Business Post Nigeria

Economy

26-September-2023

NGX Performance Indices Drop 0.66% on Access Holdings’ Disappointing Interim Dividend

By Dipo Olowookere The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) kicked off the first trading session in the last week of the third quarter of the year on a negative note, with the key performance indices going down by 0.66 per cent on Monday. This was partly caused by the reaction of investors to the 30 Kobo interim dividend declaration of the board of Access Holdings Plc. A few days ago, its peer, UBA Plc, raised its interim dividend payment by 150 per cent to 50 Kobo and it was expected that Access Holdings would follow the same path. However, the company disappointed

25-September-2023

Nigeria’s Internet Speed Averages 25Mbps

By Bliss Okperan Nigeria’s internet speed averages 25 megabits per second (Mbps), according to data from Surf Shark, a cybersecurity company focused on developing humanised privacy and security solutions. The ranking, contained in the 5th annual (Digital Quality of Life Index (DQL), showed that the country dropped two places to 7th from 9th within the last two years. A quick average analysis shows that at an average of 25 Mbps, Nigeria is far from the world’s fastest fixed internet Singapore, which is 300 Mbps and is ahead compared to the slowest fixed internet in the world, Yemen, which is 11

25-September-2023

Adelabu Calls for Collective Efforts Towards Nigeria’s Energy Sector

By Adedapo Adesanya The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has called for collective efforts to shape the energy sector in Nigeria, noting that no meaningful economic growth can be achieved without it. Mr Adelabu said this at the Nigeria Energy 2023 leadership summit recently held in Lagos, with the theme Unlocking new value with reforms, investments, and technology which saw in attendance industry leaders. The Minister said, “Energy is the lifeblood of any modern economy of which Nigeria is no exception. No meaningful economic growth or industrial development can be achieved without energy. “We can be talking of potential

25-September-2023

NASD OTC Bourse Extends Green Run by 0.41% in Week 38

By Adedapo Adesanya The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange continued its weekly positive run as it extended its gains by 0.41 per cent in the 38th week of trading in this year. The bullish posture was supported by the improvements in the share prices of six companies admitted to the alternative stock exchange in Nigeria. This increased the NASD Unlisted Securities Index (NSI) by 2.30 points from 805.65 points in the previous week to 808.95 points, as the market capitalisation of the bourse was relatively unchanged on a week-on-week at N1.140 trillion. Food Concepts Plc led the price gainers’ after

25-September-2023

Cardoso Must Clear FX Backlog, Create Autonomous Forex Window—CPPE

By Adedapo Adesanya The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has called on the newly appointed Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, to clear the backlog of foreign exchange as well as guarantee another recapitalisation in the banking sector. “The clearance of the backlog of forex obligations should be accorded high priority to restore the confidence of domestic and foreign investors,” the Managing Director of CPPE, Mr Muda Yusuf said in a press statement titled Ten Point Agenda For The CBN Governor, released over the weekend. Mr Cardoso and four new deputies on

25-September-2023

Universal Insurance, Oando, UBA Emerge Busiest Stocks in One Week

By Dipo Olowookere The trio of Universal Insurance, Oando and UBA were the busiest stocks on the floor of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited last week, trading 2.212 billion units valued at N8.907 billion in 7,593 deals, contributing 56.56 per cent and 29.32 per cent to the total trading volume and value, respectively. In the week, investors transacted 3.911 billion shares worth N30.379 billion in 38,536 deals versus the 2.933 billion shares worth N47.449 billion exchanged in 44,654 deals in the preceding week. Financial stocks dominated with 2.774 billion units valued at N15.241 billion in 16,379 deals, contributing 70.92 per

