NIGERIA NEWS
Why I chose to teach English in China, Taiwan – African-American Rachel Drake
Rachel Drake is an African-American who migrated to China and then to Taiwan, where she teaches English. She shares her experience in this interview.
Excerpts:
PREMIUM TIMES: Tell us more about yourself.
Ms Drake: My name is Rachel Drake. I was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi. I have a Bachelor of Arts in English Education and a Master’s degree in English Literature and Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages certificate (TESOL). My first love is my mother, and my second love is reading, which was taught to me by Mrs Rohani, an Iranian immigrant to the United States.
Vicksburg, my hometown, is absolutely beautiful and consists of rolling hills, berry trees, wild garlic sprouting up randomly in fields and Spanish moss that hangs over almost every tree, inviting passersby to sit in its shade with mason jars of lemonade and a plateful of teacakes.
When I was young, our house was at the end of a red dirt road that is now paved, but I still have an affiliation for those old rustic, rocky roads that speak of simpler times and secret places.
PREMIUM TIMES: Why did you want to be a teacher?
Ms Drake: I felt inclined to be a teacher because I love children and I love reading. That explains my degree in English Education. I got the chance to read a lot of amazing novels, short stories and poetry in college, while also fostering the belief in what should be a societal commitment to turning out children who are attentive to the world’s greater good.
Also, my father, a Vietnam veteran, thought it wise for his children, especially his female children, to obtain degrees that would allow them to earn a salary upon graduating, thus making his daughters self-sufficient and not reliant on the exploitation of men. My grandfather, his father, was the same. He made sure all of his daughters had degrees, even over his sons.
One of my sisters wanted to choose a different route that would require a second degree in computer programming, but my father urged her to go into nursing instead because he wanted all of his daughters to be financially self-sufficient and not ever be under the full control of a man.
PREMIUM TIMES: What was your first job?
Ms Drake: My first job was as a tutor in college, and then I worked at Walmart for a few months to save money for moving to Georgia to live with one of my older sisters studying for the bar exam. The job market was not so good the year I graduated because it was 2009, and the country was going through a recession. So I went to Georgia to work as a substitute teacher.
I also worked at the mall part-time. A year later, I went back to school to earn my Master’s degree, after which I got my first official job teaching at a high school. I got my Master’s degree from Jackson State University in Mississippi because of family history.
The college was founded in 1877, and it’s a Historically Black University – HBCU. My grandfather on my mother’s side attended the college but couldn’t finish his degree because he was drafted into the Korean War and so I chose to complete his legacy.
PREMIUM TIMES: At what point did you decide to go to China?
Ms Drake: When I was 16, I had a feeling China had something for me. I took Mandarin at Alcorn State University when I was an undergraduate, which is also an HBCU. My first Mandarin teacher was from mainland China, and the second one was from Taiwan.
The Taiwanese teacher had more of an impact. I had the opportunity to go to China as an undergraduate, but I didn’t go because it felt too intimidating. But when I was getting my Master’s degree, our Taiwanese teacher of Mandarin encouraged me more.
She recommended I and the three other black American girls go to Taiwan as it was more westernised and more used to foreigners, thus making it easier for black American girls to acclimate themselves. I have since discovered that Taiwanese people are very accommodating, highly intelligent, soft and friendly. Even when they are unkind, there is a limit to it, unlike America, where there is no defined limit to cruelty, especially to black Americans.
PREMIUM TIMES: Could this be because of the legacy of slavery in America?
Ms Drake: The legacy of slavery in America definitely played and still plays an essential role in the ill treatment of black Americans.
PREMIUM TIMES: Tell us about the first trip to Taiwan.
Ms Drake: I went with my sister and two other girls. It was the summer of 2012. The four of us lived in Tainan, in the southern part of Taiwan. We stayed at the dormitory of the National Cheng Kung University. Many people were still on campus because lots of programmes were going on. It was a beautiful campus. We stayed for five weeks. We took courses in Chinese language, culture, and calligraphy. It was absolutely amazing.
PREMIUM TIMES: How did you decide to go to China to teach after this?
Ms Drake: After teaching for two years at the high school in Mississippi, I felt restless watching seniors graduate and go off to fulfil their dreams, and that is when I decided to go teach abroad in China. While I had opportunities to get married, I didn’t want my dreams to take a backseat.
I couldn’t see myself living in a small town like some of my female relatives. You have your house, your garden and chickens, and raise your children. That was not what I wanted.
