Saudia to Open Direct Abuja–Jeddah Route With Airbus A321XLR

Nigeria’s aviation links with Saudi Arabia are set for a major addition in December, when Saudia Airlines, the Kingdom’s national carrier, begins direct flights between Abuja and Jeddah.

Yousef Bin Mohammed Al-Balawi, Saudi Arabia’s envoy to Nigeria, announced the new service during the Kingdom’s 96th National Day celebration in Abuja. Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo later confirmed the development in a post on X, saying the route followed sustained efforts by both countries to establish the connection.

Saudia is expected to operate the route with the Airbus A321XLR. Keyamo said the deployment reflects the federal government’s continued insistence that foreign airlines serving Nigeria use newer aircraft.

He described the A321XLR as the newest model in the Airbus family and said its introduction on the Abuja–Jeddah route was part of the government’s efforts to secure improved aircraft standards for international services to Nigeria.

The new air link comes as Abuja and Riyadh seek to expand their longstanding relationship beyond its traditional foundations. Information and National Orientation Minister Mohammed Idris said cooperation is increasing across agriculture, energy, investment, aviation, financial technology and trade.

According to a statement by his special assistant on media, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris said these areas offer opportunities for practical economic cooperation and stronger ties between the two countries.

Nigeria and Saudi Arabia have maintained longstanding connections built around faith, history and people-to-people exchanges. Nigerians have travelled to Saudi Arabia for generations for pilgrimage, education, business and other purposes, making air connectivity between both countries an important part of their relationship.

Idris also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s development experience as a reference point as the federal government implements it's economic reforms.

He said the Government is working to strengthen the economy, improve the investment environment and expand infrastructure, with ongoing attention to roads, rail, electricity and oil and gas reforms. Agriculture, manufacturing, digital technology and the creative economy are also receiving increased focus.

The government is seeking to attract more long-term investment through clearer and more predictable frameworks, Idris said. He added that recent reforms in the deep offshore sector are intended to unlock new investment while strengthening Nigerian participation.

Saudi businesses and investors, he said, have opportunities to participate in agriculture and food production, energy, infrastructure, mining, technology and other productive sectors.

“We welcome Saudi investors and businesses that are interested in Nigeria. There is considerable room for cooperation in agriculture and food production, energy, infrastructure, mining, technology and other productive sectors,” Idris said.

He commended the Saudi Arabian embassy for its efforts to strengthen bilateral relations and expressed confidence that trade, investment, exchanges and partnerships between the two countries would continue to expand.

The December launch will add a direct Abuja–Jeddah connection to the longstanding network of links between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, combining stronger aviation connectivity with more ambitions for commercial and economic cooperation.

Lagos Introduces Nigeria’s First Gender-Based Violence Prevention Policy

Lagos State has introduced what it describes as Nigeria’s first Gender-Based Violence Prevention Policy, establishing a data-led framework designed to identify the conditions that allow sexual and gender-based violence to occur and intervene before cases are reported.

Unveiled on Thursday, the policy marks a departure from an approach centred largely on responding to reported incidents towards a prevention model that examines where violence occurs, the circumstances surrounding it and the social norms that can enable it.

At the heart of the framework is a monitoring system built around localised data indicators, heat mapping, quarterly reviews and public reporting. These tools are intended to help authorities identify patterns of gender-based violence, determine areas requiring intervention and assess the effectiveness of measures being implemented across the state.

The policy covers violence in homes, workplaces and schools, while also extending prevention efforts into digital spaces where technology-facilitated sexual and gender-based violence has become an emerging concern.

Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, said prevention could not be achieved by concentrating government attention solely on incidents after they had happened.

“We cannot continue to focus only on what happens after violence occurs. Prevention requires us to identify the factors that enable violence, challenge harmful social norms and strengthen the systems that protect people before harm occurs,” she said.

“This policy gives us a clear framework to coordinate these efforts across sectors and communities.”

The framework is structured around four levels of prevention, bringing together public education, institutional safeguards, survivor support and the strengthening of frontline response systems.

The first level, primary prevention, places emphasis on education, awareness and changing social norms. It includes promoting consent, bodily autonomy and digital safety as part of efforts to reduce the conditions in which sexual and gender-based violence can occur.

Secondary prevention focuses on early intervention, legal safeguards and institutional accountability. Among the measures provided is the streamlining of standard operating procedures for law enforcement agencies, alongside the use of the Lagos State Sex Offenders Register.

The third level places survivors at the centre of intervention. It provides for services that uphold their rights, choices, dignity and privacy while improving access to medical, legal, psychosocial and economic assistance.

The fourth pillar is directed at first responders and service providers, with an emphasis on strengthening their capacity to prevent and respond effectively to sexual and gender-based violence.

Implementation will be coordinated through a multi-sectoral Technical Working Group anchored by the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency. Relevant ministries, departments and agencies will participate alongside civil society partners.

The policy's data component is expected to play a central role in implementation. Localised indicators and heat maps will be used to track emerging patterns and identify areas requiring attention, while quarterly assessments and public reporting will provide a mechanism for reviewing progress and communicating findings.

The Lagos State Government said the framework gives practical expression to its declaration of zero tolerance for all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. Its development was supported by the Ford Foundation.

By bringing prevention into education, law enforcement, healthcare, social services, community engagement and digital safety, Lagos is positioning the fight against gender-based violence as a responsibility extending beyond agencies that traditionally respond after an incident has occurred.

The policy therefore places greater emphasis on understanding and addressing the conditions that precede violence, while maintaining systems for protecting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable when abuse occurs.

Celebrating Nigeria Pioneer Professor: Margaret Adebisi Sowunmi, the first Nigerian Female Professor of Environmental Archaeology and Palynology

(Sunrise 24 September 1939. Sunset 28 April 2025)

By Idowu Olayinka 

Professor Adebisi Sowunmi (nee Jaiyesimi) was a pioneer Nigerian academic. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany in 1962 at University College Ibadan/University of London. She received a postgraduate scholarship in 1963 to undertake PhD research in Palynology. In order to accomplish this, she travelled to Sweden to study with Gunnar Erdtman, who supervised her PhD. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in 1967 from the University of Ibadan. 

Born in Kano to an Anglican priest she attended the famous St Anne's School Ibadan for her secondary school education. She was married to the late eminent Professor of Mathematics, C. O. A. Sowunmi, of blessed memory.

She was appointed a post-doctoral research fellow in the Archaeology Unit at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan in 1967. Four years later, she established the Nigerian University Palynology Laboratory. She was the Founder and President of the Palynological Association of Nigeria and served as President of the West African Archaeological Association.

She was in 1982 promoted a Professor, thus earning the distinction of being the first Nigerian Female Professor of Environmental Archaeology and Palynology.

During the course of her inimitable and illustrious career, she pioneered the study of Environmental Archaeology and Palaeo-Ethnobotany in Nigeria. She published extensively in her areas of specialisation and she was very active till the end. She was at the 2023 National Conference of the Palynological Association of Nigeria which held at the Otunba Subomi Balogun Conference Centre at the University of Ibadan. She chaired some of the Technical Sessions during the Conference. One of her seminal research publications came out in 2025 in a peer-reviewed journal and it is fair to state that her works will remain cited for ever.

Throughout her career Professor Sowunmi held various visiting positions; in 1997 she was at the Department of African Archaeology, Uppsala University, and in 1998 at the Institute of Archaeology, University College London and the Departments of African Archaeology and African Archaeobotany, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität. 

She supervised seven PhD students, and is noted for being an inspirational teacher. She worked on gender issues in archaeology in Nigeria, including modifying androcentric course titles.

Her research achievements included the first identifications of the age and paleoenvironment of the Gwandu Formation, the first descriptions of Eocene pollen of the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation, the first study of Late Quaternary vegetation and environmental history of Nigeria, and the first study of pollen from an archaeological site in Nigeria. 

