The current & Commentary- The Amplify Blog

UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS   FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION AND MEDIA STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF MASS COMMUNICATION COURSE TITLE: ONLINE JOURNALISM  (LAG-MCM 201)  LECTURER IN CHARGE: DR. AWEDA    Behind the Story Our Production Team  (THE CURRENT & COMMENTARY- THE AMPLIFY BLOG)  240912163 FRANCIS Divine Mercy   240912161  AJAYI Oluwafunmilayo Mariam 240912157 NWOKOLO Joshua Adeyemi 240912146 LUCKY Chiamaka Happiness 240912154 UGOCHUKWU Chidinma Florence 240912145 ELIJAH Anuoluwapo Olusegun 240912147 SANUSI Sarafa Olalekan 240912150 EZIKE Cuthbert chukwuemeka 240912166 NWANKWO Chidera Oluwatoyin 240912156 CHRISTIAN olukotun Oluwagbohunmi 240912170 ADEREMI Abdulhammed Ayomide 240912168 EKEH Chima Richard 240912164 KINGSLEY Rebecca Idoreyin 240912162  OLUKOREDE Adeola Ebenezer 240912158 AKPORIDO Joshua Omoefe 240912148  OKEOWO Jessica Chukwudumebi 240912167 AYENURO oluwatoyin kikelomo 240912169 AKINPELUMI Esther Bolanle 240912159 ABE Idara Mar...

  They say it’s not how you start, but how you finish. But how exactly do you go from 'lagging behind' to leading the entire faculty? I sat down with our COMSSA President for a no holds barred conversation. We didn’t just talk about his wins we talked about the grit, the 'unlearning' and the moments he almost gave up. If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind in the race, this interview is your reminder that you can always rewrite your script. Listen in for the raw truth behind the. 'ACADEMIC  PHOENIX'

By FRANCIS  DIVINE MERCY   240912163 LAGOS, NIGERIA  The historic waterfront community of Makoko, often cited as the world’s largest floating settlement, has been reduced to a scene of devastation following a sustained demolition exercise by the Lagos State Government. What began as a targeted removal of structures near high tension power lines in late December 2025 has escalated into a large-scale if displacement crisis, leaving over 40,000 residents the majority of whom are children homeless and adrift. The Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has defended the operation as a vital "public interest" safety measure. Officials argue that shanties sprawling beneath high voltage cables and obstructing vital waterways posed an imminent risk of electrocution and environmental disaster.    "I am not going to sit down and watch something drop off, and in one day, over 100 to 500 people will die," Governor Sanwo-Olu stated during a recent security...

By Ajayi Oluwafunmilayo (240912161)    ABUJA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Nearly 35 million Nigerians are at risk of hunger this year, including 3 million children facing severe malnutrition, the United Nations said on Thursday, following the collapse of global aid budgets. Speaking at the launch of the 2026 humanitarian plan in Abuja, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator Mohamed Malick Fall said the long-dominant, foreign-led aid model in Nigeria is no longer sustainable and that Nigeria's needs have grown. Conditions in the conflict-hit northeast are dire, Fall said, with civilians in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states facing rising violence. A surge in suicide bombings and widespread attacks killed more than 4,000 people in the first eight months of 2025, matching the toll for all of 2023, he said. The UN can only aim to deliver $516 million to provide lifesaving aid to 2.5 million people this year, down from 3.6 million in 2025, which in turn was about half the previous year's leve...

By Nwokolo Joshua Adeyemi (240912157) Professor Emeritus of Petroleum Economics and energy expert Wumi Iledare said  that Dangote backed petrol at MRS filling stations selling at N739 per liter and the long attendance queues are not evidence of market efficiency but of distortions in Nigeria’s oil downstream sector. He disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, reacting to the long queues at MRS  filling stations in Lagos.  Iledare explained that with fewer than “five MRS stations in the entire Lagos metropolis, isolated price discounts simply manufacture scarcity and long queues.” He noted that once the time value of money is considered, including hours lost in  queues, foregone productivity, vehicle wear and stress, the so-called price advantage quickly evaporates. Prof. Iledare added that discounted refinery prices only make economic sense if matched by scale in distribution; otherwise, they amount to unsustainable signals that transfer hidden costs to consumers ra...

