Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Airtel Africa Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Airtel Africa plc, has released its inaugural annual report, marking its first full year of delivery and impacting millions of learners and communities across Africa. During the reporting period, the Foundation committed $6.2 million to interventions across its four strategic pillars; Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion (FEED), with education receiving the largest share of investment. Key achievements include connecting 1,028 schools to the internet through its partnership with UNICEF, bringing the total to 3,296 schools connected across 13 countries, reaching over 2 million learners and nearly 39,000 teachers. In addition,…

Elevate Africa has officially opened applications for the Threads of Africa Fashion Film Prize 2026, a pan-African initiative aimed at preserving the continent’s rich textile heritage by encouraging creatives to tell compelling stories through fashion and film. The competition, which brings together fashion, culture, and storytelling, invites designers, filmmakers, students, and creative teams from Africa and the diaspora to document and reimagine endangered or forgotten African textiles, garments, and traditional techniques through short fashion films. The announcement comes at a period when African fashion continues to gain global recognition. While the industry has witnessed remarkable international growth and increasing interest,…

The Vickyheldan Empowerment Foundation has announced plans for the 2026 edition of its flagship Her Health, Her Power Conference Africa, a dynamic annual gathering dedicated to advancing women’s health and leadership across the African continent. The conference is scheduled to hold on August 21, 2026, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, Nigeria, and will bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, industry leaders, advocates, community leaders, students, activists, and women from diverse backgrounds to explore the critical role of women’s wellbeing in driving sustainable development across Africa. With the theme, “Leading With Wellness for a Sustainable Africa,” the conference seeks to…

South Korea’s players celebrate after winning at the 2026 World Cup Group A football match between South Korea and the Czech Republic at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan on June 11, 2026. (Photo by Ulises RUIZ / AFP) South Korea got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start by beating the Czech Republic 2-1 Thursday after finally converting some of the many chances they created. Until the 80th-minute mark it seemed that the Czechs would punish the Koreans’ wastefulness, but substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the decisive goal in a Guadalajara stadium that was far from full. Son Heung-min’s…

Colombian pop icon Shakira and Nigerian Afrobeats star Burna Boy brought the Estadio Azteca to its feet on Thursday as the 2026 FIFA World Cup opened in Mexico City ahead of the tournament’s first match between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa, The PUNCH reports. The pair performed “Dai Dai,” the official song of the tournament, in what was the highlight of a colourful opening ceremony that also featured performances from Mexican music royalty, including Alejandro Fernandez, Lila Downs and Belinda. Dancers twirled around a giant replica of the World Cup trophy as fireworks lit up the historic 80,000-capacity stadium, which…

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is set to premiere ‘FAAN IN FOCUS’, a new 30-minute weekly television programme designed to keep Nigerians and the international community informed about key developments, reforms, infrastructure projects and strategic initiatives within Nigeria’s aviation sector. The programme forms part of FAAN’s commitment to transparency, stakeholder engagement, public education and effective communication on the on-going transformation of the nation’s airport system. To ensure broad reach and accessibility, ‘FAAN IN FOCUS’ will air on major television networks, including Channels Television, NTA Network Service, Arise News, TVC News and Global Television, providing nationwide and international visibility…

Access Holdings Plc reaffirmed its strategic transition towards long-term value creation, balance sheet resilience, and disciplined growth, even as it navigates a dynamic and evolving operating environment. The chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede stated this at the Company fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Lagos. Aig-Imoukhuede emphasised that the defining test of a financial institution is not merely its capacity for growth, but its ability to grow profitably, sustainably, and with discipline over time. He noted that Access Holdings’ performance in 2025 reflects a deliberate approach to strengthening the institution’s long-term fundamentals while maintaining strong financial performance. The…

File photo: President Bola Tinubu Fellow Nigerians Today, we celebrate not only democracy but also the enduring Nigerian spirit. For 27 unbroken years, since May 29, 1999, Nigerians have chosen their leaders through the ballot, witnessed peaceful transitions of power, and resolved disagreements in courtrooms and legislative chambers—not through violence. We have experienced the longest stretch of civilian rule in our history. Our democracy is not perfect, but it is ours, and we must continue to defend and strengthen it. In the coming days, Ekiti and Osun States will hold elections. I urge INEC, security agencies, and all parties to…

Elegbede Abiodun Lawal admonished parents:  “I want to encourage parents to continue motivating their children to embrace this opportunity. They should not allow financial challenges to kill their dreams of obtaining tertiary education because the government has provided a reliable support system through NELFUND.”  One of the member of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Umar Faruk-Lawal, has said the Federal Government’s student loan programme is helping to break financial barriers that have long prevented many Nigerians from accessing higher education. This is as he disclosed that over N206bn has been paid by NELFUND to institutions and students…

The Senate This shift is due to delays in project execution, procurement bottlenecks and administrative constraints. The Senate on Thursday approved a three-month extension for the implementation of the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act, moving the deadline from June 30 to September 30, 2026, in a move aimed at preventing project abandonment and ensuring full utilisation of already released public funds across Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The decision followed a motion moved by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Tahir Monguno, and was adopted after lawmakers suspended Order 1(b) of the Senate Standing Rules to allow for immediate consideration of…