She was conferred an honorary doctorate degree in the Humanities by Uppsala University in recognition of her outstanding scholarship and research and teaching contributions in environmental archaeology and paleobotany in 2003.

Mama Sowunmi, as she was fondly referred to in the University of Ibadan community, was an institutional builder. Apart from serving as the Head of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, she had an uncommon commitment to her alma mater. She was an influential member of the Council Committee that fashioned out the Vision of the University of Ibadan for the Twenty First Century. The Committee assignment came at a time when morale was extremely low in the Nigerian University System in the early to mid-2000s. It is gratifying that the work of the Committee has proved invaluable in serving as a road map for the future of the University. 

She used every opportunity to champion anything that could project the female gender. She insisted that her name be written as M. Adebisi Sowunmi as against the conventional way the name of female members of staff of the University of Ibadan would have been otherwise written as First name, Initial and Family name. In her case that would have been Margaret A. Sowunmi. The Senate of the University had to grant her request and I doubt so much if any other female member of staff before or after her ever had such a special waiver!

I had different interactive sessions with Mama, especially during my stint as Vice- Chancellor. She would often call me on phone and declare ‘Idowu, Je ka ri ra’ (meaning Idowu, come to see me). Our discussions invariably centred around the challenges with the Nigerian University System. Any time she heard any negative story about the leadership of the University the next logical and natural thing for her was to summon me to her residence at Bodija. Ever so loving and accommodating, I was always very successful at convincing her that the situation was under control.

Notable Publications

• M.A. Sowunmi. 1972. Pollen morphology of the Palmae and its bearing on taxonomy. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology

• M.A. Sowunmi. 1973. Pollen grains of Nigerian plants: I. Woody species. Grana

• R.J. du Chêne, M.S. Onyike & M.A. Sowunmi 1978. Some new Eocene pollen of the Ogwashi-Asaba Formation, south-eastern Nigeria. Revista Española de Micropaleontología 10(2), p. 285-322.

• M.A Sowunmi. 1981. Aspects of Late Quaternary Vegetational Changes in West Africa. Journal of Biogeography 8: 457-474.

• M.A. Sowunmi. 1985. The beginnings of agriculture in West Africa: botanical evidence. Current Anthropology

• M.A. Sowunmi. 1995. Pollen grains of Nigerian plants: II. Woody Species. Grana 34: 120-141.

• M.A. Sowunmi. 1998. Ecological archaeology in west Africa : the state of the discipline in ANDAH (B.W.) et al., Africa: the challenge of archaeology. Ibadan, Heinemann Educational Books, pp. 65–100

• M.A. Sowunmi, 1998. Beyond academic archaeology in Africa: The human dimension. African Archaeological Review

She was a member of the Chaplaincy at the Chapel of the Resurrection, University of Ibadan. She was ever so forthright. Mama will be sorely missed by all of us who knew her as a honest, outspoken and transparent leader of men and women. 

Today, 24 September 2026, is Mama Sowunmi’s 87th posthumous birthday. Rest in perfect peace, Mama.

Professor Idowu Olayinka is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan

Dangote Expands East African Energy Footprint With $660m Ethiopia-Djibouti Pipeline

Aliko Dangote’s expanding energy interests in East Africa are taking another step forward, with Dangote Group set to partner with Ethiopia and Djibouti on a $660 million petroleum products pipeline aimed at improving the movement and storage of refined fuel across the region.

The 120-kilometre pipeline will run between Damerjog in Djibouti and Dewele in Ethiopia, connecting large storage facilities at both locations. Damerjog is expected to have about 375,000 cubic metres of storage capacity, while Dewele will provide approximately 800,000 cubic metres. Combined, the facilities will hold about 1.175 million cubic metres of petroleum products.

The development is being undertaken through a partnership between Ethiopian Investment Holdings and Dangote Group, according to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who confirmed the arrangement on X during a visit to Djibouti. Abiy made the announcement alongside Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh and Dangote.

A spokesperson in the Ethiopian Prime Minister’s office provided further details to Reuters on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

The pipeline is expected to become operational within 18 months and is intended to tackle logistical challenges along the Ethiopia-Djibouti transport corridor. According to the developers, the infrastructure will reduce transportation costs and delays while strengthening energy security and improving the resilience of petroleum supply chains serving both countries.

The project adds to Dangote Group’s established presence in Ethiopia, where the Nigerian conglomerate is already involved in a $4 billion fertiliser pipeline and power plant, as well as a polypropylene packaging facility.

Its East African energy portfolio is also extending into Kenya. Dangote and the Kenyan government are expected to break ground next week on a proposed crude oil refinery in Lamu with a planned processing capacity of 700,000 barrels per day.

Together, these investments span petroleum refining, energy infrastructure, fertiliser production and manufacturing, giving Dangote Group a growing industrial presence across several African markets.

The Ethiopia-Djibouti pipeline will add another strategic link to that network, connecting two neighbouring East African economies through dedicated infrastructure for the storage and movement of refined petroleum products.

The $660 million project further expands Dangote Group’s footprint in Africa’s energy and industrial infrastructure sector, building on investments already established across the continent.

Enugu Air Opens New Regional Air Route to Cameroon

Enugu Air has opened a new air corridor between South-East Nigeria and Central Africa with the launch of its maiden international flight from Akanu Ibiam International Airport to Douala, Cameroon, on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

The service marks the airline’s first international operation since it commenced commercial flights on July 7, 2025, and gives passengers and businesses in Enugu and other parts of Nigeria a direct connection to one of Cameroon’s major economic centres.

The new route is expected to support trade, tourism, investment and movement between Nigeria and Cameroon, while creating another avenue for commercial and people-to-people relations across the region.

Governor Peter Mbah said the development reflected the ambition behind the creation of Enugu Air. He explained that the airline was established as part of a strategy to connect Enugu with markets and opportunities beyond Nigeria, rather than as a political accomplishment.

According to Mbah, the state’s objective is to strengthen Enugu’s appeal as a destination for investment, business, tourism and living. He described the Enugu-Douala service as a link between markets and opportunities and said it would reinforce the state’s position as a gateway to the world.

The governor also said Enugu Air had become one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing airlines and pledged continued state government support for initiatives aimed at improving connectivity and attracting people and businesses to Enugu.

Since commencing operations, the airline has established routes connecting Enugu with Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano, Owerri, Asaba, Benin and Osubi–Warri Airport.

Managing Director Tolu Ita said the Douala service represented a new chapter for Enugu Air, Enugu State and Nigeria.

She said the route would facilitate the movement of businesses, people, ideas and opportunities between Nigeria and Cameroon, adding that the airline plans to develop stronger regional networks across Africa while progressively opening access to international markets.

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria Managing Director Olubunmi Kuku, represented by FAAN Enugu Operations Manager Onyeka Udenze, said the service demonstrated Nigeria’s capacity to connect people and businesses across West and Central Africa.

Kuku said passengers from Lagos, Abuja and other Nigerian cities could connect through Enugu to Douala. She assured stakeholders that FAAN would continue providing the infrastructure, safety standards and operational support required to sustain international air services at the airport.

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority said the new route could strengthen commercial and social links between two important economic centres.

NCAA Director-General Chris Najomo, represented by the Director of Air Transport Regulations, Olayinka Babaoye-Iriobe, said the Enugu-Douala connection could support trade, investment, tourism and the movement of people.

He said the service was also consistent with efforts to strengthen intra-African connectivity and economic integration.

Najomo cautioned that the airline’s expansion must remain firmly grounded in safety, security, regulatory compliance and operational reliability. He urged Enugu Air to maintain operational discipline, professionalism and service quality in its international operations.

The Douala launch comes just over a year after Enugu Air entered commercial service, marking a new phase in the carrier’s development and giving South-East Nigeria another direct aviation link with the Central African market.

The new route adds an international dimension to  Enugu's aviation network and provides businesses, travellers and investors with another channel for engaging with Cameroon and the region.

