Nigerian Professor Andrew Agbaje Wins €1.5m ERC Grant for Youth Vaping Study

Professor Andrew Agbaje, a Nigerian researcher at the University of Eastern Finland, has received a €1.5 million European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant to lead a five-year study into the long-term health effects of vaping among young people.

The VAPE-HABIT project will examine how vaping affects the heart, brain, kidneys, liver and metabolic health. The award is the first ERC Starting Grant secured by the Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Eastern Finland, where Agbaje is a Senior Researcher and Associate Professor of clinical epidemiology and child health.

The new project adds to a body of work examining how health behaviours and changes during childhood and adolescence can influence cardiovascular and metabolic health later in life.

A global ranking in arterial stiffness research

The grant follows Agbaje's ranking as the world's No. 1 scholar in arterial stiffness research in the November 2025 ScholarGPS global ranking.

He was also ranked first in Europe and the Nordic countries in the specialty and placed in the top 0.01 per cent of scholars worldwide in arterial stiffness research over the preceding five years, based on productivity and quality.

His research has linked childhood tobacco smoking with premature cardiac damage and found that smoking prevalence increases 15-fold between the ages of 13 and 17.

He has also identified arterial stiffness as a novel risk factor for paediatric obesity and insulin resistance, while finding adolescence to be a critical period for interrupting the pathological cycle between increasing fat mass and insulin resistance.

Other studies have shown that light-intensity physical activity can help reverse excessive fat deposition associated with childhood sedentariness.

Agbaje has also identified waist-to-height ratio as a specific surrogate for fat mass rather than muscle mass, suggesting it could replace BMI in assessing childhood obesity. The finding led to a live BBC World News interview.

VAPE-HABIT takes the research into vaping

The new ERC-funded study turns attention to youth vaping and its possible consequences across several vital systems of the body.

VAPE-HABIT will investigate the effects of vaping on young people's heart, brain, kidneys, liver and metabolic health over five years.

The subject fits within Agbaje's broader research into childhood and adolescent health, while addressing a different form of exposure from the tobacco smoking examined in his earlier work.

Recognition from the American Heart Association

Agbaje's research has been selected by the American Heart Association among major cardiovascular advances in two successive years.

In December 2024, one of his studies was named among the world's most significant advances in cardiovascular research for the year. Another was selected in December 2025 among the world's cutting-edge advances in cardiovascular medicine.

His research has also performed strongly in citation rankings. Clarivate's Web of Science placed two of his publications among the top 1 per cent of highly cited papers in Clinical Medicine in October 2023, while a third reached the top 1 per cent in Biology & Biochemistry.

He has published single- and first-authored original research in JACC, Diabetes Care and Nature Communications and is the main supervisor of seven PhD candidates.

A reach extending beyond academia

Agbaje's research generated more than 2,500 media mentions between 2022 and 2024.

The coverage appeared in international outlets including CNN, BBC, and many others.

The reports had a potential global reach of more than 4.5 billion people, with an estimated equivalent advertising value exceeding US$30 million.

His broadcast appearances included BBC Radio Devon on 16 January 2024, BBC World News on 14 March 2024 and the BBC World Service Radio Newsday programme on 15 December 2023.

The US Endocrine Society featured his research in its March 2024 Endocrine Magazine and produced a podcast interview with him. He also participated in a press conference at the ENDO 2024 congress in Boston.

The European Association for the Study of Obesity, representing professional associations from 36 European countries, has interviewed him and featured his work at the European Congress on Obesity.

Awards and international scientific work

Agbaje received the inaugural American Society of Nutrition Foundation-Novo Nordisk Foundation Flemming Quaade Award for Innovative Approaches to Childhood Obesity, worth 500,000 Danish kroner, approximately €67,000 or US$70,000.

He also received the 2024 EASO-Novo Nordisk Foundation New Investigator Award in Childhood Obesity, worth 300,000 Danish kroner, approximately €40,000 or US$44,000.

His other honours include the Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award, received five consecutive times; the Jeremiah and Rose Stamler Research Award, received twice; and the Elizabeth Barrett-Connor Research Award in Epidemiology and Prevention and Early Career Investigator Award for Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, each received once.

He has also received an Endocrine Society Award for Outstanding Abstract, while the European Heart Journal designated him a Rising Star in Preventive Cardiology.

Agbaje leads the urFIT-child research group at the University of Eastern Finland and is principal investigator of the PAFSMEVAC project, which runs from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2035.

His research collaborations include Nigeria, Canada, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. He was an Honorary Research Fellow at the Children's Health and Exercise Research Centre at the University of Exeter from 2023 to 2026.

He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, European Society of Cardiology, American Heart Association and New York Academy of Medicine, as well as an elected member of Sigma Xi. He is also an expert adviser to the World Health Organization and a member of the US Endocrine Society's task force on preventing childhood obesity.

A Finland-Nigeria scientific connection

The VAPE-HABIT project places a Nigerian researcher at the head of a major European study on youth vaping, while his existing research network includes collaborators in Nigeria.

Its focus also extends a line of inquiry that has run through Agbaje's work: understanding health risks early enough to identify their consequences before they become established later in life.

The €1.5 million ERC award now places youth vaping at the centre of Agbaje's next major research effort, five years after his work on childhood health began attracting international scientific and media attention. The VAPE-HABIT study will determine how far the effects of the habit extend, from the heart and brain to the kidneys, liver and metabolic system.

Nigeria Moves Closer to Unlocking Badagry’s Deep-Sea Port Potential

Nigeria’s plan to strengthen its position in global maritime trade has taken another important step, with the Federal Government opening exclusive negotiations with APM Terminals for the development of the proposed Badagry Deep-Seaport in Lagos State.

The development followed discussions in Copenhagen, Denmark, between APM Terminals and a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola. The engagement resulted in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Badagry Port Development Limited for exclusive negotiations on the project.

Oyetola described the agreement as a major step towards a new phase in Nigeria’s maritime and economic development.

“Yesterday in Copenhagen, Denmark, we took an important step towards unlocking a new chapter in Nigeria’s maritime and economic development,” he said.

The proposed Badagry port is expected to provide additional deepwater capacity and accommodate larger container vessels, while increasing cargo-handling capacity and creating room for transshipment serving Nigeria and the wider West African market.

Its potential economic impact also extends beyond port operations. The project is expected to support jobs, skills development, investment and enterprise across the maritime value chain, particularly in logistics, transportation, manufacturing and warehousing.

Badagry is part of the Federal Government effort to expand deep-sea port infrastructure along Nigeria’s coastline. Similar projects are underway or being considered in Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Ogun, Ondo and Rivers states.

The strategy is aimed at improving Nigeria’s ability to handle growing maritime traffic and strengthening its connectivity with international and regional shipping networks. Deep-sea ports, built around naturally deep-draft channels, are designed to receive larger vessels and handle greater volumes of cargo.

At the same time, attention is being given to existing ports as the Nigerian Ports Authority is prioritising the rehabilitation of Apapa and Tin Can Island ports, while supporting Lekki and Badagry. The government is also pursuing the revitalisation of Eastern ports and the deployment of digital infrastructure, including the Port Community System and National Single Window.

The urgency of these investments is underscored by the growth recorded across Nigeria’s ports in 2026.

In the first quarter, cargo throughput rose 11.6 per cent year-on-year to 32.38 million metric tonnes, while the gross registered tonnage of ocean-going vessels increased 19.5 per cent to 46.75 million tonnes.

The second quarter recorded further growth. Cargo throughput climbed 12.3 per cent to 35.74 million metric tonnes, up from 31.83 million metric tonnes in Q2 2025.

Ocean-going vessel calls rose 14.4 per cent to 1,201, while their gross registered tonnage increased 22.2 per cent to 49.95 million tonnes, indicating increased calls by larger vessels.

Container traffic also grew by 11.3 per cent to 602,392 twenty-foot equivalent units, or TEUs. Transshipment reached 29,038 TEUs, compared with zero recorded in Q2 2025.

The performance follows an equally strong 2025, when total cargo throughput increased 24.8 per cent to 129.3 million metric tonnes and container traffic rose 25.7 per cent to more than 2.1 million TEUs.

With cargo volumes and vessel activity already rising, the Badagry project comes at a critical moment for Nigeria’s maritime economy. If the negotiations translate into a well-executed port, the project could help Nigeria capture more regional trade, attract investment and turn its growing maritime activity into more economic opportunities.

