Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello has expressed confidence in her chances ahead of the 2027 governorship race in Ogun State, declaring herself a candidate to beat. Speaking on The Morning Brief on Channels Television on Friday, the former senator said she expects the support of her parents, including her father, former President Olusegun Obasanjo. “I know my father and my mother will vote for me; that’s all that I can ask of them. Even if I don’t ask, they will vote for me; that I can guarantee,” she said. The 59-year-old politician, who recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
OpenAI has officially unveiled GPT-5, integrating advanced reasoning from models like o3 into a unified powerhouse now available through ChatGPT and its API. The launch follows early hints and marks a pivotal shift toward streamlined AI capabilities. Strategic PivotCEO Sam Altman teased GPT-5 as early as February 2025, positioning GPT-4.5 as the last non-chain-of-thought model. ALSO READ Climate-resilient crops: Gates Foundation grants $7m to advance research in Africa, South-Asia Summer rollout rumors solidified in July, with Altman posting screenshots in August that showcased agentic tasks and multimodal prowess. Rollout timeline The model launched August 6, 2025, quickly extending to all…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate suspension of the cashless payment system recently introduced at airport access points across the country. The directive—which was issued to Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, and to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN)—comes amid widespread reports of gridlock and hardship for travellers at major airports. The cashless initiative, branded “Go Cashless,” was rolled out on March 1, 2026 with the aim of modernising airport revenue collection, reducing cash handling, and curbing long-standing revenue leakages at toll gates, parking areas, and other airport payment points nationwide. However, motorists and…
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting grassroots innovators and independent inventors across Nigeria, beyond the confines of academia. The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of NOTAP, Obiageli Amadiobi, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja, stating that the agency operates several initiatives designed to protect and promote indigenous intellectual property (IP), including inventions developed outside formal research institutions. Amadiobi said one of the flagship initiatives is Project NOVA — NOTAP Value Acceleration — under which the agency establishes local innovation hubs nationwide to identify and evaluate grassroots inventions for commercial viability. “Under…
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ikoyi, has arraigned two senior officials of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited over an alleged fraud involving $306,667.81 and €50,250. The defendants, Bakare Oladimeji Surajudeen and James Olukayode Imokwede, were docked on Tuesday before Justice Ismaila Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged stealing and retention of stolen property. According to the anti-graft agency, an internal audit by the bank uncovered unauthorised debits totalling $306,667.81 and €50,250 — equivalent to N527,406,916.66 — from its Letters of Credit (LC)…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the immediate release of approved funds for the maintenance of Nigeria’s space assets, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the National Space Policy and Programme. The directive was issued on Tuesday at the maiden meeting of the National Space Council held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The President was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima. Tinubu said the move is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s space programme, improving accountability, and positioning the country to compete in the rapidly expanding global space economy. He also ordered that the cost of implementing the revised 25-year roadmap for the national…
In a move that signals a desperate bid for continuity amid regional chaos, Iran’s Assembly of Experts has reportedly selected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader. According to Iran International, the 56-year-old was elected during an emergency session on Tuesday, following intense pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to bypass traditional clerical deliberations. The appointment of Mojtaba, the second-eldest son of the recently assassinated leader, marks a seismic shift in the Islamic Republic’s political identity. For several decades, the regime has presented itself as a principled alternative to…
On Wednesday March 4, 2026, the Nigerian naira maintained a narrow trading range against the US dollar in the early session of the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), reflecting sustained demand for foreign exchange but also the stabilising effects of current monetary policy. In official window trading, the naira opened at ₦1,379.05 per $1, dipping briefly to ₦1,376.02 before rebounding slightly. By 7:30 a.m. WAT, the rate was around ₦1,377.04 per dollar, underscoring a market in price discovery rather than sharp swings. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has kept its closing reference rate near ₦1,384.29, representing a modest depreciation…
The United States Embassy in Abuja has cancelled all visa interview appointments scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, citing concerns about possible protests and public unrest in the Federal Capital Territory. In an official statement published on the Embassy’s website and social media platforms, the mission said the decision was made as a precautionary measure due to a high likelihood of demonstrations in the city. The notice warned that past protests linked to international events have occasionally led to confrontations between demonstrators and security forces. Affected applicants will be contacted with information on how to reschedule their interviews, and the…
Saturday, February 28, 2026, will remain a landmark date in Aiyede Kingdom and across parts of Ondo and Ekiti states — an “Ojo Manigbagbe,” a day not easily forgotten. On that day, businessman and political figure Engr. Michael Abayomi Adeyanju was formally installed as the Otunba Mulero of Aiyede Kingdom in Ekiti State. The ceremony was presided over by the Attah of Aiyede Kingdom, , who led the traditional rites that elevated Adeyanju into the ranks of distinguished Yoruba title holders. As custodian of the kingdom’s heritage, the monarch conducted the installation with solemnity and cultural depth, reinforcing the enduring…