General

25-September-2023

Nigeria Risks Shortage of Fertilisers as EU Frustrates Supply

By Adedapo Adesanya Nigeria faces a crippling fertiliser shortage as 34,000 metric tonnes of Russian Fertiliser meant for Nigeria is stuck at ports in the European Union (EU) as a result of continued war in Ukraine. Russia’s Foreign Minister, Mr Sergey Lavrov, confirmed this development on Saturday at the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, noting that 260,000 metric tonnes of Russian fertilisers have been stranded in EU ports since 2022. According to Russian News Agency, TASS, Mr Lavrov informed reporters that, “We are ready to give these fertilisers to African countries for free. It took six

25-September-2023

Supreme Court Blames Electrical Fault for Monday Morning Inferno

By Bliss Okperan The early morning fire that gutted a part of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja has been blamed on an electrical malfunction. The Director of Information of the apex court, Mr Festus Akande, said this on Monday morning when he appeared on Arise Television’s breakfast programme, The Morning Show. According to him, preliminary investigation showed that the fire was triggered by an electrical fault, playing down rumours that the Supreme Court was attacked by arsonists. Attention is on the apex court over the outcome of the presidential election held on Saturday, February 15, 2023. The Appeal Court

25-September-2023

Governance is a Collective Responsibility—Shettima

By Aduragbemi Omiyale The Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, has charged the National Assembly to continue to cooperate with the executive arm of government, noting that governance is a collective responsibility and not a personal endeavour. He said this at the retreat for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly last Friday at the Four Points by Sheraton, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. Mr Shettima said the administration of President Ahmed Tinubu was committed to safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy and maintaining the fraternal bond between the two arms of government. He described the composition of the federal government as well as

25-September-2023

Fire Guts Supreme Court Complex in Abuja

By Bliss Okperan A news report filtering in indicates that a part of the Supreme Court complex in Abuja has been gutted by fire. The incident, according to what Business Post gathered, happened on Monday morning. It was said that offices of three justices were affected by the inferno, whose cause is yet unknown at the time of filing this report. Details later…

25-September-2023

Nigeria Unveils Initiative to Boost Youth Employment, FX Earnings

By Adedapo Adesanya An initiative to boost youth employment and shore up Nigeria’s foreign exchange (FX) earnings has been introduced by the Nigerian government. The scheme, the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP), was unveiled over the weekend at the Microsoft Office in New York, United States of America by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Doris Uzoka-Anite. She said the programme would position Nigeria as an export hub for talent outsourcing in Africa following the example of India, Bangladesh, Mexico and The Philippines. Mrs Uzoka-Anite noted that NATEP is a key national initiative that will serve as a

22-September-2023

YouTube Unveils New Generative AI Products as Shorts Hits 70 billion Daily Views

By Aduragbemi Omiyale An artificial intelligence-powered feature, Dream Screen for Shorts, designed to redefine how creators use YouTube, has been unveiled by the video streaming platform. The feature was introduced by the tech giant on Thursday alongside others at the Made On YouTube event. It was created to allow YouTube creators to reach more viewers. According to the firm, Dream Screen allows creators to add AI-generated video or image backgrounds to their Shorts simply by typing an idea into a prompt. With Dream Screen, creators will be able to generate new, fantastic settings for their Shorts that are only limited

Feature / Oped

23-September-2023

Why Debt Financing is so Important for the African Business Market

By Nathaniel Nyika Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are the beating heart of Africa’s economies. According to the World Economic Forum, as engines of growth, SMEs are responsible for around 80% of the continent’s employment, ultimately helping to reduce poverty and income inequality, enabling the establishment of a new middle class and driving demand for new goods and services. That’s why creating an enabling environment for SMEs to access finance will enhance their ability to not only contribute to Africa’s labour force but also facilitate the continent’s development and economic growth while driving the innovation needed to help solve the

22-September-2023

Preview of Google’s Upcoming Bard Update

Google has announced the newest update to Bard, featuring the most exciting updates that will make this the smartest and most capable Bard model yet. It is designed not only to refine Bard’s linguistic capabilities across various languages and nations but also to introduce integrative features that enhance productivity by bridging Bard with popular Google apps and services. Some key highlights include: Enhancements that elevate Bard’s intuitiveness and creativity. Introduction of Bard Extensions, allowing Bard to extract real-time information from platforms such as Maps, YouTube, Hotels, and Flights. Option to enable Bard to interact with information from your Gmail, Docs

