Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Argentinian footballer, Lionel Messi, has won the 2026 Princess of Asturias Award for Sports. The award was announced on Wednesday by the jury responsible for conferring the award. A statement released by the convener, Princess of Asturias Foundation, said Messi was selected in recognition of a career defined by sustained excellence, sporting achievement and global impact. Born on June 24, 1987 in Rosario, Argentina, Messi rose from Newell’s Old Boys youth system before joining FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 13. He made his first-team debut in 2004 and went on to establish himself as one of…

Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, Director of Programmes at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Abiodun Ogidan, Special Adviser (Legal) and former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation, Musa Ahmadu with school pupils and students of Wushu Chinese traditional martial arts at its premium exhibition in Abuja. Photo: Chinese Embassy Nigeria and China have reaffirmed commitment to boost cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges through traditional Chinese martial arts, Wushu, as a platform for deepening mutual understanding and friendship. The commitment was reaffirmed on Tuesday in Abuja during the Wushu (Martial Arts) Premium Exhibition held at…

Davido Fédération Internationale de Football Association has announced that Nigerian music star, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, will perform at the Los Angeles leg of the World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert series scheduled for Wednesday, June 10. A statement issued by FIFA on Tuesday said the Los Angeles concert will feature Diplo’s Major Lazer alongside Davido, with additional artistes expected to be announced. The event forms part of a first-of-its-kind synchronised live concert series across hosts Canada, Mexico and the United States as part of build-up activities for the tournament. “Los Angeles will play host to a high-energy celebration,…

The FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the Los Angeles stop of The FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola at LA Live in Los Angeles on March 24, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. Brown / AFP) The Federation of International Football Associations on Tuesday confirmed that 1,248 players representing 48 nations will feature at the 2026 World Cup. Among them, 891 players will make their tournament debuts while 357 are returning to the global stage. The figures were contained in FIFA’s published final squad lists ahead of the tournament, which kicks off on June 11, 2026, across…

As the world await FIFA World Cup 2026, football’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board, has approved the biggest package of rule changes in several years. The tournament will be the first major competition to use them. According to a post obtained from FIFA’s website on Tuesday, these are the new rules to be deployed in the forthcoming global showpiece scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico 1. Throw-in and Goal-Kick Countdown To combat time-wasting: • Referees will begin a visible 5-second countdown. • If a throw-in is not taken in time, possession goes to…

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume. Photo: X/George Akume The Federal Government on Tuesday inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Committee to coordinate activities for the 27th Democracy Day celebration, while paying tribute to the late Chief Moshood Abiola and other heroes of the June 12 struggle. A statement by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s media aide, Yomi Odunuga, said the SGF, George Akume, noted that Democracy Day provides an opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices made by Nigerians who fought for democratic governance. Akume described the June 12 anniversary as a significant moment to honour…

Airtel Africa’s rise was underpinned by confidence in its operational strength and strategic importance within the telecommunications sector. Airtel Africa has emerged as the standout large-cap performer on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), recording a 10 per cent gain in a single trading week and reinforcing its position as one of Africa’s most resilient and valuable telecommunications companies The telecoms giant closed the week at ₦3,655.70 per share, up from ₦3,323.40, making it one of the strongest contributors to market performance during a period characterised by selective investor activity and sector rotation. The strong performance reflects growing investor confidence in Airtel…

Union Bank of Nigeria’s Endless Possibilities campaign has won Bronze in the Heritage category at the 2026 Pitcher Awards, one of Africa’s foremost platforms for creative excellence. The campaign was also shortlisted in the Craft category for Film Craft, a recognition of the artistry and technical quality behind the work. These recognitions were awarded following adjudication alongside qualifying entries from across the African continent. The Heritage win carries a particular resonance. It recognises the bank’s ability to honour its rich heritage while maintaining relevance with contemporary audiences. For more than a century, Union Bank has been woven into the fabric…

• Friday June 12, 2026, till Sunday, June 14, 2026 are the chosen dates. The Christian Association of Nigeria has declared a three-day national mourning period beginning June 12 over the worsening security situation in the country and called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on security across Nigeria. The decision was part of resolutions reached at the National Church Denominational Leaders Summit 2026 held on Tuesday in Abuja under the theme, “The State of the Nation and the Way Forward.” In a communiqué issued at the end of the summit, the body announced that Friday,…

FCCPC • …calls for renewed demand for policy consistency and clearer regulatory frameworks. The recent suspension of regulations seeking to classify airtime and data credit services as consumer lending products has reignited concerns over regulatory overlaps in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. Industry stakeholders say the dispute between the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and telecommunications operators exposed the risks of unclear regulatory boundaries, particularly for services relied upon by millions of Nigerians for daily communication and business activities. The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has welcomed the FCCPC’s decision to suspend enforcement of the Digital, Electronic,…