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How I Fathered 100 Biological Kids — Telegram CEO

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By Abubakar Yunusa

Telegram CEO Pavel Durov
Pavel Durov, the founder and chief executive officer of the Telegram Messenger, says he has “over 100 biological children”.

In a post on his Telegram channel, the 39-year-old, who is yet to be married, disclosed that his journey into fatherhood began unexpectedly 15 years ago when a close friend facing fertility issues asked for his help.

He said his one-time act of kindness turned into a continuous sperm donation after a clinic convinced him of the critical shortage of high-quality donor material.

Durov added that, over the years, his sperm donations have helped more than a hundred couples from 12 countries build their families.

“I was just told that I have over 100 biological kids. How is this possible for a guy who has never been married and prefers to live alone?” he wrote.

“Fifteen years ago, a friend approached me with a weird request. He said that he and his wife couldn’t have kids due to a fertility issue and asked me to donate sperm at a clinic for them to have a baby. I laughed my ass off before realising he was dead serious.

“The boss of the clinic told me that ‘high-quality donor material’ was in short supply and that it was my civic duty to donate more sperm to anonymously help more couples.

“Fast forward to 2024, my past donating activity has helped over a hundred couples in 12 countries to have kids.”

Durov said he intends to open-source his DNA to enable his biological children to connect with each other regardless of their geographical locations.

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He said despite the risks, he is proud to contribute to alleviating the global shortage of healthy sperm.

“There are risks, but I don’t regret having been a donor. The shortage of healthy sperm has become an increasingly serious issue worldwide, and I’m proud that I did my part to help alleviate it,” Durov added.

The Russian-born Emirati entrepreneur was recognized in 2022 as the richest expatriate in the United Arab Emirates by Forbes.

In February 2023, Arabian Business named Durov the most powerful entrepreneur in Dubai.

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NSCDC links banditry to illegal mining activities

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The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has said there is a strong connection between banditry and illegal mining activities in the country.

NSCDC Commandant-General (CG), Ahmed Audi, said this during his first quarterly meeting with senior officers of the corps, on Thursday at the NSCDC headquarters, Abuja.

Audi stated that investigations indicated that illegal miners collaborated with suspected bandits to carryout their nefarious activities.

“These bad guys collude and connive with illegal miners and they hibernate in our environments to unleash mayhem and cart away our resources.

“These are really issues that we need to face head on and so we need to restrategies on what we have been doing and buckle up,” the C-G said.

According to him, the corps need to do more and add some bite to its operations and make it more robust.

Audi tasked senior officers of the corps to put in more efforts in the discharge of their duties, stressing that the Federal Government was fully committed to ensuring the mandates of the corps were achieved.

“We have been receiving various support from government and so it is expected that we reciprocate by putting in our best.

“Ways to reciprocate is to try to implement our mandate by providing security for critical national assets and infrastructure and also to provide security for Nigerians,” Audi said.

The C-G said that there was also need for the management team to engage in appraisal discussions for the betterment of the corps and Nigeria at large.

“ We need to appraise ourselves on what we have been doing, methods implemented, results achieved and challenges.

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“In the long run we need to discuss strategies on how to cope with challenges so identified and then chart the way forward.”

Audi tasked the officers on the enormous responsibility of ensuring security amidst emerging security threats posed by asymmetric conflicts, characterised by oil theft, vandalism, farmers/herders clashes amongst others.

“This insurgency has also metamorphosed into terrorism and terrorism has given birth to kidnapping and hostage-taking,” the C-G said.(NAN)

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Reps committee summons education minister, stakeholders over Imo VC controversy

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The House of Representatives Committee on University Education has invited the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, over the dissolution of certain university councils in the country.

The resolution, reached during a committee meeting in Abuja, also extends the invitation to the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, along with the heads of other relevant government agencies in the education sector.

The meeting was convened to address a petition against the suspended Vice-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Prof. Stella Lemchi.

The petition was submitted by a group known as the Concerned Interviewed Professors for the Post of Vice-Chancellor, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education (AIFUE), Owerri.

Signed by Prof. Kingsley Ikebudu and Prof. Joshua Umeifekwem, the petition alleged that Lemchi was neither qualified to act as Vice-Chancellor nor to be appointed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor.

The petitioners argued that Lemchi had never been a staff member of Imo State University (IMSU) and that “she falsely claims to hold a professorship in a discipline that does not exist at IMSU.

However, IMSU’s Registrar, Dr Julius Ozuagwu, dismissed the petitioners’ allegations, stating that Lemchi was duly appointed as a Reader/Associate Professor at IMSU.

He explained that her promotion to the rank of professor followed due process and met NUC criteria for academic staff promotions.

Ozuagwu further clarified that Lemchi was on secondment and was permitted to complete her tenure as Provost of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, Owerri.

In his ruling, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Abubakar Fulata (APC-Jigawa), stated that all relevant stakeholders would be invited to respond to the petition.

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Fulata explained that stakeholders would also address issues related to the frequent dissolution of university councils and the dismissal of some vice-chancellors.

He stressed the need for job security for all university personnel, including council members and vice-chancellors, underscoring the importance of engaging relevant stakeholders in the discussions. (NAN)

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Kano Govt. flags off Ramadan feeding for 91,000 people daily

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Kano State government has made arrangements to feed 91,000 people in 91 designated centres during the 2025 Ramadan Feeding Programme.

Flagging off the feeding programme in m Fagge Local Government Area on Sunday evening, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the programme, Alhaji Aminu Abdulsalam, said that that the initiative would run for 27 days.

He said that the programme was aimed at supporting vulnerable residents and would provide daily iftar meals to fasting Muslims, alleviating the challenges faced during Ramadan.

“Since the assumption of office, Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf, has institutionalised this initiative to support vulnerable residents by providing daily iftar meals during the holy month of Ramadan.

“The programme, which is part of the state’s annual humanitarian efforts, aims to alleviate the difficulties faced by fasting Muslims during Ramadan.

“Recognising the needs of the state’s large population of Ramadan observers, the Kano State Government remains committed to ensuring that relief reaches those in need,” he explained.

Abdulsalam expressed satisfaction with the seamless commencement of the initiative.

He further urged the catering companies involved to ensure prompt and efficient delivery of meals to all feeding centers, in order to achieve the programme’s objectives.

Abdulsalam was accompanied by key officials, including the Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Ibrahim Waiya, as well as his counterpart in the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Sheikh Tijjani Auwal. (NAN)

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