Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Ecobank completes early repayment of $300m Eurobond File photo: Ecobank Ecobank Nigeria Limited has fully repaid bondholders who validly tendered their notes ahead of the February 2026 maturity date. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the bank on Tuesday. Ecobank Nigeria had prepaid approximately $245m of its $300m Eurobond, representing more than 80 per cent of the total issuance. The 7.125 per cent Senior Note is due in February 2026. “On 27 November 2025, Ecobank Nigeria Limited launched a tender offer to eligible noteholders in respect of the outstanding $150 million on the bond, providing them with an…

Manny Ita The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has expanded its drug-awareness sensitization activities across educational institutions and youth centers as a core component of its strategy to prevent substance abuse among young Nigerians. These initiatives are being executed under the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) framework, a multi-dimensional approach that integrates education, prevention, counseling, and community engagement alongside traditional enforcement operations. ​In Katsina State, the NDLEA Command reported significant reach through its localized awareness drive. According to the State Commander, CN Samaila Danmallam, the command conducted 203 sensitization programs in schools and various social settings, reaching approximately 75,135…

Manny Ita Reality TV star Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, has publicly expressed her willingness to reconcile with Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Davido, putting to rest years of online tension that have kept fans and followers speculating. The feud between the two high-profile figures dates back to October 2023, when Davido liked a social media post that described Phyna’s fans as “useless,” a move that many interpreted as dismissive and insulting. Phyna confronted the singer publicly, questioning why he would engage with such a post and whether she had done anything to warrant such treatment. Davido responded by claiming…

Manny Ita Nigerian filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has officially announced that the second season of the Netflix series Anikulapo is scheduled to premiere on January 30, 2026. The director shared the release date through a social media post on January 4, 2026, concluding several months of public speculation regarding the return of the fantasy drama. ​The production serves as an extension of the cultural universe established in Afolayan’s 2022 feature film of the same name. By integrating elements of Yoruba folklore, traditional royalty, and mythology, the franchise has secured a significant following within Nigeria and across the international African diaspora. The…

Manny Ita  analyzes how poverty projections detailed in the newly released Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026: Turning Macroeconomic Stability into Sustainable Growth might impact specific sectors, such as retail or fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs) A harrowing economic forecast has emerged for Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens. Professional services firm PwC Nigeria has raised an alarm, projecting that the nation’s poverty headcount could surge to 141 million people by the close of 2026. ​The revelation, detailed in the newly released Nigeria Economic Outlook 2026: Turning Macroeconomic Stability into Sustainable Growth, suggests that while the government’s recent policy overhauls were intended to steady the ship,…

By Manny Ita For decades, the Nigerian story has been a monotonous dirge of squandered promise. To describe poor leadership as the singular bane of our development is no longer an opinion—it is a diagnosis of a deeply entrenched, almost terminal systemic rot. From the jackbooted plunderers of military rule who treated the national treasury as a spoils-of-war chest, to the agbada-clad civilians who have perfected state kleptocracy under the guise of democracy, Nigerians have remained unwilling spectators to their own impoverishment. What makes the present crisis more frightening is not merely its longevity, but its spread. The rot has…

Tinubu Appoints First Female, Dr Odusote, To Take Charge Of Nigerian Law School Affairs Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote Odusote was admitted into the Nigerian Bar in 1988 after law degree from Obafemi Awolowo University. President Bola Tinubu has named Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote to head the Nigerian Law School, marking a historic first for the 64-year-old institution. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced that Dr Odusote’s appointment begins January 10, 2026, spanning a four-year tenure. The 54-year-old incoming Director-General currently serves as Deputy Director-General and leads the Lagos Campus. Her appointment breaks new ground as no woman has held the institution’s…

Sandisk Rebrands WD_BLACK™ and WD Blue® NVMe™ SSDs To SANDISK Optimus™ Today at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES® 2026), Sandisk announced SANDISK Optimus™ as the new name for its renowned internal SSD lineup for gamers, creators, and professionals. The new branding for this family of products reflects a focus on performance leadership, engineering excellence, and a heritage of trust in flash memory. The powerful collection of SANDISK Optimus™ internal storage solutions, encompasses three product lines: SANDISK Optimus™, SANDISK Optimus™ GX, and SANDISK Optimus™ GX PRO. Featuring a striking new packaging and product design inspired by the company’s innovation and iconic…

AFCON 2025: Nigeria to face Algeria in quarter finals Nigerian players Algeria will confront Nigeria in the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after defeating DR Congo 1–0 after extra time in their round-of-16 clash in Rabat on Tuesday. Substitute Anis Boulbina scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute, firing a powerful shot into the top corner to seal victory for Algeria. The win sets up a quarter-final showdown between Algeria and Nigeria, who had earlier booked their place in the last eight with a 4–0 victory over Mozambique on Monday. The Super Eagles are scheduled to…

Dangote Group’s Anthony Chiejina Appears In Global Influence 100 For 5th Time Anthony Chiejina Influence 100 identifies the most impactful senior communications, corporate affairs and marketing executives on the globe. Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications, Dangote Group, has been named to the prestigious 2025 Influence 100, reaffirming his standing as one of the most consequential communications leaders in the world and the only Nigerian on this year’s list. The recognition marks Chiejina’s fifth consecutive appearance on the global ranking, having previously been listed in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, a rare distinction that underscores both consistency and sustained…