Nigerian Referee Returns to FIFA U-17 World Cup After 25 Years

A quarter of a century after Nigeria last had a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, a new name is set to carry the country’s flag into the competition.

Zamfara-born Abiola Kasimu Abdulsalam, 34, has been selected among the match officials for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar, ending a 25-year wait for a Nigerian centre referee at the tournament.

Abdulsalam is the only Nigerian centre referee on FIFA’s list for the competition and one of four referees selected from Africa. His appointment places him among 81 officials drawn from 36 FIFA member associations for the tournament.

The group consists of 27 referees and 54 assistant referees, selected to handle the demands of a competition that has long served as an important proving ground for officials on the international circuit.

For Abdulsalam, the Qatar assignment comes after a period of sustained involvement in African football. He has officiated at two CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and several WAFU competitions, building the continental experience that has now taken him to the FIFA stage.

His calendar also extends beyond the U-17 World Cup as he is also scheduled to referee the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match between Cameroon and Comoros, giving him another high-level international assignment in the period ahead.

The Nigerian official has been on FIFA’s list of referees since 2022 and has retained his international badge through the organisation’s annual assessment process. His record also includes selection as the only Nigerian referee for the 2025 African Nations Championship. That progression has now culminated in a place at one of FIFA’s major youth tournaments.

FIFA Referees Committee chairman Pierluigi Collina said the officials chosen for the U-17 World Cup were among the organisation’s most promising match officials. According to Collina, selection was based not only on performances on the field but also on an official’s ability to function effectively as part of an international team and handle the pressures associated with a major tournament.

Those demands will provide Abdulsalam with another test of his growth as an international referee. The assignment also gives him the opportunity to work in a global competition while adding another chapter to a career that began on the FIFA list in 2022.

Nigeria has produced generations of players who have competed on the world stage, but the development of refereeing talent remains another important part of Nigeria’s contribution to the international game.

Abdulsalam’s selection in Qatar therefore restores Nigerian representation at the centre-referee level of the FIFA U-17 World Cup after 25 years and places a Nigerian official within a new generation of international referees being given opportunities to develop at the highest level.

The whistle in Qatar will be Abdulsalam’s responsibility. The journey that took him there is another Nigerian story worth documenting.

Ogun’s $7bn Maritime Gateway: Deep-Sea Port to Drive New Industrial Corridor

Ogun State is positioning its coastline for a major industrial transformation with plans for a deep-sea port and a 10,000-hectare special economic zone, backed by an initial investment of more than $7 billion.

The proposed development at Ogun Waterside brings maritime trade, manufacturing, logistics and energy infrastructure into one commercial corridor, with more than 50,000 direct jobs projected when the projects reach full development. Additional employment is expected across the businesses and services that grow around the industrial cluster.

Central to the plan is the Gateway Deep Seaport, designed with a four-kilometre berth and an 18-metre draft. The facility is expected to accommodate larger, deeper-draft vessels serving international trade and provide an alternative maritime gateway for Nigeria.

Its development comes against the backdrop of persistent pressure on the Lagos port corridor. Apapa and Tin Can Island handle substantial volumes of Nigeria’s maritime traffic, while congestion, draft limitations and cargo delays have contributed to higher logistics costs for businesses and consumers.

The proposed Ogun port is intended to ease some of that pressure while providing direct maritime access to an industrial zone planned across 10,000 hectares.

The Ogun State Blue Marine Special Economic Zone is expected to attract manufacturing and industrial companies, with imported inputs processed into finished goods and Nigerian raw materials converted into products for export. 

The arrangement gives the port an economic role beyond cargo handling. Factories and processing businesses within the zone would generate cargo for the port, while the port would provide an outlet to international markets.

The potential market stretches beyond Nigeria. The Gateway Deep Seaport is expected to support trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area, giving businesses operating from the zone access to a continental market of approximately 1.4 billion people.

Transport links will also be crucial to that ambition as the 700-kilometre Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is expected to provide an important connection to the development. Its 28-kilometre Ogun State section is scheduled for completion before the end of this year and will link the port and industrial zone with Lagos, the Nigerian hinterland and markets across Africa.

The coastal development is also expected to form part of a strategic cluster near the proposed Nigerian Navy Operating Base and Dockyard and the OK LNG Project, linking industrial production with maritime infrastructure, security, energy and gas exports.

The investment agreements underpinning the project were signed in Paris in the presence of President Tinubu by the Ogun State Government and DP World, one of the world’s leading ports and logistics operators. 

Governor Dapo Abiodun led the Ogun delegation, which included Secretary to the State Government Tokunbo Talabi; the Commissioners of Finance, Works, Industry, Trade and Investment, and Transport; and a representative of the host community.

Also present were the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Emmanuel Ayodele Oke; Nigerian Ports Authority Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Abubakar Dantsoho; DP World Group Chief Executive Officer, Yuvraj Narayan; SkyKapital Managing Director, Karim Noujaim; and DP World Senior Vice President, Business Development, Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Office, Mohammed Rashid Ismail.

At the signing, President Tinubu assured domestic and international investors that the Federal Government would maintain regulatory clarity, policy stability and a predictable business environment for long-term investment.

He said federal authorities would provide the institutional backing required for the projects, support road, rail and power connectivity, strengthen investment security and the maritime domain, and address unnecessary bureaucratic obstacles.

The President credited the Ogun State Government with securing the land, structuring the investment framework and reducing project risks for international investors. He described the arrangement as an example of cooperative federalism, with state initiative matched by federal support.

“Nigeria lies at the heart of West African trade. Yet, our strategic advantage has been constrained by port congestion, inadequate draft capacity and logistics bottlenecks that increase the cost of doing business. These projects respond directly to those constraints,” President Tinubu said.

He urged Ogun State and the investors to maintain the momentum created by the agreements and proceed with implementation, while stressing that the projects must operate within Nigeria’s laws and regulatory requirements.

The proposed development represents a significant expansion of Ogun’s coastal ambitions: a deep-water port capable of receiving larger vessels, an industrial zone designed to attract manufacturers, road infrastructure connecting the corridor to the national economy, and nearby energy and maritime projects.

At full development, the plan is expected to generate more than 50,000 direct jobs and contribute to non-oil export earnings, while giving Nigerian producers a new route into the African market.

“This is how modern infrastructure should be delivered: as an integrated ecosystem, operated to world-class standards and supported by a serious and responsible government. This is nation-building in its most practical form,” President Tinubu said.

Nigerian Professor Wins Global Prize for Making Research Equipment More Accessible

A Nigerian scientist has earned international recognition for confronting a problem that continues to frustrate researchers across the country’s higher institutions: scientific equipment may exist, yet remain practically out of reach because nobody knows where to find it or how to gain access.

Professor Edu Inam, a Chemistry Professor at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is among nine women scientists and engineers selected for the inaugural 2026 Faculty for the Future Impact Prize of the Schlumberger Foundation.

She was chosen from 156 applications submitted across 61 countries for her initiative, “Scaling a Research Equipment Database for Equitable Access in Nigeria.”

The project seeks to bring greater visibility and accessibility to research equipment and laboratory infrastructure scattered across Nigerian institutions, giving scientists and students a clearer route to the facilities their work demands.

Inam’s interest in the problem grew from her own experience as an analytical chemist. Researchers, she observed, could spend considerable time searching for specialised equipment without knowing which institution possessed it, whether it was functional, who managed it, or what steps were required to use it.

For students working toward graduation, the consequences can be particularly serious when experiments depend on machinery they cannot locate or access.

“My personal challenge has been knowing where functional equipment are located and how to access them in Nigeria’s higher institutions system,” Inam said while speaking to journalists in Uyo on Tuesday.

Her response was to build [LabEquipment.ng](http://LabEquipment.ng), a searchable digital platform that provides information on research equipment, their locations, and contacts for accessing them.

Publicly launched in 2021, the platform had, by the end of 2025, connected 22 institutions, listed more than 200 pieces of equipment, recorded over 3,000 searches and interactions, and attracted more than 550 users.

