Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has launched the 2026 Hackaholics Accelerator Program, welcoming ten startups into the cohort. The Hackaholics Accelerator, a selective growth program under Wema Bank’s Hackaholics platform, is designed to help promising Nigerian startups strengthen their business foundations and prepare for sustainable scale and investment. After six years of driving innovation through Hackaholics, Wema Bank is extending its support beyond ideation and competition into hands-on startup building through Hackaholics Accelerator. The initiative provides founders with the structure, mentorship, and ecosystem access they need to turn strong…
Author: Newsdesk
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Mbah Chidinma Sophina over an alleged fraud involving N19 million and €8,370 linked to a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) scheme. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the commission. Operatives of the EFCC Enugu Zonal Directorate arrested the 33-year-old suspect over allegations of criminal breach of trust and obtaining by false pretence under the pretext of helping a victim secure a Certificate of Sponsorship to relocate to the United Kingdom as a caregiver. According to the commission, the arrest followed a petition filed by the victim, who alleged that he met the suspect on TikTok in…
Armenia has postponed the rollout of immigration reforms that will reshape how foreign workers enter and live in the country. The reforms, which were earlier scheduled to begin on August 1, 2026, will now take effect on November 1, 2026. The new rules introduce a dedicated work visa, annual quotas for foreign workers, and fully digital residence permit applications. Authorities say the reforms are designed to streamline the immigration system while improving oversight of foreign employment. The changes are expected to affect international professionals, foreign residents, and companies that rely on global talent to fill skill gaps in the country’s…
The Bauchi State chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has called for greater protection of women’s rights. They advocated for women’s rights to quality healthcare, education, and justice during the celebration of the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD), held on Thursday evening in Durum Village, Bauchi Local Government Area of the state. The programme aimed to raise awareness among rural women about their rights, particularly access to quality healthcare services and protection from all forms of violence. Speaking at the event, the chairperson of the state’s NAWOJ, Rashida…
The Emir of Hadejia, Dr. Adamu Abubakar-Maje, has called on the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify efforts to curb the diversion and misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) in the state. The traditional ruler made the call on Thursday when the State Director of NOA, Mr. Ahmad Tijjani, led a team comprising representatives from UNICEF and the Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency (JSPHDA) on an advocacy visit to his palace in Hadejia. Dr. Maje-Abubakar, represented by the Galadima of Hadejia, Usman Abdul’aziz, also urged the agency to step up public enlightenment campaigns to discourage people from selling…
The Leprosy Mission Nigeria (TLMN) has donated 25 electronic motorized beds to the Niger Leprosy Hospital in Minna as part of efforts to ease the treatment and recovery of leprosy patients. The Operations Manager of TLMN, Mr. Pius Ogbu, who presented the donation to the Niger State Government on Thursday, said the beds were provided as support from the Leprosy Mission, Switzerland. Ogbu said: “We received 25 electronic motorized beds, 25 bed sheets, 25 pillows, and 25 pillow cases today to support the Leprosy Hospital in Minna. “With these electronic motorised beds, patients can now adjust them to suit their…
The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, has called for a shift from over-dependence on foreign technology to promoting local innovation. Ali made the call when Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu, President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), led a delegation on a courtesy visit to NAN headquarters in Abuja on Thursday. He said many African research centres produce valuable outcomes that often remain unused, stressing the need to convert them into practical solutions and products. According to him, Nigerians are already demonstrating strong innovation capacity in emerging sectors such as agricultural technology…
An FCT High Court has restrained the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) from issuing demand notices, medical certificates of fitness, or conducting training and screening of food handlers in the Federal Capital Territory. Justice Samira Bature issued the order in a ruling on suit No. FCT/HC/CV/983/2022, involving Dunes Investment and Global Services Ltd as applicant, AMAC as first respondent, and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as second respondent. The Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling was made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday by Mr. Ogenna Ibe, counsel to the second respondent. Dunes Investment filed a Notice…
Stakeholders in the health sector on Thursday inaugurated a platform known as Com-Watch to address inadequate antibiotic stock and the circulation of substandard medicines. It was reported that the Community Access to Effective Antibiotics (Com-WATCH) solution is an integrated, data-driven technology designed to control stock in real time and detect substandard and falsified (SF) antibiotics. The platform empowers communities, vendors and other stakeholders to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Country Director of Jhpiego, Dr. Adetiloye Oniyire, said the project is being implemented in collaboration with key partners. Oniyire said these include eHealth Africa and…
The Federal Government says Nigeria is strengthening domestic health financing and systems to sustain immunization and primary healthcare services as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, gradually transitions out of the country. Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, stated this on Thursday in Abuja during the handover of the Gavi and UNICEF Primary Health Care (PHC) Isolationism Project to the Federal Government. The initiative, organized by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), involves solacing 371 PHCs across 17 states. Pate said the project would improve access to essential services in off-grid communities, enhance vaccine cold…