Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Elegbede Abiodun Trump had said that there was no religious intent behind it. United States President Donald Trump has rejected accusations that he shared a controversial AI-generated image that depicted him in a Jesus-like appearance, following widespread criticism online. The image, which circulated on his Truth Social account before being deleted, showed a figure resembling Trump in flowing robes and radiant light, with outstretched hands in a pose some interpreted as religious symbolism. The post sparked backlash, with critics describing it as inappropriate and offensive. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump dismissed the interpretation, insisting the image had been…

Elegbede Abiodun Among other things, aiming at strengthening economic empowerment across the continent. Momentum is building ahead of the inaugural Africa Women in Banking and Finance Conference and Awards, scheduled to take place on May 8, 2026, in Lagos, as organisers unveiled what industry observers describe as one of the most ambitious continental recognition platforms dedicated to women shaping Africa’s financial ecosystem. Organised under the theme “Redefining Women’s Leadership in African Finance”, the conference will convene more than 200 high-value participants, including senior banking executives, policymakers, innovators, regulators, development finance professionals, and institutional leaders from Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra…

Electric buses Federal Government has granted a waiver on import duties for electric vehicles and mass transit buses as measures to ease inflation caused by the ongoing Middle East crisis on Nigerians and boost affordability The development is contained in a statement in an X post on April 13, 2026, by the Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun. Olusegun noted that the move was part of the new fiscal measures aimed at easing economic pressure on Nigerians and curbing inflationary pressures following the President’s directive to key economic officials. Olusegun said the Tinubu administration approved a…

Elegbede Abiodun The MTN CHAMPS Season 4 train made its final stop in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, with the Grand Final officially unveiled at a press conference held on Monday, April 13. The event brought together key stakeholders from government, sports administration, and corporate organisations, all reaffirming their commitment to grassroots athletics development in Nigeria. Top Dignitaries in Attendance Among the notable dignitaries present were Oyo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Wasilat Adegoke; General Manager of the Oyo State Sports Council, Tunde Ajibike; and Nigeria School Sports Federation (NSSF) Special Adviser (South), HRM Jacob Dairo Olutayo. Also…

Elegbede Abiodun Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals has recorded a major milestone in Nigeria’s energy history, exporting 44,000 barrels per day (b/d) of gasoline in March 2026, an achievement that has positioned Nigeria as a net exporter of petrol for the first time ever, with a surplus of approximately 3,000 b/d during the month. The landmark performance marks a decisive turnaround for Africa’s largest oil-producing nation, which for decades relied heavily on imported refined petroleum products. Industry experts say the surge in exports, driven by rising output from the Dangote Refinery, is expected to deliver substantial foreign exchange inflows, easing…

Elegbede Abiodun Access Bank Plc has been named Nigeria’s Most Valuable Brand for the fifth consecutive year by Brand Finance, reinforcing its leadership position in the country’s financial services sector. Brand Finance announced this in its Nigeria 25 2026 report, which ranks the country’s strongest brands based on brand value, brand strength, and underlying business performance. According to the report, Access Bank’s brand value stands at ₦773.2 billion, maintaining its numberone ranking despite shortterm macroeconomic and market pressures. It attributed the marginal yearonyear decline in brand value to a deliberate strategic shift, as the Bank continues to prioritise longterm growth,…

Elegbede Abiodun The meeting served as a cohesive point to preserve the unity of the party.  The All Progressives Congress (APC) Ogun State has adopted the senator representing Ogun West, Solomon Adeola, popularly called Yayi, as its governorship candidate for the 2027 election on Monday.  The decision to field the lawmaker as the party’s governorship flag bearer was announced at the state strategic caucus meeting presided over by the state chairman of the party, Chief Yemi Sanusi and held at the party secretariat, Abeokuta. The meeting had in attendance Gov Dapo Abiodun, former governors; Chief Olusegun Osoba, Sen Ibikunle Amosun…

Manny Ita  – Italian luxury fashion house Dolce & Gabbana has appointed former Gucci executive Stefano Cantino as Co-Chief Executive Officer, marking a leadership restructuring within the company. The company announced on Monday that Cantino will serve alongside current CEO and Chairman Alfonso Dolce. The move is intended to strengthen the brand’s management structure as it transitions toward a broader lifestyle business model. The appointment follows recent changes in the company’s leadership, including the resignation of co-founder Stefano Gabbana as chairman in December, although he continues to oversee the brand’s creative direction. Cantino previously held senior roles at Gucci and…

Manny Ita  – AfriStakes, a newly launched capital platform, has officially entered the Nigerian market with the goal of connecting African SMEs to a wider pool of investors and improving access to funding across the continent. The platform was created to address a long-standing challenge in Africa’s business environment: many SMEs struggle to raise capital not because opportunities are lacking, but because of weak structure, poor investor readiness, and difficulty matching with suitable investors. At the same time, large amounts of capital remain underutilised or concentrated in traditional assets like fixed deposits and public equities. AfriStakes positions itself as a…

Manny Ita  – Fitch Ratings has projected that Nigeria’s external reserves will decline to about $47 billion by the end of 2026, even as the country continues economic and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising its foreign exchange market. In its latest outlook, Fitch affirmed Nigeria’s Long-Term Foreign Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B’ with a Stable Outlook, citing the country’s large economy, improving monetary policy framework, and relatively liquid domestic debt market as supporting factors. Despite recent gains in reserves, Fitch expects some pressure ahead due to rising external obligations and fiscal demands. The agency noted that gross reserves…