Some of my female relatives tried to persuade me to settle down and marry, but you can’t let yourself become a part of other people’s dreams or plans. My aunt, who was the head of the department of English, refused to write me a letter of recommendation when I was applying for jobs in China because she didn’t want me to go. But my parents have always encouraged us to be proactive and have always actively fostered our academic and non-academic pursuits.
PREMIUM TIMES: How did you get your job in China?
Ms Drake: I got my job in China because the assistant to my Taiwanese teacher recommended Dalian Medical University in China, and I applied to their programme to teach English. I got accepted. I was very excited. I had been saving my money.
Dalian is in Northern China, two hours’ flight from Beijing. I was 27 years old. That was probably one of the best years of my life. When I got there, I had the feeling that I was exactly where I was meant to be, and every single day was an adventure. It was exactly what I wanted. I’m glad I didn’t let my aunt veer me from my path.
PREMIUM TIMES: Who were your students?
Ms Drake: My students were between 18 and 21 years old. They came from all over China. They were students in the health professions learning English and preparing for their exams in English. I learned later that my students performed the best in their English performance exams, which I was very proud of.
PREMIUM TIMES: Why did you leave?
Ms Drake: I left because the climate was far too cold for my warm Mississippi blood, and then I also felt unsupported by white colleagues when I was unfairly treated. The incident where my students outperformed their students was also an issue, as I was never told by our white American supervisor, but instead told by a semi-friendly Canadian co-worker.
This led to my desire to leave and the awkward fact that mid-school year, my supervisor chose to take half of my classes and to give me half of hers. That was very awkward because I’d worked hard to bring them out of their shells, and I suppose she wanted some credit for my hard work as her classes were among the ones that scored the lowest.
PREMIUM TIMES: Tell us about your experience here in Taiwan.
Ms Drake: My second experience in Taiwan was less exciting than my first because I was in Taipei instead of beautiful, historic Tainan.
Tainan also has the most delicious food to be had and so I was a little disappointed until I met my school and wonderful Taiwanese coworkers. China is also more international as it is so large, and Taiwan’s foreign population was somewhat more limited to white expats with substitute teacher licenses instead of fully accredited teacher’s licenses.
I didn’t drink or smoke, and that is a major pastime for many such expats, and so we didn’t get on so well, but I found a few solid friends who embraced me, and we made a strange bunch. Our chic Italian social butterfly group included a pretty Nigerian-American Muslim in full hijab, a model Esque Gambian and me myself with my boyish figure in short shorts and tank tops.
I also met my husband, who was studying for his PhD at the top university here, and that was absolutely magical because we had a definite vibe even though he is Tamil Indian and I am of course, of black American descent.
PREMIUM TIMES: Does it matter that you are a black teacher in China and Taiwan?
Ms Drake: Definitely. Everything matters. If you are ever a teacher in Asia, your colour, age, gender, how you dress, how you do your hair, how you put on your make-up, and so on, matter.
These determine whether or not you’ll get accepted as a renter in apartment complexes, or get a job, or make friends, or sometimes even the type of friends you end up having. I didn’t like the food in Dalian, so I wasn’t eating much and lost a lot of weight. I was super skinny. I worried about my weight loss, but Chinese people thought I looked amazing, being so thin with my typical black female hourglass shape. I was also 27 then.
Being skinny, young and cute is a highly valued aesthetic in China and Taiwan. Colour can be an issue, but I’ve since discovered it is less of an issue if you have other attributes. I once heard a Chinese woman say as I passed, “She’s so pretty, but then she’s so dark.” My Chinese friend and I burst out laughing. Not even many Chinese women meet the stringent standard of beauty imposed on them by society, so I didn’t take offence.
PREMIUM TIMES: What are the similarities and differences between the American education system and the Chinese and Taiwanese education systems?
Ms Drake: From my observations, there is more of a community and societal effort in Taiwan to support children so that they can succeed. The children here are encouraged to study very hard and are expected to do very well. It’s the same in China, even though I taught at a higher level there.
Here in Taiwan, I teach younger students. It made a big impression on me on how teachers strategise about children’s education, about how to meet the goals and expectations. Teachers are very careful about how they get certain results. It’s not like that in the US, where the opposite seems to happen.
