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Reps Uncover Polytechnic with 142 Students, Spend Over N600m Annually

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has expressed displeasure at the Federal Polytechnic Ugep in Cross River State, for spending over N600 million annually on personnel and overhead costs despite having only 142 students in the institution.
This was revealed at a budget performance presentation by the Rector, Professor Edward Okey, organised by the House Committee on Polytechnics and Other Higher Technical Education.
The Committee, chaired by Hon. Fouad Kayode Laguda, was conducting oversight functions on federal polytechnics and technical institutions in the South-South region.
The Rector explained that the polytechnic, established in 2021, struggled to find a suitable temporary campus, which they eventually renovated abandoned structures of Ugep Community Secondary School with part of a N2 billion take-off grant.
According to him, some funds were also used for constructing the School of Engineering, a perimeter fence, a guest house, and purchasing a vehicle.
However, the Committee was disturbed by the expenditure pattern, noting the following:
N496 million spent on personnel annually.
N159 million spent on overhead.
N38 million allocated for local travel.
A committee member described the spending as unsustainable, comparing the polytechnic to a primary school in his village with over 500 students.
The Rector cited challenges in attracting students and staff due to negative perceptions about Ugep. He said:
“Even my council members initially refused to visit Ugep for meetings because of old stigmas about the community. However, we have worked hard to change this narrative. While we started with only 16 students, we now have 79 students this year, totaling 142 after taking over the Institute of Technology and Management (ITM).”
The Rector admitted the difficulties of operating in a rural area but emphasized that the polytechnic is vital for the community’s development.
The Committee criticized the institution and others invited for their poor presentations and lack of preparation. Rep. Fouad Laguda stated:
“Out of seven institutions, not one met our expectations. Only three submitted partial reports, while others were unprepared. We will require all of you to return with complete teams and proper documentation within a week.”
The Committee intends to review the budget utilization of these institutions thoroughly.

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Angry investors raid CBEX office, loot assets in Ibadan after digital Platform crash

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A group of angry individuals, on Monday evening, stormed the CBEX office located in the Oke Ado area of Ibadan, Oyo State, looting furniture and other items after the digital trading platform reportedly crashed.

Eyewitnesses said the mob forcibly entered the premises, carting away tables, couches, and other office equipment.

The attack is believed to have been triggered by the sudden collapse of the platform, which allegedly left many users with zero balance in their accounts.

Following the incident, several users expressed frustration and grief over the loss of their investments, with some taking to social media to share their experiences.

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A video circulating online shows a large crowd at the CBEX office, with individuals seen removing various items from the building.

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‘Not something I’d wish on anyone’ — Melinda Gates opens up on divorce

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Melinda Gates, the ex-wife of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, has spoken about their divorce in her new book ‘The Next Day’.

Bill and Melinda got married in 1994 but announced their divorce in 2021 — after 27 years together.

In a recent interview on ABC’s Good Morning America, Melinda revealed that she chose to discuss her divorce openly to be true to herself and acknowledge others who have experienced similar situations.

She described the separation as “painful” but also a “transition that had some growth in it”.

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The 60-year-old also emphasised that divorce is a challenging experience for any family and expressed her hope that her story might offer some insight.

“It was important because if I am going to be my most authentic self. People knew I had gone through it,” she said.

“And it is hard on any family, so I write from my perspective. But it’s not something I would wish on anybody — and unfortunately so many families go through it.

“It is a big transition. And for me, while it was painful for sure, I ended up learning some lessons and there was some growth in there, too.”

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Bill and Melinda first met in 1987, when she became a product manager at Microsoft. They married in Hawaii in 1994 and founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to combating global poverty and disease — in 2000.

Following their divorce, Melinda resigned from the foundation in May 2024.

The former couple shares three children: son Rory, 25, and daughters Phoebe, 22, and Jennifer, 28.

In January, Bill described his divorce from Melinda as his “biggest regret in life”.

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SHOCKING! One month after giving birth, woman discovers another baby in her womb

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A woman who had given birth just a month earlier was rushed to the hospital after sensing something was wrong—only to discover she was still carrying another baby.

This unusual incident was shared in a viral post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Woman discover another baby in womb a month after giving birth
Woman discover another baby in womb a month after giving birth.
According to the post, the woman had initially given birth at a hospital and returned home after being stitched.

However, a month later, she began to feel unwell and went back to the hospital, where doctors discovered another child still in her womb.

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She was immediately put into labor again and successfully delivered the second baby.

The post read: “There’s a Xhosa lady on TT who gave birth to a child in March, got stitched and went home. Well, a month later, she felt something was wrong with her, it turns out there was another child in her womb. So, she gave birth again. She now has twins that are a month apart.”

As the post circulated online, concerned users flooded the comment section to share their thoughts and reactions.

See some reactions below:

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@Melo_Malebo: “Idk what’s more shocking, the fact that twins can have different fathers or this one. Also, wasn’t the other one big enough for nurses to see there could still be someone in there ?”

@Fifi_Kumalo: “So the ultrasound didn’t catch the other baby 😳 njani? I know they hide but so confused.”

@Ralph_Nzuza: “When my lil sister got operated they cut the baby on the cheek after the surgery they forgot those scalpels inside her.”

@StraightupGal: “Surely this incompetence is illegal. One can die giving birth, what more when they have stitched your baby up for a couple of more weeks? 🤯😭 Thanks to God she is safe and able to tell the tale.”

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@mgwatyu_: “Must have delivered at a clinic via NVD, Not booked so no scan or late booker. Cannot be a cesarean section. The stiching must have just been for tears.”

@phuti_mathobela: “God works in mysterious ways some people get to experience his ways in this form while some people in their near death experience. He is God’s of miracles.”

WATCH VIDEO:

There’s a Xhosa lady on TT who gave birth to a child in March, got stitched and went home. Well, a month later, she felt something was wrong with her, it turns out there was another child in her womb. So, she gave birth again. She now has twins that are a month apart. 😭

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— Musanathi Writes 🇿🇦 (@Musanathi2) April 14, 2025

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