Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

File photo: Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa. The Federal Government has opened applications for the second cohort of its Student Venture Capital Grant, offering up to ₦50 million each to 50 outstanding student-led ventures across Nigeria. The initiative, also known as the Next Moonshot Initiative, is targeted at student entrepreneurs with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)-based business ideas. The National Coordinator, Special Programme Operations and Implementation Unit at the Federal Ministry of Education, Adebayo Onigbanjo, announced the opening of applications at a news conference in Abuja on Friday. Onigbanjo said the government was seeking quality applications from student…

FAAN The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Olubunmi Kuku, has dismissed claims that the agency’s restrictions on e-hailing operations at airports contributed to Uber’s exit from the country. Kuku, who spoke with journalists at the Muritala Muhammed Airport in Lagos on Friday, said Uber’s decision to leave the Nigerian market was a business choice for the company, stressing that FAAN’s priority was to protect passengers and ensure a seamless travel experience. A week ago, FAAN temporarily stopped e-hailing drivers from conducting commercial pick-ups at its airports pending the finalisation and execution of licence agreements. The development…

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN and JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina exchanging pleasantries during a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja. Photo | INEC The Independent National Electoral Commission has expressed its readiness to support the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board with biometric verification technology as part of efforts to strengthen collaboration between the two federal agencies. The offer was made on Friday, when the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, led members of the Board’s management team on a courtesy visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja. Speaking during the visit, Aina said JAMB approached INEC because of its…

‘A Birthday Without The Birthday Child’ On June 1, 2026, “Daily Times” (of Nigeria) turned 100 years. In April, 2025, Radio Nigeria turned 75 years. This tribute is about two institutions that taught Nigeria how to read and hear itself. How did we mark it? With awards dinners in Abuja on Thursday this week. Marked with speeches in Abuja in April 2025. Yes, with a newspaper that no longer prints giving awards to citizens who should weep about dancing on the grave of Adeyemo Alakija’s “Daily Times”. With a radio station that has more than 30 stations but speaks in…

Super Eagles striker, Daniel Amokachi Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi has ended the CAF A coaching licence course in Morocco, adding another qualification to his coaching credentials. Amokachi made the achievement public in a Facebook post on Wednesday, expressing appreciation to the Moroccan Football Federation for the opportunity. “Finally CAF A In The Bag. Thank U Moroccan Football Federation, For The Opportunity,” he wrote. The former Nigeria international, popularly known as ‘The Bull’, has previously worked as a coach in Nigeria and abroad, including serving as an assistant coach with the Super Eagles. The CAF A licence is one of…

Dangote refinery. Photo: Dangote The Securities and Exchange Commission has approved the Initial Public Offering of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE, with the company offering 4.1 billion ordinary shares at ₦525 each. The offer could raise approximately ₦2.15tn if fully subscribed, according to a statement issued by the Dangote Group on Friday. The development comes shortly after PUNCH Online reported that the refinery’s owner, Aliko Dangote, had said the IPO would open within 10–12 days. The SEC’s approval now clears the way for the next stages of the offering. The statement read, “According to the Commission, the proposed offering…

Archbishop Francis Olubowale Oke By Elegbede Abiodun “I accept the elevation with all my heart. Since it seems good to you and to the Holy Spirit, it seems good to me also. I concur with you,” Oke said. Prelate of the Calvary Grace International College of Bishops and President of Sword of the Spirit Ministries, Bishop Francis Olubowale Oke, has accepted the mantle of Archbishop after more than 27 years in the episcopacy. Oke, who is also the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), was elevated to the office in recognition of his decades of episcopal service,…

The Lagos State Government has made registration with the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency mandatory for the enrolment of learners in all public and private schools in the state, beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session. This was involved in a statement by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Adepeju Adeyemi. Adeyemi said schools would be required to obtain and record the valid LASRRA registration number of every learner as part of the admission and enrolment process from Monday, September 14, 2026. She said the directive, approved by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Tolani Alli-Balogun,…

Nigeria’s e-hailing market is set to welcome a new entrant as PromiseLand Innovations Limited prepares to officially launch ProTaxi on October 1, 2026, with a focus on affordable rides, technology and environmentally friendly transportation. ProTaxi is a homegrown ride-hailing platform developed to connect passengers with drivers while providing a safer, reliable and cost-effective means of moving within cities. The platform is entering the market with a particular focus on the adoption of electric vehicles, which PromiseLand believes could help reduce operating costs for drivers and ultimately make fares more affordable for passengers. The business is owned by Amb. Lawrence Oloche,…

File photo: President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has said the initial public offering of the Dangote refinery will open within the next 10 to 12 days. Dangote disclosed this on Thursday while speaking to investors and analysts in Botswana, according to Reuters. The $20bn refinery, Africa’s largest, is expected to raise about $5bn through the IPO, which could become the largest public offering on the continent. “So our dream is that we want to make sure we double the capacity of the refinery… which will take ​us to 1.4 million barrels…