There is a lot of experimentation on the curriculum in black schools that doesn’t happen in white schools in America. Certain ethnic groups are targeted for failure to maintain a permanent underclass, while other non-white ethnic groups that immigrate with more wealth are still relegated to positions of submission to the dominant white supremacist system.
They are forced into being overseers of the targeted minority groups and encouraged to condemn programmes like DEI that actually help all minority groups, even white women. These model minorities are made into lapdogs, which is quite an embarrassment, and while some may reject those roles, it leaves them isolated for attack from a system that requires submission to all who are not purely white.
PREMIUM TIMES: What are your future goals?
Ms Drake: In terms of my personal goals, I would like to write some books on the African American experience in the United States. I am also working on a collection of reflections on the experience of African American women in Asia.
READ ALSO: Okonjo-Iweala to speak at EiE Nigeria’s 15th Anniversary event in Lagos
Meanwhile, at my current occupation here in Taiwan, I am very happy to be helping students acquire English in a natural way while also exposing them to the positives of diversity, which should be a worldwide goal: global love and unity.
PREMIUM TIMES: Thank you so much. We wish you all the best in Taiwan.
Ms Drake: Thank you.
Bunmi Fatoye-Matory conducted this interview. She currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She can be reached at [email protected]
The Akwa Ibom State Government has moved to strengthen animal health governance and disease prevention by launching a four-day stakeholder review of the Draft Animal Health Bill.
In collaboration with Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) and Orixine Consulting, the initiative brings together federal and state experts, including representatives from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, to review the bill, close regulatory gaps and enhance coordination across animal, human, and environmental health sectors.
Opening the session, Dr Teddy Essien, Director of Veterinary Services, representing the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, stressed the need for a robust legal framework to improve animal health governance.
“Strengthening the State’s legal framework is essential for accountability, better coordination, and effective disease prevention,” he said.
Emmanuel E. Essien, Director of Legal Drafting at the Ministry of Justice, highlighted the Ministry’s commitment to the reform process, noting that updating the law reflects positive developments in Akwa Ibom.
Meanwhile, representatives from the Ministries of Environment, Local Government, and Trade and Investment underscored the importance of integrating food safety, environmental, and commercial considerations into the Bill.
Dr Rabi Usman of RTSL emphasized the critical link between animal and human health, pointing out that many emerging diseases are zoonotic.
She reiterated RTSL’s support for strengthening Nigeria’s public health legal framework, citing successful initiatives in states such as Kaduna, Kano and Jigawa.
Aniekan Akpan of Orixine Consulting described the initiative as a “bold step” toward harmonizing public and animal health laws and reaffirmed Orixine’s technical support for the drafting process.
The review focuses on key provisions of the Draft Animal Health Bill, including the establishment of State Veterinary Services, improved disease surveillance systems, clear reporting and movement control requirements, strengthened abattoir regulations, waste management standards, and coordination under the One Health framework.
Participants are tasked with aligning the Bill with national regulations, including the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and the National Animal Disease Surveillance System.
The four-day meeting is expected to conclude with a harmonized draft of the Animal Health Bill and a roadmap for submission to the State Executive Council, marking a significant step in modernizing Akwa Ibom’s animal health legislation and safeguarding public health.
![Top Ten African Countries With Strongest Military [Full List]](https://informationhub.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/military-.jpg "Top Ten African Countries With Strongest Military [Full List]")
Nigeria, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Sunday swiftly condemned an attempted military takeover in the Benin Republic, which saw soldiers briefly seize control of the national television station in Cotonou.
The condemnation came amid reports of confusion and gunfire after a group of soldiers, calling themselves the Military Committee for Refoundation, announced the removal of President Patrice Talon from office and the dissolution of all state institutions.
However, the Beninoise government confirmed that its armed forces had successfully foiled the coup attempt, with President Talon later reassuring the public that order was restored. The failed putsch marks the latest in a worrying trend of threats to democratic rule in the region, following military takeovers in Benin’s neighbours: Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Nigeria confirmed its active involvement in suppressing the coup through the deployment of its Air Force assets.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) disclosed that fighter jets were deployed to the Benin Republic under the mandate of the ECOWAS Standby Forces (ESF).
The quick action, which included the deployment of a regional standby force from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana, was ordered to support the Benin government in preserving constitutional order.
According to the 2025 Global Firepower Military Strength Index, Nigeria was recently ranked as the third most powerful military force in Africa, behind only Egypt and Algeria.