Lagos Teachers Are Raising a New Generation of Problem-Solvers

A student who once missed school to pursue vocational training elsewhere is now learning those skills within the school system. Another, after leaving junior secondary school, carried an idea for a Changemakers Club to his new senior secondary school. Elsewhere, students are turning waste into useful products, teaching one another digital skills and holding menstrual-health awareness activities.

These examples have emerged from the Changemaker Teacher Activation Programme, known as CTEACH, which recently graduated its third cohort in Lagos.

Rather than introduce another subject, CTEACH encourages teachers to build critical thinking, empathy, leadership, collaboration and problem-solving into regular classroom activities. The aim is to help students move from identifying problems to developing practical responses.

The change has also affected the way teachers interact with their students.

Shalewa Ololade, an Assistant Director in Education District 3, said she became interested in the programme after observing participating teachers give students more confidence to express their views, raise concerns and suggest improvements in their schools.

“We are not teachers anymore who just come to the classroom just to teach and let the students memorise. That is not our work anymore,” Ololade said.

“Our work now is to bring up ambassadors. To bring up changemakers. To bring up voices that are heard.”

The results can be seen in a range of student-led activities. Some pupils have beautified classrooms, converted waste into useful products and developed anti-bullying games designed to promote empathy. Others have supported classmates experiencing difficulties.

At Araromi Junior Secondary School, CTEACH ambassador and teacher Okeinde Omoyuwa said the programme helped the school respond to absenteeism linked to vocational training.

Some students had been regularly missing classes because they left school to acquire vocational skills. Teachers responded by introducing vocational and entrepreneurship training within the school.

Omoyuwa also recalled a former junior secondary school student who continued the initiative after moving to senior secondary school. The student later contacted her with plans to establish a Changemakers Club at the new school.

At Badore, Ajah, another participant, Alamu Oluwadamilare, said CTEACH had helped teachers create opportunities for students to connect classroom lessons with real-life challenges.

Students at his school formed a change advocates club, organised digital-skills training for classmates and conducted menstrual-health awareness activities. They were also taught how to link their solutions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

“Education is not just about reading and writing. It is meant to develop the potential of these children and make them useful citizens to themselves, their community and the nation,” Oluwadamilare said.

The programme was implemented as a three-year pilot under the global Time for Change partnership involving Ashoka, First Book and Teach For All. In its final cohort, 400 teachers were trained, while 200 graduated at the Lagos ceremony.

Angelou Ezeilo, Programme Director and Co-President of Ashoka Africa, said students need skills beyond literacy and numeracy to navigate an increasingly complex society. She said the programme had encouraged teachers to guide students towards taking action rather than merely recognising challenges.

Although the pilot has ended, Ezeilo said CTEACH would continue through a train-the-trainer model. Ten educators were recognised as ambassadors at the ceremony and will help extend the approach to other teachers alongside representatives of previous cohorts.

The organisers also plan to expand the model across Nigeria. Ezeilo said similar initiatives were being developed in Johannesburg, South Africa; Senegal; and Nairobi, Kenya.

She called for greater support from private-sector organisations and other partners to sustain the programme, particularly in public schools where access to educational resources remains limited.

A student who learns to confront bullying, teach a classmate a digital skill, turn waste into something useful or organise others around a community concern is acquiring capabilities that extend well beyond the examination hall.

That is the larger promise of changemaking in education: giving young people not only knowledge, but the confidence and practical skills to put it to work.

Nigeria Takes Academic Certificate Verification Into the Digital Age

The Federal Government has fully automated the evaluation and authentication of academic certificates, ending the need for applicants to visit the Federal Ministry of Education physically to complete the process.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced the development on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, describing it as another step in the government’s digital transformation of education administration.

Applicants can now complete the evaluation and authentication of their academic credentials online through the Ministry’s dedicated platform. The official portal is essverify.education.gov.ng, while enquiries can be directed to ess1@education.gov.ng.

According to the Ministry, the new system is intended to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, speed up processing and improve transparency while making the service more accessible to Nigerians and applicants outside the country.

The reform is also aimed at strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s academic certification system. Alausa said institutions, employers and otherwise stakeholders would have access to a more structured and reliable process for verifying qualifications.

The Ministry said the initiative reflects its commitment to using technology to modernise education governance, improve institutional efficiency and deliver more citizen-centred services.

For graduates, employers, institutions and other stakeholders, the immediate change is straightforward: academic certificate evaluation and authentication can now be completed online.

For the education sector, the reform represents another step towards a system in which academic records are digitally managed, easier to verify and less dependent on physical documentation.

Golden Francis Carries Nigeria’s Hopes to Miss Elite World in Egypt

Golden Francis has arrived in Somabay, Egypt, carrying Nigeria’s hopes at the 5th edition of the Miss Elite World pageant, where contestants from more than 35 countries are competing for the international crown.

The 24-year-old runway and commercial model entered the competition with an established pageantry background, having won the Miss Steph International Queen 2025 title before she was appointed Miss Elite Nigeria in May 2026.

Francis is now among the international delegates taking part in the competition at the Red Sea luxury resort, where activities began on September 8 and will continue through the grand finale on September 19.

The programme includes rehearsals, cultural tours and preliminary evaluations as contestants make their case for a place in the final stage.

At 175 cm, Francis has attracted attention within the pageant community for her runway walk and swimsuit presentation. She is managed by the Miss Steph Pageant organisation, with a campaign that combines modern sophistication with structural African grace.

Her appearance in Egypt gives Nigeria an opportunity to claim a title it has never won before. Francis is seeking to become the country’s first Miss Elite World winner, adding another international achievement to her pageantry journey.

The competition will reach its defining moment on September 19, when the winner is crowned in Somabay.

For Francis, the coming days will be about turning the experience, preparation and attention surrounding her campaign into a performance capable of taking Nigeria to the top of the competition.

NASENI Builds National Pathway for Young Nigerian Innovators

Nigeria’s effort to build a stronger technology and innovation economy is increasingly turning towards identifying talent early and giving promising ideas the support needed to develop beyond the excitement of a competition.

That is the thinking behind FutureMakers Week, an initiative of the NASENI Innovation Hub that brought together 60 young technology developers, aged five to 16, from Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Rather than limiting the exercise to pitching ideas, the programme gave participants an opportunity to develop prototypes and present their solutions to judges and industry leaders. A virtual hackathon held from August 17 to 20 was followed by live-streamed pitch sessions from August 24 to 27.

The projects emerging from the programme address practical challenges in areas including education, agriculture and safety. They include an AI-powered learning platform, an emergency alert system and a smart hydroponic kit.

Six participants have emerged as zonal champions and will advance to the forthcoming NASENI Invention Fest. They are Ruqayya Safwa Faruq of the North West, Joshua Agboola of the South West, Mary Oluwabusayomi Umahonlen of the North Central, Precious Akabude-Odozi of the South South, Emmanuel Paul of the North East and Ogbonna-Nwota Gold of the South East.

At the national finale, the six finalists will compete for a N5 million grand prize, a fully funded international study tour and scholarships to two Nigerian universities.

For NASENI Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Suleiman Halilu, however, the competition is only one part of a larger objective. The agency wants FutureMakers to serve as a sustained pipeline for discovering and developing young innovators across the country.

“Sixty innovators, six zones, six challenges — what we witnessed during FutureMakers Week is proof that this programme is deliberately national in reach and local in problem definition,” Halilu said.

The agency is also extending its support beyond the competition. All 60 participants will retain access to SparkLab, mentorship, training and scholarship pathways, providing avenues for continued learning and development.

Hub Manager of the NASENI Innovation Hub, Busola Beckley Perez-Folayan, said the programme had shown that young Nigerians could develop practical solutions to real-world problems even while working from home.

FutureMakers Week forms part of NASENI’s effort to strengthen Nigeria’s science, engineering and technology ecosystem by identifying promising innovators early and creating clearer pathways for their ideas to progress from prototypes to funding, further development and eventual commercialisation.

The approach recognises that a promising idea requires more than an opportunity to be showcased. It needs the right technical guidance, skills, resources and networks to mature into a solution capable of creating lasting value.

With the six zonal champions now heading towards the national finale, NASENI’s bigger test will be whether the support established through FutureMakers can help these young innovators sustain that journey long after the competition ends.

The date for the NASENI Invention Fest will be announced in due course.

Bauchi Specialist Hospital Gets New NHIS Complex to Expand Healthcare Services

The Bauchi State Specialist Hospital has expanded its capacity to provide healthcare services to National Health Insurance Scheme beneficiaries with the commissioning of a new NHIS complex equipped with facilities for general medical care, maternal health and newborn services.

