Samsung Records Highest Smartphones Sales in Q3 2020

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.

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

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

Nigeria is a country with the largest population on the African continent. While this nation is crowded, it has limitless attractions to offer to tourists. Tropical rainforests, exotic beaches, scenic waterfalls, natural springs, structures of historical significance, and national parks. Indeed, there are many untapped travel destinations that you can find in Nigeria. So, for the avid traveller, you shouldn’t forget to visit Nigeria while you’re in Africa. Here are the best places that you can see and experience in the country. Ikogosi Cold and Warm Spring In Ikogosi, a town in the state of Ekiti, there’s a natural tourist

By Adedapo Adesanya The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to probe the allegations on the missing, mismanaged or diverted $30 million Safe School Fund. The group made this call in a statement signed by its Deputy Director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, and further asked the President to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami (SAN), to bring to justice anyone involved in the alleged fraud. Also, SERAP called on Mr Buhari to “direct Mr Malami and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to investigate why the Safe Schools Initiative, established to

By Dipo Olowookere Pipe Coaters Nigeria Limited (PCNL) has celebrated the completion of the coating and cut back of the last pipes for the Egina Deepwater’s umbilical, flowlines and risers (UFR) project. The event which was marked recently at the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone in Port Harcourt, Rivers State represented a major milestone in Total’s Egina project. Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote described the Egina Project as a testimony of local content achievements, noting that the feats achieved by Nigerian companies and their workforce

By Modupe Gbadeyanka Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Ertharin Cousin and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, are very concerned that critical shortages in food assistance are affecting some 2 million refugees in 10 countries across Africa. The shortages could worsen in coming months without new resources to meet food needs. The number of refugees in Africa nearly doubled from 2.6 million in 2011 to nearly 5 million in 2016. While donor funding for refugee assistance increased during this period, it did not keep pace with rapidly rising needs. As a result, the humanitarian response

By Dipo Olowookere Pan Africa financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, on Thursday announced an increase in its net profit for the first quarter of 2020. The lender, in its financial statements for the first three months of this year, declared a profit after tax of N30.1 billion as against N28.7 billion recorded in the same period of last year. The bank, which has branches in some African countries and few European nations, reported a profit before tax of N32.7 billion in contrast to N30.2 billion over the same period of 2019. During the period, the bank said

By Dipo Olowookere The bears maintained their grip on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited, further inflicting a cut of 0.29 per cent on Friday as a result of persistent profit-taking. The selling pressure hit most sectors of the stock market during the last trading day of the week as investors ponder on the effects of the government’s policies on the economy, especially the decision of President Bola Tinubu to borrow funds for consumption rather than production. Despite the efforts of the industrial goods sectors to lighten up the mood by growing by 1.28 per cent, the bourse was bearish due

By Dipo Olowookere The exit of Mr Olusegun Olusanya from the board of directors of Dangote Cement Plc has been announced by the firm. The cement maker disclosed on Monday Mr Olusanya informed the board that he was no longer interested in being part of it. No reason was given in a statement issued by the leading cement manufacturer for the decision of Mr Olusanya. With this development, Mr Olusanya ceases to be a member of the board of Dangote Cement. Before now, Mr Olusanya was sitting on the Dangote Cement board as an independent non-executive director. “The board of

By Dipo Olowookere There are strong indications that the Federal Government may set aside the policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regarding the 41 items exempted from foreign exchange market in its newly released 2017 Fiscal Policy Roadmap. The policy document prepared by the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, will, instead, come up with fiscal measures to reduce pressure in the parallel market. According to the document, the FG “will replace administrative measures on list of 41-items with fiscal measures to reduce demand pressure in parallel market.” Presenting the document at a programme held in Lagos, Mrs