The report, which evaluates the military capabilities of 145 countries globally, reveals Nigeria’s capacity to execute regional security mandates like that of the ECOWAS Standby Force.
1. Egypt
Egypt is recognised as the strongest military power in Africa and ranks 19th globally. The Egyptian Armed Forces consist of four main branches: the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Air Defense Forces. The country has heavily invested in modernising its military equipment and infrastructure, maintaining a large arsenal of tanks, aircraft, and naval assets. Egypt also benefits from significant foreign military aid, including $1.85 billion annually from the United States.
2. Algeria
Algeria ranks second in Africa and 26th globally. Its military strength is supported by substantial oil revenues, enabling it to acquire advanced weaponry and maintain a well-trained force. Algeria focuses on border security and counterterrorism operations while maintaining strong air and land forces.
3. Nigeria
Nigeria is ranked third in Africa and 31st globally. It has made significant investments in its armed forces to combat insurgency and terrorism within its borders. The Nigerian Armed Forces include a large number of active personnel and a growing inventory of armoured vehicles and aircraft.
4. South Africa
South Africa is ranked fourth in Africa and 40th globally. Known for its advanced defence industry, South Africa produces much of its own military equipment. However, budget constraints have limited the further development of its armed forces in recent years.
5. Ethiopia
Ethiopia ranks fifth in Africa and 52nd globally. Despite economic challenges, Ethiopia maintains a large standing army focused on regional security issues, particularly conflicts in the Horn of Africa.
6. Angola
Angola holds the sixth position in Africa and ranks 56th globally. Its military strength is bolstered by oil revenues that fund its defence sector. Angola has invested in modernising its armed forces to address internal security challenges.
7. Morocco
Morocco is ranked seventh in Africa and 59th globally. The country has focused on modernising its military equipment, particularly for border security and counterterrorism operations. Morocco maintains strong diplomatic ties with Western nations for defence cooperation.
8. Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
The DRC ranks eighth in Africa and holds the global position of 66th. Despite internal conflicts, the country has been working to stabilise its military capabilities through international partnerships and increased investment.
9. Sudan
Sudan is ranked ninth in Africa and holds the global rank of 73rd. Its military faces significant challenges due to ongoing political instability but remains focused on maintaining territorial integrity.
10. Libya
Libya rounds out the top ten list for Africa with a global rank of 76th. The country’s military strength has been affected by years of civil conflict but retains strategic importance due to its location and natural resources.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
The Coalition of Concerned Nigerian Citizens (CCNC) has raised fresh concerns over the prolonged withholding of Local Government funds meant for Osun State, warning that the development has pushed the state into what it described as a deepening socio-economic crisis.
Speaking at a world press conference in Osogbo on Monday, the spokesperson of the coalition, Comrade Raufu Sodiq, said the situation has inflicted widespread hardship on residents across the state. He said, “Osun masses are suffering, and the impact of this withheld fund is visible in every community across the state.”
According to him, the coalition carried out extensive investigations involving field visits, interviews with community stakeholders and assessments across major sectors.
He said the findings show that the continued seizure of local government allocations has crippled livelihoods and weakened essential public services.
He added, “Many small businesses that depend on local government workers for patronage have suffered declining income, high debt levels and rising health challenges caused by financial pressure.”
Comrade Sodiq said traders and service providers operating around council secretariats are among the worst hit. He said, “Most of those who collected goods on credit can no longer repay because sales have collapsed.”
He added that traditional rulers are also affected since many of them rely on local government funds for salaries and community support initiatives. He said, “Some traditional rulers who pay school fees for less privileged children can no longer continue because the funds are not available.”
He said the education sector has been thrown into distress, especially the School of Special Needs, which operates on a 70 to 30 per cent funding ratio between local governments and the state government.
He said, “Many of the students are now malnourished, and the school has accumulated debts owed to food vendors.” He added that the delay in recruiting teachers is also tied to the withheld funds, noting that “the primary school system cannot proceed with recruitment because it is funded by the local governments.”
On sports development, Comrade Sodiq said the deterioration of community sports facilities has slowed down the discovery of local talents. He said, “We are losing our young athletes because the facilities and support systems they need are no longer available.”
He also highlighted the collapse of the O’MEAL school feeding programme. He said, “More children are dropping out of school and returning to street hawking because O’MEAL cannot continue without funding.”
He added that 2,470 food vendors lost their jobs and nearly 204,000 children were affected when the programme stopped.
