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Ronaldo embraces Catholic, receives baptism sacrament
World football superstar, Ronaldo Nazário Tuesday embraced the Catholic Church and received the sacrament of baptism in his home country of Brazil.
Announcing on his Instagram to some 30 million followers, the two-time Ballon D’Or winner and former Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Inter Milan striker revealed he was baptised, confirmed and given first communion in the ceremony by Fr Fábio de Melo.
Pictures display Brazilian “Ronaldo”, as he is known to fans, with his head bowed, receiving the baptismal effusion in a private ceremony, and afterwards smiling with loved ones and his priest before an altar adorned with a crucifix and a statue of St Joseph.
“Today is a very special day. I was baptised!” he announced.
Clarifying his spiritual upbringing and confirmed status, Ronaldo revealed: “The Christian faith has always been a fundamental part of my life, since childhood, even though I had not yet been baptized.”
He then thanked Fr Fabio de Melo, his godparents Amilcar and Malu, and the members of Sao Jose church where the ceremony took place.
Fr de Melo is a similarly popular public figure in Brazil and the Portuguese speaking world. With 26 million followers on instagram, the enigmatic 52-year old Dehonian priest (belonging to the Congregation of the Sacred Heart) is simultaneously an artist, writer, university professor, singer and television presenter.
Although only just baptised, Ronaldo has however had a long-standing relationship with the Catholic Church. Alongside a signed jersey from Pele, he once donated a signed football to Pope Francis which can be found in the Vatican museum.
According to Vatican Herald, the football star was born in the middle-class Bento Ribeiro suburb of Rio de Janeiro. His parents split up when he was young and despite early academic promise he became a school drop-out at the age of eleven shortly afterwards.
He soon took to playing football in the street, where his prodigious talent became noticed. He would go on to be one of Brazil’s all-time top scorers at the international level, a World Cup winner in 2002, and a two-time winner of football’s highest award.
Looking to the future, he stated: “I renew my commitment to follow the path of good, of my own free will, believing in the love of Jesus, in supportive love.”
Myesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, FCT-IRS, Mr Michael Ango, of his duties.
The announcement was contained in a statement late Friday by the minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
The statement added that the decision takes immediate effect.
Olayinka said the minister directed the most senior official of the FCT-IRS to immediately assume leadership of the agency
“The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sacked the Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, Mr Michael Ango,” he stated.
He added that “the most senior official of the FCT-IRS has been directed to take over the running of the revenue agency with immediate effect.”
The statement did not provide reasons for the removal.
15 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, have left the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Amaewhule disclosed the lawmakers’ decision during Friday’s plenary, attributing their defection to what he called a “clear division” within the PDP.
“Distinguished colleagues, very happily, let me announce that your Speaker has decided, and has indeed written to my ward chairman of my decision, to leave the PDP. APC is my new party,” Amaewhule said.
Amaewhule’s Deputy, Dumle Maol, is one of the 16 lawmakers that joined APC as well.
All the lawmakers, who have jumped ship, are core loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike.
The Central Bank of Nigeria,has rolled out a new framework ito expedite handling of fraud accusations and refund victims.
Customers must report suspected fraudulent transactions within 72 hours under this draft guideline, and financial institutions have 16 working days to look into the matter and repay money.
The action comes in the wake of a dramatic increase in banking sector fraud.
According to data from the Financial Institutions Training Center, losses in the first quarter of 2025 increased to ₦3.29 billion, a startling 603 percent increase over the previous year. In the same time frame, reported cases also increased to 12,347.
The November 26, 2025, proposed regulations seek to improve bank accountability, expedite reimbursements, and boost prevention.
Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department Rita Sike signed the circular, which describes stricter regulations intended to prevent fraud before it occurs.
The apex bank’s ongoing fight against financial fraud has advanced with the adoption of this guidance. To enhance cooperation between operators, it established the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum in 2011.
It directed banks to establish specialized fraud bureaus four years later. By requiring BVN or NIN for account opening, it reinforced Know Your Customer checks in 2023.
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