Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

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…

First HoldCo announces new boards in non-banking subsidiaries First HoldCo Plc has named new board appointments across its non-commercial banking subsidiaries, as part of measures to strengthen governance, deepen oversight and position the businesses for sustainable growth. The diversified financial services group said the appointments followed regulatory approvals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM). According to a statement issued by the group’s media unit on Sunday in Lagos, the board changes are aimed at injecting experienced professionals into the subsidiaries and aligning operations with international best practices in corporate governance. The statement said…

Funke Akindele’s ‘Behind The Scenes’ beats N2bn Nollywood filmmaker, Funke Akindele….Photo Credit: IG / Funke Akindele Nollywood filmmaker and actor, Funke Akindele, has further established herself in African cinema history as her latest release, ‘Behind The Scenes,’ crossed the ₦2 billion mark at the box office, becoming the first Nollywood film to achieve the milestone. The official announcement by the movie distributor, Filmone Entertainment…Credit: Filmone Ng The record-breaking performance was disclosed on Monday in a post on X by the film’s distributor, FilmOne Entertainment, which confirmed that the title has now grossed ₦2,103,039,706 in ticket sales. Stellar casts in the…

AFCON 2025: Algeria reacts to quarter-final officiating, petitions CAF, FIFA The Algerian Football Federation has said that it has submitted formal complaints to both the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) over refereeing decisions in its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash against Nigeria. The announcement was made on Monday via the official X handle of Équipe d’Algérie de football. The complaints were accompanied by a request for an investigation to clarify the controversial decisions and ensure appropriate action is taken in line with established regulations. In its statement, the FAF said…

AFRIMA: Rema shines as winner of prestigious Artiste of the Year Rema emerges top among Africa’s most influential artists.. Nigerian global music star Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, was crowned Artiste of the Year at the African music awards ceremony, emerging top among Africa’s most influential performers. Rema beat a strong field that included Burna Boy, Davido, Ayra Starr, Tyla, DJ Maphorisa, Fally Ipupa, Amr Diab and El Grande Toto, sealing a commanding victory that underscored his continental impact. Rema Artiste of the Year win crowns a dominant night for Nigeria at the African music awards ceremony…

Manny Ita The Federal Government on Sunday, January 11, 2026, inaugurated a N40.17 billion closed-circuit television control centre for round-the-clock surveillance of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, marking the completion of the bridge’s extensive rehabilitation programme that began in 2023. The facility, constructed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, is the first of its kind in Nigeria and is designed to provide comprehensive monitoring of the bridge, including both the bridge deck and its underwater structural components. Commissioning the project, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the control centre represents the final phase of the rehabilitation works…

Manny Ita The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has enforced a ban on the use of smartphones and other internet-enabled devices by staff of the Abuja Geographic Information Systems and the Department of Land Administration, as part of measures to tighten administrative control and prevent unauthorised data leaks. The directive, which was communicated through internal circulars of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, fully took effect in December 2025 and remains in force in 2026. It applies specifically to civil servants on Salary Grade Level 14 and below, while senior management staff and directors are exempt from the…

Manny Ita Pakistan has suspended its Visa Prior to Arrival programme for citizens of 126 countries, including Nigeria, with effect from January 1, 2026, ending a short-lived policy that allowed free and fast-tracked entry for travellers. The programme, introduced in August 2024, was designed to boost tourism and trade as part of the country’s “Ease of Doing Business” drive. The suspension marks a policy reversal, reintroducing financial costs and more stringent administrative requirements for Nigerian travellers and citizens of 33 other African countries previously covered by the scheme. Under the now-suspended arrangement, eligible travellers could obtain a free 90-day multiple-entry…

Wema Bank launches smarter ALAT app with voice and tap features Customers can perform banking tasks using natural voice commands. Wema Bank inaugurates upgraded ALAT app with voice banking, Tap and Pay, and uptime prediction, enhancing speed, intelligence, and reliability Wema Bank has unveiled an upgraded version of its flagship digital banking platform, ALAT by Wema, introducing intelligent features designed to enhance speed, convenience, and reliability for customers. Tagged ALAT: The Evolution, the app now includes voice banking, Tap and Pay for contactless transactions, and predictive uptime features that anticipate service availability. The platform allows customers to perform banking…