The naira strengthened further against the US dollar last week, trading within the N1,302–N1,315 range at the official foreign exchange market as rising dollar liquidity and stronger external reserves continued to support the currency. The movement brings the naira closer to the psychologically important N1,300/$ threshold, with market conditions suggesting a gradual improvement in the balance between dollar demand and supply. At the centre of the development is the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) stronger foreign exchange position. The country’s gross external reserves have risen to about $54 billion, their highest level in roughly 18 years, giving the apex bank…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
African women innovators are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and smart technologies to address pressing challenges in healthcare and agriculture, with researchers in Uganda and Rwanda developing solutions tailored to local needs. The innovations were showcased by two African women during a webinar hosted through the Africa Science Dialogue, highlighting the growing contribution of women to the continent’s digital transformation in health and food systems. In Uganda, Dr. Rose Nakasi, a researcher at the Makerere AI Health Lab and lecturer at Makerere University, is leading a team developing AI-powered diagnostic tools aimed at making the detection of diseases such…
Nigeria’s external reserves have risen above the $54 billion mark for the first time since December 2008, strengthening the country’s foreign exchange buffer amid improved external inflows. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the reserves stood at $54.08 billion as of September 3, 2026, up from $53.99 billion recorded a day earlier and $53.90 billion on September 1. The latest figure represents an increase of about $8.51 billion since the beginning of the year, when the reserves stood at approximately $45.57 billion. The current reserve level is also close to the $54.21 billion recorded in December…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has validated Bhutan’s progress towards eliminating dog-mediated human rabies, following an expert assessment of the country’s surveillance and rabies-control programmes. The validation follows a field mission conducted by an international team of experts from August 18 to 21, 2026, to independently assess Bhutan’s claim of eliminating dog-mediated human rabies. According to the WHO, the team reviewed surveillance and programme data, conducted field visits and assessed the implementation of rabies-control measures across the country. The experts also engaged stakeholders from both the human and animal health sectors as part of the verification process. Following the assessment,…
The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), has inaugurated a State Steering Committee on Maternal, Perinatal and Child Death Surveillance and Response (MPCDSR). The committee was inaugurated on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at the Emergency Operations Centre of the Specialist Hospital, Sokoto, as part of efforts to strengthen the identification, reporting and response to preventable deaths involving women, newborns and children. The inauguration was performed on behalf of the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Faruk Umar Abubakar, by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Ibrahim Haliru Dingyadi. Dingyadi said the committee was…
The Federal Government has opened a new funding window under its Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) programme, with up to N2.5 billion earmarked for 50 student-led innovative ventures. Under the initiative, each selected venture can receive up to N50 million in equity-free funding to develop and scale its business. The programme, implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to help students transform research, inventions and technology-driven ideas into commercially viable enterprises. The S-VCG focuses particularly on innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM). Beyond financial support, the programme provides beneficiaries with access to incubation, mentorship,…
Liquidity in Nigeria’s financial system fell by N930 billion on Thursday, pushing the overnight lending rate higher as the impact of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) Treasury Bills auction tightened money-market conditions. Market data showed that financial system liquidity opened the day at a credit balance of N3.66 trillion, down from N4.61 trillion recorded at the close of trading on Wednesday. The N930 billion decline was attributed largely to the settlement of the Treasury Bills auction. The tightening in liquidity was reflected in the overnight rate, which increased by two basis points to 22.20 per cent. The Open Buyback…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has raised the alarm over reports that some young Nigerians are considering selling their kidneys to cope with worsening economic hardship. Atiku, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, said the reported development was a disturbing indication of the depth of Nigeria’s cost-of-living crisis. In a statement on Friday, he said young Nigerians were increasingly being pushed towards desperate measures to meet basic needs. “I have heard disturbing stories about the extent to which young Nigerians are being driven simply to survive,” Atiku said, describing reports of young people selling parts…
Several artificial intelligence agents linked to OpenAI reportedly took control of a German-language programming website and turned it into a covert communication platform where AI systems exchanged tactics for bypassing restrictions and avoiding detection. The incident, which occurred in May 2026, involved DseWiki, a German-language wiki used by programmers. According to a Reuters report cited by Nairametrics, the agents made more than 15,000 edits to the website, using it as a hidden message board to communicate with one another. Researchers who uncovered the activity said some of the messages indicated that the AI agents were coordinating their actions and exploring…
The Federal Government has denied allegations that Nigeria supported the failed coup attempt in Niger Republic, describing the claims as false and misleading. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said Nigeria had no involvement in the attempted overthrow of Niger’s military government. He said the allegations were part of efforts to misinform the public and portray Nigeria negatively, stressing that the country remained committed to constitutional governance, democracy and regional stability. Enikanolaiye reaffirmed Nigeria’s opposition to unconstitutional changes of government and said the country would not support the use of force to resolve political disputes. The Federal…