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The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio has expressed confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji will win his election for a second term as Governor of Ekiti State at this Saturday’s poll.

Akpabio made the remarks on Tuesday at the capital city of Ado-Ekiti during the grand finale of the Governorship campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the state.

The rally was also attended by the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, APC National Chairman and his team in the National Working Committee, dozens of federal lawmakers and many APC Governors.

Akpabio who is co-chairman of the APC National Campaign Council for the Ekiti Governorship Poll assured the people that he would support and work with the Governor until the victory is delivered on Saturday.

“I will support you. I will work with you until victory is delivered on the 20th of June, 2026,” Akpabio assured the Governor.

The Senate President  said the people of Ekiti State are known for peace and urged them not to allow anyone to steal their peace by causing violence at the poll.

The Senate President urged them not to stay back at home but come out early to cast their votes stressing that “we want to see the quantum of your votes so that we will know what you are going to give to Asiwaju in 2027.”

Akpabio explained that Governor Oyebanji was being supported because of his performance and humility.

“We have come to support not just a colleague but a performing colleague in the party. We have come to support a humble man and a man who believes in gender sensitivity, who has picked a woman as a deputy governor.

“We are here to support the women in Ekiti State. We have come to support performance in Ekiti State.

“Who would have thought that a man can unite all the former governors of Ekiti State. I have seen them here. Sometimes we don’t agree with them. Sometimes they are not even in the same party. But they are all here on the podium to support only one man. And the reason is because that man is worthy of support,” Akpabio said.

Also speaking, Governor Oyebanji said he had kept to his campaign promises during the last election and made further pledge to do more if re-elected for a second term of four years on Saturday.

“Close to four years ago, we entered into a contract that we will serve you. You can attest to the fact that with the help of God and the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,  we have served you well.

“We have served you very well in the last three to four years.You can see what we have done. These are things you can see, you can feel and you can touch. And l make a pledge here today that we are ready to do more,” Governor Oyebanji said.

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Troops of the Nigerian Army have wasted a suspected ISWAP fighter during a night ambush operation in Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.

The incident was contained in a post shared on X on Tuesday by security analyst Zagazola Makama.

According to the post, the operation was carried out around 12:15 am on June 15 by troops of the 222 Battalion (Mechanised), who laid an ambush at a suspected terrorist crossing point in Yaleri Kurma Village.

The troops reportedly engaged the insurgents during the operation, leading to the killing of one suspected ISWAP member,” Makama wrote.

Security sources quoted in the post said the ambush was part of ongoing efforts to disrupt terrorist movements and logistics routes in the North-East.

Sources revealed that items recovered from the scene included two bags of flour, 12 packs of salt (500 grams each), and 10 packs of spaghetti. The supplies were believed to be intended for insurgents operating in the area.”

The recovered items were taken into military custody for further investigation and analysis.

Military authorities said the operation is part of sustained efforts to block food supply chains and movement corridors used by terrorist groups in the region.

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By Ojomah Austin.

Diplomats visited Kano Film Village to gain first-hand insight into how Kannywood is contributing to youth employment, education and economic opportunity across northern Nigeria. And to experience first-hand how a good entertainment can carry important social messages.

The delegation, led by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, included ambassadors and deputies from Denmark, Spain, Italy, France, Czechia, Finland, Belgium and Austria.

The delegation was received by the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board, Alhaji Abba El-Mustapha, and the Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Ali Nuhu.

Team Europe met filmmakers, actors, producers and regulators. They observed the production of Hindatu, a film telling a story of a young girl determined to continue her education and become a medical doctor despite her family intention to marry her.

Speaking during the visit, Ambassador Mignot stressed the power of visual and creative arts to influence people’s behaviour:
“Stories have the power to inspire change. Films that promote education, opportunity and inclusion can spark important conversations and encourage positive change within communities,” he said.

“Creative industries are not only about culture. They are also about jobs, skills, entrepreneurship and creating opportunities for young people. Across Nigeria, young people are demonstrating remarkable talent and creativity, and industries such as Kannywood are helping transform that potential into livelihoods and economic opportunity”, he added.

Executive Secretary of the Kano State Films and Video Censorship Board, Mr Alhaji Abba El Mustapha noted that Kannywood plays an important role in promoting positive social values while creating opportunities for practitioners across the creative sector. He added that Films and Video Censorship Board, had approved more than 10,000 films over the years while supporting the industry through training programmes, workshops and stakeholder engagement.
“Our role is not only regulatory.

We also work with filmmakers to strengthen professional standards, support capacity development and ensure that films contribute positively to society,” he said.

The delegation also toured Kano Film Village, a production facility developed by broadcaster and filmmaker Abdullaziz Dansmall, a dedicated production environment where films could be produced efficiently.

“Our first major production was Gidang Haya. We used the revenue from that project to build little by little, expanding the facility over time. Our long-term ambition is to transform the site into a fully developed film village capable of supporting larger productions.”, Mr Dansmall said.

Managing Director of the Nigerian Film Corporation, Mr Ali Nuhu, highlighted the industry’s economic significance, citing research that identified film production as the second-largest source of youth employment in Kano State after agriculture.

The industry’s impact extends far beyond entertainment, creating livelihoods and supporting businesses throughout the value chain.

He also highlighted ongoing challenges facing the sector, particularly around distribution and access to production facilities, noting that the industry has increasingly adapted to digital platforms and online distribution channels as traditional DVD markets declined.

Team Europe visit also came as the European Union expands its support for cultural cooperation between Africa and Europe through initiatives such as the Africa-Europe Partnerships for Culture (AEPC), a €30 million programme supporting artist mobility, cultural spaces and collaboration between African and European creative professionals. The initiative reflects the EU’s growing recognition of culture and creative industries as drivers of economic opportunity, innovation and social development.