21-September-2023

Unlocking Growth: M&A Opportunities in African VC Space

By Philani Mzila The past 12 months have seen a significant decline in venture capital (VC) funding in Africa. The total amount raised declined by almost 40% between July 2022 and June 2023 compared to the same period between 2021 and 2022. This sharp decline is particularly evident in the “Big Four” markets of Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, and Kenya, with funding contracting by as much as 77% in some. Due to these challenging market conditions, numerous startups are nearing the end of their financial runway and are struggling to secure further investment. Founders in this situation usually face three

20-September-2023

Tailoring Your Content to Specific Platforms is Crucial for Marketing Success

By Carl Jordan It’s all too easy to underplay how social media and other online platforms have altered the advertising and marketing landscapes over the past 15 or so years. It’s given businesses of all sizes the ability to reach and engage with their customers in ways that simply wouldn’t have been possible previously. Moreover, it’s given those organisations’ marketing teams a greater sense of certainty that they’re reaching their intended target audiences. Rather than simply hoping that they reach those audiences through things like billboards and television ads, they can see and measure it in the data. But simply

19-September-2023

Oboreivwori, IYC And Ayakoromo Bridge Project

By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi It is pedestrian information that the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Western Zone, comprising Delta, Edo and Ondo States, in a recent media statement signed by the trio of Comrade Doubra Collins Okotete (Zonal chairman), Comrade Olu Derimo (secretary) and Lugard Izoukumor (Information Officer), specifically called on Governor Oborevwori to commence work on the long-awaited Ayakoromor bridge project, the Ogulagha-Odimodi road project, the permanent site of the School of Marine Technology, Burutu among other critical projects. Indeed, while there exists glaring evidence that Oborevwori has, in the last 100 days of his administration in the state, demonstrated

14-September-2023

Where Can an Impact Investor Have the Greatest Impact in Africa?

Africa is a continent of contradictions. The scars left behind by its many nations’ storied histories, as well as the new wounds opened by recent social and economic upheavals such as the global recession, the pandemic, climate change, and geopolitical tensions, mean that the continent continues to contend with challenges such as inequality, poverty, and other socio-economic issues. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, a quiet revolution is underway. Africa, often overshadowed by outdated stereotypes, is emerging as the next frontier for impact investing – a realm where profit meets purpose and where opportunities to catalyze positive change are

Banking

25-September-2023

Ecobank Pan African Centre Hosts US College and Career Fairs

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Last week, the United States Mission in Nigeria organised the annual US College and Career Fairs at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) on Victoria Island, Lagos. The US Consul General, Mr Will Stevens, while speaking at the event, said that America remains a leading destination for international students, noting the United States offers students an unrivalled educational experience, flexibility, and diversity. “We are happy to provide Nigerian students who wish to study in the United States a unique opportunity to learn about the diversity of the programs offered at various U.S. educational institutions,” Mr Stevens said.

24-September-2023

Nigerian Banks Capable To Support Big-Ticket Transactions—Adeduntan

By Bliss Okperan The Managing Director and chief executive of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr Adesola Adeduntan, has disclosed that financial institutions in the country have the balance sheet to support big-ticket transactions, particularly from offshore investors. President Bola Tinubu travelled to the United States last week for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and went with some businessmen and bank executives, including Mr Adeduntan. The Nigerian leader used the occasion to urge foreign investors to bring their funds into the country because he would create a business-friendly environment to make their investments grow. Nigeria, which is the largest

23-September-2023

Advans Nigeria Scores Brace at Marketing Edge Awards

By Modupe Gbadeyanka It was a double reward for a foremost microfinance institution, Advans Nigeria, at the recently concluded Marketing Edge Awards in Lagos. The firm, a subsidiary of Advans Group, was announced as the Most Innovative Microfinance Bank of the Year and the Most Customer-centric Microfinance Bank of the Year. The double awards are coming after the organisation was recently named as The Best in Retail Banking of the Year at the Pan African International Award. Advans Nigeria won the accolades due to its top-notch financial services and unwavering commitment to its customers. “We are immensely proud to receive

