Nollywood actress Mary Njoku has recently ignited a debate regarding the necessity of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination for university admissions in Nigeria. In a statement posted on her Instagram story, Njoku questioned the need for JAMB and post-UTME, arguing that the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) should be sufficient proof of a candidate’s completion of secondary education.

Her statement comes amidst recent controversy surrounding JAMB, particularly following widespread reports of mass failures in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME). While JAMB has admitted to errors and announced retakes for affected candidates, Njoku’s questioning highlights a deeper concern regarding the redundancy and potential inefficiencies within the current university admission process. The actress’s comments add fuel to an existing debate about the effectiveness and fairness of the JAMB examination in evaluating a student’s readiness for tertiary education.

Early Thursday morning, American musician Chris Brown was taken into custody at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester by officers from the Metropolitan Police. The arrest, occurring shortly after 2:00 AM, is connected to an alleged assault on music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub in London’s Mayfair district on February 19, 2023.

Mr. Diaw alleges an unprovoked attack by Mr. Brown at the Hanover Square venue. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a 36-year-old male on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and stated he remains in custody for questioning regarding the February incident. Further updates will be provided as the situation develops.

Valeria Marquez, a 23-year-old social media influencer from Mexico, was tragically killed on Wednesday while live streaming on TikTok from her beauty salon in Guadalajara. Authorities are investigating the case as a femicide, a gender-based killing.

The Jalisco state prosecutor’s office confirmed that a man entered Marquez’s salon in Zapopan and opened fire during her live broadcast. The livestream abruptly ended, and police arrived shortly after, confirming her death.

Details remain limited as forensic experts continue their investigation and no suspect has been named. Local reports suggest the attacker may have gained entry under false pretenses.

This incident highlights the persistent issue of gender-based violence in Mexico, where the United Nations estimates that an average of 10 women and girls are murdered daily. The loss of Ms. Marquez underscores the urgency of addressing this critical problem.