The facility, commissioned on Saturday by the First Lady of Bauchi State, Aishatu Bala Mohammed, comprises a labour room, Special Care Baby Unit, pharmacy, laboratory, medical records section and other support services.

Its completion comes as the hospital manages a growing NHIS population, with the Chief Medical Director, Professor Abdulkareem Mairiga, revealing that more than 16,000 NHIS clients currently receive care at the hospital.

According to Mairiga, the rising number of patients made additional space necessary. The hospital management initially remodelled four existing structures to accommodate key NHIS services, including pharmacy, laboratory, medical records, consulting rooms and laundry services.

“We felt there was a need to add more places where our patients could be seen. That was why we decided to remodel four houses and create areas for our pharmacy, laboratory, medical records, consulting rooms and laundry services,” he said.

The management later constructed a separate facility to strengthen maternal and child healthcare. The new structure features a labour room with about five beds and a Special Care Baby Unit for newborns requiring specialised attention.

The expanded infrastructure is expected to ease pressure on existing services while providing dedicated spaces for essential healthcare needs, particularly those involving mothers and newborns.

Speaking at the commissioning, Aishatu described the facility as an important addition to Bauchi State’s healthcare infrastructure and welcomed its focus on women and children.

“I am particularly pleased that the facility has been designed to significantly cater to the healthcare needs of women and children.

“This is extremely important because the health of women and children is directly connected to the well-being and future of our communities. When our mothers are healthy, our families are stronger, and when our children have access to quality healthcare, we build a healthier and more prosperous future,” she said.

She stressed the importance of safe and dignified maternal healthcare and adequate care and protection for children, while commending the hospital’s management and staff, particularly Mairiga, for their leadership and commitment to completing the project.

“Your efforts remind us that when vision, leadership and dedication come together, meaningful development becomes possible,” she said.

Aishatu also urged the hospital management, healthcare professionals, relevant government agencies, development partners and residents to ensure that the facility remains properly maintained and accessible to those who need it.

“Let us protect the infrastructure, use the equipment responsibly, maintain a clean environment and ensure that every patient who comes here is treated with professionalism, compassion and dignity. Good governance can provide the infrastructure, but all of us have a role to play in ensuring that this investment continues to serve generations to come,” she said.

She expressed optimism that the complex would become a centre of healing and hope and contribute to efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in Bauchi State.

With more than 16,000 NHIS clients already accessing care at the Specialist Hospital, the new complex provides additional infrastructure to support the institution’s growing workload and strengthen healthcare delivery across the state.

MMIA Records Africa’s Fastest Growth as Nigeria’s Aviation Capacity Surges

Nigeria’s aviation sector is posting one of its strongest growth signals in recent months, with Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) emerging as Africa’s fastest-growing major airport by scheduled seat capacity in September 2026.

MMIA has 470,000 scheduled seats available this month, an increase of 90,600 seats from September 2025 and a year-on-year growth rate of 24.1%, according to the OAG African Aviation Market Data for September 2026.

The Lagos airport outpaced Casablanca’s Mohammed V International Airport, which recorded the second-highest growth rate among the continent’s 10 largest airports at 13.5%, after adding 87,500 seats.

MMIA’s growth is particularly notable because it comes despite the airport ranking ninth in absolute scheduled capacity among the continent’s 10 largest gateways.

Cairo International Airport remained Africa’s largest, with 1.79 million scheduled seats, up 11.2% year-on-year. Addis Ababa Bole International Airport followed with 1.19 million seats, representing 6.5% growth, while Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport recorded 1.16 million, up 5%.

Cape Town International Airport had 590,000 seats, up 11.3%, followed by Houari Boumediene Airport in Algiers with 580,000, up 3.8%. Marrakech Menara Airport recorded 530,000 seats, an increase of 10.5%, while Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport reached 520,000, up 11.9%. Tunis-Carthage International Airport had 460,000 seats, representing 8.2% growth.

The expansion in Lagos reflects a shift across Nigeria’s aviation market, which recorded the fastest capacity growth among Africa’s top 10 aviation markets during the month.

Nigeria added 322,800 scheduled airline seats, taking national capacity to 1.19 million, compared with 864,100 seats in September 2025. The increase represents 37.4% year-on-year growth.

Egypt recorded a larger absolute increase of 364,800 seats, reaching 3.08 million, but its growth rate was 13.4%. South Africa added 151,200 seats to reach 2.43 million, Morocco increased by 188,000 to 2.07 million, and Ethiopia added 83,500 to reach 1.41 million.

Tanzania’s capacity rose by 77,100 seats to 733,000, Algeria added 74,600 to reach 1.05 million, Kenya increased by 6,900 to 833,100, Tunisia gained 24,500 to reach 789,800, while Ghana added 34,600 seats to reach 302,100.

OAG attributed Nigeria’s rapid expansion to currency reforms, a new aircraft leasing agreement and growing confidence among airlines looking to serve the country.

The market’s recent trajectory supports that assessment. Nigeria’s scheduled capacity had already increased 44.5% year-on-year in July to 1.22 million seats, with domestic capacity rising 54.8% to 921,100.

At MMIA, scheduled capacity moved from 417,622 seats in June to 480,000 in August before settling at 470,000 in September. The airport added about 62,400 seats between June and August, while its August capacity was 25.6% higher than a year earlier.

The airline segment is also contributing to the expansion. Air Peace, Nigeria’s largest airline, increased its scheduled seat capacity by 54.7% year-on-year in September to 354,804 seats.

The carrier added 125,400 seats compared with September 2025 and returned to Africa’s top 10 airlines by scheduled capacity.

The Federal Government’s approval in May for the establishment of the Nigeria Aircraft Leasing Company could provide additional support for this growth by improving domestic airlines’ access to aircraft. The company will operate as a privately funded and managed Special Purpose Vehicle with strategic government backing.

Across Africa, scheduled airline capacity reached 25.8 million seats in September, up 9.4% year-on-year. International capacity accounted for 78% of the total, while domestic capacity grew by 11.6%.

Against that continental backdrop, Nigeria’s numbers stand out. The combination of rising airline capacity, stronger domestic operations, increased activity at MMIA and Air Peace’s rapid expansion points to a market becoming increasingly important to Africa’s aviation network.

For Lagos, the immediate headline is clear: MMIA may not be the continent’s largest airport by seat capacity, but in September, it was Africa’s fastest-growing major aviation gateway.

Eno Commissions 6.475km Road in Ikot Ekpene as Akwa Ibom Marks 39th Anniversary

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has commissioned the 6.475-kilometre Amanyam–Mbiaso road in Ikot Ekpene as part of activities marking the state’s 39th anniversary.

The project is the third of 39 projects scheduled for commissioning across Akwa Ibom’s 31 local government areas through the end of September, reflecting the state government’s focus on using the anniversary celebrations to showcase ongoing infrastructure and development initiatives.

The newly completed single-carriageway road is eight metres wide and features 12.95 kilometres of side drains. It traverses Ifuho, Ibong, Ikot Udoe and Mbiaso communities, providing improved access to areas that community leaders said had endured difficult road conditions for decades.

Speaking during the commissioning, Governor Eno said his administration was more interested in delivering projects that improve the lives of residents than engaging in unnecessary political activities.

“Whatever developmental efforts that we are putting in place are tailored towards the overall benefit and improved living conditions of our people. We don’t play politics with the welfare of our citizenry,” he said.

The governor commended the people of Ikot Ekpene for their continued support and assured them that uncompleted projects inherited from previous administrations would be reviewed and completed for the benefit of residents.

He also promised further development projects in the area, including the Ikot Ekpene International Market, Compassionate Homes, Primary Health Centres and additional road projects.

Eno praised the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, Hon. Aniefiok Nkom, for his efforts to execute projects targeted at the needs of residents. He said similar development initiatives by local government chairmen across the state were encouraging and reflected the importance of local government autonomy.

Providing details of the completed road, the Commissioner for Works, Prof. Eno Ibanga, said the 6.475-kilometre project had been diligently supervised to ensure standard, quality and durability.

Ibanga described the road as a complete developmental ecosystem that had opened up Amanyam and adjoining communities. He also disclosed that Governor Eno’s approval of a variation in the project cost helped facilitate its timely completion.

Nkom, in his remarks, praised the governor for what he described as significant development strides in Ikot Ekpene, particularly the ongoing International Market, hospital project, access roads and the Amanyam–Mbiaso road.