The work earned Inam the Schlumberger Foundation recognition, but her focus extends beyond only assembling a more extensive catalogue.

“The goal is not simply a larger database. It is a more connected research ecosystem, one in which a student’s experiment is less likely to end at the door of a laboratory with a broken machine,” she said.

Prize funding will support improvements to the platform, including mobile access, the onboarding of additional institutions, and clearer procedures for requesting equipment and laboratory services.

Inam wants researchers to stop treating institutional ownership as the starting point of their search and begin thinking in terms of national capability.

“The long-term vision is to change the question from ‘Does my university own this equipment?’ to ‘Where in Nigeria is this capability available, and how can I access it?’” she added.

That approach could make it easier for researchers to identify facilities beyond their immediate campuses and establish connections with institutions capable of supporting their work.

Inam, a former Head of the Department of Chemistry at the University of Uyo, serves as Director of the university’s International Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Research.

Her recognition comes as the Faculty for the Future programme shines its focus from supporting the education of women scientists to acknowledging fellows who apply their expertise to challenges within their communities.

Schlumberger Foundation President Capella Festa said the Impact Prize was created to recognise such leadership, strengthen connections among fellows, and help their work reach wider audiences.

“The Impact Prize allows us to recognise this leadership, connect it across the fellowship and help it travel further,” Festa said.

Other recipients include Dr Darshana Joshi, recognised for her work on STEM access for women and rural communities in India; Dr Angela Tabiri, for the Mathsqueen National STEAM Circuit; Dr Novalia Pishesha, for the Future Southeast Asian Scientist initiative; and Dr Chao Mbogo, for mentorship infrastructure for holistic technologists.

For Nigeria, Professor Inam’s achievement draws attention to a practical dimension of scientific advancement: ensuring that research tools are not merely purchased and housed, but identified, shared, and put to productive use.

A functioning laboratory can only serve the scientific community if researchers know where it is and can reach the people responsible for opening its doors.

Nigeria’s Foreign Reserves Rise Above $55 Billion, Reach 18-Year High

Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves have crossed the $55 billion mark, reaching their highest level in more than 18 years, according to Olayemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Cardoso announced the figure on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in Abuja, following the conclusion of the Monetary Policy Committee’s 307th meeting.

The reserve position offers a measure of the progress made in restoring Nigeria’s external financial strength, following years of pressure on foreign exchange availability and the country’s balance of payments.

“We have been able to rebuild our reserves,” Cardoso said. “And the whole conversation around rebuilding the reserves, we know that today, and it was mentioned in my communique that we are in excess of $55 billion, the highest number in over 18 years.”

“That’s a big thing. It has come through consistency and discipline in approach.”

Data released by the CBN had put the reserves at $54.8 billion as of September 22, just below the threshold later announced by the governor.

The improvement has coincided with stronger foreign exchange inflows from Nigerians abroad. Cardoso said the central bank’s campaign to lift monthly diaspora remittances towards $1 billion was beginning to bear fruit.

By July, he disclosed, the inflows had come close to the target.

“As of July, it was almost there. It was almost at $1 billion,” he said.

Remittances have become an important source of foreign exchange for Nigeria, supporting households, businesses and the economy. For the CBN, increasing these inflows is also part of effort to improve the country’s external accounts.

Cardoso said the rise in reserves, together with improved foreign exchange liquidity and greater exchange-rate stability, had strengthened Nigeria’s capacity to absorb economic pressures.

He expects remittance inflows to continue growing but cautioned that they remain exposed to external developments and could move in either direction.

“We will continue to grow these numbers. It will continue to be important for Nigeria,” the governor said.

“But we also accept that it can go up, it can go down.”

The CBN intends to sustain its engagement with Nigerians in the diaspora, encouraging not only continued remittances but also increased investment in Nigeria’s domestic economy.

“We are not going to relent. And we believe that the future is bright for us to continue to improve on those remittances,” Cardoso said.

The reserve announcement came alongside a separate monetary policy decision by the committee. At the same September 22 meeting, the MPC cut the Monetary Policy Rate by 350 basis points to 23 percent. The committee said the reduction would improve the effectiveness of monetary policy and assist Nigeria’s transition to an inflation-targeting framework.

The reserve figure now places greater attention on what follows: whether the country can sustain the inflows supporting the accumulation, preserve the gains made in foreign exchange liquidity and ensure that stronger reserves translate into tangible improvements across the economy.

For now, the $55 billion threshold stands as a notable marker in Nigeria’s ongoing financial and monetary policy story.

Nigeria’s Waters Record Four Years Without Reported Piracy Incidents

Nigeria has gone approximately four consecutive years without a reported piracy incident in its territorial waters, according to the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas.

The disclosure came on Tuesday in Calabar during the graduation ceremony of Naval Warfare Course 10 at the Naval War College Nigeria, where the Naval Chief outlined progress in maritime security and the challenges ahead.

“Encouragingly, Nigeria has maintained zero reported piracy incidents in our waters for four consecutive years, while incidents across the wider Gulf of Guinea have declined significantly,” Abbas said.

He attributed the progress to sustained security efforts but stressed that preserving it would require continuous maritime surveillance, a credible naval presence, regional cooperation and swift responses to emerging threats.

The development carries due importance for Nigeria’s economy, where offshore oil resources, ports, shipping routes and energy infrastructure underpin vital commercial activities. Abbas said the Navy was strengthening operations against crude oil theft, illegal mining and other forms of economic sabotage capable of undermining national revenue.

Nigeria’s crude oil production reached approximately 1.56 million barrels per day in June 2026, he noted, reinforcing the importance of protecting the maritime infrastructure that supports the petroleum industry.

Beyond immediate security operations, Abbas urged the graduating officers to prepare for a more technologically driven security environment. He said modern commanders must be capable of combining intelligence, emerging technologies and military capabilities across maritime, land, cyber and other operational domains.

“The rapidly changing security environment required commanders capable of integrating technology, intelligence and operational capabilities across maritime, land, cyber and other domains,” he said.

A research project presented during the course, titled “Adopting Emerging Technology for Operational Effectiveness in the Nigerian Navy: The Way Forward for Naval Engineering,” reflected the growing importance of innovation to future naval operations.

Abbas also noted that the Navy’s responsibilities extend beyond maritime security, with its personnel and specialised capabilities supporting joint operations against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security.

Earlier, the Commandant of the Naval War College Nigeria, Rear Admiral Muhammed Muye, said the course was designed to prepare senior officers for higher responsibilities in command, staff duties and strategic leadership.

A total of 34 participants completed Naval Warfare Course 10, including officers from Cameroon, Ghana and Liberia.

The reported absence of piracy incidents in Nigeria’s territorial waters marks a significant development in the country’s maritime security efforts. Sustaining that progress will depend on the Navy’s ability to combine operational discipline, technological advancement and regional partnerships while protecting the economic interests tied to the nation’s waterways.

Nigerian Peace Expert Babafemi Badejo Receives Timor-Leste’s National Honour

Professor Babafemi Adesina Badejo, a Nigerian peace and governance expert, has received the Medal of the Order of Timor-Leste for his contributions to international peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

The honour was presented on Monday, September 21, 2026, by José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace laureate, at the country’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.

Conferred under Decree No. 107/2026, the award recognises Badejo’s role in supporting efforts to restore constitutional governance in Guinea-Bissau, particularly through his collaboration with a Timorese technical team between 2013 and 2014.

Badejo’s involvement in the West African country’s recovery began in January 2013, when he became Chief of Staff to Ramos-Horta, who was then serving as the Special Representative of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for Guinea-Bissau. He held the position until June 2014.

During this period, the team helped rebuild cooperation between the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), contributing to the restoration of constitutional order through transparent elections in 2014. Timor-Leste provided more than US$8 million in support of the process.

Ramos-Horta described Badejo as “a true friend of Timor-Leste and a champion of peace”, praising his contribution to building foundations for stability in regions facing political uncertainty.

