A recent study from the University of Pennsylvania reveals that AI chatbots, ike OpenAI’s GPT-4o Mini—can be surprisingly easy to manipulate using basic psychological techniques from Robert Cialdini’s classic persuasion framework. According to the research published yesterday, even chatbots designed with safety in mind can be coaxed into providing forbidden or dangerous content. Some of the striking findings include: Commitment strategy: When researchers first asked the bot how to synthesize a benign chemical (vanillin), the AI was subsequently 100% likely to explain how to create lidocaine—a substance it would normally refuse to detail. Compliance jumped from just 1% to total…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Researchers working in the central plateau of Burkina Faso (Saria) have confirmed that intercropping sorghum and cowpea offers a highly effective solution to combat runoff, soil erosion, and poor yields in the Sahel region. The semi-arid area, with annual rainfall averaging about 800 millimeters, sits on gently sloping land (less than 3%). Despite the modest slope, farmers face serious land degradation problems, with up to 40% of rainfall lost as runoff and soil erosion reaching 4–8 metric tons per hectare each year. These conditions threaten food security and long-term agricultural productivity. The experiment Over a three-year field study, scientists tested…
Dr. Sidi Ould Tah has officially assumed office as the ninth President of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), succeeding Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, who completed two terms. At exactly 11:04 a.m. Abidjan time on a rainswept Monday, Dr. Ould Tah took the oath of office at the helm of Africa’s premier development finance institution. The high-level ceremony, held at the Sofitel Abidjan Hôtel Ivoire, was graced by Côte d’Ivoire’s President Alassane Ouattara and Mauritania’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. Also in attendance were former AfDB Presidents Dr. Adesina and Dr. Donald Kaberuka, the Bank Group’s Board of Governors, Executive Directors,…
Professor Olayinka Awopetu, a leading scholar of Applied ManufactTech revolution,uring Technology, Machine Tools, and Cutting Tools at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has said Africa is uniquely positioned to take a leading role in the next wave of global technological advancement. Delivering FUTA’s 184th inaugural lecture on August 26, 2025, titled “Metal Cutting and Theory of Chip Formation: The History of a Science without History,” Awopetu stressed that the continent has the vision, resilience, and innovative spirit to reshape global narratives if its leaders commit to investing in infrastructure, policy support, and education reform. Tracing the history of…
The Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) has secured a major boost for innovation and sustainability, as two of its staff members won TETFund/National Research Fund grants worth over ₦62.9 million for transformative projects. The announcement was made on Monday in a statement by the Deputy Registrar, Centre for Information, Communication and Public Relations, Mr. Adekunle Adams, who reaffirmed Yabatech’s reputation as Nigeria’s leading hub for technological innovation and applied research. According to Adams, Dr. Emodi Izuchukwu of the School of Art, Design and Printing received ₦24.1 million for a pioneering project on marine pollution and the blue economy. His initiative,…
The Nigerian agribusinesses are showing resilience despite persistent challenges ranging from insecurity and rising costs to climate change impacts, according to the Fourth Edition of the Nigerian Agribusiness Survey released by Agramondis in May 2025. The survey, which gathered insights from 118 agribusinesses across the country, revealed that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) dominate the industry, with 85% employing fewer than 50 people and more than half operating for less than five years. However, a gradual shift toward multi-sector participation was noted, as only 55% of businesses operated in a single sub-sector in 2024, down from 61% in 2023. Key…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pushed back against claims of favoritism in the allocation of federal projects and appointments, insisting that his administration has been guided strictly by fairness, justice, and equity. Speaking through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Sunday, Tinubu said every part of the country has benefitted from his government’s policies and projects, contrary to narratives suggesting otherwise. “This administration has demonstrated uncommon commitment to balanced development. No region is playing second fiddle or ignored. Nigerians can rest assured that under my watch, no part of this country will be left behind,” Tinubu…
In the first half of 2025, Nigeria’s 36 states received a combined ₦3.61 trillion in net allocations from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). The figure reflects funds shared after statutory deductions, excluding transfers to local governments and other external disbursements. Top beneficiaries Delta State received the highest allocation at ₦299.96 billion, representing 8.31% of the total. Rivers State followed with ₦264.90 billion (7.34%). Lagos State came third with ₦236.92 billion (6.56%). These three states alone accounted for over 22% of all net FAAC disbursements in the period, underscoring the fiscal advantage of oil-producing states and Nigeria’s commercial hub. ALSO…
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has faulted the Federal Government over the recent hike in passport fees, describing the move as arbitrary, unlawful, and discriminatory. In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the decision by the Minister of Interior and the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) was inconsistent with constitutional provisions and fundamental rights. According to SERAP, the increase in passport fees will deepen inequality and deny millions of poor and vulnerable Nigerians access to essential travel documents, as many citizens will now be forced to choose between meeting basic…
Global mpox cases fall, but sharp rises in Ghana, Philippines and China raise fresh concerns over localized outbreaks and vaccine needs. In Ghana, confirmed cases of Mpox nearly doubled within a week, rising from 167 to 313. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) described the situation as “exponential.” Ghana and Guinea have requested vaccine support to contain the outbreak. The Western Pacific region also recorded sharp increases. In the Philippines, cases jumped from zero in June to 126 in July, while China reported an increase from 108 to 152 within the same period. By contrast, overall…