“You have done so much in, and for Ikot Ekpene. Currently, you have four projects to commission in Ikot Ekpene. I want to tell you that we are very happy with you,” Nkom said.

He said residents of Amanyam and the wider Ikot Ekpene community had declared their support for the governor, adding that his administration had fulfilled its promises to the people.

Inkosi Brou’s Viking Cup Triumph Brings Nigeria’s Olympic Dream Closer

At 18, Nigerian fencer Inkosi Brou is already competing with a much bigger target in sight: becoming the first Nigerian fencer to qualify for and compete at the Olympic Games.

That ambition has received another boost after Brou won the 2026 FIE Satellite Sabre Viking Cup in Iceland, adding another international title to a career that has produced a series of important milestones for Nigerian fencing.

The victory comes after a strong run of performances on the international circuit. In 2024, Brou won silver at the World Tournoi Satellite Cup in Reykjavik, becoming the first Nigerian fencer to secure a global fencing medal. In 2025, he followed that achievement with a bronze medal at the African Junior Championships in Angola.

His latest success came against a field featuring competitors from Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, the Netherlands, Ecuador, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Jamaica, Hong Kong, Australia, Great Britain and host nation Iceland.

Ranked highest among the competitors, Brou began his campaign in the round of 16 with a convincing 15–4 victory over Hamid Al Maazmi of the UAE. He then overcame Sweden’s Kenneth Kong 15–11 in the quarter-final.

A 15–12 semi-final victory over the Czech Republic’s Lumir Kral, the No. 4 seed, sent him into the title bout against Iceland’s Andri Maateev.

Brou delivered again when it mattered most, defeating Maateev 15–6 to claim the tournament.

The result was an encouraging response after Brou missed the Commonwealth Championships held in Lagos last month. He instead focused on the one-day Viking Cup, a competition sanctioned by the International Fencing Federation.

Brou’s development has been shaped partly by his training in the United States, where he works at the Scarsdale Fencing Center and the Peter Westbrook Foundation.

He is also the grandson of the late Prof. Dora Akunyili, the former Director-General of NAFDAC.

For now, Brou remains Nigeria’s highest-ranked fencer in the world, with the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics firmly established as the next major objective.

His progress from a historic global medal in 2024 to an African junior medal in 2025 and now a senior international title in 2026 is giving Nigeria an increasingly prominent name in a sport where the country has yet to make its Olympic debut.

Brou hopes to change that in Los Angeles.

NASENI moves Nigerian technology from ideas to industry

For years, Nigeria’s technology story has been marked by a familiar contradiction: a country rich in engineering talent and inventive ideas, yet often unable to move promising innovations from the laboratory into sustained commercial production.

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure is seeking to change that pattern.

In three years of institutional reforms and technology commercialisation, NASENI says it has developed and introduced more than 40 products spanning renewable energy, transportation, agriculture, healthcare, information technology, clean cooking and education.

The portfolio includes electric vehicles and tricycles, CNG conversion solutions, solar irrigation pumps, solar home systems, batteries, smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions, rapid diagnostic kits and clean cookstoves.

The agency disclosed the development on Sunday as it marked three years of reforms aimed at building a stronger connection between research, manufacturing and the market.

Its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Halilu, said Nigeria already has the human capacity to create useful technologies. The missing link, he argued, has been a system capable of taking viable ideas through development, financing, manufacturing and ultimately into the hands of consumers.

“Nigeria has capable engineers, researchers and innovators. What has often been missing is a connected system that can identify promising ideas, develop them, finance them, manufacture them and take them to the market,” Halilu said.

That approach has shaped NASENI’s innovation-to-industry pipeline, which begins with talent discovery and research funding before moving through incubation, product development, commercialisation and market access.

The agency’s intervention has included financial support for researchers. In 2025, it awarded N229m in research commercialisation grants to 14 researchers working in agriculture, clean energy, healthcare, mobility and digital security.

Physical infrastructure is also being developed to support the industrialisation effort. NASENI is developing a 40-hectare Solar Industrial Park in Gora, Nasarawa State, alongside an electric vehicle assembly facility at Abuja Technology Village.

In Abuja, the agency has established CNG conversion and reverse-engineering centres, while solar-powered irrigation technology is being deployed through the Irrigate Nigeria Project.

Healthcare manufacturing is another part of the programme. The NASENI-Troment Rapid Diagnostics Factory in Abuja is being developed to support local production of medical diagnostic products.

The agency said its work has been strengthened by more than 50 local and international partnerships covering renewable energy, automotive technology, agriculture, healthcare, defence, aerospace and research.

The programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its efforts to expand local manufacturing, reduce import dependence and commercialise technologies developed in Nigeria.

Although producing an innovation is only the beginning as the harder task is building factories that can operate sustainably, meeting required standards and ensuring that locally developed products can compete for consumers.

NASENI said its next phase will therefore concentrate on scaling commercial production, increasing local content, improving standards and certification, raising factory utilisation and expanding market adoption.

Halilu said the agency’s performance should ultimately be judged by tangible economic outcomes rather than the number of ideas generated.

“The real test is whether our products are adopted, our factories operate sustainably, our partnerships transfer useful capabilities, our trainees secure livelihoods and more value remains within the Nigerian economy,” he said.

NASENI noted that while some of its factories and products are already operational, others remain at the development, testing or commercialisation stages.

The significance of the effort lies in whether that pipeline can consistently turn Nigerian research and engineering into commercially viable products, stronger local supply chains, skilled jobs and productive industries.

For a country that has long searched for ways to reduce its dependence on imported technology, the real breakthrough will not be the unveiling of another prototype but seeing Nigerian-made technology become an ordinary and competitive part of everyday economic life.

SEC Approves Dangote Refinery’s N2.15 Trillion IPO, Set to Become Africa’s Biggest Share Sale

Dangote Refinery is moving into a new phase of its development after Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved its planned initial public offering, setting the stage for what could become the largest share sale in Africa’s history.

The offer, announced by Dangote Group on Friday, is expected to raise about N2.15 trillion if fully subscribed. The refinery plans to issue 4.1 billion ordinary shares at N525 per share, giving investors across Africa an opportunity to participate in one of the continent’s most ambitious industrial ventures.

The SEC has also registered 120.13 billion existing ordinary shares in the refinery which places the company’s implied valuation at approximately $47 billion.

Subscription is expected to begin on September 14, according to a source familiar with the transaction. The timing follows comments made by Aliko Dangote, the group’s majority shareholder, on Thursday, as preparations for the public offering move closer to completion.

A formal signing ceremony with the Nigerian Exchange is expected next week, according to two company sources cited by Reuters.

For the refinery, the proceeds are expected to finance a major expansion that would take its refining capacity from 650,000 barrels per day to 1.4 million barrels per day.

Built on the outskirts of Lagos at an estimated cost of $20 billion, the facility has become a major force in Nigeria’s fuel market since commencing operations. Its refined products are also reaching markets across Africa and Europe, extending the refinery’s commercial footprint well beyond Nigeria.

The company has strengthened its finances ahead of the offering, raising $2.5 billion through a private placement and securing underwriting commitments from investors.

Dangote has set an equally ambitious target for the business. He said he wants the refinery to become one of Africa’s largest companies and generate more than $12 billion in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA).

He has also made clear that the planned offering is intended to have a continental reach, rather than being confined to Nigerian investors.

“This is not a Nigerian listing. It’s an African listing, and we are going to pay everybody, including the Nigerian listing, in dollar terms,” Dangote said at a business meeting in Botswana.

The offer will therefore be open to investors across Africa, including Nigerian retail investors, potentially broadening ownership of a refinery that has historically relied largely on private capital.

Its expanding role in refined petroleum exports is already showing up in international trade data. Figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration show that Nigeria’s seaborne refined petroleum exports to Europe rose by about 767% in the second quarter of 2026, reaching 130,000 barrels per day from 15,000 barrels per day in 2023. The increase was driven largely by higher production from Dangote Refinery.

The planned capacity expansion comes as Dangote Group also pursues refining opportunities outside Nigeria, including a proposed refinery project in Kenya.

With regulatory approval now secured, the Dangote Refinery IPO brings a landmark Nigerian industrial asset closer to public ownership. If the N2.15 trillion offer is fully subscribed, it will not only rank among the most significant transactions in Nigeria’s capital market but also set a new benchmark for equity offerings across Africa.

