There is great prospect for graduates of these two professions because the budget by advertisers and clients is always on the increase. Nigeria Media Facts Book puts the figure for 2018 at N81b and N79.9b for 2019.

Senior Advertising and Public Relations practitioners have agreed it will take some time for Nigerian universities to get adequate manpower to train communication students in line with this unbundling of Mass Communication programme but the unbundling is a step in the right direction.

By Okoh Samuel Ejime

The author is of the Department of Mass Communications @ Veritas University, Abuja

Ebonyi State is sitting on a goldmine of intellectual capital. With over 130 professors of Ebonyi origin across diverse fields—ranging from engineering, law, education, health sciences, technology, and governance—the state has more than enough scholarly firepower to drive transformative policies, reform its education system, and reposition its development trajectory. Yet, this resource remains largely underutilized in the planning and administration of the state.

In an age when countries and sub-national governments are racing to adopt knowledge-based models of development, Ebonyi’s failure to deliberately harness the insights and expertise of its scholars is a missed opportunity—one that must be corrected if the state is to attain meaningful and sustainable progress.

We believe that the time has come for the Ebonyi State Government to formally integrate its academic elite into the machinery of governance. This integration can begin with the establishment of a State Council of Scholars or a Policy and Research Advisory Council, comprising select professors with proven track records. Such a body can serve as a non-partisan think tank to the governor and executive council, tasked with conducting independent research, offering expert policy reviews, and shaping development blueprints based on empirical evidence—not political expediency.

Policy-making in Ebonyi must evolve beyond reactionary governance. Whether it is in urban planning, agricultural modernization, climate adaptation, health system reform, or revenue generation, decisions must be anchored in research and data. Professors in relevant fields can provide this intellectual backbone. For example, public health experts can lead efforts in preventive healthcare and rural health infrastructure, while economists and development specialists can design frameworks for increasing internally generated revenue (IGR) without crippling the people through taxation.

Education, a core area of concern, would also benefit immensely. Ebonyi may have made strides in expanding access to schools, but quality remains questionable. Professors should be enlisted in curriculum design, teacher training, and academic policy reforms. A “Scholars in Schools” initiative—where professors from Ebonyi volunteer or are invited to teach masterclasses, mentor students, and train teachers—could help inspire excellence in public education. Beyond that, they can strengthen research and development units in state-owned tertiary institutions, making them more responsive to local challenges.

Professors must also be seen not only as educators but as strategic thinkers. Their role in long-term state planning cannot be overstated. The Ebonyi State Government should explore the creation of an institution akin to a State Institute for Strategic Development and Policy Innovation—a permanent body driven by academic experts, with the mandate to develop masterplans in digital innovation, environmental resilience, industrialization, and legal reform.

Furthermore, the state must develop a Diaspora Scholars Engagement Framework to tap into the wealth of Ebonyi-born professors working abroad. Through periodic lectureships, policy consultations, and project-based contracts, these scholars can contribute meaningfully to the home they may have left physically but not intellectually.

Crucially, the mentoring capacity of this academic class must be leveraged. A new generation of Ebonyi leaders must be groomed in critical thinking, civic ethics, and global competence. Professors are in a prime position to build this leadership pipeline, particularly at the grassroots level where political awareness and civic education are still dangerously low.

What Ebonyi needs now is not just more infrastructure—but a smarter approach to building the future. The professors are already here. Their expertise is real. Their patriotism is proven. The only thing lacking is the political will to bring them to the table of governance.

If the state must rise beyond cosmetic development and momentary applause, it must begin to value and institutionalize intellectual contributions. Ebonyi must build its future on the foundation of knowledge—not guesswork, rhetoric, or cronyism.

The time to act is now. The professors are ready. Is the government listening?

