Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – Governor Seyi Makinde has officially announced his intention to contest Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election, signaling a major development in the country’s emerging political landscape ahead of the next general polls. The Oyo State governor made the declaration on Thursday during a joint mega rally organized by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Allied Peoples’ Movement (APM) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The event attracted party supporters, political stakeholders, and allies from different parts of the country. Makinde, who was first elected governor in 2019 on the PDP platform, is expected to complete his second and…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a fresh warning to the public over the increasing spread of fraudulent online investment schemes being promoted through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Telegram. In a public notice released on May 8, 2026, the Commission stated that many of these digital investment platforms are operating illegally and are not registered to provide financial or investment services in Nigeria’s capital market. According to the SEC, several of the schemes promise unrealistic or guaranteed profits and display characteristics commonly associated with Ponzi operations. The regulator explained…

Manny Ita  – The National Human Rights Commission has called on the Nigerian Air Force to explain the growing number of civilian casualties linked to recent military airstrikes across different parts of the country, describing the incidents as deeply concerning and incompatible with human rights standards. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Executive Secretary of the commission, Tony Ojukwu, said the repeated reports of civilians being killed during aerial military operations raise serious humanitarian and legal concerns that cannot be ignored. The commission’s reaction followed several recent airstrikes carried out by the Nigerian Air Force in parts of the…

Manny Ita  – The Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Wahab Egbewole, has unveiled a broad set of diplomatic and security proposals aimed at redefining Nigeria’s relationship with neighbouring countries amid rising instability across West and Central Africa. Speaking during the inaugural lecture of the Strategic Intelligence Management Course Two hosted by the Strategic Intelligence Management Institute, Egbewole warned that the changing political and security realities in the region now pose a direct threat to Nigeria’s national stability. Delivering a lecture themed “Nigeria and Her Neighbours: New Regional Dynamics, New Policy Responses,” the professor of jurisprudence and international law described…

Manny Ita – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured a final court order forfeiting assets worth over N1.9 billion linked to former Acting Accountant-General of the Federation, Chukwunyere Anamekwe Nwabuoku. The ruling was delivered on Wednesday by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja following an application filed by the anti-graft agency after Nwabuoku’s earlier conviction on corruption-related charges. According to the EFCC, the forfeited assets include shares valued at about N1.94 billion, N288.59 million in cash, and a five-bedroom duplex located at City Gate Estate, Kukwaba, Abuja. The court held that the properties…

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 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest edition in the tournament’s history, featuring 48 national teams competing across North America from June 11 to July 19. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, the month-long event will culminate in the final at the New York/New Jersey venue, with matches staged in major cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas,…

FILE: Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. Experts say countries with strong vocational education systems often record lower youth unemployment rates because training is closely aligned with labour market demands and industrial growth priorities. The Federal Government has disbursed N3.41bn in monthly stipends to more than 73,000 beneficiaries enrolled in its Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme, as authorities intensify efforts to address youth unemployment and bridge Nigeria’s widening skills gap. Data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Education showed that the stipend payments formed part of a broader N13.98bn disbursement under the TVET initiative. According to the ministry, while…

CEO, Ecobank Group. Jeremy Awori said, “The Africa-France Impact Coalition marks a fundamental shift toward shared sovereignty and integrated supply chains, and we are proud to drive this vision.” While building on a proven track record across 34 African markets, Ecobank Group has said it will partner with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), including Proparco, to deploy this $3 billion commitment.  “By expanding access to competitive trade finance, the funds will directly fuel the core engines of Africa’s real economy: agribusiness, manufacturing, and general commerce. This strategic deployment is designed to accelerate the structural transformation of the continent, anchoring future growth…

At the flag off occasion The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has flagged off the state’s electric mobility initiative with a promise to procure 1,000 electric tricycles for youths across the state as part of efforts to reduce dependence on petroleum products and improve livelihoods. Governor Fintiri made the announcement during the commissioning of the assembly plant and rollout of electric tricycles at Mahmud Ribadu Square, Jimeta. Speaking at the event, the governor said his administration remained committed to improving the living conditions of residents, particularly youths whom he described as the backbone of society. He explained that…

Otedola Chairman of First HoldCo Plc, Olufemi Otedola, has raised his stake in the financial services group following a fresh acquisition of shares valued at about N43.41 billion as he bought 549,535,653 ordinary shares at an average price of N79 per share, through his company Calvados Global Services Limited. The latest acquisition on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, follows the purchase of 2,558,259 shares at N69.56 per share totalling N177.95 million by an executive director of the holding company, Anil Dua. With the transaction, Otedola’s shareholding in First HoldCo rose to 8.60 billion shares, representing a…