Addressing the state of public health, the CCNC spokesperson said sanitation officers have been unable to work effectively. He said, “Public health is getting worse because sanitation officers cannot enforce regulations and refuse is now being dumped indiscriminately.”
He also raised concerns about the security situation in the state following the closure of several Amotekun offices. He said, “Criminals have become bolder because Amotekun operations have weakened.” He noted that students and residents in Ife and OAU communities are among those affected by rising insecurity.
On agriculture, he warned that the sector is on the brink of collapse as farmers lack fertilisers, seeds and inputs traditionally provided by local governments. He said, “Over N500 million worth of agricultural projects have been abandoned, and this is a direct threat to food security in Osun State.”
The coalition issued a series of demands to the Federal Government, including the immediate release of the withheld funds and support for affected sectors.
He said, “We are giving the Central Bank of Nigeria a three-day ultimatum to ensure the funds are released and accessible to all local governments.”
Comrade Sodiq warned that the coalition will escalate its actions if nothing is done. He said, “If the Federal Government fails to act within three days, we will adopt more drastic measures, including nationwide confrontation, to seek justice for the people of Osun.”
He emphasised that CCNC is not driven by political motives. He said, “We are not a tool in the hands of any government. All we want is good governance, effective security and better living conditions for our people.”
He added that the Federal Government must not politicise the matter.
He said, “Osun should not be punished unnecessarily when other states have also not fully implemented local government autonomy.”
He reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to defending the rights of citizens. He said, “We will continue to stand for justice, and we will not relent until this issue is resolved.”
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The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed that two people died and two others were critically injured in separate accidents that occurred in the early hours of Monday.
One of the accidents occurred on the Otedola Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway towards Berger, while the other happened on the Third Mainland Bridge, near the University of Lagos waterfront. The accidents were recorded in the separate locations between 2.30 a.m. and 5.00 a.m. on Monday.
The Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, Adebayo Taofiq, said in a press release that the first accident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on the Otedola Bridge, inward Berger, on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor.
Preliminary findings indicated that an unregistered vehicle with two occupants, including the driver, was travelling at what officials described as “an egregiously unlawful and hazardous velocity” before it rammed into a moving, heavily laden trailer.
The impact killed both occupants instantly, while the trailer driver fled the scene with the articulated vehicle.
The Otedola Bridge axis has witnessed recurring accidents in recent years, with authorities warning that speeding, overloaded trucks, and night-time driving contribute to fatal outcomes.
LASTMA said its 24-hour Night-Gang Teams deployed within the Otedola corridor responded promptly, evacuating the bodies from the main carriageway to prevent secondary crashes.
The statement said officers also cleared the wreckage to restore traffic flow.
Personnel of the Isheri Police Division provided security support, while the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) removed the remains in line with public health procedures.
Second crash
A second crash occurred at about 5:00 a.m. on the Third Mainland Bridge, near the University of Lagos waterfront, inward Lagos Island.
Mr Taofiq said the accident, which involved an empty tanker and a sachet-water distribution van with number plate SMK 67 XH, left two people severely injured.
Officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) administered first aid before transferring the victims to a nearby hospital.
The bridge, one of the busiest in Africa, has also been the site of multiple collisions in 2025, including a February incident in which 14 passengers narrowly survived a high-speed crash.
Warning against reckless driving
The incidents occurred amid persistently high crash rates across Lagos. Between January and September 2025 alone, the agency reported 1,006 accidents, resulting in 87 deaths and 666 injuries, according to official data.
A recent report identified the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, where one of Monday’s crashes occurred, as “Nigeria’s deadliest highway.”
Amid Monday’s back-to-back incidents, LASTMA noted that its personnel remained on the ground to regulate traffic across both corridors and prevent further obstructions.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, condoled with the families of the deceased, describing the fatalities as “tragic and wholly preventable.”
Mr Bakare-Oki warned that reckless speeding and disregard for road regulations continue to endanger lives.
He reiterated the agency’s strict enforcement of government-approved speed limits, saying compliance is “indispensable for the preservation of human life and the avoidance of catastrophic avoidable tragedies.”
He also praised the professionalism of the Night-Gang Teams, noting that LASTMA’s 24-hour surveillance and rapid-response operations, expanded ahead of the festive season, would continue with “unwavering vigour” in alignment with the Lagos State Government’s broader safety mandate.
