NEWS
NLNG Unveils New Visual Identities for the Nigeria Prizes
To mark a new phase in the evolution of Nigeria’s foremost platforms for intellectual and creative excellence, the NLNG has unveiled the new visual brand elements for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, The Nigeria Prize for Science, and the newly introduced The Nigeria Prize for Creative Arts.
During the unveiling, in Lagos, on Thursday, General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development at NLNG, Sophia Horsfall, described the new visual identities as a strategic repositioning of the prizes to ensure sustained relevance and global resonance. She noted that the refreshed logos reinforce NLNG’s commitment to the promotion of intellectual and creative capital as critical drivers of sustainable development.
“For over two decades, The Nigeria Prizes have stood as independent symbols of excellence and national aspiration. This redesign is deliberate and forward-looking. It protects the legacy of the prizes while positioning them to be more visible, more iconic, and aligned with global standards of distinction into the future,” Horsfall said.
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She added that novel ideas remain central to national progress, “Ideas shape societies, and societies that invest in ideas secure their future. These new identities reaffirm our belief that literature, science, and innovation are not optional; they are foundational to Nigeria’s development.”
The logo for The Nigeria Prize for Literature draws inspiration from the turning pages of a book. Rendered in layered green forms, it symbolises imagination in motion, stories unfolding, voices rising, and ideas taking flight. The fluid curves reflect storytelling in all its forms, including fiction, poetry, drama, and prose, while the green palette represents renewal, learning, and the fertile landscape of Nigerian literature. The gradient suggests growth, tracing the journey of ideas from seed to story, with a sense of calm dynamism that speaks to reflection, dialogue, and the enduring vitality of the written word.
Commenting on the symbolism, Chairperson of the Advisory Board for The Nigeria Prize for Literature, Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo said the logo captures the enduring power of Nigerian storytelling.
“The turning pages remind us that our stories are continuous, rooted in history yet constantly renewed. Nigerian literature has never been static, and this identity affirms its role as a dynamic force shaping thoughts, conscience, and cultural memory,” she said.
She added that the design sends a strong message to writers and thinkers that their voices matter and that imagination remains central to our collective destiny.
The Nigeria Prize for Science and Innovation logo is formed from intersecting blue orbits, evoking atomic energy, electron pathways, and celestial motion. Its circular composition conveys continuity and the boundless nature of scientific inquiry, while the blue-lime palette reflects curiosity, intelligence, and the pursuit of truth. The identity celebrates Nigeria’s commitment to evidence-based inquiry and innovation, honouring those who push beyond the known to build a future powered by knowledge and imagination.
The Chairman of the Advisory Board for The Nigerian Prize for Science and Innovation, Prof. Barth Nnaji, described the Science and Innovation logo as a reflection of the discipline, rigour, and ambition required for national transformation.
“Science is about movement, questioning, testing, and pushing boundaries. The energy captured in this identity reflects the spirit Nigeria must embrace to industrialise, compete, and solve complex challenges. The Prize remains a vital platform for recognising continuous and purposeful innovation,” he said.
Completing the trio, the Nigerian Prize for Creative Arts logo is anchored by a lime-green spiral that represents innovation, continuity, and creative momentum. Its fluid form reflects the breadth of artistic disciplines encompassed by the Prize and the dynamic nature of the creative process. The spiral’s motion conveys rhythm, progress, and interconnectedness, while the lime-green palette signals freshness, optimism, and originality.
The redesign follows NLNG’s recent corporate brand refresh and the alignment of its visual assets with a modern design approach. Collectively, the redesigned logos articulate a unified vision that celebrates intellectual rigour, creative excellence, and the transformative power of ideas, positioning The Nigeria Prizes for the future, while reinforcing their role as beacons of thought leadership, cultural relevance, and national pride.
Since the inception of The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science in 2004, they have maintained a consistent visual identity that helped establish strong brand equity. Building on this strong legacy, the refreshed identities reflect a deliberate evolution that strengthens the Prizes’ role as leading drivers of intellectual, creative, and national impact.
Photo Caption:
From Left: Dr. Sophia Horsfall, GM, External Relations & Sustainable Development, NLNG; Prof. Barth Nnaji, Advisory Board Chairman, The Nigerian Prize for Science & Innovation; Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo, Advisory Board Chairman, The Nigeria Prize for Literature, other Prizes’ Advisory Board members and NLNG management staff at The Nigeria Prizes refreshed logos unveiling held in Lagos on Thursday.
NEWS
Tinubu Signs 2025 Budget Amendment Into Law
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the Appropriation (Amendment) (No. 4) Bill, 2025, into law, extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from September 30 to December 31, 2026.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, the presidential assent followed the passage of the amendment by both the Senate and the House of Representatives on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
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The extension gives Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) additional time to complete ongoing capital projects and utilise funds already appropriated.
The Presidency said the move would ensure that funds already approved in the 2025 budget are fully put to work without disrupting critical government programmes.
The National Assembly had approved the extension after lawmakers considered the need to provide additional time for the implementation of capital projects under the 2025 Appropriation Act.
The Senate had described the extension as necessary to prevent the abandonment of ongoing projects and allow outstanding obligations relating to projects to be addressed.
