News
Kechi Okwuchi grateful for recovery journey of facial scars

Nigerian-born singer and motivational speaker, Kechi Okwuchi has expressed gratitude to God for the recovery journey of her facial scars, saying that true progress and genuine growth cannot happen overnight.
The 31-year-old burn survivor, who is one of two survivors in the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 crash of Dec. 10, 2005, stated this on her Instagram page @kechiofficial.
She shared her recovery journey spanning 14 years.
According to her, she is grateful to lived long enough to see the speedy recovery journey of her facial scars.
The America’s Got Talent finalist, sharing a photo from 2007, a year after the tragic crash, with the recent one she took on Tuesday July 20, said she was grateful to God for being alive to witness her progress.
“Wonder if I should tag this as sensitive content? I stumbled upon the picture on the left on my laptop a couple months ago, and I have been contemplating this post since then,”
“I remember I stared at it for a long time that day. Time makes me forget just how extensive my burn injuries were, and how devastating the effects were to my body.
“The pic on the left was taken a good year after the plane crash and by then, intense scar tissue had formed, especially on my face.
“I took the pic on the right a few mins ago and made these before/afters, and I marvel at how far God has brought me.
“ I am the result of the hard work of multiple surgeons He brought into my life, nurses, physiotherapists, and love and care from my family, my mom especially.
“This is what progress looks like, guys. 2 pictures, 14 years apart. I’m grateful that I lived long enough to see it.”
According to her, the decision to make the post is for people to marvel at God with her.
“ I want someone who reads this to see that true progress, genuine growth, and lasting change cannot happen overnight.
“Most of the time during the journey, maybe like me, you won’t notice changes because day by day they’re too minuscule to make a difference.
“But if you give yourself a fighting chance, if you find the right kind of support on your journey, one day, definitely one day, you will look back like I did this morning and hopefully…you will smile.
“I heard this in a song and it stuck with me: The night will definitely come. But so will the morning,” she wrote.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that Okwuchi, who survived the Dec 10, 2021 plane crash, had sustained third degree burns over 65 per cent of her body and was given a 30 per cent chance of survival.
Okwuchi and 60 of her classmates had boarded the plane to go home for Christmas from their boarding school at Abuja, Nigeria.
There were a total of 109 people onboard the Sosoliso Airlines Flight 1145 including the flight crew.
The crash killed 107 people on board, leaving only two survivors including Okwuchi. All of her classmates perished, leaving her the lone student survivor.
She has undergone over 100 reconstructive surgeries since the tragic crash that claimed 59 of her school mates at the Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja (NAN) .www.nannews.ng
News
Starship to leave for Mars at end of 2026 – Elon Musk

Elon Musk has announced an ambitious timeline for SpaceX’s Mars mission, revealing that the company’s massive Starship rocket is set to depart for the Red Planet at the end of 2026. The mission will include Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, as part of the spacecraft’s payload.
“If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely,” Musk posted on his social media platform, X.
The Starship rocket—considered the world’s most powerful—is central to Musk’s long-term vision of colonizing Mars. However, significant technical hurdles remain before this dream becomes reality.
NASA is also counting on a modified version of Starship to serve as the lunar lander for its Artemis program, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon this decade. But before SpaceX can proceed with interplanetary travel, it must demonstrate that Starship is safe, reliable, and capable of complex in-orbit refueling—an essential requirement for deep space missions.
SpaceX recently encountered a setback when the latest test flight of Starship ended in an explosion. While the booster was successfully caught in its orbital test, the upper stage failed, tumbling out of control before the live feed abruptly cut. The incident mirrored a previous attempt.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has mandated an investigation before Starship can fly again, adding another layer of scrutiny to SpaceX’s ambitious timeline.
Despite these challenges, Musk remains optimistic, continuing to push forward toward his goal of making humanity a multi-planetary species.
News
Obi donates N20m to Colleges of Nursing in Ahiara and Ihiala

The 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has donated N20 million to two Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Imo and Anambra States. The beneficiaries are Holy Rosary College of Nursing, Ogbe, in Ahiara Catholic Diocese, Mbaise, and College of Nursing Sciences, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
Obi, a former Governor of Anambra State, presented N10 million cheques to each institution during his visits on Friday. At the Holy Rosary College of Nursing, he handed over the cheque to the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese, Most Rev Simeon Nwobi, at the college’s construction site. Similarly, at Our Lady of Lourdes, Ihiala, he presented the donation to the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Miss Anigbo Chisom Mary, in the presence of excited students.
Highlighting the significance of his donation, Obi stressed that healthcare and education are critical to national development. He commended the Catholic Diocese of Ahiara for investing in nursing education, describing it as a vital step in securing Nigeria’s future.
“My Lords, what you are doing is a great service to our country,” Obi said. “This donation is not a favour but a recognition of your efforts in nation-building. I will always support this project because it is about securing a better future for Nigeria.”
Obi further urged the government to prioritize quality education, including the prompt payment of teachers’ salaries. He emphasized the need for free and accessible education at the primary and secondary levels, both in public and private schools.
News
Tinubu’s administration not running govt in secrecy — AGF Fagbemi

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, stating that government affairs will no longer be conducted in secrecy.
Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Town Hall Meeting on the Application of the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) in Awka, Anambra State, Fagbemi urged Nigerians to use the Act to demand accountability from their elected and appointed officials. The event was organized by the Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice.
Represented by Garba Sunday, a lawyer in the ministry’s FoIA department, Fagbemi emphasized that the FoI Act empowers citizens to access government records and information without providing reasons for their request. He encouraged public officeholders to disclose their activities to foster trust and dispel rumors.
“The Act also provides for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to access government records. However, while the law guarantees access to information, there are exemptions and conditions that must be met before certain records can be released,” Fagbemi stated.
He commended the Anambra State government for actively implementing the Act, allowing citizens to stay informed about governance. He further called on Nigerians to exercise their right to information and participate in governance, adding that transparency leads to good governance.
“We appreciate the efforts of organizations like Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC) and CTA for making this town hall meeting possible. The purpose of the FoI Act is to promote **transparency, accountability, and good governance—**not to be used as a tool for blackmail or political attacks,” he added.
In her remarks, CTA Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, lamented that many Nigerians remain unaware of their rights under the FoI Act, despite its enactment over 14 years ago.
“The Act allows citizens, including women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs), to track budgets, monitor government programs, and expose corruption. However, those who passed the law have done little to educate the public about its importance,” she stated.
Nwadishi highlighted that the town hall meeting aimed to empower marginalized groups to use the FoI Act in holding government institutions accountable. She also noted the work of the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI) in promoting transparency in the Federal Capital Territory, Anambra State, and Edo State.
As calls for transparency and accountability grow louder, stakeholders emphasized the need for public institutions to proactively disclose information and for Nigerians to actively demand their rights, ensuring that governance remains open and inclusive.
-
News5 hours ago
Obi donates N20m to Colleges of Nursing in Ahiara and Ihiala
-
News5 hours ago
Kano Emirate Tussle: Appeal Court halts Emir Sanusi’s reinstatement
-
News5 hours ago
Damagum bows as PDP Govs move to re-assert ‘selves over party affairs
-
News5 hours ago
Tinubu’s administration not running govt in secrecy — AGF Fagbemi
-
News4 hours ago
Starship to leave for Mars at end of 2026 – Elon Musk
-
Foreign23 hours ago
Small packages, big Momentum: how logistics reflects China’s economic strength
-
Foreign22 hours ago
China’s meteorological early warning solutions benefit the world
-
Foreign22 hours ago
China’s economic resilience: overcoming challenges, advancing with confidence