The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) plays a critical role in safeguarding South Africa’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As the backbone of South Africa’s defence infrastructure, the SANDF processes vast amounts of personal information, but also classified information essential to its operations, intelligence and planning. Given this crucial function, the SANDF is expected to maintain the highest level of security when it comes to protecting its data systems. However, there have been recent allegations that its data systems were “compromised” by an installer’s SIM cards and open access Wi-Fi. It was reported by City Press that the computer management…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
Polaris Bank is organizing an open workshop for all classes of Journalist across the media spectrum as one of its critical CSR intervention meant to positively impact key stakeholders. This is part of its ongoing commitment to continually empower the Nigerian media and enable it play the critical watchdog role in the society, The 2024 media workshop with the theme: “Integrating AI tools in Contemporary Media practices for Innovation and Excellence” falls within the Bank’s intervention programs under its Education/Capacity Building Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) pillar which deepens media relations, and contribute to the overall development of Nigeria’s media landscape. Scheduled…
“The trade of governing has always been monopolised by the most ignorant and the most rascally individuals of mankind.” — Thomas Paine (1737-1809) Last week, we examined how certain leaders tend to overlook their inadequacies while scrutinising the failings of others. We likened them to individuals whose cerebral configurations had been exchanged with those of donkeys upon their ascension to leadership. Consequently, one may never restore their cognitive faculties, no matter how fervently one endeavours to reboot one’s senses. One such leader endeavoured to persuade his audience that Nyesom Wike’s appointment as a minister in an opposition party government was not…
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, has disclosed that Nigeria currently has the largest population of people living without electricity worldwide. He made this statement during the 90th birthday celebration of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon. According to Adesina, approximately 86 million Nigerians lack access to the essential commodity, positioning Nigeria at the top of the global list in this regard. He emphasized that the absence of a reliable power supply is severely impacting businesses and industries across the country. “The International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates that Nigeria loses about $29 billion annually, or…
Summary: Suspected Boko Haram members have released a graphic video depicting the beheading of four abducted individuals in Gwoza, Borno State, Nigeria. The footage shows the terrorists parading five women and two men before executing them, claiming the victims supported military actions against them. Among those killed were alleged Red Cross workers, though this remains unverified. By Abdulkareem Haruna A particularly disturbing element was the execution of a young woman by a relative, highlighting the brutal nature of the violence. Despite the horror, three elderly women were spared, with the terrorists not targeting those with grey hair. The group announced…
Nigerians have been plunged into darkness yet again following the collapse of the national power grid, marking the third such incident within a week and further compounding the nation’s ongoing power supply crisis. The latest grid failure occurred in the early hours of Saturday, leaving millions across multiple states without electricity. This recurring issue has led to widespread frustration as homes, businesses, and essential infrastructure are left crippled by the unreliable power supply. For many Nigerians, the repeated power outages have become emblematic of the deeper systemic failures that have long plagued the country’s energy sector. According to data from…
The Milken Institute and the Motsepe Foundation announced the 10 teams advancing to the Semifinalist Round of the Milken-Motsepe Prize in FinTech, with each team receiving $100,000 in funding. Responding to a global call for applications, this prize supports innovative solutions to expand access to tools necessary for financial inclusion across emerging and frontier markets. The Semifinalists will participate in an Innovation Showcase at the Milken Institute’s Middle East and Africa Summit on December 5-6, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, UAE. During this event, the 10 teams will pitch their innovations to a panel of expert judges and investors, and three…
Seattle-based non-profit Grow Further is channelling $300,000 from individual donors and corporate partners to fund cutting-edge research and development projects in Zimbabwe and Ethiopia. These initiatives aim to equip hundreds of thousands of smallholder farmers with climate-resilient crops to combat worsening droughts, hunger, and malnutrition, benefiting over 4 million farmers. Grow Further, known for empowering smallholder farmers in developing countries, will distribute the funds to agricultural scientists over five years. These scientists will focus on innovative solutions that help farmers adapt to climate change, improve crop yields, and boost nutrition. The International Crops Research Institute will implement the projects for the…
The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, is full of criticism for policemen and soldiers stealing and selling arms and ammunition from their formation to criminal elements. Ribadu stated this in Abuja on Thursday during the destruction of arms by the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms And Light Weapons. According to the National Security Adviser, security agents involved in the act are “worse human beings”, adding that efforts must be put in place to check those people. He added, “We have to find a way of putting a stop to this if we want to recover our country…
Three African countries—Algeria, Cabo Verde, and Mauritius—have successfully eliminated malaria, but dozens more still face this deadly disease. Globally, only 44 countries have eradicated malaria. The question of whether the rest of Africa catch up was explored in the latest Global Health Matters podcast, hosted by Dr. Garry Aslanyan. To delve into this issue, Aslanyan spoke with two pioneers in the field: Francine Ntoumi, founder and executive director of the Congolese Foundation for Medical Research in the Republic of the Congo, and Corine Karema, director of Malaria, NTDs, and Global Health at Quality and Equity Health Care in Rwanda. “I believe that with the few African countries…