Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has been conferred with the title, Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom, by Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

Busola Kukoyi, SSA Media to the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said that the title was conferred on the First Lady during her homecoming to Warri Kingdom in Delta State where she was received by the paramount ruler of the Kingdom, Olu of Warri Ogiame Atunwatse III.

“The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atunwatse III in his remarks urged everyone that by doing away with past hurts and grievances, there would be peace, progress and prosperity.

The monarch stated that the entire kingdom is proud of the First Lady of Nigeria.

He said:

“We are proud of who you are, who you have become.

Our women know how to take very good care of their husbands. Thank you for being a very good example to our girls and women”.

The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu whose mother hails from Warri in Delta State was conferred with the traditional title of Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom alias Ugbone meaning the Light of God.

In Picture: L-R Former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, First Lady of Delta State Deaconess Tobore Oborevwori, the Olu of Warri Kingdom, Ogiame Atunwatse III, First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu and the Delta State Governor, Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori during Senator Tinubu’s conferment with the title,Utukpa-Oritse of Warri Kingdom by the Olu of Warri Kingdom on Thursday 26th February 2026.

In her remarks, Senator Oluremi Tinubu called for more unity across the nation among citizens

The First Lady specifically appealed to the people of the kingdom to come together, irrespective of their differences.“the bible tells us in Psalm 133 verse 1 to 3 that it is pleasant to dwell together in unity, for there is where God commanded blessings”.

She assured the people who turned out in their numbers of continued support and commitment of government, noting that the state governor had been doing a good job so far in the State.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu once again, on behalf of the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI donated a sum of fifty million naira to 1000 women petty traders.

Earlier, the State Governor Rt Hon Sheriff Oborevwori explained that the First Lady who had visited the state three times, and twice when he was still in another political party and now when he had crossed over to APC, had shown tremendous love and sincerity in the care of Nigerians by this.“

She has a large heart and those visits where she flagged off the women petty traders empowerment and the launch of the free to shine campaign encouraged me to make up my mind.

May God continue to empower you to continue to put smiles on the faces of more Nigerians.”

The National Universities Commission (NUC) on Thursday, released fresh guidelines regulating the award and use of honorary doctorate degrees in Nigeria.

Honorary doctorate degrees are non-earned distinctions granted honoris causa to recognise distinguished merit, public service, scholarly impact, creative achievement or other significant contributions aligned with the values of the awarding institution.

In a public notice shared on its official X page, the Commission found widespread misuse of honorary degrees, with 32 entities among 61 institutions and professional bodies identified as operating as honorary degree mills — including unaccredited foreign universities, unlicensed local institutions and organisations without degree-awarding powers. Some were also found issuing fake professorships.

Consequently, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, said that the new guidelines were developed in line with established academic traditions and resolutions of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, including the Keffi Declaration of 2012, alongside inputs from universities submitted in December 2025.

NUC said that the new rules are designed to standardise the conferment process, protect academic integrity and safeguard the credibility and global reputation of Nigeria’s university system. Universities and other degree-awarding institutions were directed to strictly comply, with sanctions promised for violations.

Under the new rules, only approved universities that have graduated their first set of PhD students are eligible to award honorary doctorates. The purpose, criteria and selection procedures must be clearly defined and publicly accessible, while nominations must pass through statutory committees and receive approval from both the University Senate and Governing Council.

The guidelines limit honorary awards to a maximum of three recipients per convocation and require that the degrees carry the designation “Honoris Causa,” such as Doctor of Science (D.Sc. h.c.) or Doctor of Law (LL.D. h.c.).

Awards must be conferred in person, except in exceptional circumstances where they may be given virtually, in absentia or posthumously.

The Commission stressed that honorary doctorates must be granted free of charge and recipients must not present the honour as an earned academic qualification.

NUC specifically warned that recipients cannot use the “Dr.” — which is reserved for holders of earned doctoral or medical degrees — nor use the award to supervise research, practise as scholars or manage academic units.

Universities are also required to provide recipients with orientation on the proper use of the honour, publish lists of awardees on their websites to promote transparency and establish clear mechanisms for revoking awards if recipients are convicted of fraud or engage in unethical conduct.

The NUC said all eligible universities must comply strictly with the framework, reiterating that regulatory sanctions will apply to institutions that confer honorary doctorates in breach of the new guidelines.

• Governor Usman Ododo and President Bola Tinubu [State House Photo]

The Kogi State Government has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment towards making the establishment of State Police a reality.

In a statement issued on Thursday by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the State Government asserted that the reform will fundamentally transform Nigeria’s security architecture.

President Tinubu the previous day, reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to decentralise policing during a high-level engagement with governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President stressed that State Police has become imperative in confronting the country’s evolving security challenges, noting that decentralised law enforcement would enhance community-based responses, improve intelligence gathering, and strengthen internal security across the federation.

The Kogi State Government noted that the President’s position comes as the National Assembly continues deliberations on the constitutional and legislative frameworks required to establish State Police, describing the move as a bold and strategic step toward long-term national stability.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo fully aligns with the President’s vision and remains committed to supporting reforms that bring security closer to the grassroots.

He stated that the State Police initiative represents a decisive intervention capable of significantly dismantling insecurity in Nigeria, commending President Tinubu for ongoing economic and financial sector reforms and describing the proposed decentralisation of policing as a natural progression in the administration’s broader national renewal agenda.

“As a government, we fully align with Mr President’s position and assure him, as well as the leadership of the National Assembly, of our readiness to cooperate with all relevant authorities to make the State Police a reality,” the statement said.

The Kogi State Government maintained that sustained collaboration between federal and state authorities would not only address immediate threats but also lay the foundation for enduring peace, security, and development across the country.