  By Lucky Happiness Chiamaka ( 240912146) Lagos, Nigeria As tuition, living costs and economic pressures rise, Nigerian students are increasingly  turning to part-time work and side hustles to support themselves even as they pursue demanding academic programs. From tech gigs and freelance services to small business hustles, young people across tertiary institutions are embracing entrepreneurial activities between lectures and exams. Many see this as a way to build experience and financial independence, but it also brings significant challenges.  For some students, like a final-year medical student at the University of Lagos, juggling clinical training, coursework, and a tech side career has become a daily balancing act, one that tests time management and resilience. Academic studies suggest these pressures can contribute to stress and fatigue, especially when institutions lack flexible scheduling or targeted support for working students. A survey of Nigerian students als...

By Elijah Anuoluwapo Olusegun (240912145)  The Social Work Department emerged champions of the Freshers' Year One Cup after defeating the Mass Communication Department in a tense penalty shootout in the final match of the tournament. The encounter, played with high intensity, saw Social Work take the lead in the first half with a well-taken goal that put them 1–0 ahead. However, Mass Communication responded before the halftime whistle, restoring parity and ending the first half at 1–1. Mass Communication returned stronger in the second half and took the lead through a composed finish, making it 2–1 and raising hopes of lifting the trophy. Social Work however showed resilience and equalised later in the second half to force the match into a penalty shootout. Earlier in the match, Mass Communication’s goals were scored by Elian who netted the equaliser in the first half and Ayo, whose second-half strike briefly put his department in front. The penalty shootout ultimately favoured the...

By Olukotun Christian ( 240912156)   A secondary school in Uyo has been shut down indefinitely after a violent cult clash left a divisional police officer, teachers, and several students critically injured.   The incident occurred when police officers arrived on the school premises to arrest two students reportedly wanted for street fighting. Their presence triggered a confrontation between rival cult groups, leading to chaos and widespread injuries before security operatives restored order.   Following the clash, the Akwa Ibom State government announced the suspension of 34 students suspected to be involved in the violence. Officials condemned the rise of cult activity in schools and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to curbing the menace.   According to the government, cultism has become an increasing concern across Nigerian schools, with reports of intimidation, harassment, and the recruitment of younger students into secret groups. Authorities say this trend pose...

By:  Sanusi   O lalekan   Sarafa  ( 240912147)   ABUJA  February 2026 :  Nigeria’s higher education landscape is currently undergoing its most significant structural shift in decades. What began as an emergency response during the global pandemic has matured into a permanent, multi-billion naira digital overhaul aimed at making the country a "Smart Education Hub" for Africa. As of early 2026, the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and e-learning has moved beyond simple "Zoom lectures" to a comprehensive ecosystem of smart campuses and national data networks. The Backbone:   NgREN  and TERAS Expansion :  The most pivotal development in 2026 is the full-scale rollout of the  Tertiary Education, Research, Applications and Services (TERAS)  platform. National Connectivity:  Backed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and  TETFund , the upgraded  Nigerian Research and Education Netw...

 By  Ayenuro Oluwatoyin Kikelomo ( 240912167) The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project ( SERAP ) has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB),  alleging abuse of office and conflict of interest regarding unauthorised changes made to two of Nigeria’s critical pieces of legislation. In a petition dated February 7, 2026, and addressed to CCB Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Usman Bello, SERAP demanded  a thorough investigation into lawmakers and executive officers suspected of altering the Electoral Act Amendment Bill  and the recently passed Tax Reform Laws. The petition, signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, alleged that Senate members surreptitiously  removed provisions for the electronic transmission of election results.  The human rights group claimed that this occurred during plenary after a majority of senators had alrea sues NNPCL  over N22.3bn, $49.7m audit queries dy voted in favour of the inclusion, and notably, with...