Partial Roll Call of Ebonyi Professors:

Prof. Fidelis Ogah, Prof. Francis Idike, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, Prof. Sunday Elom, Prof. Nnenna Otti, Prof. Afam Icha-Ituma, Prof. Michael Awoke, Prof. Francis Otunta, Prof. Eugene Nweke, Prof. Fidelis Okpata, Prof. Grace Umezurike, Prof. Friday Nweke, Prof. Jesse Uneke, Prof. Ozo Nweke Ozo, Prof. Chuks Edeogu, Prof. Kelechi Akuma, Prof. Chinedu Akuma, Prof. Basil Onwe, Prof. Joshua Nweke, Prof. Mike Otuma, Prof. Suleiman Ogah, Prof. Paulinus Nnabo, Prof. Daniel Igba, Prof. Bene Okezie, Prof. Elizabeth Igba, Prof. Onyebuchi Igwe, Prof. Paul Igwe, Prof. Friday Nwalo, Prof. James Nwite, Prof. Emmanuel Uchewa, Prof. Elisha Elom, Prof. Joseph Afiukwa, Prof. Celestine Afiukwa, Prof. Ifeanyi Nwigboji, Prof. Anthony Itumo, Prof. Chikwado Opefi, Prof. Amos Nworie, Prof. Emeka Nwakpu, Prof. Ann Nwigboji, Prof. Kenneth Nwekpa, Prof. Chuks Ogbaga, Prof. Benneth Mbam, Prof. B.C.E Mbam, Prof. Patience Nnenna Onu, Prof. Kieran Ezike, Prof. Jonathan Alimba, Prof. Donatus Onu, Prof. Emmanuel Okporie, Prof. M.C. Ekwe, Prof. Happiness Oselebe, Prof. Emeka Utobo, Prof. Chima Njoku, Prof. Emmanuel Otti, Prof. Emmanuel Ude, Prof. Michael Odo, Prof. Helen Njoku, Prof. Amaechi Ngwu, Prof. Anthony Afoke, Prof. Florence Otta, Prof. Silas Omebe, Prof. Emmanuel Akuma, Prof. Paul Nwobasi, Prof. Christian Oduma, Prof. Chinyere Omebe, Prof. Nwite Onuma, Prof. Nonye Azih, Prof. Sunday Aja, Prof. Uzoma Aja-Okorie, Prof. Paul Nwakpa, Prof. Samuel Eze, Prof. Eucharia Nwafor, Prof. Onele Adali, Prof. Ijeoma Eze, Prof. Dan Enyi, Prof. Ekumankama Onu, Prof. Ndubuisi Idenyi, Prof. Amari Omaka, SAN, Prof. Matthew Nwocha, Prof. Michael Aja Nwachukwu, Prof. Egwu U. Egwu, Prof. Sunday Onwe, Prof. Ike Elechi, Prof. Festus Ogiji, Prof. Sunday Nwite, Prof. Okechukwu Okogwu, Prof. Christiana Ani, Prof. Ogbonnaya Ogbu, Prof. Kingsley Agbafor, Prof. Udu Ama Ibiam, Prof. Kingsley Ukwuaja, Prof. Hilary Eze, Prof. Sylvester Ngele, Prof. John Igidi, Prof. Wilberforce Oti, Prof. Clementina Igwebuike-Ossi, Prof. Henry Adagba, Prof. Godwin Agbo, Prof. Peter Agbo, Prof. Daniel Onah, Prof. Clement Mgbada, Prof. Samuel Ituma, Prof. Humphrey Nwobasi, Prof. Hyginus Aligwe, Prof. D.M. Nwogbaga, Prof. Ann Eze, Prof. F.U. Ulo, Prof. Daniel Nwibo, Prof. Philip Omoke, Prof. Rev. Donatus Njoku, Prof. Uche Azikiwe, Prof. Emeka Otagburuagu, Prof. Henry Urochukwu, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Prof. Anthony Okpani, Prof. Austin Chukwu, Prof. Sen. Anthony Ani, Prof. Sunday Agwu, Prof. Ojemba Isu-Oko, Prof. Isaac Nwankwo, Prof. Christiana Chukwu, Prof. J.A. Uraku, Prof. Aja Akpuru Aja, Prof. Boniface Mbam, Prof. Emmanuel Echuegu, Prof. Nkechi Echiegu, Prof. Peter Okorie, Prof. John Eke, Prof. Adeline Idike, Prof. Adaeze Nwuzo, Prof. Joseph Nkwede, Prof. Jerome Orji, Prof. Chibueze Igwe, Prof. Agwu Ekwe, Prof. Nnanna Agwu, Prof. Steve Egbo, Prof. Ben Odoh, Prof. Jonathan Aliede.

These names represent more than academic accomplishments — they are a living archive of wisdom and solutions. The time to connect Ebonyi’s governance to its intellectual vanguard is long overdue. If the state is to truly rise, it must be powered by ideas, expertise, and vision — all of which reside in its scholars.