The CEO of Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola, has urged Nigerian youths to leverage consistency and excellence to dismantle structural economic barriers across Africa. Agboola shared his journey during the 2026 Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Programme (YEEP) summit in Abuja, explaining how his background as a software engineer helped him identify payment fragmentation across the continent. He noted that Nigeria has one of the world’s most advanced real-time financial systems via the NIP network, but the lack of integration with other African nations inspired the creation of Flutterwave as an infrastructural highway. The NIP (Nigeria Instant Payment) network enables instant fund transfers…
Author: Newsdesk
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 724 illegal pharmaceutical outlets in Kwara. PCN Registrar Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed announced this in Ilorin during a news conference following a four-day operation across 10 Local Government Areas of Kwara. Ahmed, represented by Dr. Suleiman Ciroma, Head of Enforcement at PCN, stated that the team inspected a total of 1,238 premises, including 167 pharmacies, 957 patent medicine stores, and 114 illegal outlets. “The enforcement covered Ilorin South, Ilorin East, Ilorin West, Asa, Offa, Ifelodun, Oyun, Moro, Irepodun, and Edu,” he said. “Consequently, 724 premises were sealed, including 68 pharmacies, 542 patent medicine…
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, praised the University of Benin’s (UNIBEN) proposed N100 billion Trust Development Fund. He commended the initiative during a visit from a university delegation, which briefed him on the upcoming launch and invited him to attend the event. According to a statement by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the delegation included the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Umaru Shuaibu; the Chairman of the UNIBEN Trust Development Fund (UNIBEN-TDF), Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu; and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Edoba Omoregie. The minister also praised the university management for establishing the trust fund, describing it as a bold…
More than 50,000 athletes from over 50 universities across Nigeria are expected to participate in the 2026 Nigeria Universities Games Association (NUGA) Games, hosted by the University of Calabar (UniCal). The Vice-Chancellor of UniCal, Prof. Offiong Offiong, announced this at a news conference in Calabar. The 28th edition of the biennial event is scheduled for November 14 to 24. Athletes will compete in 28 sports during the Games. Prof. Offiong expressed the university’s readiness to host the event, emphasizing it as a platform for promoting academic and athletic excellence and fostering unity among Nigerian universities. “The games will promote excellence…
The Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) has issued a 60-day notice for the local government council elections scheduled for August 17, 2026. This was announced by Nuru Abdulhamid, the commission’s Secretary, on Friday in Bauchi. He explained that the notice complies with the Bauchi State Electoral Law, which requires notifying political parties, stakeholders, and the public in advance of the election. READ ALSO: Oyo assembly cancels anniversary celebrations over security concerns Abdulhamid recalled that the commission previously issued a 360-day notice in August 2025, allowing ample time for preparations. He advised political parties to conclude their internal preparations and…
Troops of Operation Fansan Yamma rescued kidnapping victims, arrested a suspected terrorist collaborator, and recovered 318 rustled livestock during operations in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara. This was detailed in an operational report released to reporters on Friday in Abuja. The report stated that troops at Forward Operating Base Kadage rescued two women and a toddler abandoned by bandits in Igabi Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The victims were kidnapped in May from Kajenjere Tami village and were being moved to another bandit camp before troops intervened. READ ALSO: Lagos police nab woman over human trafficking of Kaduna girls The rescued…
The Anambra State Government has disbursed N80 million to 80 startups to position the state as a leading technology and innovation hub in Nigeria. This was announced on Friday in Abuja by Chinwe Okoli, CEO of Solution Innovation District (SID) and Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation. Okoli quoted Gov. Soludo, stating that the investment reflects his administration’s commitment to transforming Anambra into Africa’s Silicon Valley and creating opportunities for young people in the digital economy. “Our administration is dedicated to turning Anambra into Africa’s Silicon Valley. This vision is driven by a strategic goal…
The Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), a non-profit organization, launched an urban gardening and tree planting initiative for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in Nasarawa State on Friday. Dr. Michael David, GIFSEP’s Executive Director, announced this at an event marking World Environment Day 2026 and tree planting in Shabu Development Area, Lafia, Nasarawa State. He explained that the initiative was supported by the Embassy of France in Nigeria, which also backs GIFSEP’s #Food4PWDs Campaign. “GIFSEP’s #Food4PWDs Campaign aims to strengthen food security, improve livelihoods, and build climate resilience among PWDs, who are among the most vulnerable groups…
The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA), a non-governmental organization (NGO), has trained farmers, researchers, policymakers, and extension personnel on agroforestry finance to prepare them for opportunities in the emerging carbon economy. The two-day capacity-building workshop, funded by the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), started Thursday in Keffi, Nasarawa State, with participants from Nasarawa, Benue, Cross River, and Kano states. The workshop was organized by SAA under the GIZ-supported Strengthening Institutional Frameworks for Transformative Agricultural Systems in Nigeria (SIFTAS) project. This initiative aims to raise awareness and build technical capacity on carbon credits, carbon markets, and agroforestry-based climate solutions, while promoting…
Folasade Femi-Lawal, Country Manager for West Africa at Mastercard, says Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are driving growth through digital payments, workforce investments, and expansion plans. She made this statement based on findings from the Mastercard SME Confidence Index. The report reveals that 81% of Nigerian SMEs are confident about their prospects over the next 12 months, with 68% expecting revenue growth. Femi-Lawal noted that Nigerian businesses continue to demonstrate resilience and a strong understanding of growth factors. “Nigerian businesses are ambitious—they’re investing in their people, adopting digital payments, and seeking capital to expand,” she said. She also reaffirmed…