Accepting the medal, Badejo reflected on the relationship developed through their shared peacebuilding responsibilities.

“Your Excellency has chosen the International Day of Peace to honour me, and I find that fitting, because our friendship was forged in the rather less peaceful business of making peace,” he said.

He expressed appreciation to the government and people of Timor-Leste and acknowledged Nigeria’s role in stabilising Guinea-Bissau under former President Goodluck Jonathan, who served as ECOWAS lead on the country.

Badejo also dedicated the recognition to the individuals whose work sustaining peace often goes unnoticed, including peace support officials, mediators, civil society workers and ordinary citizens helping to hold fragile societies together.

The award adds to a distinguished record of international service. Badejo previously served as Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia and held other senior positions within the organisation.

In November 2025, Djibouti conferred on him the National Order of June 27, 1977, for his contribution to peace in Somalia, including his involvement in the Arta peace conference.

Badejo retired from the United Nations in 2017 and later authored Somalia Just Before Al-Shabaab: Why Peace Was Elusive, a book examining the region’s complex peace challenges.

His latest recognition highlights the impact of Nigerian professionals in international diplomacy and peacebuilding, while bringing renewed attention to the expertise and service Nigerians continue to contribute to global affairs.

Nigeria Breaks New Ground in West African Surgery with Remote Robotic Operation

A surgical procedure performed on a patient in Abuja has placed Nigeria among the growing number of countries exploring the possibilities of remote robotic medicine, after a specialist surgeon successfully operated on the patient from a separate location.

The operation, conducted on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja, was carried out through a collaboration involving Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital. It marked Nigeria’s first tele-robotic surgery and what the participating institutions described as the first telesurgery of its kind in West Africa.

At RHV, Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, a Professor of Urology and Transplantation and Co-Founder of RoboMed Global, controlled a Toumai robotic surgical console to perform a right radical nephrectomy on the patient in real time. The procedure involved removing a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.

Tele-robotic surgery allows surgeons to operate on patients from different physical locations using robotic instruments connected through specialised communication systems. Its application in Nigeria introduces a new possibility for delivering complex medical procedures without requiring patients to travel abroad or specialists to be physically present in the same operating theatre.

Speaking after the operation, Ekwenna-Davis said the procedure had demonstrated that telesurgery could be safely performed between different locations in Nigeria and across the world.

“Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like,” he said.

The operation lasted approximately three hours, with brief pauses to confirm that the equipment and supporting systems were functioning properly. The patient was in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours, according to the surgeon.

Ekwenna-Davis described the collaboration as a significant achievement, noting that it marked the first time two hospitals in different parts of Nigeria had successfully worked together to provide surgical care through remote technology.

He said the next priority was to develop the expertise required to sustain the programme. A robotic academy is expected to be established to train surgeons and other medical professionals, with a target of producing at least 150 surgeons within the next two years.

The initiative, he disclosed, has the support of the Minister of Health and other government institutions. He also called for contributions from private organisations and non-governmental bodies to strengthen the programme.

For Dr Adedamola Dada, Chief Executive Officer of Redeemer’s Health Village, the operation demonstrated that Nigerians could access sophisticated medical treatment without leaving the country.

“What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad,” Dada said.

RHV, he explained, was established to promote innovation and provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs. The project, he added, was not primarily profit-driven but intended to demonstrate what modern medicine could offer Nigerians, in line with the vision of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

The hospital’s adoption of robotic surgery and telesurgery is aimed at reducing medical tourism and expanding access to complex procedures within Nigeria.

Dada acknowledged, however, that the technology comes with demanding operational requirements. Reliable connectivity, quality equipment and trained personnel are essential to safe remote surgery, while weather conditions could occasionally interfere with communication networks.

To address the skills gap, RHV is establishing a robotic academy in partnership with RoboMed Global. The facility will train doctors, surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers and product specialists.

Dada urged the government to sponsor Nigerians interested in acquiring robotic surgery skills, recommending scholarships to accelerate the development of local expertise.

“My message to government is to support and sponsor Nigerians, the surgeons, the nurses, the biomedical engineers who would want to come and do this training here.

“They can award scholarships to them so that within two to three years, Nigeria will have a lot of professionals who are capable of performing robotic surgery,” he said.

The latest procedure builds on Nisa Premier Hospital’s involvement in robotic surgery. Its Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Dr Ibrahim Wada, disclosed that the facility had been a centre for robotic surgery in West Africa since November 2025.

Reflecting on the operation, Wada pointed to the value of cooperation among Nigerian medical institutions.

“Today, our patient received specialist surgical expertise from across the country without leaving Abuja. This is what becomes possible when Nigerian institutions decide to build together,” he said.

Dr Kunle Onakoya, Chairman of the Board of RHV, described the development as historic and urged those involved to recognise their contributions to the achievement.

Established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Redeemer’s Health Village is a faith-based, 300-bed multispecialty hospital.

Journalists at the facility watched the procedure live on television.

The achievement comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen domestic healthcare capacity and reduce dependence on overseas treatment. Its lasting impact will depend on the expansion of infrastructure, professional training and the systems required to make robotic surgery available to more patients.

For now, the operation has demonstrated that advanced surgical expertise can be delivered across geographical boundaries through partnerships forged within Nigeria.

It is a development that places local medical institutions at the centre of a conversation once dominated by foreign hospitals: how technology can bring complex healthcare closer to home.

Nigerian Inventor Ndubuisi Ekekwe Introduces Contisx Phone, a Blockchain-Powered Secure Communication Device

Nigerian engineer, entrepreneur and technology thought-leader Prof. Ndubuisi Ekekwe is behind the Contisx Phone, a cryptographically secured blockchain-powered communication device designed to enhance digital security for individuals, businesses and governments.

The phone emerged from an effort to extend the blockchain infrastructure developed for Contisx Securities Exchange into secure communications. It provides end-to-end encrypted messaging, voice calls and video communication, with cryptographic protection designed to prevent eavesdropping and tampering.

The Contisx Phone is currently available for preorder, with shipments scheduled to begin on October 1, 2026.

Customers who preorder will receive one year of complimentary Contisx Network services, including Contisx Mail, Contisx Audio and Contisx Video. They will also enjoy zero-rated data access across the Contisx Exchange and CSD ecosystems for one year, as well as free access to the Tekedia Nigeria Capital Market Masterclass and Tekedia Mini-MBA.

Ekekwe brings an extensive background in engineering, innovation and technology entrepreneurship to the project. He holds two doctoral degrees and four master’s degrees, including a PhD in engineering from Johns Hopkins University in the United States. He graduated as the best student in his class at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri.

During his time at Analog Devices Corporation, Ekekwe co-designed an accelerometer used in early versions of the iPhone. He also invented and patented a robotic system whose rights were acquired by the United States Government.

Beyond engineering, he is the founder of Tekedia Capital, an investment platform supporting technology-driven businesses, and coordinates Tekedia Institute, a business education institution. He is also Chairman of Fasmicro Group, which oversees multiple startups and business entities.

A TED Fellow, IBM Global Entrepreneur and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, Ekekwe has held professorships at Carnegie Mellon University and Babcock University. His work in innovation and business strategy has also earned international recognition.

Through the Contisx Phone, Ekekwe continues his longstanding pursuit of developing technologies that address real-world challenges while advancing Nigeria’s contribution to global innovation.

Preorder: https://contisx.com/phone/

Nigerian Banker Hamid Joda Named 2026 Global Islamic Banker of the Year as TAJBank Wins Digital Banking Award

Nigeria’s growing influence in global Islamic finance has received fresh recognition, with TAJBank Limited and its Founder and Managing Director, Mr. Hamid Joda, securing major honours at the 2026 Global Islamic Finance Awards (GIFA) in the United Kingdom.

Joda was named Islamic Banker of the Year 2026, while TAJBank received the GIFA Championship Award (Digital Banking) 2026 during the organisation’s 16th annual awards ceremony.

