The Anambra State Government has ordered an immediate end to Monday school closures, warning that education workers who fail to report to duty risk losing 20 per cent of their salaries. The directive is contained in a circular dated January 22, 2026, issued by the Anambra State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and signed by Hon. Mgbemena Loveline E, the Board Secretary. The decision followed a State Executive Council retreat held on January 21, 2026, and presided over by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo. Under the directive, all teaching and non-teaching staff are required to resume work every Monday without exception.…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
Khaby Lame, the world’s most-followed TikTok creator, has struck a deal valued at about $900 million after selling part of his commercial company, Step Distinctive Limited, marking one of the largest monetisation deals involving a global content creator. The transaction was disclosed by Rich Sparkle Holdings (ANPA.US), a U.S.-listed firm, which announced the completion of its acquisition alongside a strategic partnership tied to Lame’s global commercial operations. Under the agreement, Rich Sparkle, through its operating partners, will hold exclusive rights to Khaby Lame’s brand partnerships, endorsements and e-commerce business for an initial 36-month period. The company estimates the integrated model…
The World Bank has approved $50 million to expand solar-powered agricultural solutions in Nigeria and five other African countries, in a move aimed at boosting farm productivity, reducing post-harvest losses and widening access to clean energy. The funding will support the rollout of solar-powered cold rooms, refrigerators, water pumps and grain mills across Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sierra Leone, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Implementation will be led by Clasp, a Washington DC-based non-profit focused on energy efficiency and clean energy access, with support from partners including the Rockefeller Foundation, according to Bloomberg. The initiative has already attracted strong…
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has formally terminated its credit rating relationship with Fitch Ratings, escalating a long-running disagreement over the agency’s assessment of the bank’s creditworthiness. In a statement issued on Friday, Afreximbank said Fitch’s evaluation framework no longer reflects a proper understanding of the bank’s Establishment Agreement, mission, and mandate. The Pan-African lender maintained that its unique legal structure and treaty-backed protections have been mischaracterised under Fitch’s current rating model. The decision follows Fitch’s June 2025 downgrade of Afreximbank’s long-term rating from BBB to BBB-, with a negative outlook. Fitch had cited rising exposure to sovereign borrowers undergoing…
Nigeria’s banking industry has renewed calls for a balanced approach between cash and digital transactions, as data shows a sharp 97 per cent rise in currency in circulation over the past five years. According to figures from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), cash in circulation rose to ₦5.7 trillion in December 2025, up from ₦2.9 trillion in 2020. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 8.9 per cent from ₦5.26 trillion in November 2025. Currency held outside the banking system also surged by 116.7 per cent to ₦5.4 trillion over the same period. The Committee of Heads of Bank…
The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association, a union under the Trade Union Congress (TUC), has accused the Director General of NAFDAC National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, of a sinister Agenda to kill indigenous-owned industries producing wines and spirits. This statement was made by Comrade Solomon Adebosin, Executive Secretary of the Union, during a protest at the NAFDAC office, against the ban on alcohol in Sachet policy being enforced by the Agency. The Labour Union wondered why, despite the office of the secretary of the federation asking the ban to be put on hold, especially because of…
OneDosh, a fintech company focused on stablecoin-powered payments, has raised $3 million in pre-seed funding to develop infrastructure aimed at improving how individuals and businesses move money across borders. Founded in February 2025 by Jackson Ukuevo (Co-Founder & CEO), Godwin Okoye (Co-Founder), and Babatunde Osinowo (Co-Founder), OneDosh was shaped by the founders’ firsthand experiences navigating blocked cards, frozen accounts, delayed international transfers, and currency restrictions while living and travelling globally. These challenges highlighted a consistent gap between the demand for seamless global payments and the systems available to support them. Today, OneDosh operates in the United States and Nigeria, two active remittance…
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has announced that polytechnics will soon be allowed to award National Diplomas (ND) and Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degrees in science, technology, and engineering programmes, while non-science courses will remain under the Higher National Diploma (HND) framework. The announcement was made by Prof. Idris Bugaje, NBTE’s Executive Secretary, during a retreat for governing council chairmen, commissioners of education, rectors, registrars, and bursars in Abuja. Bugaje explained that the change is enabled by the ongoing amendment of the Polytechnic Act, which has passed second reading in the House of Representatives. Under the proposed reform,…
The Federal Government has confirmed the payment of ₦152 billion to contractors for verified projects, even as indigenous contractors resumed protests in Abuja over alleged unpaid debts running into trillions of naira. The confirmation was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Federal Ministry of Finance and shared by presidential aide Dada Olusegun on X (formerly Twitter). According to the ministry, the payments followed due verification processes in line with existing financial regulations, stressing that funds are only released after thorough checks to ensure accountability and protect public resources. “This is to confirm that the FMF has paid…
Donald Trump used his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos to restate his hard-line views on global security, alliances, and American power, while insisting he would pursue his most controversial goals without resorting to military force. In a wide-ranging and confrontational address, the US president defended his interest in Greenland, criticised European and Canadian leaders, commented on Venezuela and Ukraine, and questioned whether America’s allies still contribute enough. His remarks reinforced a foreign policy driven by leverage, pressure, and what he described as America’s disproportionate generosity. Here are six key takeaways from Trump’s speech: 1. No military force…