Isinwa Chidozie Senator takes Nigeria’s male pageantry to Vietnam

Isinwa Chidozie Senator has emerged as Mr Universe Nigeria 2026 and Mr Cosmo Nigeria, earning the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the Mister Cosmo International pageant in Vietnam in January.

The Imo State representative secured both titles at the grand finale of the Mr Universe Nigeria pageant held on Saturday at Skyview, The Lekki Coliseum, Lagos, beating contestants representing states from across the country.

The announcement came after a tense final moment at the event, with Mr Lagos seen holding Senator’s hand shortly before the anchor declared Mr Imo the winner. The announcement drew applause from the audience.

“The winner for Mr Cosmo Nigeria and Mr Universe 2026 is Mr Imo,” the anchor announced in a video of the event shared by the Nigerian organisers.

A fashion model and sports enthusiast, Senator is an alumnus of Imo State University, where he previously served as Mr Imo State University. His latest success adds to an established record in male pageantry, having finished as first runner-up at a previous edition of Misters of Nigeria before returning to compete for the national title.

The victory comes with prizes valued at more than N7m, including a brand-new car, cash awards and other gifts. More significantly, it places Senator on an international platform, where he will compete against representatives from other countries at the Mister Cosmo International pageant in Vietnam.

Other honours were presented at this year’s competition. Mr Lagos finished as first runner-up, while Mr Edo was second runner-up. Mr Benue won the Gentlemanx Top Model category, Mr Enugu clinched the Mister Tourism Africa Nigeria title and Mr Ogun was crowned Man of the Year.

Organised to select Nigerian representatives for international male pageants, the Mr Universe Nigeria competition brings together contestants from different states in a national contest that provides a pathway to global competitions.

For Senator, that pathway now leads to Vietnam, where he will represent Nigeria after adding Mr Universe Nigeria 2026 and Mr Cosmo Nigeria to his growing list of pageantry achievements.

John Alamu and the Push to Keep More of Nigeria’s Cocoa Value at Home

Nigeria has the farmers, it has the cocoa, it has the land and climate to produce a crop demanded around the world. What Nigeria has struggled to do is capture enough of the value created from that cocoa.

John Alamu is trying to change that.

Through Johnvents, the Nigerian entrepreneur has moved from aggregating cocoa from smallholder farmers to processing the beans into cocoa butter, liquor and cake, building industrial capacity in Ondo State and expanding into international markets.

His story is therefore not simply about cocoa production but what happens after the crop leaves the farm and whether more of that economic activity can take place in Nigeria.

Alamu established Johnvents in 2016, initially financing harvests, aggregating cocoa and selling raw beans. The company eventually moved into processing, taking a position further along the value chain.

That decision has transformed Johnvents into one of Nigeria's largest cocoa processors.

From cocoa beans to industrial processing

The economics of the business explain the attraction.

A tonne of raw cocoa earns about $8,000. Processing it into cocoa butter can raise its value to roughly six times that amount, while chocolate can command up to 30 times the value.

For Nigeria, the difference represents an opportunity to turn an established agricultural strength into greater industrial activity.

Johnvents began producing cocoa butter, liquor and cake and expanded its processing operations in Ondo State.

In 2021, the late Rotimi Akeredolu, then governor of Ondo State, commissioned the company's 15,000-tonne facility in Akure.

The following year, Johnvents won Best Cocoa Dairy Company in Nigeria at the BusinessDay Leadership Awards.

The company's biggest expansion came in 2023, when Johnvents acquired Premium Cocoa Products Ile-Oluji, one of Nigeria's oldest cocoa-processing plants.

The facility has an installed annual capacity of 30,000 tonnes. The acquisition made Johnvents Nigeria's largest cocoa processor by installed capacity.

The company has also distributed agricultural inputs to 6,000 farmers in Ondo State and says it works with more than 10,000 farmers.

The farmers behind the factory

The factory is only as strong as the supply chain feeding it. That puts smallholder farmers at the centre of Johnvents' model.

The company's relationship with farmers includes cocoa aggregation, financing and agricultural inputs. For farmers, such links can provide access to finance and markets. For a processor, they help secure the supply and quality of cocoa needed to keep production running.

Alamu's familiarity with rural communities predates Johnvents, it began with a small lending operation that would eventually become the foundation of a much larger business career.

The ₦100,000 beginning

Born on August 21, 1992, Alamu studied statistics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State.

His early career included work with Catholic Relief Services and the International Fertilizer Development Center, where he was involved in monitoring, evaluation and agricultural development.

In 2014, while still in his early twenties, he had ₦100,000, worth about $550 at the time.

He used the money to lend small sums to farmers and market women in rural communities.

The operation continued until 2018, when it was incorporated as CreditAssist Investment Limited after expanding across Nigeria. It later developed into CapitalSage Technology and CapitalSage Holdings.

CapitalSage subsequently grew into a diversified financial-services group, with Kolomoni Microfinance Bank providing savings, loans and USSD banking in Nigeria and The Gambia.

The group also includes businesses covering payments, structured lending, asset management and capital markets, with a distribution network of more than 60,000 agents and merchants across Nigeria.

The financial-services experience is an important part of Alamu's background, but Johnvents has taken his business journey into a different arena: industrial production.

International confidence in Johnvents

The scale of the cocoa business attracted major international financing.

In February 2025, British International Investment, the UK's development finance institution, committed $40.5 million in long-term financing to the Johnvents group.

The funding was directed to Premium Cocoa Products Ile-Oluji, which had been operating at about 13,000 tonnes against its 30,000-tonne installed capacity.

The financing is supporting machinery, refurbishment and expansion aimed at increasing production.

Benson Adenuga, head of BII's Nigeria office, said the investment would help address structural barriers in the cocoa industry, benefit local farmers and improve Nigeria's trade balance.

Jonny Baxter, the British deputy high commissioner in Lagos, said the UK was proud to support sustainable investment that creates jobs.

The investment also places greater expectations on Johnvents to turn its installed capacity into productive capacity.

Preparing for global markets

Johnvents has committed to achieving 100 per cent cocoa traceability by 2027, with at least 90 per cent certified.

The target comes as European Union rules place greater emphasis on deforestation risks and supply-chain documentation for commodities entering its market.

For Johnvents, traceability means being able to establish where its cocoa comes from and follow its journey through the supply chain.

That is becoming increasingly important for Nigerian companies seeking to compete in major international markets.

Financing the expansion

In October 2025, Johnvents Industries issued its Series 20 commercial paper under a ₦100 billion programme, with the issue worth about $67.5 million.

The 270-day note carried an implied annual yield of roughly 23 per cent and opened on October 17 before closing on October 24.

The proceeds were intended for working capital as the company increased production in Ondo State and expanded exports.

Series 20 followed 19 earlier issues.

The borrowing provides another source of funding for expansion, but the cost also underscores the financial demands of running a large manufacturing operation.

Raw materials must be purchased, equipment maintained and production sustained before finished products generate revenue.

Beyond cocoa

Alamu's business interests now extend beyond Johnvents.

Johnvents Foods operates in consumer products, while Best Western Hospital represents the group's healthcare interests.

CapitalSage's financial-services businesses operate across Nigeria, The Gambia, Kenya and the UAE, while Johnvents' export activities reach markets across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

In April 2026, CapitalSage restructured its board, introducing independent oversight and appointing a new chief executive for its financial-services businesses. Alamu said the changes were intended to strengthen accountability as the organisation expanded.

He has also received the Business Conglomerate Leadership Award at the Marketing Edge Awards and has become a regular speaker on Nigeria's economic diversification.

Yet the cocoa business remains the clearest expression of one of the ideas running through his entrepreneurial journey: Nigeria can do more with what it already produces.

The bigger Nigerian story

John Alamu's cocoa journey raises a question that extends beyond one company.

Nigeria has spent decades producing agricultural commodities for global markets. The next stage is to build more of the industries that process those commodities, employ people around them and take higher-value products into those same markets.

Johnvents is attempting that with cocoa.

The company has moved from aggregation to processing, expanded its industrial footprint and acquired a facility capable of processing 30,000 tonnes annually.

Whether that capacity ultimately translates into sustained production, stronger farmer incomes, more jobs and greater export earnings will depend on execution, access to capital, reliable supply and the ability to compete in demanding global markets.

However, the direction is clear.

Alamu began his business journey with ₦100,000 used to lend money to farmers and market women.

More than a decade later, his businesses employ more than 2,000 people and work with over 10,000 farmers across a growing international footprint.

