Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  — Nigeria recorded a significant cultural milestone in March 2026 as a museum in Zurich officially transferred ownership of several Benin Bronzes back to the country, marking another breakthrough in the global movement to return African heritage taken during the colonial era. The artefacts, originally removed from the ancient Benin Kingdom during the 1897 British punitive expedition, are among the most important cultural works in West Africa, representing royal authority, spiritual traditions, and the advanced bronze-casting skills of the Benin civilisation. Their return is being described as both a historical correction and a symbolic restoration of cultural identity.…

Manny Ita  – The ancient city of Abeokuta has taken centre stage in Nigeria’s cultural landscape as Egbaliganza 2026 unfolds, drawing global attention as one of the most ambitious cultural and fashion gatherings ever hosted in the country. The festival, held as part of the broader Lisabi celebrations, is positioning itself as a major platform for culture, fashion, and creative exchange across Africa and beyond. At the core of this year’s edition is its international reach. Organisers say the event is attracting participation from over 50 countries, including designers, cultural institutions, and creative professionals, making it one of the largest…

Manny Ita  – Reshuffles Leadership as Tinubu Defends Electoral Act 2026 at Abuja Convention The All Progressives Congress has ushered in a new phase of leadership following the conclusion of its 4th Elective National Convention held in Abuja, where Nentawe Yilwatda was officially adopted and sworn in as the party’s National Chairman. The emergence of Yilwatda signals a strategic recalibration within the ruling party as it prepares for future political contests and internal consolidation. The convention, attended by top party stakeholders, governors, lawmakers, and delegates from across the country, also saw the return of 21 members of the National Working…

INEC extends the deadline for the submission of party membership registers to May 10, 2026. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reschedules the timeline for the submission of political parties’ registers of members, following concerns raised by stakeholders over the feasibility of the earlier deadline in the build-up to the 2027 General Election. The conclusion was arrived at during a consultative meeting between the Commission and political parties held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, where parties expressed reservations about the initial submission window of April 1 to April 21, 2026, as contained in the revised timetable and schedule of…

Elegbede Abiodun Both Team MTN’s Lucy Nwankwo and Rosemary Nwankwo finished 2nd and 3rd. With high momentum on Day 2 of the MTN CHAMPS Continental Relays in Jos, as finals across multiple age categories lit up the New Jos Stadium in Plateau State following an action-packed opening day. The women’s Junior 100m delivered one of the standout moments of the day, with Miracle Ezechukwu reaffirming her dominance. The N-Youth Sports athlete successfully defended her title in 11.42s, coming off a sensational semifinal performance where she clocked a Personal Best (PB) of 11.26s. The time not only set a new MTN…

Manny Ita  — Transactworld Digital Services has announced the launch of its new payment infrastructure, Transactpay Ultra, a system designed to deliver instant, round-the-clock settlement of merchant funds and eliminate the persistent delays experienced during public holidays and weekends in Nigeria. The development follows a recent liquidity crunch triggered by the Eid al-Fitr holidays, during which many Nigerian businesses reportedly waited up to five days to access revenue due to banking and fintech settlement limitations. The disruption effectively extended the standard next-day (T+1) settlement cycle to as long as T+5, leaving merchants unable to restock inventory or meet financial obligations.…

Manny Ita  — England national football team were held to a 1-1 draw by Uruguay national football team in an international friendly at Wembley, with Thomas Tuchel overseeing the match. The spotlight fell on Ben White, who made a dramatic return to international football after a long absence. Coming off the bench, he initially silenced critics by scoring the opening goal late in the game. However, his night took a sharp turn in stoppage time when he conceded a penalty, allowing Federico Valverde to equalize and deny England the win. Fans quickly reacted online, describing White’s performance as a rollercoaster…

Manny Ita  — Africa is currently facing a massive housing shortage of over 50 million homes, a figure experts warn could skyrocket to 130 million by 2030 if urgent action isn’t taken. This concern was raised by Festus Adebayo ahead of the Africa International Housing Show. The crisis is being driven by rapid population growth, increasing urban migration, and long-standing structural issues in housing development. As a result, more than 200 million people across the continent are living in informal or inadequate settlements, affecting not just shelter but also health, jobs, and overall quality of life. Countries like Nigeria are…

Manny Ita  — Lagos State has been ranked the best state for doing business in Nigeria, according to a new nationwide assessment of business environments. The report, unveiled in Abuja during the 2026 Reform and Diplomatic Roundtable organised by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council in partnership with development stakeholders, placed Lagos firmly at the top. Other top-performing states include Kaduna State, Oyo State, the Federal Capital Territory, Ogun State, Enugu State, Plateau State, Ekiti State, Kano State, and Nasarawa State. What the report highlights The study emphasizes that Nigeria’s economic future depends heavily on how well individual states support…

Manny Ita  — Nollywood actress Regina Daniels has publicly appealed to Nigerians to stop attacking her mother, Rita Daniels, as tensions continue in her troubled marriage to Ned Nwoko. In an emotional Instagram video, Regina stressed that her decision to marry was not driven by money, revealing that her family had actually opposed the union from the beginning. “The main essence of this video is to please, stop insulting my mom… She’s the best thing that ever happened to me,” she said, passionately defending her mother’s role in her life. She admitted going against strong warnings from loved ones, saying:…