Okin Biscuits has restarted one of its production lines at its factory in Offa, Kwara State, after 17 years of inactivity, marking a significant step towards the revival of the company’s manufacturing operations. The development was announced by the company on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, through its Facebook page. Okin Biscuits said biscuits were produced from the rehabilitated line during a technical trial, although the company stressed that additional testing, calibration and rehabilitation must be completed before full commercial production resumes. According to the company, the production line had remained inactive for 17 years after critical components, including cables, frequency…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Nigeria and other major African economies to intensify fiscal, monetary and governance reforms, warning that stronger economic institutions are essential to achieving sustainable and inclusive growth. The Fund identified fiscal reform as a priority in seven of the eight largest African Union economies it assessed, with Nigeria requiring further improvements in tax policy, revenue administration, public financial management and the efficiency of government spending. The IMF also highlighted the need to strengthen monetary policy frameworks and transmission mechanisms in Nigeria, Egypt and Ethiopia, while calling for governance improvements, including greater fiscal transparency, stronger…
The Federal Government is considering a review of the concession agreement for the Benin-Asaba Expressway after blaming the concessionaire for the deteriorating condition of the highway. David Umahi, Minister of Works, disclosed this during an on-the-spot assessment of the road in Benin, Edo State, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the major corridor. Umahi said the government would invoke the overriding public interest provision in the concession agreement to intervene and restore the highway, which has subjected motorists and other road users to significant hardship. He also said competent contractors would be engaged to…
MTN Group is set to develop AI-focused data centres with an initial capacity of about 150 megawatts (MW) across Nigeria and South Africa through a partnership with a UAE-backed investor. Ralph Mupita, the group’s Chief Executive Officer, disclosed the plan on Tuesday as MTN outlined opportunities to expand beyond its traditional telecommunications business. The proposed facilities will be developed through Africa Data Hub Holding, a venture involving MTN and an undisclosed UAE-backed investor with experience in building data centres in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf markets. Mupita said MTN would hold a minority stake in the venture, while…
Nigeria and the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) have renewed their commitment to transforming the country’s rice production system as part of efforts to strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imports. The commitment was reaffirmed when Ezenwa Nwaobiala, Nigeria’s Ambassador to Côte d’Ivoire, visited the AfricaRice main research station in Mbé, Côte d’Ivoire. Nwaobiala said the visit was aimed at strengthening the partnership between the Federal Government and AfricaRice and accelerating the deployment of scientific innovations to boost rice production in Nigeria and across the region. He said food sovereignty had become a major continental priority, noting that Nigeria’s ability…
Moniepoint Inc. is winding down its UK-based remittance service, MonieWorld, less than two years after launching the platform to serve Nigerians in the diaspora. The fintech company said the decision followed a review of its business portfolio and long-term priorities, with the group choosing to redirect capital, technology and operational resources towards its core financial services business in Africa. MonieWorld was launched in April 2025 to allow Nigerians and other UK-based users to send money directly to Nigerian bank accounts. Despite the decision to exit the business, Moniepoint said MonieWorld recorded significant early traction. According to the company, monthly transaction…
Country music legend Dolly Parton has died at the age of 80 after a brief battle with cancer. Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tennessee, surrounded by loved ones, according to a statement from her representatives. The specific type of cancer was not disclosed. Her representatives described Parton as an artist who spent her life bringing “joy, laughter, hope and integrity” to everything she touched, while highlighting her extraordinary generosity and charitable work. The news marks the end of one of the most remarkable careers in popular music. Parton rose from extreme…
Nearly three million Tesla vehicles manufactured in China are being recalled over concerns that their hidden door handles could make it difficult for occupants to escape in an emergency. The recall affects about 2.98 million China-made Tesla vehicles, including the Model 3, Model Y, Model S and Model X. It forms part of a wider recall involving more than four million vehicles from several automakers over concerns surrounding concealed door-handle designs. Other manufacturers affected include Chinese electric vehicle makers XPeng and Xiaomi, as well as Geely. The safety concerns centre on the difficulty of locating and operating some hidden door…
There are some artists whose music entertains us, and there are others whose lives become part of the music they create. Dolly Parton belongs firmly in the second category. Her extraordinary career has been built not only on a remarkable voice and an unmistakable songwriting gift, but also on a life story shaped by poverty, faith, family, resilience and an enduring belief in the dignity of ordinary people. Few songs capture that story more powerfully than “Coat of Many Colours.” Released in 1971, the song draws from Parton’s childhood in rural Tennessee and tells the story of a coat her mother…
The Federal Government has released the 2026/2027 admission list for Junior Secondary School One (JSS1) candidates admitted into Federal Unity Colleges (FUCs) across Nigeria. The Federal Ministry of Education announced the release in a statement on Monday, following approval by Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education. Successful candidates can check their admission status and print their admission slips through the Federal Ministry of Education’s Posting Portal. Parents and guardians can also check the admission status of their children and wards on the notice boards of the relevant Federal Unity Colleges. Successful candidates are required to print their admission…