The more significant part of the journey, however, is what he is building around Nigerian cocoa as the opportunity is no longer simply to grow the crop but to process it, manufacture with it and take more of its value from Nigerian farms to global markets.

For Nigeria, that is the difference between being a major producer and building a major industry.

At 23, Delta University Student Takes the Throne of a 400-Year-Old Kingdom

At 23, while many of his peers may be focused on university studies and building their careers, Prince Daniel Afamefune Chukwujindu has assumed a centuries-old traditional responsibility.

The Microbiology undergraduate of Delta State University, Abraka, is now the traditional ruler of Ekwuoma Kingdom in Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State.

Prince Daniel was formally installed on Thursday as the 11th Ajeh of Ekwuoma, succeeding his late father, King Chinedu Samuel Chukwujindu.

His father was the 10th Ajeh and reigned for 18 years as Ezeagu-Ukpo I. Following the completion of his burial rites, Daniel assumed the royal title Ezeagu-Ukpo II.

His succession follows Ekwuoma’s traditional system of primogeniture, which recognises the first son of a reigning monarch as heir to the throne. According to the community, the practice has been maintained since the kingdom was founded nearly 400 years ago.

Daniel’s installation marked the end of his father’s 18-year reign and the beginning of a new chapter for Ekwuoma, with the 23-year-old becoming one of the youngest monarchs in the community’s history.

The installation ceremony attracted traditional rulers, chiefs, community leaders, government representatives, academics, members of the royal family, friends and well-wishers. Traditional rites were performed to mark the transfer of the institution to the new monarch, followed by prayers and goodwill messages.

Speaking after his installation, Daniel thanked the people for accepting him and pledged to uphold the customs and traditions of Ekwuoma.

He also promised to promote peace, unity and development, urging residents to work together and support efforts to move the kingdom forward.

The new Ajeh called for greater cooperation among the traditional institution, government and residents in addressing challenges facing the community. He also urged the sons and daughters of Ekwuoma to avoid divisions that could hinder its progress.

Chief Ernest Njokede, Chairman of the Council of Chiefs and Orikeze of Ekwuoma, congratulated Daniel and expressed confidence in his ability to lead.

Njokede prayed for wisdom, strength, good health and divine guidance for the young monarch. He urged residents to support Daniel and place the interests of Ekwuoma above personal differences.

He also paid tribute to the late King Chinedu Samuel Chukwujindu, describing his 18-year reign as a period of service, peace and commitment to the welfare of the people.

Njokede urged the community to preserve the late monarch’s legacy while supporting his successor.

“Ekwuoma belongs to all of us. It is our collective heritage. Let us treasure and guard it jealously, for we are the envy of numerous less fortunate communities around us,” he said.

He stressed that developing Ekwuoma should not be left to the traditional ruler and chiefs alone.

“Community development is not the sole responsibility of the traditional institution or the chiefs; it is a shared responsibility that calls for the commitment of all sons and daughters of Ekwuoma and other residents of the kingdom,” he added.

For King Daniel, the new role brings together two very different worlds: university education and traditional leadership and as he navigates his Microbiology studies, he will now also carry the responsibility of leading a kingdom whose traditions date back nearly four centuries.

Nigerian Professor Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu Appointed Dean of Canadian University’s College of Law

Dr. Ibironke Odumosu-Ayanu, a Nigerian-born legal scholar and professor, has been appointed dean of the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

She will begin a five-year term on October 1, 2026, succeeding Professor Martin Phillipson, who has completed two five-year terms in the position. Professor Doug Surtees, the current interim dean, will remain in office until September 30.

Odumosu-Ayanu joined the University of Saskatchewan College of Law in 2008 and has since taken on a series of academic responsibilities. She is currently a professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies, roles that have placed her at the centre of the college’s research and graduate education programmes.

Her academic foundation was laid in Nigeria, where she earned her LLB from the University of Lagos. She subsequently continued her studies in Canada, obtaining an LLM from the University of Calgary and a PhD from the University of British Columbia.

Her scholarship has earned international recognition, particularly in the field of business and human rights. She has also helped develop research collaborations involving scholars and academic institutions across different countries.

Teaching and mentorship have been another important part of her work. She regularly supervises graduate students in law and interdisciplinary programmes, contributions that have earned her recognition within the University of Saskatchewan. In 2012, she received the Provost’s College Award for Outstanding Teaching, followed by the USask InterD Advisor Award in 2026.

Away from her academic work, Odumosu-Ayanu has contributed to professional and community life across Saskatchewan and Canada. Her service includes involvement with professional associations, academic journals and community organisations, among them the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association.

Patti McDougall, interim provost and vice-president, academic at the University of Saskatchewan and chair of the search committee, said the appointment reflects Odumosu-Ayanu’s record of academic excellence, collaborative leadership and commitment to research and graduate education.

McDougall said she would build on the College of Law’s established reputation in legal education and research while strengthening its leadership in Indigenous legal scholarship and its engagement with local and global communities.

For a Nigerian scholar who began her legal education at the University of Lagos, the appointment marks a significant rise to one of the senior leadership positions within Canada’s university system. It also places years of scholarship, teaching, mentorship and service behind a new responsibility: leading the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Law from October 1.

Odumosu-Ayanu’s achievement stands as another strong example of the depth of Nigerian talent making its mark in institutions far beyond the country’s borders.

Nigerian Embassy in Vietnam rallies support for Soye ahead of Miss World final

The Nigerian Embassy in Vietnam has thrown its weight behind Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, as she prepares to represent Nigeria at the grand finale of the 73rd Miss World Festival.

In a statement issued in Hanoi, the Embassy described Soye as a proud ambassador of Nigeria's cultural heritage and the country's growing pool of talented young people.

The diplomatic mission said her participation has provided another opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its culture, identity and youthful talent on one of the world's biggest international platforms.

“As she carries the Nigerian flag with pride, the Embassy wishes Tamunosoye every success throughout the Festival and in the competitions ahead,” the statement said.

The Embassy also called on Nigerians resident in Vietnam, as well as friends and supporters of Nigeria, to rally behind Soye and cheer her on as she enters the decisive stage of the competition.

Soye has already earned an automatic place in the Top 40 quarterfinals after making history by winning the Africa's Top Model title at the Miss World Festival.

Her campaign has also attracted strong support from a Nigerian delegation in Vietnam, including Professor Steve Azaiki, Dawari George and Silverbird's Guy Murray-Bruce.

The Miss World grand finale is scheduled to take place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, in Vietnam, where Soye will join contestants from around the world in the final contest for the crown.

With her automatic qualification into the Top 40 and the backing of Nigerians at home and abroad, Soye goes into the final stage carrying both the Nigerian flag and the hopes of a growing number of supporters across the country.

Kanyinsola Ajayi Makes Nigerian History in Diamond League Final

Kanyinsola Ajayi has added a rare distinction to an already outstanding year, becoming the first Nigerian to claim a podium place in the men’s 100m at the Diamond League final.

The 21-year-old clocked 9.97 seconds in Brussels on Friday to finish third in a race won by Jamaica’s Oblique Seville in 9.90 seconds. Cameroon’s Emmanuel Eseme took second in 9.93 seconds.

Ajayi’s latest achievement comes months after he produced the run that changed the standing of Nigerian sprinting. His 9.84-second performance set a new national record in the men’s 100m, ending Olusoji Fasuba’s 20-year reign as Nigeria’s record-holder in the event.

The sprinter has also delivered on the championship stage. At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, he won bronze for Nigeria in the men’s 100m.

His emergence had already been evident earlier in the year when he swept the men’s sprint titles at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships, winning the 60m indoor and 100m outdoor events.

The outdoor title came in a wind-assisted 9.72 seconds, putting Ajayi joint sixth with Jamaican sprint great Asafa Powell on the all-conditions list of the world’s fastest sprinters.

Only Usain Bolt, Tyson Gay, Yohan Blake, Obadele Thompson and Andre De Grasse have run faster.

The Brussels podium now gives Ajayi another entry in Nigeria’s athletics record book. In the space of one season, he has combined an NCAA double, a Commonwealth Games medal, a national record and a Diamond League final podium, a sequence of results that has firmly established his name among the country’s leading sprinters.

Nigerian Journalist Charles Anyiam’s Debut Book Selected for Berlin International Bookclub Spotlight

Charles Anyiam, the Los Angeles-based Nigerian journalist and editor, has received international recognition as his debut book, How to Win All the Time – Power Quotes to Live By, was selected for the Author Spotlight Programme of the Berlin International Bookclub in Germany.