LASTMA urged motorists to strictly adhere to speed limits to curb what authorities describe as an escalating public-safety crisis.
NIGERIA NEWS
Siemens Healthineers, NSIA announce landmark 10-year partnership to transform healthcare in Nigeria
From Cyriacus Nnaji, Lagos
Siemens Healthineers and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) have announced a landmark 10-year strategic partnership to transform Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure with cutting-edge medical imaging technology and capacity-building.
In a release, the initial phase of the plan would equip 10 new MedServe diagnostic centers nationwide to significantly improve access to high-quality care.
It stated that the collaboration is focused on sustainable development through world-class technology, comprehensive training, and local expertise enhancement.
The partnership was announced at the 2025 annual meeting by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) through its wholly owned subsidiary NSIA Advanced Medical Services Ltd (MedServe) and Siemens Healthineers.
The landmark 10-year strategic partnership also aimed at transforming and elevating Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure. This comprehensive collaboration is focused on advancing diagnostic capabilities across the country through the provision of cutting-edge medical imaging technology as well as capacity-building initiatives to ensure sustainable support for MedServe’s healthcare expansion program.
To mark the commencement of the long-term agreement, Siemens Healthineers will equip the 10 new MedServe centers that will soon be operational across the country to significantly improve access to high-quality medical imaging for the people of Nigeria.
While speaking at the event, Dr. Tolulope Adewole, MD & CEO, NSIA Advanced Medical Services (MedServe) noted that “This 10-year partnership with Siemens Healthineers is a pivotal step in our strategic mission to build a resilient and sustainable advanced healthcare system that provides equitable access for Nigerians. We are consolidating our relationship with a trusted technology leader to not only supply critical equipment but to also develop local expertise. This initial deployment across our 10 new sites is the beginning of a shared journey to enhance diagnostic access and improve clinical outcomes across our nation.”
Dr. Bernd Ohnesorge, President, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Siemens Healthineers, said, “We are deeply honored that NSIA has chosen to expand our partnership. Having already established a strong collaboration in oncology, we are proud to extend our joint efforts into diagnostic imaging. This strategic agreement reflects our shared, long-term commitment to the future of Nigerian healthcare. We will support NSIA with world-class technology, comprehensive training, and our full expertise across medical imaging and oncology care systems to ensure this initiative delivers a lasting, positive impact for Nigerians.”
The release said that MedServe remains committed to delivering equitable healthcare access to Nigerians through strategic partnerships, capacity enhancement, and healthcare infrastructure investments.
Siemens Healthineers pioneers breakthroughs in healthcare. For everyone. Everywhere. Sustainably. The company is a global provider of healthcare equipment, solutions and services, with activities in more than 180 countries and direct representation in more than 70. The group comprises Siemens Healthineers AG, listed as SHL in Frankfurt, Germany, and its subsidiaries. As a leading medical technology company, Siemens Healthineers is committed to improving access to healthcare for underserved communities worldwide and is striving to overcome the most threatening diseases.
The company is principally active in the areas of imaging, diagnostics, cancer care and minimally invasive therapies, augmented by digital technology and artificial intelligence. In fiscal 2025, which ended on September 30, 2025, Siemens Healthineers had approximately 74,000 employees worldwide and generated revenue of around €23.4 billion. Further information is available at siemens-healthineers.com.
The Nigeria Sov
NIGERIA NEWS
Coup in Benin: Lady Shares Why Nigeria’s Intervention in Neighboring Country Was Necessary
- A lady said Nigeria’s move to help restore constitutional order in Benin Republic was the right thing to do after reports of a coup emerged
- According to the lady, Benin Republic is a very strategic neighbour to Nigeria and could not be allowed to fall into the hands of the military
- She aligned herself with those who insist that a distablised Benin would negatively affect Nigeria due to their strategic border
A Nigerian lady has shared her take on the foiled coup d’etat that took place in Benin Republic.
The coup, led by Colonel Pascal Tigri, was foiled after the coupists failed to take custody of President Patrice Talon and the subsequent intervention of the Nigerian military.
The lady said the stability of Benin Republic is important to Nigeria. Photo credit: X/ennyola0015, ECOWAS and Brant.
Source: Twitter
In her reaction to the coup attempt, a lady, identified as @ennyola0015 said Nigeria did the right thing to have helped to stop the toppling of democracy.