With the President’s assent, the 2025 budget implementation deadline is now formally extended to December 31, 2026.
President Tinubu commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what he described as their prompt consideration of the amendment.
He said the development further demonstrated cooperation between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in the service of the country.
The latest extension marks another adjustment to the implementation timeline of the 2025 capital budget, which had previously been extended from its original deadline to March 31, June 30 and subsequently September 30, 2026.
NEWS
FG Reveals Six Locations for Proposed 24-Hour Power Supply Zones
The Federal Government has begun discussions with electricity distribution companies (DisCos) on plans to establish dedicated energy zones that could provide 24-hour electricity supply to homes, businesses and industries in major demand centres across Nigeria.
The initiative was discussed during a closed-door meeting between the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, and representatives of selected electricity distribution companies and other power-sector stakeholders on Wednesday.
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Under the proposed arrangement, the government is targeting six major locations across three key electricity corridors: the Lagos axis, the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano corridor, and the Enugu-Port Harcourt corridor.
The proposed zones are intended to concentrate efforts on areas where reliable electricity is considered critical to manufacturing, commercial activities and other productive sectors.
Tegbe said the challenge facing Nigeria’s power sector goes beyond electricity generation and transmission, noting that distribution companies must also be able to take up available electricity and deliver it effectively to consumers.
“The constraint on the sector is not limited to generation and transmission but includes how much power is taken up and delivered at the distribution end,” the minister said.
According to him, the proposed energy zones are expected to help address gaps at the distribution end of the electricity value chain, while also supporting increased commercial and industrial demand.
The minister said the initiative could improve the revenue and collection performance of DisCos as more reliable electricity becomes available to productive users.
He also said the Federal Government would continue expanding electricity infrastructure in areas with high demand, stressing that electricity supply capacity must increase alongside the needs of the economy.
Representatives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, Ikeja Electric, Eko Power, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Sahara Energy Group were among those reported to have attended the meeting.
However, the government has not announced a specific implementation date, the amount of electricity expected to be supplied to the proposed zones or the infrastructure investment required to achieve round-the-clock supply.
The plan comes as businesses and households continue to face concerns over the reliability of electricity supply and the ability of DisCos to efficiently distribute available power.
NEWS
NELFUND: ‘Have You Given Students ₦5,000 Scholarship?’ — NANS President Replies Dino Melaye
The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has challenged ADC chieftain Dino Melaye to account for his record of supporting students after the former senator criticised the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Afeez made the remarks in a video circulating on social media on Tuesday while reacting to Melaye’s comments about the Federal Government’s student loan programme.
The NANS president questioned whether Melaye had personally provided scholarships or bursaries to students in his constituency.
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“Dino Melaye should come out and tell us if he has even given ₦5,000 as scholarship to students in his area, as bursary to students in his constituency,” Afeez said.
He questioned why Melaye should be the person shaping public opinion on education policy, particularly given his previous tenure in the Senate.
“Dino Melaye was a member of the 8th Senate, and I think he was one of the strongest members of the 8th Senate who was closer to the Senate President. What was his policy on education? What did he do to the students in his constituency?” he asked.
Afeez also criticised Melaye’s understanding of the NELFUND programme, saying the former lawmaker appeared to have confused the monthly upkeep payment with the entire support provided under the scheme.
“If Dino Melaye had done some research at all, he wouldn’t have embarrassed himself like that on national television stating that just ₦20,000 was given to students per year,” the NANS president said.
He explained that NELFUND provides educational loans as well as monthly upkeep support to beneficiaries.
“NELFUND has loan, and NELFUND has upkeep. Students are getting their educational loan and they are also getting the upkeep monthly,” Afeez said.
“And the upkeep is not just ₦20,000 a year, it’s ₦20,000 monthly,” he added.
Afeez further questioned whether Melaye had examined NELFUND’s publicly available information before making his claims.
“Even if Dino Melaye should go to ordinary NELFUND page, he will see schools acknowledging that they have received money from NELFUND,” he said.
The NANS president also took a strong position on Melaye’s criticism, describing the ADC chieftain as a comedian and questioning whether people still take his comments seriously.
“Do people still take Dino Melaye serious? Dino Melaye is a comedian. He is a jester,” Afeez said.
He argued that anyone commenting on education policy should be sufficiently informed about the subject.
“It is not about campaign and it’s not about supporting, but one fact is that if you want to talk about the education policy of the present administration, you have to have something upstairs,” he said.
Afeez also alleged that Melaye had previously asked students to endorse former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar during the last election and subsequently failed to fulfil promises made to them.
“Dino Melaye, last election, came to Southwest to deceive students to endorse Atiku. After those students endorsed Atiku, he ran away with their money,” Afeez alleged.
He further claimed that Melaye had promised the students a vehicle.
Afeez concluded by dismissing Melaye’s criticism and saying NANS would continue to defend students’ interests.
The exchange followed Melaye’s earlier criticism of NELFUND, in which he described the programme as a “haven of corruption” and questioned the Federal Government’s claim that it was paying students’ school fees.
Melaye had specifically questioned the ₦20,000 payment, asking: “Which government school today takes ₦20,000 annual school fees?”
He also challenged NELFUND to publish the names of students who had benefited from the programme.





