Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

Three Nigerian Students Shortlisted For Prestigious Global Student Prize 2025. Three exceptional Nigerian students, Daniel Itegboje, Israel Smart, and Titilope Olotu, have earned a place among the top 50 nominees for the Chegg.org Global Student Prize 2025, a renowned $100,000 award celebrating outstanding students who make significant impacts on learning, their communities, and society. Selected from nearly 11,000 nominations across 148 countries, their inclusion highlights Nigeria’s growing influence in global education and innovation. Daniel Itegboje, a medical student at the University of Benin, is also an award-winning documentary filmmaker. His film *O.Y.O (On Your Own)* sheds light on…

Ballon d’Or 2025: Bellingham, Mbappé, And Haaland Headline Men’s Nominees Paris, France – The Ballon d’Or, football’s most prestigious individual award, has unveiled its 30-player shortlist for the 2025 Men’s Ballon d’Or, showcasing a dazzling array of global talent. Announced on Thursday, the list features a blend of established stars, rising prodigies, and unexpected names who have excelled across domestic leagues, continental competitions, and international duties over the past year. Leading the contenders are Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappé, and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, each recognised for their pivotal roles at club and international levels. Bellingham,…

Lagos Blue Line Rail Boosts Service To 90 Daily Trips, Cutting Commutes To 10 Minutes.

Trump Proposes Declaring World Economic Forum A Terrorist Organisation. In a bold and controversial move, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed his intention to designate the World Economic Forum (WEF) as a terrorist organisation, according to recent statements circulating on social media. The provocative claim has sparked intense debate, with supporters and critics alike weighing in on the potential implications of such a designation. The World Economic Forum, based in Switzerland, is a prominent international organisation known for hosting global leaders, business executives, and policymakers at its annual Davos summit. It focuses on fostering public-private cooperation and addressing global…

K1 De Ultimate Apologises For Airport Incident, Clarifies Flask Contained Water For Medical Condition. Renowned Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as K1 De Ultimate, has issued a heartfelt apology following a controversial incident at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on 5 August 2025. The 68-year-old music icon addressed the uproar in a personally signed statement released on Friday, clarifying that the flask at the centre of the dispute contained only water, not alcohol as alleged, due to a medical condition requiring constant hydration. The incident occurred when K1 was preparing to board a ValueJet Airlines flight…

Oba Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, Olubadan Of Ibadanland, Laid To Rest In Solemn Ceremony. The city of Ibadan was steeped in solemnity as His Imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Akinloye Owolabi Olakulehin, the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland, was laid to rest following his passing on 7 July 2025, just two days after his 90th birthday. The burial service and graveside rites, held in accordance with Yoruba tradition, drew dignitaries, traditional leaders, and mourners from across Nigeria to honour a monarch whose life was marked by wisdom, service, and an unwavering commitment to his people. The funeral proceedings, conducted at the Olubadan…

Dangote Refinery Quashes Shutdown Rumours, Confirms Petrol Price At N850 Per Litre. Dangote Petroleum Refinery has firmly dismissed speculations of a shutdown, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining a steady supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, at an ex-depot price of N850 per litre. The announcement, made on Friday, 8 August 2025, puts to rest concerns sparked by a week-long suspension of petrol sales, which had fuelled uncertainty in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector. The 650,000-barrel-per-day facility in Lekki, Lagos, resumed petrol distribution on Thursday after a brief hiatus, during which an internal memo instructed marketers to…

Toxic Braids: Nigeria’s $429m Synthetic Hair Market Poses Cancer And Fertility Risks. Nigeria’s booming $429 million synthetic hair industry is under scrutiny as mounting evidence reveals serious health risks linked to its widespread use. Research has uncovered that synthetic braids, a staple in the beauty routines of millions of Nigerian women, contain harmful chemicals, including carcinogens and heavy metals, raising alarms about cancer and fertility issues. Studies, including a recent Consumer Reports investigation, have identified volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and lead in popular synthetic hair brands such as Sensationnel, Magic Fingers, and Shake-N-Go. These chemicals, known as endocrine disruptors, can…

ADC Slams PDP’s Bid To Lure Peter Obi, Signals Party’s Waning Influence. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has sharply criticised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for its reported attempts to woo Peter Obi, the former Labour Party presidential candidate, branding the move as a sign of the PDP’s dwindling political clout. In a statement issued on Thursday, the ADC described the PDP’s efforts as “laughable,” arguing that the once-dominant party’s need to court high-profile figures underscores its loss of relevance in Nigeria’s political landscape. Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, remarked that the PDP’s pursuit of Obi, a…

Cristiano Ronaldo And Al-Nassr Squad Arrive In Lagos For Pre-Season Training. Football icon Cristiano Ronaldo has touched down in Lagos, Portugal, with his Al-Nassr teammates as the Saudi Pro League club ramps up preparations for the 2025/26 season. The squad’s arrival in the coastal city marks the next phase of their pre-season tour, following a successful stint in Lisbon where they secured a 2-1 victory over French side Toulouse, with Ronaldo scoring a clinical goal. The move to Lagos, announced with the club’s social media post, “Lisbon chapter closed, Lagos chapter loading,” signals a shift to more intensive…

Northern Nigeria Embraces Peter Obi’s Vision For 2027, Says Former IPAC Chairman. Peter Ameh, a former National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has declared that northern Nigeria is increasingly supportive of Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, as the 2027 election approaches. Speaking on Channels Television’s *Politics Today* programme, Ameh highlighted Obi’s growing popularity in the region, attributing it to his character, competence, and commitment to a single four-year term if elected president. Ameh, a staunch advocate for Obi, emphasised that the former Anambra governor is not driven by an entitlement mentality but by a…

Dangote Cement Bolsters Efficiency With New Cost-Cutting Strategies. Dangote Cement Plc, Africa’s largest cement producer, has unveiled a series of innovative strategies to reduce operational costs, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable growth and economic resilience. The company, a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial landscape, is leveraging advanced technologies and regional trade opportunities to enhance efficiency and maintain its competitive edge in the cement industry. A key pillar of Dangote Cement’s cost-reduction strategy is its focus on optimising energy use. The company has adopted modern rotary kilns equipped with preheaters that recycle exhaust gases to heat raw materials, significantly reducing fuel…