Released about a week ago, the book is available on Amazon and is the first in a series of wisdom-focused publications under the Charles Anyiam Project (CAP), the creative writing division of The African Times Publications Inc.

The Berlin International Bookclub said the book caught its attention for treating wisdom as something readers can examine and put to use in their everyday lives.

In a letter to Anyiam signed on behalf of the organisers by Tatiana Schirinzi, the club pointed to the range of subjects covered in the book, from character, leadership and relationships to resilience, purpose, prosperity and decision-making in difficult times.

The organisers also highlighted Anyiam’s treatment of mindset and its place in achieving meaningful victories. They said the ideas would speak to readers dealing with uncertainty, difficult choices, adversity, relationships and personal ambitions.

Anyiam welcomed the recognition, describing it as an honour and a source of fresh encouragement for his work in the wisdom genre.

“On behalf of my team, I am humbled by the honour and recognition of my debut book,” he said.

“This is actually the first in the series of books in the wisdom genre to be published by the Charles Anyiam Project (CAP), the creative writing division of The African Times Publications Inc.

“I am also working on other books in different fields. With this recognition by the Berlin Bookclub, I am doubly encouraged.”

Anyiam’s literary venture comes against the backdrop of a long career in journalism and public affairs.

Based in Los Angeles, California, he is editor-in-chief of The African Times/USA, a US national news journal that has been published for 35 years. He is an alumnus of the original Daily Times of Nigeria and has worked as a media analyst, adviser, investor representative, public speaker and diplomat.

He also chairs the Africa Achievement Awards committee, which organises the Africa-themed event traditionally held at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

In business and policy circles, Anyiam is a managing partner of the Africa Consult Group, the investment and think-tank arm of The African Times Publications Inc., publishers of The African Times/USA.

With his first book now receiving attention from an international book club in Germany, Anyiam is extending a career rooted in Nigerian journalism into the wider world of ideas and publishing.

ProTaxi: Nigerian-Owned E-Hailing Platform Set to Launch on October 1

A new Nigerian-owned mobility platform is preparing to enter the country’s competitive ride-hailing market, with PromiseLand Innovations Limited set to unveil ProTaxi on October 1, 2026.

The platform arrives at a time when the cost of running vehicles and getting around Nigerian cities has become an increasingly important concern for both drivers and passengers. Rather than simply replicate existing ride-hailing models, PromiseLand says ProTaxi has been developed with the Nigerian market at its centre, combining digital ride booking with affordability, safety, reliability and cleaner transportation.

ProTaxi will allow passengers to request rides from their locations and connect with available drivers through its digital platform. Riders will have access to personalised location features, multiple payment options, trip information and receipts, while safety measures will include driver verification, real-time tracking, ratings and reviews.

The platform will also allow passengers to share their live locations with family members and friends, giving them the ability to follow their journeys in real time.

For drivers, the proposition is built around flexibility. They will be able to determine when and how often they work, giving them the opportunity to fit driving around their individual schedules while earning through the platform. PromiseLand says the model is intended to create sustainable income opportunities for drivers without compromising the reliability and affordability expected by passengers.

A major part of the company’s vision, however, lies in what happens beyond the digital booking of rides. PromiseLand is placing electric vehicles and clean-energy transportation at the heart of its longer-term mobility strategy.

The company believes  adoption of cost-effective electric vehicles could reduce the expenses faced by drivers, potentially helping to support competitive fares for passengers while contributing to cleaner urban transportation. Its ambition is eventually to establish ProTaxi as a leading eco-friendly ride-hailing platform in Africa.

“We believe getting around should be easy, affordable, and environmentally responsible,” the company said.

The launch also signals a new chapter for PromiseLand Innovations Limited, whose activities have largely centred on real estate. The company is pursuing an initiative to develop 100,000 housing units across Nigeria, beginning with the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Its entry into mobility therefore represents an expansion into another essential part of everyday life. With ProTaxi, the PromiseLand brand is moving beyond housing solutions and into technology-driven transportation, seeking to apply locally developed technology to one of the practical challenges Nigerians encounter every day.

The platform is owned by businessman and entrepreneur Amb. Lawrence Oloche, who also leads PromiseLand’s real estate operations and serves as CEO of ProTaxi.

For PromiseLand, the objective is not merely to introduce another name into Nigeria’s e-hailing industry but to demonstrate the potential of indigenous technology, create economic opportunities for drivers and promote cleaner forms of transportation while responding to the realities of the Nigerian operating environment.

Ahead of its official unveiling on October 1, the ProTaxi rider application is available on both iPhone and Android devices.

NELFUND Crosses N355 Billion Mark in Student Financing, Supports Nearly 1.66 Million Applications

For thousands of Nigerian students, the cost of staying in higher education is no longer being left entirely to families.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has now disbursed N355.87 billion under the Federal Government’s student loan programme, marking a major expansion of the scheme since applications opened on May 24, 2024.

NELFUND’s latest Student Loan Disbursement Status Report, generated on September 3, 2026 and published on its official X account on Thursday, puts the number of processed applications at 1,659,853.

The money has been split between institutions and students. N192.89 billion has been paid to 319 beneficiary institutions for institutional fees, while N162.98 billion has been released directly to students as upkeep allowances.

Together, the two components bring the programme’s total disbursement to N355.87 billion.

The scale of the intervention has changed considerably over the past year. In March 2026, NELFUND reported that it had disbursed N206.29 billion to 1,164,222 beneficiaries, with 1,734,985 applications received at the time.

By August 19, 2026, disbursements had risen to N322.69 billion. The institutional payment at that stage stood at N192.89 billion to 319 institutions, while students had received N129.80 billion in upkeep allowances.

The latest report shows that the institutional payment figure remains at N192.89 billion, while upkeep disbursements have risen from N129.80 billion to N162.98 billion.

The student loan programme was introduced to tackle one of the most persistent barriers to tertiary education: the ability of students and their families to meet the financial demands of university and other higher institutions.

Its reach has grown alongside the number of applications being processed, although the expansion has also exposed weaknesses that NELFUND has had to address.

In January 2026, the fund disclosed N927.98 million in unpaid upkeep allowances owed to 11,685 students. It linked the outstanding payments to failed transactions, network downtime and unvalidated bank details.

Further complaints emerged in July, when some beneficiaries raised concerns about delays in receiving their upkeep allowances.

NELFUND has also been changing the machinery behind tuition payments. In July, the fund announced plans to replace its system of paying tuition fees directly to tertiary institutions with a digital token-based system.

The proposed system is expected to give students greater control over tuition payments and help reduce cases of double payment.

The expansion of NELFUND is taking place alongside other Federal Government spending on tertiary education.

In July, the Federal Government said it had invested more than N1 trillion in tertiary education over two years, with the funding directed towards infrastructure, institutional capacity and efforts to reduce the financial obstacles confronting students.

Among the projects and interventions cited were N250 billion for new hostels, more than N150 billion for the rehabilitation of hostels, classrooms, engineering workshops and other academic facilities, and over N130 billion for medical school rehabilitation.

Taken together, the figures point to an attempt to address both sides of Nigeria’s tertiary education challenge: improving the institutions where students learn while making it easier for students to afford their education.

NELFUND’s N355.87 billion disbursement reflects the rapid growth of a national student financing system that has processed nearly 1.66 million applications in just over two years.

The next measure of its impact will not simply be how much more money is released, but how consistently students receive it, how efficiently institutions are paid and how effectively the system can scale without leaving beneficiaries waiting for the support they were approved to receive.

Kogi Unveils ₦8.55bn Social Investment Plan for 281,750 Beneficiaries

Kogi State is set to roll out a proposed ₦8.55bn social investment package that could reach 281,750 people across all 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

The proposed intervention brings together cash transfers, livelihood assistance, climate-smart employment, community infrastructure, agricultural support and an expanded social register, placing vulnerable households and grassroots communities at the centre of the programme.

The Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and Chairman of the Kogi State Commissioners’ Forum, Asiwaju Idris, disclosed the details on Thursday while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a meeting of the Commissioners’ Forum.

According to him, the proposed beneficiaries and expenditure are contained in a summary covering various Disbursement-Linked Indicators under the state’s social investment interventions.

One of the largest components is the expansion of the State Social Register. Through the State Operations Coordinating Unit under DLI 4.1 and DLI 4.2, the government plans to capture 250,000 beneficiaries across the 21 LGAs at an estimated cost of ₦300.55m.

