Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth. The facility provides loans ranging from N500,000 to N5 million under a general category and N5 million to N10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50 per cent of an applicant’s average monthly turnover. At the centre of the offering is a zero per cent interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure. Repayment is structured over…

• South-East emerged as the most expensive zone for most staple foods. Prices of several key staple foods dropped significantly in March compared to the same period in 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics said in its latest Selected Food Price Watch report. The report showed that brown beans recorded the steepest decline, falling by 49.32 per cent year-on-year to N1,325.85 per kilogram from N2,616.26. White garri also dropped 41.19 per cent to N801.54 per kilogram. A crate of eggs declined by 20.12 per cent to N6,127.62. Onions also fell by 19.63 per cent, settling at N1,153.14 per kilogram. However,…

Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, submitted President Bola Tinubu’s nomination and expression of interest forms to the national officers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, signalling Tinubu’s intent to clinch the party’s ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election for a second term. Shettima rallied party faithful, including governors, National Assembly members, and party officials, to support the president’s candidature, saying Tinubu has demonstrated ability to pull Nigeria out of the economic and social morass it had been enmeshed in. Relatedly, former President Goodluck Jonathan fuelled speculation about his 2027 presidential ambition, when he declared that he…

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has received the Award of Excellence from the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in recognition of his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and social protection delivery. The award was presented during a stakeholder engagement event with local government chairmen, held at the Transcorp Congress Hall in Abuja. NASSCO, a federal agency operating under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is responsible for implementing social safety-net programmes designed to protect and empower vulnerable populations across Nigeria. In her remarks while presenting the award, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, Dr. Funmi…

The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council will begin conducting computer-based examinations this year as part of efforts to tackle examination malpractice and modernise the country’s assessment system. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during NECO’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Abuja. Alausa stated that the transition to technology-driven examinations marked a significant step in strengthening the credibility of public examinations in the country and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global education standards. “We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination,…

File Copy: House of Representatives Elegbede Abiodun • Education sector received N162bn. The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the 2026 statutory budget proposals of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Niger Delta Development Commission, approving N2.29tn and N1.75tn respectively for the two agencies. The approvals followed the consideration and adoption of reports presented to the House during plenary by the relevant committees. Presenting the report on the FCT budget, Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Muktar Betara, said the N2.29tn proposal was structured to address personnel obligations, overhead costs and critical infrastructure projects across…

National Identification Number…Credit: NASSCO/NIMC Elegbede Abiodun The National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office has disclosed that more than 12.3 million Nigerians have so far been linked to the National Social Register through their National Identification Numbers as part of efforts to strengthen transparency and credibility in the delivery of social interventions. The National Coordinator of NASSCO, Dr. Funmi Olotu, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholder engagement with local government chairmen themed, “Strengthening Local Government Leadership for Inclusive Development and Social Protection Delivery.” Olotu said the integration of the National Identification Number into the National Social Register…

Manny Ita  – Sweden is planning to introduce electronic monitoring bracelets for children considered vulnerable to recruitment by criminal gangs, as authorities intensify efforts to tackle rising gang-related violence. Under the proposal, children and teenagers aged 13 and above could be required to wear electronic bracelets to ensure they comply with curfews imposed by social services. The government estimates that between 50 and 100 young people could initially be monitored under the scheme. Officials say organised criminal networks in Sweden have increasingly exploited minors to carry out murders and violent crimes because children below the age of criminal responsibility have…

Manny Ita  – David Grossman has been named the recipient of the 2026 Thomas Mann Prize, one of Germany’s most respected literary honours. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on September 25 at the Theater Lübeck in Lübeck, where the acclaimed Israeli writer will receive prize money worth approximately $30,000. Organisers said Grossman was selected for his literary and essayistic works, which they described as creating “spaces for understanding and reconciliation” during periods of political instability and global tension. The 72-year-old author has long been recognised for addressing issues surrounding conflict, peace and coexistence in the Middle East…

Manny Ita  – Arsenal have reportedly secured more than £122 million in UEFA prize money after booking a place in the 2026 UEFA Champions League final. The North London club boosted their earnings with an additional £16 million reward following their semi-final triumph over Atlético Madrid, sealing qualification for the final scheduled to take place in Budapest on May 30. The massive payout comes from several revenue streams introduced under UEFA’s revamped Champions League format for the 2025/26 season. Arsenal’s earnings reportedly include participation fees, league-phase performance bonuses, value pillar distributions, and rewards for progressing through the knockout rounds. Their…