More than 1,065 people paid their last respects to Olive Chelsey Chikperem Onwubuya, buried today, November 27, at the Epe cemetery in Lagos.

Olive, born on January 16, 1991 (34 ), would have turned 35 years on January 16, 2026, but died on November 19, 2025, as a result of a brief illness.

Olive, the CEO / Founder of Medical Apparels and O’exotic Drinks – SI WELL, left behind her husband, Caleb Onwubuya, two children (Sterling and Sheryl), her parents, Smart Mbagwu and Nkeiru Mbagwu, including her siblings, Smart Jnr, Carlson, and Fortune, as well as uncles and aunts, etc.

FUNERAL DISCOURSE

Joshua James Olufemi, a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses, delivered the funeral discourse held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, located at the Elf bus stop in Lekki, Lagos.

He told the over 1, 000 audience in- person /Zoom, that Olive, a regular pioneer – devoting 50 hours each month to helping others learn about God’s kingdom, had strong faith in her God Jehovah, and she served Him faithfully till death.

•Olive’s coffin is being taken out for burial after the funeral discourse in the Kingdom Hall .

Emphasising the Bible’s hope for the dead at John 3: 28, 29., Acts 24: 15, the minister assured the bereaved family and friends : “Olive had just lived the first phase of her life; in the future, she will be resurrected to live forever on a paradise earth.”

He added that while alive, Olive made a good name with God and was a source of comfort to every life she touched.

He said: ” A funeral reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life (Ec 9:11). The reality of death makes us think about how we are using our life (Ps 90:12).

By the way we live, we can make “a good name” with Jehovah God (Ec 7:1-4). Jesus said for us to store up treasures in heaven (Mt 6:19-21).

By our zealous works and godly conduct, we share in sanctifying Jehovah’s name (Pr 27:11)

The resurrection hope provides an incentive to learn and do God’s will (1Co 15:58; 1Ti 2:3, 4).

Those who do so can be certain that they will soon see their resurrected loved ones again.

We should use this occasion and the days ahead to comfort one another (1Th 5:11). As fellow believers, we can remind one another of our sure hope and provide emotional support (Pr 17:17).

We prayerfully look to Jehovah to give needed strength until he provides permanent relief (Ps 9:9, 10).”

MY OBIDIYA

•The couple and their children, Sterling and Sheryl. Credit: family album

In a memoir, Caleb Onwubuya, the husband of the deceased , recalled how they met the first time and fell in love: ” After a friend connected us, I already knew she was the one for me. She followed me. She supported me, respected me; loved me, protected me and prayed for me and grew with me.

We had a stable family, a spiritually conscious family …but death snatched her away from me.

Now, I feel empty and helpless without her but I am consoled by the hope of Resurrection. I will dearly miss my OBIDIYA. Till we see again in paradise.”

Meanwhile, Caleb Onwubuya and his family associate with the Cooperative Road Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Ajah, Lagos.

“A funeral reminds us of the brevity and uncertainty of life (Ec 9:11). The reality of death makes us think about how we are using our lives (Ps 90:12).”

• President Donald Trump and President Bola Tinubu

The Nigeria government has confirmed that the US bombing of terrorists camps linked to the Islamic State group (IS) in north-western Nigeria, was a joint operation with the Nigerian army.

On Thursday Christmas night, camps run by the Lakurawa terrorists group in Sokoto state were hit near the border with Niger, the US military said.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar told the BBC that it was a “joint operation” and had “nothing to do with a particular religion”.

Tuggar said the strikes had been planned “for quite some time” using intelligence provided by Nigeria. He also did not rule out further strikes.

Referencing the timing of strikes – which took place late on Thursday – he said they did not have “anything to do with Christmas”.

The US military said an “initial assessment” suggested “multiple” fatalities in Sokoto state.

A local official in the Tangaza area of Sokoto state, Isa Salihu Bashir, told the BBC the strikes had “hit some Lakurawa terrorist camps”. He said many fighters had been killed but the death toll was unclear

US President Donald Trump said the Christmas Day strikes had been “deadly” and labelled the group “terrorist scum”, saying they had been “targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians”.

The Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a 40% salary increase for university lecturers as part of a landmark renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ending an eight-year review process of the 2009 FGN-ASUU pact.

The agreement, concluded on December 23, 2025, was announced by ASUU in a circular dated December 24, 2025, describing it as a comprehensive framework aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s public university system.

Key highlights of the deal include:

– A 40% upward review of academic staff salaries under improved conditions of service.

– Reaffirmation of pension benefits, allowing professors to retire at age 70 with a pension equivalent to their final annual salary, subject to service requirements.

– Introduction of a tailored budgeting template to address universities’ specific funding needs.

– Provisions for enhanced university autonomy, academic freedom, and systemic reforms to curb brain drain and underfunding.

– Commitments to innovation, research funding through a proposed National Research Council, and duty-free imports for educational materials.

ASUU expressed optimism that the government would commence prompt implementation, with the new salary structure expected to take effect from January 1, 2026.

The breakthrough averts potential industrial action, following months of tense negotiations that began in 2017. Earlier reports in November and early December indicated the government’s proposal of the 40% increment as a key offer to resolve lingering disputes over withheld salaries, earned allowances, and revitalization funds.

Multiple outlets, including Politics Nigeria, The Star, Legit.ng, and The Guardian, confirmed the agreement, noting its potential to stabilize the tertiary education sector amid ongoing challenges like inflation and emigration of academics.

Education stakeholders have welcomed the development, viewing it as a significant step toward addressing long-standing grievances in Nigeria’s public universities.

The Ministry of Education is yet to issue an official statement, but sources indicate alignment with President Tinubu’s directive to avoid disruptions in the academic calendar.