Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Europe counters Trump’s tariff move over Greenland US President Donald Trump European leaders on Sunday criticized US President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs over their opposition to his designs on Greenland, warning transatlantic ties were at risk. Many European countries — including Denmark, of which Greenland is an autonomous territory — emphasised they “stand united” against Trump’s vow on Saturday to hit them with tariffs of up to 25 per cent unless Greenland is ceded to the United States. “Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral,” Britain, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden…

UBA Foundation Expands Humanitarian Reach Across 20 African Nations, Supporting Over 100,000 Vulnerable People The UBA Foundation, the corporate social responsibility division of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has completed a major humanitarian initiative across 20 African countries, distributing essential supplies valued at millions of naira and dollars to vulnerable populations. Running from November 2025 through January 2026, the Foundation’s Food Bank and Giving Back program reached more than 100,000 people across communities where UBA operates. The initiative provided essential items and financial assistance to schoolchildren, orphanages, internally displaced persons camps, and economically disadvantaged communities, helping to ease the…

From anti-bleaching advocacy to AfCFTA expansion, a homegrown brand reshapes African skincare By Manny Ita Avila Naturalle, Nigeria’s leading natural skincare and wellness brand, is consolidating its position as a continental beauty force following its participation in Nigeria’s inaugural African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) export shipment, while intensifying its long-standing campaign against skin bleaching and unsafe cosmetic practices. The brand, founded and led by Dr. Mrs. Temitope Mayegun, was selected as one of the pioneering Nigerian companies to export products under the AfCFTA framework, with its first guided shipment sent to Kenya. The milestone marked a significant step in…

Eric Chelle Stands-in for Chukwueze Over Penalty Miss Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, has  come to speak in favour of Samuel Chukwueze following his penalty miss in Nigeria’s defeat to Morocco. Chukwueze has faced intense criticism after his tame effort was easily saved by Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou during the penalty shootout. Nigeria lost 4-2 on penalties to the Atlas Lions after the match ended goalless after both full-time and extra time. Left-back Bruno Onyemaechi was the other Nigerian player to miss from the spot. Though criticised, Chelle has defended Chukwueze, saying that he is the team’s best…

Lagos Ferry Terminal Opens After Clearing Water Pathways Terminal was closed on Monday, 20 October 2025. After almost three months of closure, the Lagos State Government has announced the reopening of the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal, having successfully completed clearance of the waterways from Water Hyacinth In a public notice over the weekend, the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) informed all ferry operators and terminal users that the Ikorodu Ferry Terminal will reopen for passenger ferry operations with effect from Monday, 19 January 2026. The terminal was closed on Monday, 20 October 2025 due to navigational concerns caused by water…

Manny Ita The Federal Government of Nigeria has entered the final phase of a strategic six-month ban on the exportation of raw shea nuts, a move designed to pivot the nation from a primary producer to a dominant global hub for refined shea butter. The policy, which was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima, aims to address a long-standing economic disparity: while Nigeria produces nearly 40% of the world’s shea nuts, it currently captures less than 1% of the $6.5 billion global shea market. ​The directive, described by the Vice President as a…

Africa Go Green Fund: Germany Supports Africa With €30m to Broaden Climate Solutions German development finance institution, DEG, and a subsidiary of KfW Group, have set aside a €30 million loan to Africa Go Green Fund, which specialises in financing climate solutions across Africa. The fund which invests in energy efficiency, clean cooking, electric mobility, green buildings and distributed energy solutions, is managed by Cygnum Capital manages and targets sectors where demand continues to grow but access to appropriate financing remains limited. These sectors require financial instruments aligned with asset life cycles and corporate cash-flow profiles, which often do…

Manny Ita The Nigerian Tourism Development Authority (NTDA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) have finalized a strategic partnership to restore dedicated tourism information desks at all major international airports, marking a significant push to improve the first point of contact for foreign visitors. This move follows projections that Nigeria’s tourism receipts are set to hit $12 billion in 2026, up from $8.6 billion in 2021, with arrivals expected to peak at 6.7 million by the end of the year. ​The Director-General of NTDA, Dr. Olayiwola Awakan, described the country as “sitting on a gold mine” of opportunities…

Manny Ita The Nigerian real estate landscape is facing a significant regulatory shift as state and federal authorities begin an aggressive crackdown on the short-term rental market to combat a deepening crisis in long-term housing availability. Following a year where short-let listings surged by over 260% in key urban corridors, regulators are moving to curb what they describe as a “supply drain” that has seen traditional yearly rents climb by as much as 46%. ​Industry data from the 2025/2026 Property Price Index highlights a growing trend of “mass conversions,” where landlords opt for serviced apartments over annual tenancies because they…

Chartered Accountants Ask For Sustained Accountability For Economic Growth Speakers came to agreement that Nigeria’s central challenge is the ability to execute reforms credibly. In order to excel with the current execution of the nation’s economic reforms agenda, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has called on the federal, state and local governments to embrace sustained accountability, transparency, and integrity. The call was made during ICAN’s 2026 Economic Outlook Conference, titled “ICAN@60: Accountability as the Bedrock of National Development,” as part of the one-year activities marking ICAN’s 60th anniversary. Speaking at the event, the ICAN President and Chairman…