News
Topfield School Wins Ikoyi Club Junior Basketball Summer Tournament

The weeklong maiden edition of Junior Summer Basketball Tournament put together by Aerobics and other sports section of Ikoyi Club ended Friday, August, 16, 2024 with Topfield School emerging winners.
Held at the sports hall of the section, the players showed good mastery of the slam and dunk game to the admiration of their parents, club members and invited guests.
To emerge winners of the round robin game, Topfield won all their matches to gain a total of 12 points. They also won the final deciding match against hard fighting Ikoyi Team A by 61-54 points to be crowned champion and cart away the giant trophy at stake.
Ikoyi Team A came second with 10 points, having won four and lost two of their matches. They were closely followed by RangeRockers who though had the same points with them, recorded a lower goal aggregate.
An excited Coach of the winning team, Godspower Anokam and his Captain, Miene Praise told our correspondent shortly after the game that hard work and dedication gave them victory just as they commended the organisers for putting up such an interesting tournament with a pledge that they’ll be around next year to defend the title.
” We’re really excited emerging champions of the maiden edition of the tournament and we’re looking forward to defending the title next year.
” We give kudos to Ikoyi Club for putting the championship together and we implore them to sustain it as it’s capable of producing future champions for the country in the game of basketball”, they stressed.
Runners-up handler, Coach Christian Samuel admitted that his team lost to a better side but was quick to add that they are worthy losers as they lost to the best secondary school basketball team in Lagos State just as he assured that his boys will come out stronger next year
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Chairman of Aerobics and other sports section of the prestigious club Mrs. Kikelemo Asuelime expressed
happiness with the conduct of the players throughout the duration of the tournament which made the competition interesting
According to her, she’s looking forward to more teams participating in next year’s edition as well as having an exhibition game for the girls.
” I’m highly excited with the successful completion of the tournament and the way the players comported themselves. The championship is not all about winning but to enable the players gain more confidence and exposure on the game of basketball and hopefully, some of them will later play the game at the highest level.
” It’s equally important I state that am looking forward to seeing more teams participate in the second edition because it’s going to be an annual event and by next year, we hope to have an exhibition game for the girls”, she assured.
Captain of the section, Mrs. Bolaji Pearse in her remarks, stated that the competition is part of the plans by Aerobics and other sports section of the club to develop basketball at the grassroots level with a promise that they’ll continue to sustain it.
Pearse while commending their sponsors for partnering with them towards a successful hosting of the event, appealed for more corporate sponsorship to enable them have a seamless second edition.
At the end of the day, certificates were issued to all the players while the winners, first and second runners- up got medals and trophies.
A total of seven teams namely; Topfield School, Ikoyi Team A, RangeRockers, Doozy Stars Academy, Whitesand School, Ikoyi Team B and Provazios took part in the tournament
News
Official Disclaimer Notice From The Honourable Minister Of State For Finance , DR. Doris Uzoka -Anite

It has come to our attention that a fraudulent website — lankantamil.com — is falsely using the name, image, and identity of Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Honourable Minister of State for Finance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in an attempt to mislead the public.
We state categorically that Dr. Uzoka-Anite has no affiliation whatsoever with the aforementioned website or any content being circulated in her name through that channel. The materials therein are entirely unauthorised, deceptive, and intended to misinform the public.
This is a case of digital impersonation and fraud, and the matter has already been reported to the appropriate law enforcement and cybersecurity authorities for investigation and takedown action.
Members of the public are strongly advised to:
Disregard any information, videos, or links associated with this website;
Avoid clicking on or sharing the fraudulent content;
Report such activity immediately to digital platforms or relevant agencies.
The Honourable Minister remains committed to transparent public service and official communication through verifiable and authorised channels only.
News
NIgeria’s External Borrowing Plan For 2024 -2026