The recognition acknowledges Joda’s commitment to Islamic banking best practices, innovative financial solutions and strategies aimed at expanding access to non-interest banking services, particularly at the grassroots.

It also highlights TAJBank’s contribution to digital banking and the advancement of ethical financial services in Nigeria.

GIFA, an international organisation promoting social responsibility, Shari’a authenticity and ethical standards in Islamic finance, said the awards followed a detailed assessment of distinguished nominees.

In a pre-event email to Joda, GIFA Chairman, Prof. Humayon Dar, stated that the committee selected TAJBank and its managing director after careful deliberation guided by factors outlined in the organisation’s GIFA Methodology.

Dato’ Iqbal Khan, Founding CEO of Fajr Capital, Pioneer CEO of HSBC Amanah and a GIFA committee member, presented the Banker of the Year Award. Joda was represented at the ceremony by TAJBank’s Chief Compliance Officer, Dr. Muhammad Kabir Muhammad.

Reacting to the honour, Joda described it as a collective achievement involving TAJBank’s Board of Directors, management, employees and customers.

He said the recognition should inspire renewed commitment to ethical banking practices and the development of innovative products that enable more Nigerians to benefit from non-interest financial services.

“The Global Islamic Banker of the Year 2026 award is conferred on me but the commendation goes to our Board of Directors, the management and staff of TAJBank as well as our customers, who are creating the enabling environment for my performance,” Joda said.

He thanked the GIFA Committee, regulatory authorities, shareholders and customers, assuring stakeholders that TAJBank would continue working towards retaining its position as the biggest Islamic bank in Nigeria while upholding ethical banking standards.

The award adds to Joda’s professional distinctions, following his recognition as Most Promising Banker of the Year at GIFA’s 13th Awards ceremony in Dakar, Senegal, in 2023.

That same year, he received the Islamic Personality of the Year Award at the 6th African International Conference of Islamic Finance in Abuja, Nigeria.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Joda has more than 26 years of experience spanning deposit banking and Islamic banking operations.

The latest honours underscore the growing participation of Nigerian institutions in international Islamic finance while drawing attention to the opportunities for ethical, inclusive and technology-driven banking solutions within the country.

Dangote Builds Industrial Capacity as Refinery Expansion Targets 1.4 Million Barrels Daily

Dangote Industries Limited has acquired 4,000 additional construction machines for the expansion of its Lekki refinery in Lagos, raising its equipment fleet to 6,500 machines, including 330 cranes.

The acquisition supports the company’s plan to increase the refinery’s processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels of crude oil per day.

The Group Vice President, Oil and Gas and Fertiliser, Devakumar Edwin, disclosed this on Friday during a briefing with editors who toured the facility in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.

The scale of Dangote’s construction operation stems from challenges encountered during the refinery’s original development. When Julius Berger and other contractors indicated that they lacked the capacity to construct the main factory buildings, the company began acquiring the equipment needed to undertake the work itself.

Edwin said Dangote initially purchased 2,563 pieces of construction equipment, an investment that made the company the second-largest holder of construction machinery in the world at the time. The additional 4,000 machines have since taken it to the top of that ranking.

Julius Berger eventually constructed 43 of approximately 127 auxiliary buildings, including canteens, transformer rooms, control rooms and fire-fighting houses, but declined to handle the main process buildings.

The experience reinforced the need for industrial operators in Nigeria to develop their own heavy construction resources, particularly in an environment where specialised equipment is scarce.

Edwin recalled that when Dangote built its Apapa sugar refinery in 1998, Nigeria had only two large cranes, each with a lifting capacity of 150 tonnes.

The Lekki project required equipment on a far greater scale. Dangote hired one of only two 5,000-tonne cranes in the world and purchased 330 cranes for its operations.

The decision to build an in-house construction fleet also helped the company avoid the costs associated with relying entirely on foreign contractors.

According to Edwin, international engineering, procurement and construction firms had quoted fees equivalent to approximately 12.5 per cent of the refinery’s estimated $19.5bn capital cost. That would have amounted to about $2.5bn for design and supervision services.

Dangote rejected the arrangement.

Edwin recalled the group president pointing to a plaque on his desk bearing the inscription, “Nothing is impossible.”

The project was subsequently assigned to Dangote Projects Limited, which handled the detailed engineering, tender processes and direct procurement of materials, including nuts and bolts, while engaging contractors for construction.

The company’s preparation for the expansion is supported by infrastructure established during the refinery’s first phase. These facilities include a granite quarry with a 10 million-tonne capacity, 82 concrete batching plants, 203 transit mixers, a private port, an oxygen and welding-gas plant, and accommodation facilities for 50,000 workers.

Edwin said the existing infrastructure would be deployed for the expansion, reducing the cost and time required to execute the project.

Meanwhile, the refinery is already operating above its original design capacity.

The facility was designed to process 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily but is currently processing 700,000 barrels per day, Edwin disclosed.

“We have designed the refinery for 650,000, but we are now operating at 700,000. That is over 50,000 barrels per day above the design capacity. So the production volumes are even higher,” he said.

The refinery remains the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery, with the previous largest facility of its kind having a capacity of 430,000 barrels per day.

Its production strategy combines domestic supply with exports. Under the original plan, 44 per cent of output was intended for Nigeria’s market, while 56 per cent was earmarked for export.

The facility was designed to produce Euro 5 and Euro 6-grade petroleum products and process various African crude grades, alongside United States West Texas Intermediate crude.

Edwin said 95 per cent of production comprises petrol, diesel and jet fuel, while the remaining five per cent includes carbon black feedstock, an industrial product.

Dangote’s refining plans also extend beyond Nigeria. Following the Lekki expansion and the construction of its planned 700,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Kenya, the group is expected to reach a combined refining capacity of 2.1 million barrels per day.

By investing in engineering, equipment and supporting infrastructure, Dangote Industries is developing the technical and logistical capacity to execute large-scale industrial projects with greater control over cost, procurement and construction.

Nigerian Students Develop Technology Solutions for Education, Agriculture and Accessibility

From a solar-powered teaching robot to artificial intelligence-enabled glasses for visually impaired students, Nigerian children are demonstrating how creativity and technology can address challenges affecting their communities.

These innovations featured prominently at the 2026 Kids Innovation Challenge organised by The Destiny Trust (TDT), a non-governmental organisation that creates opportunities for children to develop skills in technology, creativity and enterprise.

Held in Lagos, the grand finale attracted more than 1,500 students from across Nigeria, alongside technology industry experts who gathered to witness the solutions developed by participating teams.

Government Technical College, Ikotun, Lagos, emerged as the overall winner with Smarteach, a portable, solar-powered educational robot developed by Adam Abubakri, Owede Divine and Taofeeq Thaoba.

The device was designed to function as an offline teaching assistant for children in rural and off-grid communities, potentially supporting learning in areas where electricity and internet access remain limited.

The competition was organised under TDT’s Kids Innovation Africa programme, which brings together students from public schools, low-fee private schools and low-income communities.

For its 2026 edition, participants were challenged to develop practical solutions in education, safe schools and communities, climate resilience and food security, while exploring artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies responsibly.

The competition's other leading projects reflected the diversity of challenges young Nigerians are seeking to solve.

Lagos State Model College, Meiran, secured second place with Smartfarm, created by Fanika Faith, Giwa Olaosebikan and Olaoye Rhoda.

The agricultural solution incorporates automated irrigation, soil moisture detection, surveillance, pest control, fire detection and sensor technologies to improve food production and protect farm produce.

Naija Mascot, a team from Delta State comprising Malik Oye, Zacson Favour, Bethel and Chizaram, finished third with affordable AI-powered smart glasses.

The invention is intended to assist blind and severely visually impaired students with reading, movement, object recognition and navigation.

Speaking about the initiative, Abimbola Ojenike, co-founder of TDT, said the purpose of education must extend beyond basic literacy, even as literacy challenges persist across the country.

