Author: The Hope Newspaper

… says Ondo domestic debt drops 82.6% in 18 months Governor’s direct job creation unprecedented– CPS • ‘Govt clears salary, gratuity arrears as health, education, roads, agriculture, power, security record major gains’ By Fisayo Akinduro & Precious Oluwole Ondo State’s domestic debt profile has dropped by 82.6 per cent in the first 18 months of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration, representing the highest percentage reduction recorded by any state in Nigeria. The Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this on Friday at the maiden edition of the quarterly media briefing held at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure, where…

Miss World 2026: Nigeria’s Karibi-George clinches Africa top model crown Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has made the nation proud by clinching the Africa Top Model title, earning an automatic spot in the Top 40 quarter-finals of the ongoing global pageant in Vietnam. Her victory, announced late Thursday night , earned her an automatic place in the next stage of the 2026 Miss World pageant. Karibi-George finished ahead of contestants from Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa during the Top Model competition, held as part of the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII, themed “Soul of Heritage.” The Miss…

By Babatunde Ayedoju As part of its commitment to strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the Ondo State Government, through the Board for Adult, Technical and Vocational Education (BATVE), has called on traditional rulers to act as a bridge between the government and youths to improve participation in vocational education and hands-on learning of modern digital skills. This call was made through the Senior Special Assistant (SSA ) to the Governor on Adult, Technical and Vocational Education, Tayo Oluyi, during the monthly meeting with Obas in Council from the 18 Local Government areas, at the Ondo State Obas’…

…after 31 years on Ugandan throne Uganda’s King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, who ascended the throne as a three-year old and became the world’s youngest reigning monarch, has died at 34. His death was announced on Friday by the Prime Minister of Tooro Kingdom, Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed by the kingdom. However, local media quoted a Ugandan government minister as saying that the king had been critically ill and had travelled to the United States for medical treatment. King Oyo ascended the throne in 1995, following the death…

By Justus Adetomiwa, Ado-Ekiti The Ekiti State Police Command has announced the commencement of a statewide operation, code-named “Operation Velvet,” to enforce traffic laws and curb reckless driving and other unsafe road practices across the state. The command said the exercise, being carried out in compliance with a directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, was aimed at reducing avoidable road crashes, traffic congestion and the loss of lives and property resulting from disregard for traffic regulations. In a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, the command urged all road users,…

By Segun Fagbemi, Ilorin The traditional ruler of Igbesi community in Isin Local Government area of Kwara State, Oba Moses Oyinloye, has been rescued from his abductors, four days after armed bandits took him captive. The monarch was rescued alongside two other victims in a coordinated operation involving policemen from the Oro Division and members of a local vigilance group. Oba Oyinloye was kidnapped on August 22, when armed bandits invaded Igbesi community, throwing residents into panic. Confirming the rescue yesterday, the Kwara State Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, said the monarch was recovered from the kidnappers’ hideout by police…

… hails him as “unsung compass” of public service By Ayodele Popoola The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, OON, has celebrated former Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Goke Adegoroye, on his 76th birthday. Ajulo described him as an “unsung compass” whose wisdom and integrity have continued to shape public service. In a birthday tribute marking the milestone, Ajulo described Adegoroye, a Prince of Akure and former lecturer at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, as a remarkable scholar,…

…says PVCs ready for collection in one month Ondo REC assures riverine voters of seamless elections By Dotun Aderoboye The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned political parties, aspirants and candidates against violating the Electoral Act during campaigns ahead of the 2027 general elections. It says offenders risk heavy fines and imprisonment. The Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Agboke, who disclosed this on Thursday, said aspirants and candidates convicted of breaching the provisions governing political campaigns could be fined N5 million or sentenced to 12 months in prison. He said political parties faced a N10 million…

…warns that unprotected sex, inadequate funding can reverse current gains … calls for sustained HIV education, testing, prevention New HIV infections in Ondo State appear to be declining, with 770 new cases recorded in the first half of 2026, even as the state government warns that stigma, inadequate funding and risky sexual behaviour among young people could undermine the gains made in the fight against the virus. The Project Manager of the Ondo State Agency for the Control of AIDS, ODSACA, Dr Dayo Adegbulu, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with WEEKEND HOPE on Thursday in Akure. According to him,…

By Fisayo Akinduro The Ondo State Government has commenced the digitisation of old survey records as part of efforts to modernise land administration and achieve a paperless system that will eventually enable residents to conduct property-related transactions online. The Surveyor General of the state, Surveyor Idowu Owolabi, disclosed this on Thursday in an interview with WEEKEND HOPE, saying the Office of the Surveyor General had already migrated the issuance of pillar numbers required for processing survey plans from the analogue system to online processing. He said the digitisation of old and previous survey records was also underway, describing the exercise…