22-September-2023

Stakeholders Gear up for Wema Bank Hackaholics Digital Summit 2023

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Momentum is already gathering for the 2023 edition of Hackaholics Digital Summit organised by Wema Bank Plc, owners of the foremost digital lending firm, ALAT by Wema. The event is dubbed Africa’s largest gathering of innovators, disruptors, regulators, policymakers, investors & customers in the digital space. A statement from the bank disclosed that this year’s programme will take place in Lagos on Friday, October 6, with attendance by invitation only, though interested customers and technology enthusiasts can secure a spot by registering at https://hackaholics.wemabank.com/digital-summit. The theme, according to the organisers, is Re-Imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale,

21-September-2023

CBN Unveils LARP to Ease Microfinance Bank Licence Application

By Adedapo Adesanya The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled a digital platform for the submission of Microfinance Bank (MFB) licence applications with effect from Monday, September 25. The apex bank made this known in a statement signed by its Director of Corporate Communications, Mr Isa AbdulMumin. “The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is pleased to announce the unveiling of a new online platform for submission of microfinance bank (MFB) licence applications,” the statement released on Wednesday said. According to the statement, the new online platform is called the CBN Licensing, Approval and Other Requests Portal (CBN LARP) and

21-September-2023

Houston Texas Mayor Endorses Fidelity Bank’s Trade Expo

By Aduragbemi Omiyale The forthcoming trade expo organised by Fidelity Bank Plc has received the endorsement of the Mayor of Houston Texas, Mr Sylvester Turner. Mr Turner, in a short video, highlighted the several side attractions scheduled for FITCC Houston and encouraged businesses to take advantage of the expo to expand their businesses beyond borders. He described the event as “A catalyst to support bilateral trade between Nigeria and Houston; and an opportunity for the Houston community and the diaspora to explore emerging trends, forge new partnerships and unlock new possibilities.” The Nigerian lender will, on Tuesday, October 24 and

Jobs

25-September-2023

Bello Sacks Special Adviser Anthony Ogah

By Bliss Okperan The Kogi State Governor, Mr Yahaya Bello, has ordered the immediate removal of his Special Adviser on Stakeholders Relations, Mr Anthony Ogah. A statement issued on Monday by the Secretary to the Government of the state, Ms Folashade Ayoade, confirmed this development, though it did not state the reason surrounding the sacking of the Governor’s aide. However, it was disclosed that the termination of Mr Ogah’s appointment was with effect from Sunday, September 24, 2023. He has been directed to submit all government items. “In light of this press release, Mr Anthony Ogah is instructed to promptly

22-September-2023

It’s Fake News, No Secret Recruitment in NNPCL

Contrary to reports by some online media that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, under the leadership of Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mele Kyari, is conducting secret recruitment without board approval, this medium reliably gathered that it’s false. The report claimed that about 35 people were recruited secretly into the NNPC Limited and are either undergoing medical examinations or writing entrance exams. But checks showed that there is no such recruitment exercise going on at the national oil company. Following its transition into a limited company governed by the Companies and Allied Matters Act, NNPC Limited has established

20-September-2023

Farooq Oreagba Replaces Tapas Das as NG Clearing MD/CEO

By Aduragbemi Omiyale Mr Farooq Oreagba has been chosen by the board of directors of NG Clearing Limited as the new Managing Director/chief executive, subject to the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). He is replacing Mr Tapas Das, who occupied the office for three years and demonstrated exceptional leadership and strategic vision, driving NG Clearing to a phenomenal historical achievement of clearing the first exchange-traded derivatives contracts in West Africa. Under his guidance, NG Clearing developed a world-class clearing and settlement system that has successfully integrated with the key exchanges in Nigeria’s financial markets. A statement issued

