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Wales’ coroner says Nigeria’s teen, David Ejimofor’s beach death was preventable

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A coroner has expressed concern over the lack of safety measures at Aberavon Beach in Port Talbot, following the death of 15-year-old David Ejimofor, who drowned after jumping into the sea from a pier known to be used by young people despite not being designed for that purpose.

 

According to WalesOnline, the inquest at Swansea Coroners’ Court heard that David, a pupil of St Joseph’s Comprehensive School, died on June 19, 2023, after entering the water at the small beach near the breakwater while celebrating the end of exam season with friends. He had been visibly nervous, and evidence from his mobile phone revealed searches that suggested he was not a confident swimmer.

 

Coroner Edward Ramsay found that David was reassured by friends and encouraged to jump, but encountered immediate difficulty after entering the water.

 

“David was reassured he would be okay, but I make no criticism of David’s friends. There is no basis for me to do so,” Mr Ramsay said. “His swimming ability was not good and there may also have been an element of cold water shock as panic ensued.”

 

Despite efforts by members of the public, including off-duty police officer Tyler Rowland, who retrieved David from the seabed with the help of a life ring and other swimmers, the teenager was pronounced dead at the beach. A post-mortem by Dr John Williams confirmed the cause of death as drowning.

 

WalesOnline reported that the court was told there was no lifeguard on duty at the time of the incident. Ramsay was critical of this absence, particularly given that the pier had been used for similar jumps in the past. “The point is he shouldn’t have been able to jump from the pier or the breakwater in the first place,” he stated.

 

“There was a lack of effective deterrence on the day preventing David and his friends from using the pier or breakwater in a way it was not designed for. There was no barrier, there was inadequate signage, there was no lifeguard present.”

 

The RNLI’s regional lead for Wales and the West, Peter Rooney, acknowledged during the inquest that the beach was not currently manned by lifeguards, despite being so historically. Rooney added that a new gate had been installed by the pier owner, Associated British Holdings Ltd, but said during a site visit it was still easy for people to climb over it.

 

Mr Ramsay indicated he would be issuing a Prevention of Future Deaths report, citing ongoing risks. “Proper consideration of lifeguard attendance has been lacking and a lifeguard should probably have been there at the time of David’s death,” he said. “I haven’t been provided with a satisfactory explanation for the issues raised regarding the concerns about the absence of lifeguards at the pier after 6pm.”

 

The RNLI later responded, stating: “Our thoughts and sincere condolences go out to the family and friends of David. This tragic incident happened on private land. The RNLI works with landowners and councils to provide lifeguard patrols when they are requested by the landowners and have explicit permission to do so.”

 

The charity also emphasised that lifeguards typically operate between 10am and 6pm and encouraged the implementation of other safety measures, such as signage and public education.

 

The coroner concluded with a finding of misadventure, stating: “At 20.05 on June 19, 2023, at the little beach in Aberavon, David Ejimofor died having drowned after jumping into the sea from the breakwater to which he had effectively unrestricted and undeterred access… Had there been [a lifeguard], it is possible he would not have jumped and therefore would not have drowned.”

 

Ramsay described David as “a treasured son, brother, grandson, cousin and friend” and commended the efforts of the public and emergency responders who tried to save him.

 

 

 

-Guardian

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Business

Polaris Bank Marks World Cancer Day with Free Breast Cancer Screening for 100 Women Nationwide, Nigeria

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In commemoration of World Cancer Day, slated for February 4, 2026, Polaris Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to community health and social impact with the launch of a nationwide free breast cancer screening initiative in partnership with its NGO partner, Care Organization and Public Enlightenment (C.O.P.E). 

 

The initiative is designed to promote awareness, screening, early detection, and preventive care, reinforcing the Bank’s belief that access to health services is a critical foundation for individual and economic wellbeing.

 

As part of this year’s World Cancer Day activities, Polaris Bank will provide free and comprehensive breast cancer screening for 100 women across Nigeria, while also supporting an on-going free prostate cancer screening programme for 250 persons across Nigeria it earlier sponsored for men aged 40 years and above.

 

The prostate cancer screening is being conducted at the Men’s Clinic, situated at 18, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, Lagos, providing accessible, professional medical support for male participants seeking early detection and preventive care for prostrate.

 

Both initiatives (free breast and prostate cancer screenings) directly aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through improved access to preventive healthcare and early detection services, SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by prioritizing women’s health and empowerment, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strategic collaboration with civil society organizations such as C.O.P.E to deliver community-centered impact.

 

Educational materials, community engagement sessions, and digital awareness campaigns will be deployed to reinforce key messages around early detection, lifestyle choices, and the importance of regular medical check-ups.

 

Speaking on the initiative, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Group Head, Brand Management & Corporate Communications, Polaris Bank, emphasized that early detection remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against cancer.

 

By removing financial barriers and bringing screening services closer to communities, the Bank aims to empower individuals with the knowledge and resources they need to seek timely medical intervention.

 

The flagship breast cancer screening event will take place on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at the C.O.P.E Centre, 39B Adeniyi Jones Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, from 10:00am to 2:00pm.

 

The exercise will be conducted by trained health professionals and volunteers, ensuring participants receive both screening services and educational guidance on cancer prevention, self-examination, and follow-up care.

 

Participation in the free breast cancer screening programme is subject to the following requirements: applicants must be women, applicants must be Polaris Bank account holders, and pre-registration is required, with selection based on early and confirmed submissions.

 

Eligible participants are encouraged to register via the official link: bit.ly/BCS2026.

 

While the breast cancer screening is targeted at women, Polaris Bank encourages men to actively support the health of their families by urging their wives, daughters, and female relatives to register and participate.