On May 27, 2025, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, formally requested the approval of the 2024 – 2026 External Borrowing Rolling Plan from the National Assembly. This press release
provides context and clarification on the purpose and significance of the request.
The proposed Borrowing Rolling Plan is an essential component of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) in accordance with both the Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and the DMO Act 2003. The Plan outlines the external borrowing framework for both the federal and sub-national governments over a three-year period, accompanied by five detailed appendices on the projects, terms and conditions, implementation period, etc. By adopting a structured, forward-looking approach, the plan facilitates comprehensive financial planning and avoids the inefficiencies of ad hoc or reactive borrowing practices. This strategic method enhances Nigeria’s ability to implement effective fiscal policies and mobilize development resources.
The borrowing plan does not equate to actual borrowing for the period. The actual borrowing for each year is contained in the annual budget. In 2025, the external borrowing component is US $1.23 billion, and it has not yet been drawn. This is planned for H2 2025. Also, the plan is for both federal and several state governments across numerous geopolitical zones, including Abia, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Kaduna, Lagos, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Yobe States.
Importantly, it should be noted that the Borrowing Rolling Plan does not equate to an automatic increase in the nation’s debt burden. The nature of the rolling plan means that borrowings are split over the period of the projects. For example, a large proportion of projects in the 2024. – 2026 rolling plan have multi-year draw downs of between 5 – 7 years, which are project-tied loans. These projects cut across critical sectors of the economy, including power grids and transmission lines, irrigation for improving food security, fibre optics network across the country, fighter jets for security, and rail and road infrastructure.
The majority of the proposed borrowing will be sourced from Nigeria’s development partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Investment Bank, JICA, China EximBank, and the Islamic Development Bank. These institutions offer concessional financing with favourable terms and long repayment periods, thereby supporting Nigeria’s development objectives sustainably.
The government seeks to reiterate that the debt service to revenue ratio has started decreasing from its peak of over 90% in 2023. The government has ended the distortionary and inflationary ways and means. There are significant revenue expectations from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and technology-enabled monitoring and collection of surpluses from Government Owned Enterprises and revenue-generating ministries, departments, and agencies, including legacy outstanding dues.
Having achieved a fair degree of macroeconomic stabilization, the overarching goal of the Federal Government is to pivot the economy onto a path of rapid, sustained, and inclusive economic growth. Achieving this vision requires substantial investment in critical sectors such as transportation, energy, infrastructure, and agriculture. These investments will lay the groundwork for long-term economic diversification and encourage private sector participation. Our debt strategy is therefore guided not solely by the size of our obligations but by the utility, sustainability, and economic returns of the borrowing. Ensuring that all borrowed funds are efficiently utilized and directed toward growth-enhancing projects remains a top priority.
In conclusion, the government remains committed to keeping borrowing within manageable and sustainable limits in accordance with the DMO Debt Sustainability Framework. The ongoing tax reform agenda and other revenue initiatives will further improve revenue generation and prudent financial management. We reaffirm our dedication to fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability. Constructive public engagement and legislative oversight are vital components of our journey toward long-term economic stability and inclusive national prosperity.
News
Jafiya Pledges Support For Unity Schools’ Renewal

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Shehu Jafiya, has assured the Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) of her commitment to collaborating with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal
Government to address the current challenges plaguing the Schools in the country
The Permanent Secretary gave this assurance during a courtesy visit by the USOSA delegation led by its President General, Mr Michael Ibrahim Magaji, to her office in Abuja today.
Mrs Jafiya emphasized the priority accorded to Education under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration and assured the delegation of her commitment to collaborating with relevant MDAs to find solutions.
Led by Mr Magaji, the delegation comprising representatives of EXCOs from various Unity Schools, including Sokoto, Yola, Warri, Jos, Kano, Ibillo, Bwari, and Ogbomosho, stated that their visit was to solicit the Permanent Secretary’s kind intervention towards addressing the challenges facing Unity Schools in the country
The delegation highlighted pressing issues affecting students and teachers, including inadequate electricity, lack of digitization, health concerns, dilapidated hostel accommodations, as well as security threats, and appealed to the Permanent Secretary to leverage her position to engage relevant MDAs, including Education, Communication and Digital Economy, Health, and Lands, to address these issues.
Notably, as an old student of Unity Schools herself, Mrs Jafiya expressed her resolve to support the renewal of Unity Schools, underscoring her commitment to the alma mater.
The Permanent Secretary’s commitment marks not only a significant step towards revitalizing these institutions but more importantly enhancing the learning experience for Nigerian students, paving the way for collaborative efforts to restore Unity Schools to their former glory
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