18-September-2023

Flutterwave Hires 85% of Graduate Trainees as Full-Time Employees

By Modupe Gbadeyanka About 170 of the 200 graduate trainees of Flutterwave (85 per cent) have been absorbed into the organisation as full-time employees after the completion of their programme. The leading payments technology firm in August 2022 launched its Graduate Trainee (GT) scheme to nurture young talents seeking clear career growth opportunities in technology. Some days ago, a graduation ceremony was held in Lagos to celebrate the end of the rigorous 12-month-long paid traineeship scheme. The participants were put through technical and soft skills and practical experiences. “We are excited that our aim of giving 200 extremely bright young

17-September-2023

Tinubu Nominates Jamila Ibrahim, Ayodele Olawande as Youth Ministers

By Adedapo Adesanya President Bola Tinubu has nominated Ms Jamila Bio Ibrahim to serve as the Minister of Youth and Mr Ayodele Olawande as the Minister of State for Youth. These nominations indicate a separation of the ministry, which used to be joined with the Ministry of Sport in the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. In a statement signed by Mr Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, on Sunday, it was emphasised that the nominees would have to undergo screening at the Senate for confirmation. Upon confirmation by the Mr Godswill Akpabio-led parliament,

16-September-2023

Tinubu Picks Tope Fasua as Economic Affairs Adviser

By Aduragbemi Omiyale An economist and public affairs analyst, Mr Tope Fasua, has been appointed by President Bola Tinubu as a Special Adviser on Economic Affairs. Mr Fasua, a former presidential candidate and consultant would work in the Office of the Vice President, he disclosed in a message on his official X platform. “So, yours truly has been appointed Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs in the VP’s office; just what I wanted for national impact. “We thank God Almighty and those who remembered me and insisted. For God and country,” Mr Fasua, who is also an accountant

Showbiz

21-September-2023

Nollytainment Creates NFT Collection for Nollywood Stars

By Modupe Gbadeyanka To immortalise iconic figures in the Nigerian movie industry fondly called Nollywood, a US-based entertainment outfit, Nollytainment Incorporated, is creating an NFT Collection through Nollywood Superstars NFT Collection. A statement from the organisation said three superstars in the industry have been pencilled down for this and they are Kate Henshaw, Richard Mofe Damijo (RMD), and Odulade Adekola. It was disclosed that the NFT Collection would be unveiled on Sunday, October 1, 2023, a day set aside to celebrate Nigeria’s independence. On that day, 1,000 of these exquisite Nollywood super digital NFTs will be distributed for free to

19-September-2023

2023 GTCO Fashion Weekend Holds November

By Modupe Gbadeyanka The 6th edition of the prestigious GTCO Fashion Weekend has been fixed for November 11 and 12, 2023, a statement from the organisers, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, has disclosed. The event is one of the most anticipated in the African showbiz calendar because it provides an avenue for stakeholders from far and near to network and get the latest trends in the fashion industry. In a statement made available to Business Post on Tuesday, it was disclosed that the GTCO Fashion Weekend would take place at the GTCentre on Plot 1, Water Corporation Drive, Oniru,

19-September-2023

Sanwo-Olu Invites DSS to Investigate Mohbad’s Death

By Adedapo Adesanya The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has invited the Department of State Services (DSS) to join the investigation into the death of Nigerian music star, Mr Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Imole Aloba, otherwise known as Mohbad. The Nigeria Police Force is already looking into the circumstances surrounding the demise of the fast-rising star, whose death is generating reactions across the world. The introduction of the secret police, according to the governor, is to support its sister agency. In a statement on Tuesday morning, Mr Sanwo-Olu said his administration has been closely working behind the scenes with relevant