Read also
‘Not France,’ Tinubu mentions which country requested Nigerian jets to strike Benin
She noted that Benin is a strategic neighbour to Nigeria and must not be allowed to fall into the hands of an unfriendly ruler.
According to her, a disintegrated Benin would pose a huge risk to Nigeria in terms of humanitarian crisis.
Her words:
“Benin is too critical for Nigeria to gamble with. If your neighbour collapses, the chaos doesn’t stay at their doorstep. It comes straight through yours. A rogue military takeover in Benin would mean: Smuggling booming overnight Borders wide open. Terrorists finding new hiding spots. Refugees flooding in. Criminal networks gaining fresh territory. And remember: coups are contagious. One successful putsch inspires the next. Tinubu stepping into Benin, Nigeria wasn’t just saving a neighbour was sending a loud message to its own soldiers: “Don’t even think about it.”
The Nigerian military helped Benin thwart the coup. Photo credit: Premium Times.
Source: UGC
See her post below:
Reactions to attempted coup in Benin Republic
@Dannymasterp
“That military intervention from our Nigeria military is very necessary and prompt as it was call for help from the Benin Republican Government to support them restore peace and stablize democracy in their country and thanks to God for successful restoration of democracy in the country.”
Read also
FG reacts as coup plotters failed in Benin Republic
@tbello007 said:
“Our regional bodies, ECOWAS & AU, are weak. Unfortunately, the last time ECOWAS had any bite was during the IBB , Abacha & OBJ regimes. Now coup are just springing up like in the 70s & 80s. Regional stability is key & essential to growth. Regional security is at risk here.”
@jacob_iber said:
“Absolutely! It’s a thought I wouldn’t want to entertain that Benin is working in tandem with other nations -AES, to antagonise Nig. A nation that is ready to sacrifice its people for the stability of the sub-region. I can bet on anything, there’s no boundary btw Nig & Niger Rep.”
Lady shares why she likes living in Benin Republic
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Nigerian lady based in Benin Republic has spoken highly of the West African country and rated it above her country of origin.
She noted that returning to Nigeria is not in her plans and highlighted various reasons Benin Republic is a better place to stay in.
Read also
Breaking: Coup attempt in Benin as military claims it has overthrown President Talon, video trends
The lady claimed she has never heard of any robbery or kidnapping incidents in the country, and no generator noise.
Source: Legit.ng
The Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has reminded Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that a tenure determination suit involving reinstated local government chairmen and councillors remained pending before the Federal High Court.
The Osun APC made this known in a statement by Tajudeen Lawal, its state chairman on Monday.
In the statement, the APC alleged that the state government and the PDP had attempted to misinform the members of the public following recent legal developments regarding local government administration in the state.
The party said the state government began releasing all manners of lies after the loss suffered by the PDP-led administration over the reinstatement of APC council officials.
According to the APC, “the state government had failed to inform the public about Suit No. FHC/OS/CS/147/2025, which concerns the determination of the tenure of the reinstated chairmen and councillors.”
The party said the matter last came up in court in November and was adjourned until February 2026.
The party said, “the suit also seeks judicial clarification on whether the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission has the authority to conduct another local government election during the subsisting tenure of the reinstated officials.”
It added that, “the PDP-led government had been misleading the public by describing an exercise held on 22 February 2025 as local government elections, claiming that residents had begun to recognise the difference between an election and illegal declaration.”
The APC alleged that comments attributed to state officials, including Commissioner for Information Kolapo Alimi, were “a deliberate attempt to incite the innocent members of the public and these claims did not reflect existing legal positions.”
The statement said Governor Adeleke and his aides were distorting facts surrounding the ongoing crisis affecting local government administration and warned that such actions could undermine peace in the state.
It noted that the pending suit also seeks confirmation that the reinstated chairmen and councillors are entitled to a three year tenure, having held their first sitting in February 2025.
The party urged security agencies and the public to remain vigilant, warning of potential breaches of peace linked to alleged threats by the state government and some PDP members to resort to force.
It cited an incident at Otan-Aiyegbaju in Boluwaduro local government area following the recent Supreme Court judgment, calling for protection of citizens and political supporters.
The APC, while appealing to parents and guardians to caution their children against involvement in political violence, urged its members and supporters to remain peaceful as the legal issues surrounding the local government councils continue to unfold.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has sparked fresh public discussion after openly stating that he does not know his true age.
The former Head of State made the comment during the Toyin Falola Interviews on Sunday, where he spoke at length about memory, history, and the need for proper national documentation.
