South African singer Tyla has won the Best African Music Performance award at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, held on February 1, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The 24-year-old secured the honour with her hit single “Push 2 Start”, marking her second win in the category. She previously claimed the award in 2024 for her global breakout single “Water”, becoming the first artist to win the category twice since its introduction. The latest victory further cements Tyla’s growing global influence and positions her as one of Africa’s most successful young pop exports. Introduced in 2024, the…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has ordered all domestic airlines to integrate a mandatory special needs assistance option into their ticket booking systems within seven days. The directive, issued on January 30, 2026, by NCAA, aims to support passengers with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility (PRM), allowing them to request assistance before purchasing tickets, rather than waiting until airport arrival. “The NCAA reiterates that all domestic airlines must ensure full compliance with provisions for PRM and passengers with disabilities by incorporating a mandatory Special Needs/Assistance request feature on their reservation systems,” the statement said. “Non-compliance may attract…
Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc reported an 81.6 per cent increase in pre-tax profit to N552 billion for the year ended December 31, 2025, according to its unaudited financial results, up from N303.8 billion in 2024. The performance was driven by strong growth in interest income, supported by higher loan volumes, elevated interest rates, and a decline in impairment charges on financial assets. Profit after tax rose by 69 per cent to N380.8 billion, while earnings per share increased 38.5 per cent to N23.68, the bank’s highest level in six years. Interest income grew 38.8 per cent to N787.05 billion, outpacing a 29.5…
Nigeria’s delayed capital budget releases in 2025, now compounded by a slow take-off for the 2026 budget, have exposed a structural weakness in fiscal execution that continues to undermine the country’s investment drive and growth ambitions. As highlighted by PwC, the issue is not merely the size of the budget or deficits, but the persistent failure to release and utilise capital funds on time. Key Implications 1. Slowed Infrastructure Delivery and Investment Momentum Capital projects are the backbone of growth, crowding in private investment and boosting productivity. Delays in releases meant projects planned for early 2025 either stalled or…
Dangote Group has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Chinese construction and mining equipment giant, XCMG Construction Machinery Co. Limited to strengthen infrastructure delivery, industrial capacity, and green project development across Africa. Under the agreement, both companies will collaborate across key sectors including mining, petrochemicals, building materials, agriculture, and infrastructure construction, leveraging their respective strengths for long-term growth. XCMG will support Dangote Group through its extensive African sales and service network, deploy dedicated project teams, and provide integrated equipment and service solutions, particularly for open-pit mining, petrochemicals, agricultural processing, and building materials projects. The partnership also includes personnel exchanges…
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has applied to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for approval to launch up to one million satellites into orbit to support space-based artificial intelligence (AI) computing. In its filing, SpaceX said orbital data centres could offer a more energy- and cost-efficient alternative to traditional, ground-based facilities, which are struggling to keep pace with rapidly growing AI workloads. The proposed solar-powered satellites would operate in low-Earth orbit (500–2,000km) and function similarly to the company’s Starlink network. SpaceX argues that moving AI processing to space could reduce the energy and water consumption associated with terrestrial data centres,…
High-risk sectors such as fintech, healthcare, and financial services are likely to face increased scrutiny for data protection breaches in 2026, as regulatory enforcement in Nigeria becomes more aggressive, a data protection expert has warned. Ademikun Adeseyoju, Head of Emerging Services at DataPro Limited, disclosed this at the weekend, noting that data protection compliance has moved from advisory to non-negotiable, with strict penalties now firmly in place. According to him, enforcement by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) is expected to intensify, particularly in sectors that process large volumes of sensitive personal and financial data. Under existing regulations, major…
Carlos Alcaraz produced a commanding comeback on Sunday to defeat Novak Djokovic and claim his first Australian Open title, becoming the youngest man in history to complete a career Grand Slam. The 22-year-old Spaniard recovered from a slow start to beat the Serbian great 2–6, 6–2, 6–3, 7–5 in a gripping final at Melbourne Park, denying Djokovic an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title. With the victory, Alcaraz also became the youngest player in the Open Era to win all four Grand Slam tournaments. He earned $2.79 million in prize money, while Djokovic took home $1.45 million as runner-up. Alcaraz’s…
The Nigerian Army says it has killed a senior Boko Haram commander, Abu Khalid, alongside 10 other militants during a night operation in Borno State. In a statement issued on Sunday, the army identified Abu Khalid as the second-in-command of Boko Haram in the Sambisa Forest, describing him as a key figure in the group’s leadership structure. “Abu Khalid was a critical element within the terrorist hierarchy, responsible for coordinating operations and logistics in the Sambisa axis,” the statement said. The military confirmed that no casualties were recorded among its troops during the operation. It added that clearance operations…
The general public is hereby informed of the appointment of Dr. Zack Ekanola as the Chief Commissioner of The Scout Association of Nigeria (TSAN). The appointment takes immediate effect and underscores the association’s commitment to strengthening leadership, institutional capacity, and youth-focused programming across the country. Dr. Ekanola brings to the role extensive experience in leadership, administration, and youth development. His appointment aligns with TSAN’s long-standing vision of promoting discipline, patriotism, character development, and community service among young Nigerians. In his new capacity, Dr. Ekanola will provide strategic leadership for the association, coordinate national Scouting activities, and engage stakeholders at…