12-September-2023

Nigerian Music Star Mohbad Dies at 27

By Modupe Gbadeyanka A Nigerian musician, Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, otherwise known as Mohbad, has reportedly died at age 27. The death of the fast-rising Afrobeats star was announced on Tuesday, with his colleagues in the music industry reacting to the news of his demise. The deceased was formerly signed by Marlian Records, owned by popular and controversial Nigerian street-hop artist, Naira Marley. He left the entertainment outfit in 2022 after some controversies regarding how he was allegedly treated badly. Before his death, he had hit singles like KPK (Ko Por Ke), Ponmo, and Feel Good. At the time of filing

12-September-2023

Lagos Shuts Down Eight Nightclubs, Event Centres

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Eight nightclubs and event centres within Ikeja and Victoria Island have been sealed by the Lagos State government over safety violations. A statement by the Lagos State Safety Commission disclosed that the affected facilities were shut down to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the metropolis. A few facilities accused of contravening the state’s safety laws were Hot Box Night Club, Shades Night Club, Buzzbar, and CCX Lounge. The Director General of the agency, Mr Lanre Mojola, said the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has zero tolerance for violation of safety laws and will continually

11-September-2023

Rema’s Calm Down Hits One Billion Streams on Spotify

By Dipo Olowookere A fast-rising music act in Nigeria, Divine Ikubor, professionally known as Rema, has achieved a remarkable milestone with his hit single, Calm Down. The smash-hit song has recorded one billion streams on the prominent audio streaming platform, Spotify, joining the prestigious Billions Club of the company, the first African artist-led track to achieve such. “It’s a blessing,” Rema enthused, emphasising that, “It’s not just a big win for me, my team and my family; it’s also a big one for the culture.” The singer, who disclosed in March that he abandoned his admission to the University of

Technology

21-September-2023

Nigeria Changes Fixed-Lines Numbering Format

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) changed the numbering format for fixed lines from January 1 next year. The agency said the fixed-lines numbering format will no longer be eight digits but would be 10 digits, with the addition of the 02 prefix before the existing fixed number. This change is totally different to the existing mobile numbering format. The decision is in keeping with its responsibilities under the enabling law, the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA) 2003, to manage Nigeria’s numbering resources, according to Mr Reuben Muoka, the Director of Public Affairs at the NCC, in a statement.

21-September-2023

Flapmax Picks 12 Startups for AI Accelerator Programme

By Adedapo Adesanya Data and AI technology company, Flapmax, has announced 12 startups selected for the second cohort of the FAST Accelerator startup programme, created in partnership with Microsoft to help strengthen and scale Africa’s digital ecosystem. Following the conclusion of its 2-week Online Bootcamp, which saw 60+ tech companies participate in intensive online training with experienced mentors, FAST Accelerator’s cohort of 12 startups will progress to a 5-week comprehensive acceleration experience in Silicon Valley, California, starting in October. Speaking on this, Mrs Mame-Fatou Gueye, SME Program Manager, Microsoft Africa Transformation Office, said, “Microsoft believes that African startups and small

20-September-2023

Google Experts Answer Your Top Most Searched Questions on AI

New search trends released by Google show that search interest in AI has reached an all-time high in Nigeria. The trends show that people have searched for AI more than ever in 2023 so far, with interest rising 310% since last year, and by 1,660% in the last five years. Google’s research also revealed the top trending questions being asked about AI across Nigeria. Here, Google West Africa Director, Olumide Balogun, answers some of the most frequently asked questions. What is Artificial Intelligence and how does it work? AI is a type of technology that can learn from its environment,

14-September-2023

WhoGoHost Acquires 100% Stake in Cloud Startup SendChamp

By Adedapo Adesanya Website hosting infrastructure company, WhoGoHost, has acquired SendChamp, a Nigerian cloud communications startup that powers online messaging for African businesses to deepen its value offering for its customer base. The deal sum was not announced, but the acquisition is part of WhoGoHost’s strategic plans to evolve from domain-hosting to serve businesses and institutions in the African market. According to a statement, SendChamp will continue to operate as an independent product as it transitions to new ownership. However, in the near future, its products and services will become accessible via the WhoGoHost integrated platform. The reason for this

