The federal government has issued a travel advisory warning Nigerians about the health risks of Ethiopia's high altitude, after the deaths of 16 Nigerians transiting through Addis Ababa.

The advisory

In a statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi, reported on Saturday, 14 November 2026, the government urged travellers with existing medical conditions, especially heart and respiratory problems, to be cautious and to obtain medical clearance before taking journeys with stopovers in the Ethiopian capital.

Why altitude matters

Addis Ababa sits about 2,355 metres above sea level, where lower air pressure reduces the oxygen available. The ministry noted that dry air, stronger sunlight and faster fluid loss can also cause problems, from headaches and breathlessness to serious conditions such as swelling of the brain. Healthy travellers usually adapt within a few days, but people with underlying illnesses face much higher risks.

Background

Addis Ababa is a major transit hub for Nigerian travellers. The ministry did not give details of the individual deaths.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has uncovered a suspected illegal cosmetics production and packaging operation in Lagos.

What was found

In a video shared on the agency's X account on Saturday, 14 November 2026, NAFDAC enforcement officials were seen inspecting a two-storey building in the tools and hardware section of the Trade Fair Complex. They displayed unlabelled cosmetics, empty product containers, packaging materials and finished creams found on different floors. Some packaging bore product descriptions such as turmeric and vitamin C, alongside empty shampoo tubes and lotion containers. The agency also reported finding falsified medicines and banned soaps.

Why it matters

The officials said the find raised concerns about cosmetics of unknown origin and regulatory status circulating in the market.

Background

It was not immediately clear whether any arrests were made.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has dismissed a viral message claiming that about 100 fake professors had been uncovered in Nigerian universities.

What the NUC said

In a post on Saturday, 14 November 2026, the commission said the message, titled 'About 100 Fake Professors Uncovered In Nigeria Universities', combined a link to a 2019 news report with a list that had been fabricated recently. It said a careful reading showed the two had been stitched together to give a false impression, and described the message as deliberate misinformation meant to damage the reputation of the university system and Nigerian academics.

The commission's position

The NUC said its current leadership, under Executive Secretary Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, who took office in December 2024, had worked to strengthen integrity and transparency in the university system.

This is Nigerian billionaire Tony Elumelu with a friend during his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) days in Sokoto, around 1985.

Two young men and their dreams

Look at the photograph and you see two young men enjoying their youth, probably talking about life, their dreams and what the future might hold.

At the time, Elumelu was just another young Nigerian graduate trying to find his feet. He had ambitions, like many young people, but there was no guarantee of where life would take him.

The job he was not 'qualified' for

Years later, after earning his master's degree, he came across a job advertisement from Allstates Trust Bank. The bank wanted applicants with at least a Second Class Upper degree, popularly known as a 2:1.

Elumelu had graduated with a 2:2.

For many people, that would have been reason enough to forget the job and move on. The bank had clearly stated its requirements, and he did not meet them.

But he decided to try anyway. He applied, explaining that although his result fell below the requirement, he was intelligent, hardworking and ambitious, and ready to prove himself if given the chance.

He got the job.

The turning point

That single decision became an important turning point in his career. He worked his way up through banking, took on bigger and bigger responsibilities, and eventually became one of the most influential businessmen and investors in Africa.

Today, he is a billionaire and respected entrepreneur whose investments have created opportunities for thousands of people across the continent.

The lesson

Look at that old NYSC photograph again. The young man in Sokoto could hardly have imagined what was waiting for him.

Your result may not be the best. You may have started life without connections, money or anyone powerful to open doors for you. But life has a way of surprising people who refuse to give up on themselves.

Imagine if Elumelu had seen the 2:1 requirement and simply walked away. That opportunity might have passed him by.

Sometimes the biggest mistake you can make is rejecting yourself before anyone else has had the chance to consider you. Apply for that job. Pursue that opportunity. You may not always succeed, but you will never know what could have happened if you never tried.

Over to you

How many opportunities have people missed simply because they believed they were not qualified enough?