The agricultural component is also expected to reach thousands of people. Under FADAMA’s DLI 2.1 and DLI 2.3, some 7,350 beneficiaries are projected to receive support through agricultural inputs and assets, with ₦1.854bn earmarked for the intervention.

For communities requiring basic services and infrastructure, the Community and Social Development Agency, through DLI 1.4A, is proposing support equivalent to 1,000 beneficiaries per community across the 21 LGAs. The estimated cost is ₦2.072bn.

The plan also provides for direct livelihood support and employment opportunities.

Under the Social Cash Transfer Unit, DLI 1.1 is expected to provide support to 5,000 people across the state’s 21 LGAs, with a projected cost of ₦1.237bn.

A separate SCTU intervention, DLI 1.3A, is designed to provide livelihood support to another 15,000 beneficiaries across Kogi State at an estimated cost of ₦2bn.

Meanwhile, the Labour-Intensive Public Works component under DLI 1.5A is projected to engage 3,400 people in climate-smart public works across the 21 LGAs. The programme carries an estimated cost of ₦1.088bn.

The proposed package puts Kogi’s 21 LGAs at the heart of the intervention, with support spanning household assistance, employment, farming and community development. Its success, however, will ultimately be measured by how effectively the funds reach the people and communities listed as beneficiaries.

University of Ibadan Makes History with Nigeria’s First Faculty of Physiotherapy

The University of Ibadan has established Nigeria’s first Faculty of Physiotherapy, marking a major development in the country’s health-professions education and extending the institution’s pioneering contribution to the field.

The university’s Senate approved the elevation of the Department of Physiotherapy to a full-fledged faculty within the College of Medicine at its meeting on Monday, 31 August 2026.

The new faculty will comprise five departments: Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy, Musculoskeletal/Orthopaedic Physiotherapy, Neurological Physiotherapy, Sports and Recreational Physiotherapy, and Occupational Therapy.

The decision comes after decades of expansion in physiotherapy education, specialist training, research and clinical practice at the University of Ibadan. It provides a broader academic structure for developing specialised areas of the profession while creating greater scope for advanced teaching, research, curriculum development, staff development and clinical innovation.

The institution’s involvement in physiotherapy education dates back to October 1957, when Miss S. M. Evans, then Vice-Chairman of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, London, was invited by the Nigerian Government to assess facilities for physiotherapy training in Nigeria and make recommendations.

Initial plans focused on establishing a School of Physiotherapy at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The initiative eventually led the University of Ibadan Senate to approve a three-year degree programme in Physiotherapy in May 1964.

The first two students entered the B.Sc. (Physiotherapy) programme in October 1966. At the time, the programme had only one Associate Lecturer and no dedicated facilities, with teaching conducted in makeshift classrooms within the University College Hospital.

Its institutional journey subsequently passed through several stages. From 1966 to 1971, it was administered through the Dean’s Office. It became part of the Orthopaedic Unit of the Department of Surgery from 1971 to 1977 and then operated as a Physiotherapy Unit of the Department of Surgery from 1977 to 1981.

Full departmental status came in 1981, after which the programme continued to expand its academic offerings, facilities, staffing, research activities and specialist fields.

The undergraduate programme progressed from the B.Sc. Physiotherapy degree to the Bachelor of Physiotherapy and later the Doctor of Physiotherapy. Postgraduate education also grew to include Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy programmes covering major areas of specialisation.

Those areas include Cardiopulmonary Physiotherapy, Musculoskeletal/Orthopaedic Physiotherapy, Neurological Physiotherapy, and Sports and Recreational Physiotherapy.

The department now has 12 academic staff members, including four Professors, with all but two holding doctoral degrees. It also has a newly constructed facility donated in honour of Dr. Thompson Abayomi Oshin, the first African trained physiotherapist and a pioneer of Physiotherapy training in Nigeria.

The progression from a two-student programme operating without dedicated facilities to a faculty with multiple departments reflects the growing depth and complexity of physiotherapy as a health profession.

It also builds on the University of Ibadan’s longstanding contribution to manpower development and specialist training in Nigeria and across West Africa.

The new faculty is expected to strengthen that role by providing an institutional framework for focused specialist education, interdisciplinary collaboration and research. Its work will be guided by the vision of becoming “a world-class physiotherapy training and research centre.”

Its mission is to deliver high-quality education and research, advance the science and practice of physiotherapy specialities, and equip students and professionals with the expertise, critical thinking and ethical principles needed for excellence in education, clinical practice and research.

The establishment is also a recognition of the people who built the discipline at the university over successive generations from its early pioneers and academic and clinical staff to alumni who have taken their training and expertise across Nigeria and beyond.

For the University of Ibadan, the Senate’s approval represents both the institutional growth of a discipline it helped pioneer and a commitment to its future.

From the first two students admitted in 1966 to the creation of Nigeria’s first Faculty of Physiotherapy in 2026, the University of Ibadan’s journey reflects nearly seven decades of development in education, research and professional training.

The next chapter will now be written through a faculty designed to advance physiotherapy education and practice in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.

UNILAG Professor Develops Patented Nanotech Coatings to Tackle Lead Risks in Paint

A University of Lagos professor has developed patented bio-based coating solutions using nanotechnology, opening a new research pathway for addressing health and environmental concerns linked to lead in paints while improving protection against microbial deterioration.

Prof. Olayide Obidi, Head of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Lagos, presented the work during her inaugural lecture, titled “From Micro to Nano: The Colourful Voyage of an Industrial Microbiologist,” at the Ade Ajayi Auditorium, UNILAG campus, Lagos, on Wednesday.

Obidi’s interest in paint research grew from her examination of challenges within Nigeria’s paint industry, including the use of lead to extend the shelf life of paints. She described lead as a cumulative neurotoxin associated with serious health consequences such as developmental problems, organ failure and death.

Her research subsequently introduced nanomaterials into the Nigerian paint industry. A comparative evaluation of conventional biocides and green-synthesised nanoparticles for microbial inhibition showed significant improvement in controlling paint microflora through nanotechnology.

“We have successfully produced the first bio-based solutions for coatings. These have been patented and are ready to be commercialised,” Obidi said.

The professor used the lecture to make a case for stronger links between universities and industry. She argued that scientific discoveries should progress beyond academic laboratories and become products and services capable of solving societal problems.

“There is a need to bridge the ever-widening gap between academia and industry. Therefore, research should not end in the laboratory. It should be commercialised and beneficial to humanity,” she said.

She also called for well-equipped laboratories to support innovative and groundbreaking research, alongside increased investment in protective nanocoatings technology.

According to Obidi, government, research councils and regional development agencies should align their efforts with technological research, while relevant stakeholders provide the financial and institutional backing required to move nanocoating technology into commercial production.

She said commercialising the patented solutions could strengthen Nigeria’s paint industry, provide safer alternatives and promote technological development in the country.

The wider scope of Obidi’s scientific work was highlighted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, who described the lecture as a thought-provoking account of the progression of scientific inquiry from microbiology to materials science and nanotechnology.

Ogunsola said Obidi’s research had advanced understanding of paint spoilage, microbial deterioration and shelf life, particularly in relation to the growing use of water-based formulations.

Although water-based paints have environmental advantages over solvent-based formulations because of concerns about volatile organic compounds, their aqueous nature can make them more vulnerable to microbial attack. Ogunsola said this challenge provided an important basis for Obidi’s investigation of safer and more sustainable solutions.

The professor’s research has also extended into the marine sector, where she examined the effects of biofilms on hydrodynamics and the use of antifouling agents. Her work on industrial effluents, meanwhile, demonstrated the potential of biosynthesised nanoparticles for removing heavy metals.

Ogunsola described the movement of some of Obidi’s findings from laboratory research towards practical application, including patents arising from the work, as significant contributions to industrial development.

She also recognised Obidi’s contributions to teaching and student supervision and commended her establishment of the Society for Girls STEM Education, which encourages young girls to pursue opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“Today’s inaugural lecture has offered us more than an account of scientific discoveries. It has shown us the possibilities that arise when research is connected to industry, environmental concerns, and the needs of society,” Ogunsola said.

She congratulated Obidi on what she described as an informative and excellent inaugural lecture, adding that the professor had made significant contributions to the Faculty of Life Sciences and the University of Lagos.

Obidi’s work demonstrates how research rooted in Nigeria’s own industrial challenges can produce technologies with wider applications. With the bio-based coatings already patented, the research now presents an opportunity to connect university innovation with industry and develop locally created solutions for safer and more sustainable paint production.