 

In parallel, men are also invited to take advantage of the on-going free prostate cancer screening programme for men aged 40 years and above at the Men’s Clinic, Sabo, Yaba.

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Entertainment

Davido breaks silence after Grammy Award loss

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Five-time Grammy nominee, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after losing the Best African Music Performance category at the 68th Grammy Awards held in Los Angeles, United States.

 

The Afrobeats star shared a message of faith and resilience following the outcome of the ceremony, which took place on Sunday night at the Crypto.com Arena in California.

In a post on his Instagram page, Davido shared photos with his wife, Chioma, from the event and wrote, “Oluwa Dey my side,” alongside prayer and music emojis.
Hours later, he posted another set of pictures of himself and Chioma at the Grammys, reflecting on the loss in a longer caption.

“I said baby listen we lost again let’s not go ! she said ‘Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat’ we outside,” he wrote.
Chioma also reacted via her Instagram page, praising the singer, “You already know that you’re the perfect one, @davido,” she wrote, while sharing photos from the awards night.
Davido was nominated in the Best African Music Performance category at the 2026 Grammy Awards but lost to South African singer Tyla, who won with her song Push 2 Start.

Other nominees in the category included Burna Boy (Love), Ayra Starr and Wizkid (Gimme Dat), Davido (With You featuring Omah Lay), and Eddy Kenzo and Mehran Matin (Hope & Love).

The win marked Tyla’s second Grammy Award, following her first victory in 2024 for her hit single Water.

Speaking during the awards ceremony, the singer revealed that With You, featuring Omah Lay, almost did not make the final tracklist of his album 5IVE.
“Man, it’s so crazy because that song almost didn’t make the album. With You was not in anybody’s top five.
“And now look at it go. Every time I was performing it, my heart would just start beating like, what if I didn’t put this song?” he told OkayAfrica.

Davido also recounted how he learned about the Grammy nomination, saying the news came unexpectedly while he was in Dubai, days before his birthday.

“I was in the car, actually, checking a car, and then my phone rang. They were like, ‘Oh yeah, another nomination.’ I was like, wow. Thank God,” he said.

“With You” was released in April 2025 as the 17th track on Davido’s fifth studio album, 5IVE, and has since become one of his most successful recent records, surpassing 100 million streams on Spotify.

Despite the song’s success, Nigeria did not record a win at the 2026 Grammy Awards.
Davido said he is now focused on touring and releasing new music.

He is also billed to perform at Coachella 2026, where he will be the only Nigerian artiste on the festival lineup, performing on April 11 and April 18, 2026, in Indio, California.

-Guardian

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Entertainment

Kunle Afolayan gives reasons to marry many women

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Nollywood filmmaker, Kunle Afolayan, has stirred reactions after advising men to “marry many women” while reflecting on his upbringing in a polygamous home.

 

The actor and producer made the remarks at the watch party of Aníkúlápó: The Ghoul Awakens, with a clip from the event going viral on Tuesday.

Speaking at the event, Afolayan linked his existence and achievements to his late father’s decision to marry several wives.

“Without my father, there wouldn’t have been a KAP Village or even Kunle Afolayan. I am the seventh born of my father because my father had ten wives. For the men, marry many women, or rather be involved with many women. You know why? If my father didn’t, he would not have born me, and that is the honest truth. But today, a few of us are lifting his legacy. Life is short, death is constant. Nobody has life forever. Everybody has a period. Use your period,” he said.

While his daughter, Eyiyemi Afolayan, joined him on stage, the filmmaker compared his childhood experience with his relationship with his children.

“They are lucky. For her, staying by my side is luck. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand it with my father. My father didn’t know my school. My father didn’t know my date of birth. He did not know anything about me other than, ‘He is the son of that person.’ But today, I’m so proud of my father,” he added.

Afolayan also spoke about fatherhood.

“Sometimes when people say ‘Happy Father’s Day,’ I’m always saying whether he pays child support or not, he’s still a father. I have been going to court because I want to get a divorce. I don’t mind being in the witness box, and I experienced the shit, so that I can marry many wives,” he said.

He thereafter prayed for his daughter, praising her role in the series.

“Hephzibah, her mother is the one who gave her the name. I don’t care, but I am proud of you. You started with the film, you did the first season, and now with the second season, you did amazingly well. My good Lord will continue to increase you in wisdom, in knowledge, and in understanding. If this is your path, the good Lord will see you through.”
However, this is not the first time the filmmaker has spoken about his late father’s polygamous lifestyle.

In March 2021, Afolayan told BBC Pidgin that his father, Adeyemi Afolayan, who died in 1996, married 10 wives and had 25 children, a decision he said took a toll on the family.

“I would not want to marry many wives because my father had 10 wives and I knew what happened throughout that period. I knew that really distracted my father. In this age, nobody needs to tell you before you know what’s right,” he said at the time.

He also disclosed that growing up in a polygamous home affected bonding among the children due to language and other barriers.

Afolayan further narrated how he battled poverty in his early years, revealing that he once lived in a one-room apartment in Ebute-Metta and sometimes had to deal with flooding.

“I was born in Ebute-Metta and have lived in one-room apartment before that we even have to grapple with flood sometimes. It’s not shame to say have been poor before. But if you see how l made it, it’s a matter of consistency. My father was a very popular filmmaker and ordinarily, people would expect me to life the kind of live akin to Hollywood stars,” he said.

“But that wasn’t the case. How would one live such life when you’re living in a room with ten women. That doesn’t mean there was no love among us.”

He had advised young filmmakers to start with the little resources available to them while working towards their dreams.

 

-Guardian

 

 

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