“Our work of educating children today must go beyond basic literacy, even while admitting that basic literacy itself is still an overwhelming challenge,” Ojenike said.

She stressed the need to equip children with digital and creative tools that can help them become problem-solvers, noting that young Nigerians are demonstrating the ability to learn technology skills and build solutions even in low-resource settings.

Ojenike added that the challenge reflects TDT’s strategic efforts to provide in-school training and boot camps for children across Nigeria.

“Today is about the celebration of the greatness in the Nigerian child and the reminder that we must work harder to make opportunities more common for all children and do all we can to include all children in a new digital world,” she said.

Before the finale, the participating finalists attended an inception boot camp at Oracle’s headquarters in Lagos, where they received mentorship and participated in sessions on artificial intelligence, innovation development, emerging technologies, technology for good and intellectual property commercialisation.

The organisers also announced that all 10 finalist teams would proceed to a post-challenge incubation programme supported by UK-Nigeria Tech Hub and Tech4Dev.

The programme will provide micro innovation development grants, mentorship and technology skills development to help the young innovators advance their projects.

Through initiatives such as this, Nigerian students are gaining opportunities to apply classroom learning to real-world problems, creating solutions with potential relevance across education, agriculture and accessibility.

Their work offers a glimpse of the possibilities that emerge when children are given the resources and guidance to develop their ideas into practical innovations.

Lagos International Theatre Festival 2026 Brings Global Productions to the MUSON Centre

Lagos will once again become a meeting point for theatrical voices from across the world when the Lagos International Theatre Festival returns for its 2026 edition, featuring productions, creative exchanges and performances that explore the many identities people carry through life.

The festival is scheduled for November 14 and 15 at the MUSON Centre, Lagos, with artists and productions from Nigeria, Kenya, Canada and Brazil participating under the theme “The Masks We Wear” and the statement “The Stage Is Everywhere.”

The organisers say this year’s theme examines the different roles people assume in their daily lives while encouraging audiences to look beyond the traditional boundaries of theatre. With reported attendance exceeding 25,000 across its programme days, the festival continues to draw significant public interest to live performance and the creative arts.

Among the international presentations is Under The Mango Tree by Grand Theatre, Canada, directed by Lynette Randall. The international lineup will also include productions from Kenya and Brazil, introducing audiences to theatrical works from different cultural backgrounds.

Nigeria’s own creative depth will be represented by productions from Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Abeokuta.

The Nigerian selection features Monkey Laundry, directed by Olarotimi Fakunle; tHERapy, directed by Tosin Adeyemi; Men-Oh-Pause, directed by Elvina Ibru; and Behind Closed Doors, directed by Bolanle Austen-Peters.

The festival will also welcome emerging theatre makers from Atlantic Hall, Evergreen College and Children International School, whose productions will appear alongside works by professional and independent practitioners.

Before the principal performances begin, LITF will host a series of activities designed to connect theatre with other dimensions of cultural and creative life.

The programme opens on November 9 with Theatre Meets Food, hosted by chef and entrepreneur Hilda Baci. The event will bring artists, partners, cultural leaders and members of the creative community together for food, conversation and artistic interaction.

Embassy Nights, taking place on November 10 and 11, will focus on cultural exchange among diplomatic representatives, artists and creative industry leaders.

On November 12, Conversations and Culture will feature masterclasses and discussions covering mental health and wellness, vocal performance, DJing, copyright and other issues affecting the creative industries.

An Opening Night Gala follows on November 13, setting the stage for the festival’s main weekend.

According to festival founder Bolanle Austen-Peters, the 2026 theme is intended to encourage deeper reflection on the identities people present to the world.

“‘The Masks We Wear’ is a theme that speaks to all of us. We all play different roles in our lives, and theatre allows us to examine those roles, question them, and perhaps see ourselves differently,” she said.

Austen-Peters also noted that the festival’s central message extends beyond the physical theatre space.

“This year, we are also reminding audiences that theatre is not confined to a theatre building. The stage is everywhere.”

With productions spanning four countries, performances from Nigerian cities and dedicated opportunities for younger theatre practitioners, the Lagos International Theatre Festival is preparing an edition that places artistic expression, cultural interaction and the wider creative economy within the same programme.

The 2026 festival will take place at the MUSON Centre on November 14 and 15, with its supporting events beginning on November 9.

Eight Nigerian Entrepreneurs Put Homegrown Innovation on the Global Stage in Lahore

Eight Nigerian entrepreneurs have taken homegrown businesses to an international audience in Lahore, Pakistan, returning from the SEE Pakistan 2026 World Startup Championship with two awards for Nigeria.

Nigeria received the Country Award in the Growth and Innovation Category, while Uthman Fatimah Zahra of Nature’s Sleek Limited won the Best Skincare and Beauty Products category.

The result came at a competition that attracted more than 4,000 applications from over 40 countries, according to the Nigerian participants, giving the delegation an opportunity to present businesses developed in different parts of Nigeria before an international audience.

The Nigerian delegation brought together entrepreneurs from National Board for Technology Incubation Technology Incubation Centres in Uyo, Ile-Ife, Ibadan, Minna, Kaduna, Lagos, Bauchi and Port Harcourt.

They were Ndotehyin Kingsley Ekanem of Latent Simulation Works Limited, TIC Uyo; Alawode Olukemi Folasade of Green Oasis Foods, TIC Ile-Ife; Saidat Omowumi Dauda of Abisal Megatop Limited, TIC Ibadan; Uthman Fatimah Zahra of Nature’s Sleek Limited, TIC Minna; Asma Begum Mirza of Muhammad and Roshaneh Farms Limited, TIC Kaduna; Olabode Owoeye of Porter & Briggs Limited, TIC Lagos; Umar Rabiu Oyakhilome of Green-Tech Visionary Enterprise Limited, TIC Bauchi; and Bernard Emeka Eme of Benemes Nigeria Limited, TIC Port Harcourt.

Their participation followed an invitation extended through the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology and NBTI in June 2026, after which entrepreneurs were nominated from NBTI’s Technology Incubation Centres across the country.

The championship was not limited to the competition itself. Participating countries were provided with exhibition booths where entrepreneurs could market their products and engage venture capitalists, angel investors and prospective business partners.

The Nigerian participants said their booths attracted considerable attention, describing the exhibition area as a major point of activity during the event.

“The Nigerian booths were buzzing with activities. This is where the SEE Pakistan turned up to see Nigeria,” they said.

Their preparation for the international event had begun before they arrived in Pakistan. Through NBTI’s Technology Incubation Programme, they had received training and certification covering ISO 9001:2024, project management skills, export preparedness and corporate marketing skills.

A pre-competition boot camp also exposed them to international business-to-business and business-to-consumer engagements.

The entrepreneurs said the training helped prepare them for the demands of an international marketplace.

“The various training and certification of the Technology Incubation Programme provided by NBTI, including ISO 9001:2024, project management skills, export preparedness and corporate marketing skills, had long prepared us for a moment like this,” they said.

The achievement was announced by the NBTI Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kazeem Raji, in a statement issued on Thursday.

Raji said the performance demonstrated the capacity within Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to compete internationally.

“The success of our entrepreneurs in Lahore is a compelling demonstration that Nigeria possesses the talent, creativity and intellectual capacity to compete in the global innovation economy,” he said.

He added that NBTI would continue supporting technology-based enterprises by promoting indigenous innovation, facilitating commercialisation and connecting entrepreneurs with capital, expertise and international markets.

The entrepreneurs are now seeking support to build on the opportunities created by their participation.

They appealed to the Federal Government for financial assistance to enable them to pursue the full international commercialisation of their products and services.

In addition, they called on NBTI and the Federal Government to facilitate engagement with their respective state governments to secure facilities and infrastructure required to expand their businesses.

According to the entrepreneurs, this would help them scale their operations, establish permanent production facilities within their respective states, create employment opportunities and increase their contribution to the local economy.