14-September-2023

25 Biggest Moments in Search, From Helpful Images to AI

Here’s how we’ve made Search more helpful over 25 years — and had a little fun along the way, too. When Google first launched 25 years ago, it was far from the first search engine. But quickly, Google Search became known for our ability to help connect people to the exact information they were looking for, faster than they ever thought possible. Over the years, we’ve continued to innovate and make Google Search better every day. From creating entirely new ways to search, to helping millions of businesses connect with customers through search listings and ads (starting with a local

07-September-2023

Airtel Nigeria Partners Smartphone Makers on 5G Network

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Three leading makers of 5G-enabled smartphones, Samsung, Tecno, and Infinix, will work with Airtel Nigeria to drive the adoption of the latest technology in the telecommunications industry. The GSM network provider has partnered with the companies as part of its commitment to enhance innovation, improve customer experience, and drive the adoption of 5G technology to transform various aspects of customers’ daily activities. According to the Chief Commercial Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Femi Oshinlaja, the strategic partnership is not only to increase access to the latest technological advancements but also to encourage consumers to take advantage of

Sports

24-September-2023

Nigeria Picks 12 Gold Medals at ITTF African Para Championships

By Adedapo Adesanya Nigeria emerged as the overall champion of the 2023 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Para Championships, which ended on Saturday, September 23, 2023, in Giza, Egypt. The country went away with 12 gold medals to dethrone Egypt as the new para table tennis champion in Africa. The three-day tournament had hosts – Egypt – Algeria, Nigeria, Mauritius, Cameroon, South Africa, Kenya, and Cote d’Ivoire competing in the singles, doubles, and mixed doubles events. However, Nigeria dominated as the continent’s champions by leading the singles event to pick up most of the tickets to the Paris 2024

22-September-2023

The Greatest Football Matches in the Last Decade

Football is a sport that the crowds love. In fact, it’s the most popular game worldwide, with millions of people watching the matches, playing them, and even betting on them. The sport only continues to grow in popularity, so there are always interesting events to check out. In the article below, we will take a look at the most impressive, influential, or technically great matches in the last few years of football history. These years were quite active in the game, so there were plenty of matches worth looking into. We will check them out, describe the reasons why they’re

19-September-2023

Black Tito Aims To Make History At GOtv Boxing Night 29

Female cruiserweight boxer, Bolatito ‘Black Tito’ Oluwole, has declared that her ultimate aim at GOtv Boxing Night 29 is to be the first female winner of the best boxer prize. The overall best boxer on the night will take home the Mojisola Ogunsanya Memorial Trophy and N1m cash prize. Black Tito will face Celina ‘Pretty Assassin’ Agwu, in a national cruiserweight title challenge bout at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Indoor Sports Hall of Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on September 24. The bout is one of the six lined up for the night. “My ultimate aim on the night is to make

15-September-2023

777 Partners Buys 94.1% Majority Stake in Everton FC

By Adedapo Adesanya An American private investment company, 777 Partners, has acquired a 94.1 per cent stake in Everton Football Club from British-Iranian businessman, Mr Farhad Moshiri. In a statement seen by Business Post on Friday, the club said it would not provide any further comment during this period of regulatory review. The value of the deal is reportedly at over £500 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023, subject to Premier League, Football Association, and Financial Conduct Authority approvals. The takeover would mean half of the 20 top-flight clubs are American-owned, including Manchester United

14-September-2023

Police to Investigate Suspected Foul Play in Mohbad Death

By Adedapo Adesanya The Nigeria Police Force has said it would carry out an investigation into the death of the late Nigerian music star, Mr Ilerioluwa Oladimeji Aloba, otherwise known as Mohbad. The Feel Good crooner died on Tuesday, September 12, at the age of 27 over what was reportedly an ear infection, but many developments over the last two days reveal that the singer had historically been threatened and had suffered violence following his split from a popular record label, Marlian Records, last year. Fans have taken to social media to express their outrage towards what they suspect is