Obasanjo told the audience that his age remains uncertain even to him.
He explained that he relies on the ages of his surviving secondary school classmates to estimate how old he might be.
According to him, six of those classmates are still alive, and none is below 90 years old.
“I don’t know my exact age but I could judge from those who were in school with me… So I leave it to you to guess what my age could be,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience but also raising questions on how age documentation was handled in Nigeria during his childhood years.
The former president used the moment to reflect on why documentation matters, pointing particularly to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, a project he frequently describes as one of his most important legacies.
He said the library was designed to preserve institutional memory and keep historical records accessible for future generations.
Obasanjo explained that the archive is massive and still growing. “We have digitised over 3 million materials. We still have about the same, 3 million, to digitalise,” he stated. He added that the goal is to ensure that researchers, students, and Nigerians everywhere can access these materials easily once the process is completed.
He revealed that the library contains a wide range of personal and national records.
These include his primary and secondary school documents, letters he wrote while in prison—some addressed to his late wife and others written to General Sani Abacha following the death of his son—manuscript drafts of his books, and even farming logs from crops he planted during his imprisonment.
Obasanjo stressed that keeping proper records is not a strength in Nigerian society and that the library was created to help correct that gap.
“Why the Presidential Library? I believe one of the things we don’t do too well in our society is that we don’t keep records too well; institutional memory is not what we do very well,” he noted.
The former president celebrated his 88th birthday in March, though he has now suggested that his actual age may be different.
- Several people are feared dead after unknown gunmen launched a sudden attack near Afor Market Junction in the Nawfia community of Anambra State on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
- The armed men reportedly stormed the area in a coordinated manner and opened fire on residents, leaving multiple casualties and widespread panic.
- Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos, noting that many of the victims were youths.
A yet-to-be-disclosed number of persons are feared killed after unknown armed men launched a brazen attack near the Afor Market Junction in the Nawfia community, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
The gunmen invaded the area and immediately opened fire on unsuspecting community members, causing panic and chaos, with some victims fatally injured and others fleeing for safety. Eyewitness accounts suggest that several people, mostly youths, were killed during the violence.
One source told Punch that the sudden attack left the community shaken:
“The armed hoodlums invaded Afor Market Junction and immediately opened fire, killing a lot of people. Nobody knows the reason behind the attack; the attack has left our community shaken,”.
An eyewitness near the scene described the chaos: “It was chaos. The attackers came out of nowhere this evening in a commando-like fashion and started shooting indiscriminately”.
Community Leadership Condemns Attack
The President General of the Nawfia Progressive Union, Chief Daniel Okoye, confirmed the tragic incident in a press statement on Sunday.
Chief Okoye condemned the violence and confirmed that the attack resulted in multiple casualties:
“This evening, I received with deep shock the tragic news of an attack at the Afor Market Junction in Nawfia community. The incident resulted in multiple casualties, caused by unknown assailants who carried out this senseless act of violence,”.
He assured residents that relevant security agencies have been contacted and investigations have begun to uncover the perpetrators. The President General appealed to all residents to “remain calm, stay vigilant, and continue to cooperate with security operatives”.
As of the time of filing the reports, the Anambra State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
A social media post has stirred widespread discussion after a user on X (formerly Twitter) claimed that a Muslim man abandoned Islam and converted to Christianity because of his admiration for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The claim was made by an X user identified as Nikky Agnes, who shared the man’s alleged public declaration.
In her post, Agnes stated that the man credited Kanu’s courage, teachings and perceived truthfulness for his decision.
According to the viral post, the man reportedly said: “Because of Nnamdi Kanu, I am converting to Christianity. Because of him, I finally understand what it means to be a true human being. After Allah, Nnamdi Kanu comes first.”
He was also quoted as saying: “I have never in my life seen anyone who speaks the truth the way Nnamdi Kanu does — and still ends up in jail simply because he stood by what he believed about Biafra.”
The post further claimed that the man described Kanu’s warnings as fulfilled, stating: “Everything he warned Nigeria about is happening today. Every prophecy, every truth, every warning — it has all come to pass.”
Agnes added that the man hailed Kanu as “a voice of freedom” and “the greatest of his generation.”
The claim has generated strong reactions across social media, with many users questioning its authenticity, while others argued that it reflects Kanu’s enduring influence despite his prolonged detention.