For the eight entrepreneurs, the experience has provided international exposure, new commercial possibilities and recognition for businesses developed through Nigeria’s technology incubation ecosystem.

“On behalf of Team Nigeria, we, the eight entrepreneurs, really appreciate this opportunity and promise to even do more to change the narrative of our nation, Nigeria,” they said.

Falconets Storm Into U-20 World Cup Quarter-Finals After 3–0 Win Over England

Nigeria’s Falconets have secured a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after producing a commanding 3–0 victory over England in their Round of 16 encounter in Poland on Thursday.

The result at Stadion Miejski in Bielsko-Biała saw Moses Aduku’s side take another step towards the title, with Nigeria now among the final eight teams competing for the world crown.

The Falconets needed only eight minutes to make their mark. Tosin Rafiu broke the deadlock with an early goal, giving Nigeria the advantage and setting the tone for an encounter in which the team maintained control at crucial moments.

England were presented with a major opportunity to level the contest before half-time when they were awarded a penalty. Rachel Maltby stepped forward to take the spot-kick, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper and captain, Christiana Uzoma, produced an important save to keep England off the scoresheet. Nigeria therefore carried a 1–0 lead into the interval.

The second half began with another decisive moment for the Falconets. Just two minutes after the restart, Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei found the net to double Nigeria’s advantage and put England under increasing pressure.

England attempted to respond, but the Falconets remained firm before Mary Mamudu delivered the decisive blow in the 73rd minute. Her goal completed Nigeria’s three-goal haul and effectively settled the tie.

The emphatic victory continues an extraordinary turnaround in Nigeria’s campaign. The Falconets opened their Group F journey with a 2–0 defeat to Spain and followed it with a goalless draw against China, leaving them with just one point from their first two matches.

Everything changed in their final group fixture.

Nigeria dismantled New Caledonia 10–1, finishing second in Group F with four points and earning passage into the knockout rounds. That result also set up a Round of 16 meeting with England, who finished third in Group B.

The latest victory means Nigeria have scored 13 goals across their last two matches, following their failure to score in either of their opening two group games.

For a team with a proud history at this competition, the journey now enters another important stage. Nigeria have finished as runners-up at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup twice, but the Falconets are still searching for their first championship title.

With England now behind them, Aduku’s team will turn their attention to the quarter-finals, carrying the momentum of two successive high-scoring victories and a renewed opportunity to add another chapter to Nigeria’s record at the global tournament.

Nigerian-Born Christopher Adegoke Makes History in Nottinghamshire

Christopher Adegoke's latest public achievement in Britain can be traced back to a childhood spent across three Nigerian cities, an education shaped in Kaduna, Lagos and Ilorin, and a family where leadership and community responsibility were deeply valued.

On Thursday, May 14, 2026, Adegoke became the first Black and minority individual to be elected Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council since the council was established in 1889.

Already serving as a county councillor, he will now take on the additional responsibility of chairing the council, placing a Nigerian-born public servant in one of the institution's most distinguished offices.

His story began in Kaduna, where he was born and attended St Michael’s Primary School. When his father was transferred for work, the family moved to Lagos, where Adegoke continued his education at St John’s Aroloya.

Another move took the family to Ilorin, Kwara State. There, he attended St Barnabas Primary School, Sabo Oke, before proceeding to ECWA Secondary School, Igbaja, and later Government Secondary School, Ilorin.

At Kwara State Polytechnic, Adegoke became the institution's first Marshal of the Jazz Club. He subsequently attended the University of Ilorin, earning a bachelor’s degree in History and later a master’s degree in Public Administration.

Living in different parts of Nigeria exposed him to varied cultures and communities, an experience he says influenced his understanding of people and strengthened his interest in serving communities.

“Those experiences broadened my understanding of people and strengthened my passion for public service and community development,” he said.

That interest was reinforced by his family background. Adegoke is an indigene of Koro in Kwara State and the son of the late Olu Koro of Koro, Oba Elijah Adegoke.

He has described his father as a strong believer in education who ensured that his children received good schooling.

“I remain deeply grateful to him for his sacrifices, guidance and unwavering commitment to our future,” Adegoke said.

He said his father also instilled values of discipline, responsibility and respect for service, principles that have continued to influence his approach to leadership.

Adegoke's family has also been involved in community service. According to him, relatives have served as traditional, religious, educational and local government leaders. An uncle and a cousin served as local councillors in the Koro-Ekiti area.

“I come from a family with a strong tradition of leadership and community service,” he said.

“Given that background, it felt natural for me to follow a similar path.”

That path eventually led him into British public life. Adegoke has more than two decades of experience spanning international education, public administration and community leadership, alongside his involvement in grassroots governance and community development.

His election as chairman has brought those experiences into a new phase. He has pledged to work with residents, organisations, charities and businesses throughout Nottinghamshire, with inclusion and community participation among the areas he intends to emphasise.

“I intend to continue serving the people and ensuring that no one is left behind. We stand for everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances.”

Adegoke has also said he intends to represent Nottinghamshire at local, national and international levels while promoting inclusion, community engagement and opportunities for residents.

His election on May 14, 2026, has now secured his place in the history of Nottinghamshire County Council, while adding another achievement to the record of Nigerian-born professionals serving communities beyond Nigeria.

Kaduna Mining Project Gets $1m Autonomous Security Boost

Nigeria’s drive to unlock the value of its mineral resources is taking another step forward in Kaduna State, where the Jema’a Resource Project is set to receive advanced autonomous security technology under a $1 million contract awarded to Terra Industries.

Anka Metals awarded the phase-one contract to Terra Industries for the protection of the mining project at Gidan Waya, Kaduna State. The agreement covers the deployment of autonomous surveillance and site-protection systems and marks the first deal in a mining-security partnership between the two companies.

The Jema’a project is built around a multi-metallic deposit containing gold, lithium, copper and nickel, giving it a diverse mineral base as development of Nigeria’s solid-minerals sector gathers more drive.

The project is also part of a much larger investment landscape emerging around Kaduna’s mineral resources. In July, the Jema’a Resource Project and the Kaduna Mining Development Company signed agreements with the Africa Finance Corporation under a $500 million framework designed to finance and develop mining assets across Kaduna State.

As development progresses, protecting these assets becomes an increasingly important part of the equation. Terra Industries’ systems are intended to provide continuous surveillance and deterrence while supporting security operations at the site, particularly in environments where conventional security coverage may be limited and response times can be lengthy.

The company’s commercial division specialises in surveillance and deterrence systems for critical infrastructure operators, including businesses in the mining, oil and power sectors. Terra Industries says the autonomous technology used for its commercial clients is built on the same technology stack it supplies to defence customers.

That approach reflects the company’s focus on applying advanced technology to security challenges across strategic sectors.

Terra Industries was founded in 2024 and describes itself as a multi-domain systems and data-intelligence company focused on developing defence capabilities for Africa and the Global South. Its areas of operation include energy, mineral resources, urban infrastructure, maritime assets, border security and counterterrorism.

At the heart of its systems is ArtemisOS, a unified software platform designed to support large-scale security operations across integrated air, land and maritime systems.

The company says its objective is to provide countries and operators across the Global South with the technological capabilities needed to protect critical assets and strengthen security. Its network of work extends across Africa and internationally, involving governments, infrastructure operators and strategic partners.

The Jema’a agreement arrives at a timely point for Kaduna’s mining ambitions. With financing arrangements already being established and a mineral deposit containing four commercially important resources, the project illustrates the growing range of infrastructure, technology and investment required to turn mineral potential into productive assets.

The development also highlights a shift in the mining conversation: unlocking the Nigeria’s mineral wealth is not only about what lies beneath the ground, but about building the systems, investment structures and technology needed to develop and protect those resources.

The $1 million Terra Industries contract adds another piece to that emerging ecosystem in Kaduna, placing autonomous security technology alongside the financing and development efforts surrounding one of the state’s notable multi-metallic mineral projects.