Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita The official establishment of the Nigeria Fashion Federation marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s economic strategy, signalling a move away from an oil-dependent model toward what policymakers describe as a diversified “Creative Economy.” As of January 13, 2026, the initiative has progressed from policy formulation to active implementation under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. The federation was formally established by the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, and is positioned as Nigeria’s domestic counterpart to the Confederation of African Fashion. Its mandate is to function as a national…

Manny Ita Nigerian luxury fashion designer Omosalewa Ogunjimi, founder of the brand SHALLYBLAQ, has won the Continental Winner award in the Apparel Category at the Real Leather. Stay Different. (RLSD) Africa Talent Leather Design Competition, marking a major milestone for Nigeria’s fashion industry on the continental stage. Ogunjimi clinched the top prize with her collection titled “UNBURNT,” a body of work inspired by Moremi Ajasoro, the revered Yoruba warrior queen. The collection features sculptural couture silhouettes crafted from cowhide leather, drawing on Adire-inspired motifs and incorporating symbolic references to fire, resilience, and protection. The designs stood out for their blend…

2027 AFCON prelims qualifiers draw begins Tuesday The Confederation of African Football will conduct the draw for the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday, officially beginning the road to the tournament. CAF on Monday released the official pots for the teams involved in the preliminary stage, setting the framework for the opening fixtures of the qualification campaign. Pot 1 includes Lesotho, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eswatini, South Sudan and Mauritius, while Pot 2 comprises Chad, São Tomé & Príncipe, Djibouti, Somalia, Seychelles and Eritrea. According to CAF, each team in Pot 1 will be paired against…

Aiflix360 Gets Four Wins at India Film Festival Nigeria’s presence in the global film space has received a significant boost as AiFlix360 Films, an artificial intelligence–driven film studio founded by entrepreneur and filmmaker Dr. Ope Banwo, secured four major honours at the 2026 Nawada International Film Festival Awards (NIFFA) in India. ‎The awards were presented at the sixth edition of the festival held on January 4, 2026, in Nawada, Bihar, where AiFlix360 Films emerged as one of the most celebrated studios, winning across Documentary, Animation, Foreign Film, and Feature Film categories. ‎Among the winning titles, ‘Wakanda Is Real’ earned the…

Manny Ita Lagos has achieved a major international milestone after being named one of the seven must-visit global art destinations for 2026 by Artsy, a leading global art marketplace. The city was recognized as the “commercial and creative engine of African contemporary art,” joining an elite list of cultural hubs that includes Venice, Doha, Sydney, Bangkok, Philadelphia, and Malta. The ranking, authored by Maxwell Rabb and published on January 8, 2026, highlights the rapid evolution of Lagos from a regional hub into a central pillar of the global art market. This recognition centers on a “banner year” of high-profile projects…

Manny Ita The Nigerian music industry solidified its continental leadership on Sunday night as local superstars swept the major categories at the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA), held at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos. The star-studded event, hosted by Nigerian rapper Falz and Senegalese media personality Liliane Maroune, served as a celebratory climax to a week of cultural activities aimed at uniting the African continent through sound. ​Rema emerged as the undisputed “king” of the 9th edition, securing three major accolades, including the night’s top prize: Artiste of the Year. The 24-year-old “Calm Down” hitmaker also claimed Best…

Manny Ita The Nigerian digital space has been roiled by a bitter public exchange between popular streamer and skit maker Oderhohwo Joseph Efe, known as Carter Efe, and his partner, Emmanuella. The conflict, which unfolded across social media on Sunday, January 11, and Monday, January 12, 2026, has seen both parties level serious allegations involving physical abuse, financial abandonment, and domestic control. ​The controversy began when Carter Efe took to Instagram to announce that he had been “single for over a year,” claiming that his relationship with Emmanuella had derailed his career and mental health. The streamer alleged that the…

Manny Ita The Nigerian digital landscape has been dominated by a heated debate following an unconventional “presidential bid” by global music star Ayodeji Balogun, popularly known as Wizkid. During a series of late-night interactions on X and Instagram Live, the singer pivoted from music promotions to national governance, jokingly posting, “Maybe I should just be the President. At least the country will have ‘Steeze’ and good music.” He further introduced the “More Love, Less Ego Party” (MLLE Party), claiming its primary manifesto would revolve around providing “free premium vibes and zero stress” for all Nigerians. ​What began as a characteristic…

Late Oba Akran: Over 48 years of growth, development to Badagry Late Oba Akran  … a great loss to the people of Badagry and Lagos. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the revered Oba of Badagry (Paramount Ruler of Badagry Kingdom) and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Babatunde Akran, the Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, who joined his ancestors at the age of 89. Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described the departure…

Fidelity Bank Supports Quality Education Delivery in Makoko Tier-one lender, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to community development and educational empowerment with the donation of essential learning materials to schoolchildren in Makoko Community, Yaba, Lagos under its Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP). The outreach, which was facilitated by the bank’s Legal Services Division, saw the presentation of school bags, notebooks, mathematical sets, writing materials, and other learning materials to pupils of Makoko Anglican Nursery and Primary School; Aiyetoro Nursery and Primary School, and Adekunle Anglican Nursery and Primary School in Lagos. Speaking during the presentation, Divisional Head…