12-September-2023

Sports Diplomacy: Nigeria’s Role in International Athletic Relations

In international diplomacy, sports often serve as a unifying language that transcends borders and brings nations together. Nigeria, a nation with a rich sporting heritage, has played a significant role in international athletic relations, using sports as a powerful tool for diplomacy and global engagement. In this article, we explore Nigeria’s role in sports diplomacy while acknowledging the influence of technology, exemplified by the ability to download SportyBet Nigeria, in enhancing the sports experience for Nigerians and the world. A Technological Leap Before we delve into Nigeria’s prowess in sports diplomacy, it’s essential to recognize the impact of technology in

World

25-September-2023

Afreximbank Seeks Development of Export Trading Companies to Boost SMEs

By Adedapo Adesanya The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has called on African countries to prioritise the development of public and private export trading companies (ETCs) in order to position the continent’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate effectively in global trade. This was a core message in an address to the Africa International Exhibition on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York by Mrs Kanayo Awani, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank, speaking on behalf of Bank President Mr Benedict Oramah. She said that SMEs participating directly in global trade face stiff competition from

18-September-2023

Okonjo-Iweala, Ruto to Discuss Climate Growth, Investment, Trade Frameworks

By Adedapo Adesanya The Director-General (DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the President of Kenya, Mr William Ruto, will hold a discussion on positive climate growth, investment, and trade in Africa tomorrow (Tuesday, September 19). The conversation, hosted by the Africa Center in partnership with Global Citizen, Climate Action Platform Africa (CAP-A), and the Government of Kenya, will take place at The Africa Center at Aliko Dangote Hall in New York City. Speaking on the programme, Mr Uzodinma Iweala, CEO of The Africa Center, said the conversation was coming at a time when Africa is

15-September-2023

Russia’s Far East Witnessing Series of Record-Breaking Agreements

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh Vladivostok, located in Russia’s Far East, hosted the 8th Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) from 12th to 13th September 2023 in an attempt to define further the development of this remote region. Since the beginning of the EEF in 2015, it has, until COVID-19 was followed by Russia’s own ‘special military operation’ in neighbouring Ukraine, the focus was largely on harnessing resources from the United States and Europe to the Far East region of the Russian Federation. Speeches and all kinds of remarks highly praised Western, European and Asia-Pacific participating countries and corporate enterprises under resonating themes

14-September-2023

Developing Far Eastern Region Russia’s Priority

By Kestér Kenn Klomegâh The Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) is held annually in cooperation with the Far East regional administration in the city of Vladivostok. Three years of COVID-19, followed by Russia’s ‘special military operation’ and the current geopolitical situation, have adversely affected this corporate business event, as Russia looks towards the East and makes the main focus on developing the Far East. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the opening session that the government would not allow the pace of development to slacken in the Russian Far East as it is a strategic region for the country. “We will

13-September-2023

20 African Countries Restricted Internet Access During Elections—Report

By Adedapo Adesanya A new insight has shown that 20 out of 54 African countries have restricted internet access amid elections since 2015. According to Surfshark’s Internet Shutdown Tracker, over the last eight years, 30 countries and territories in the world have restricted the internet amid elections, affecting 2.3 billion people globally. It found that out of these countries, 20 of them were on the African continent, including the most recent in Zimbabwe and Gabon; both countries held elections in August and restricted internet access. The survey found that out of the 20 countries that have restricted internet during elections since

12-September-2023

Binance to Airdrop $3bn BNB to Morocco Earthquake Victims

By Adedapo Adesanya In an unprecedented response to the devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Morocco, Binance, through its charity arm, has announced plans to airdrop up to $3 million in Binance Coin (BNB) to Binance users identified as living in the areas affected by the tragedy. Last Friday, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Marakkesh in the North African country and has left close to 3,000 dead, with at least 2,500 injured and a host of others missing. In the aftermath of natural disasters, people often lose access to traditional banking at the exact moment when extra funds are