The fourth edition of the Zenith Bank Tech Fair tagged “Future Forward 4.0: Embedded Finance, Cybersecurity & Growth Imperatives – The Impact of AI” is set to be held on Thursday, November 21, 2024, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. The fair will showcase leading technological innovations that cut across artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, risk management, compliance, financial intelligence, cloud computing and communication technologies among others. The event will also feature a start-up pitch competition – Zecathon – to identify innovative startups, panel discussions, masterclasses and exhibitions. Among the…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations that he was barred from entering the Aso Rock Presidential Villa due to drunken behaviour. The claims, made by journalist Jackson Ude on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, alleged that Wike was intoxicated while receiving Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Saturday. Ude further alleged, citing an anonymous security source, that Wike was denied access to the Presidential Villa during Modi’s visit to President Bola Tinubu. In a statement on Tuesday, Wike’s media aide, Lere Olayinka, described the allegations…
President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the National Assembly’s approval for a new external loan of N1.767 trillion ($2.209 billion) to finance part of the N9.7 trillion deficit in the 2024 budget. The president’s letter was read during the Assembly’s plenary session on Tuesday. In addition to the loan request, Tinubu also forwarded the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF/FSP) for 2025-2027 to the Assembly. The National Social Investment Programme Establishment Amendment Bill was also submitted, aiming to institutionalize the social register as the primary tool for implementing federal welfare programs. Rising debt obligations Nigeria’s foreign debt servicing…
The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has revealed that over N135,540,905,308.92 billion in matching grants has not been accessed by states between 2020 and 2024. The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, disclosed this during his presentation of the 2023 and 2024 budget implementation report to the Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education on Monday in Abuja. Bobboyi clarified that the current year’s budget (2024) would be disbursed in the following year, which means that the allocated funds did not usually lapse, unlike funds allocated to other organisations. He, however, expressed concern that many states had failed to meet…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has commended Nigeria’s Supreme Court for its landmark ruling affirming the legitimacy and prosecutorial powers of the country’s key anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU). In a unanimous decision delivered on Friday, a seven-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Uwani Abba-Aji, dismissed a suit filed by several state governments, led by Kogi State, challenging the authority of these federal agencies. The court ruled that the suit lacked merit, emphasizing…
The Society of Digital Newspaper Owners of Nigeria (SDNON) has successfully concluded its 2024 executive elections, ushering in a new leadership team dedicated to advancing the association’s mission of promoting excellence in digital journalism. In a closely contested election, Mr. Adeniyi Ifetayo emerged as the President-elect, while Mr. Gbenga Shaba was elected Vice President. Their victory signifies a commitment to bringing innovative leadership to the organization. Mr. Adeniyi Ifetayo Moses is a multi-award-winning celebrity journalist, luxury and lifestyle reporter with Ben TV London, and the publisher of Megastar Magazine. With over 15 years of experience, he has carved a niche…
In a series of intelligence-led operations, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted significant consignments of cocaine, methamphetamine, tramadol, and other narcotics bound for the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, and Qatar through Lagos and Abuja airports. Several arrests of drug traffickers were made, alongside the confiscation of illicit substances across multiple states in Nigeria. Major seizures at airports Cocaine to the UK: On November 5, NDLEA operatives at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport intercepted 4.40kg of cocaine concealed in 13 parcels destined for the UK via Frankfurt. The consignment’s mastermind, Ekeocha Anayo Nelson, was arrested on November 8. Opioids…
The national grid collapsed three times last month and twice this month. This year, it has collapsed at least 11 times. This underscores our long-standing struggle to have a consistent power supply, even if not for the whole nation, at least for those fortunate enough to have access to the few megawatts produced by the so-called “Giant of Africa.” While last week, Niger Republic was able to add no fewer than 18 megawatts to its national grid in just four months, Nigeria, with an installed capacity of 16,348MW, achieved only 5,313 megawatts as of September this year. Our travails with…
The Sokoto State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has raised alarm over potential food security challenges in the state, calling on the government to take immediate action to mitigate the looming crisis. At an emergency congress held at the Press Center on Saturday, November 16, the Union appealed to the state government to prioritize measures aimed at preventing food buyoffs from the state, especially to neighbouring countries, and to stockpile reserves in silos and warehouses. These steps, the NUJ noted, are critical to cushioning the anticipated shortages that could arise in the coming months. In the same…
In rural Zambia, where many young girls face early pregnancies and limited educational opportunities, a new study has revealed the challenges of short-term interventions. Despite providing financial aid and education programs to 5,000 girls, the study found only a modest reduction in pregnancies during the support period, with little lasting impact after the aid ended. The research, to be published in eClinicalMedicine on November 14, spanned 4.5 years and involved 157 schools. Conducted by the University of Zambia, University of Bergen, Chr. Michelsen Institute, and the Norwegian School of Economics, the study divided schools into three groups: financial support, financial…