Paris-based media freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on Tuesday that Israel was responsible for almost half of all journalists killed worldwide this year, with 29 Palestinian reporters killed in Gaza. RSF’s annual report recorded a total of 67 journalists killed globally in 2025, slightly up from 66 in 2024. Israeli forces accounted for…
By Ayomide Otitoju The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has clarified misleading reports suggesting that one of its aircraft and crew were detained by Burkina Faso authorities. In a statement issued on December 9, 2025, the NAF explained that a C-130 aircraft on a ferry mission to Portugal on December 8 made a precautionary landing in…
By Ayomide Otitoju Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Chairman of the award-winning pan-African communications consultancy APO Group, has been appointed as a Council Member of the Africa No Filter Foundation, a Mauritius-incorporated non-profit organisation dedicated to reshaping Africa’s global narrative. Africa No Filter, led by Executive Director Moky Makura, challenges stereotypical portrayals of Africa through storytelling…
By Ayomide Otitoju The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) and the Pan African Federation of Accountants (PAFA) have launched a $5.2 million institutional support project to tackle the shortage of qualified public sector accountants and auditors across Africa. The launch took place on 26 November at The South African Institute of Professional Accountants (SAIPA) House…
By Ayomide Otitoju The Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), a Shariah-compliant multilateral insurer and member of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, has backed a €132.5 million financing arranged by Standard Chartered for Joint-Stock Company “O’zbekiston Metallurgiya Kombinat” (Uzmetkombinat), Uzbekistan’s largest steel producer. The funding, supported by ICIEC’s sovereign…
By Ayomide Otitoju The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $159.50 million loan to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to enhance connectivity to the Ngandajika Agro-Industrial Park, opening up the country’s central region to trade and economic development. The total project cost is $177.16 million, with the Congolese government providing co-financing. The…
By Ayomide Otitoju Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, marked International Volunteer Day 2025 by celebrating the achievements of its Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), a flagship initiative that encourages staff to dedicate time, skills, and resources to community development across 14 African markets. The event, held at Airtel Nigeria Headquarters in Lagos, featured team-building activities,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Access Bank Botswana, a subsidiary of Access Bank Group, has gained international recognition after winning three prestigious awards celebrating its innovation, customer-centric approach, and commitment to social development. The accolades highlight the Bank’s efforts to transform Botswana’s financial sector through digital solutions and purpose-driven banking. The Bank was named Best Digital Banking…
By Ayomide Otitoju Dangote Cement’s Ibese Plant in Ogun State has stepped up its road safety advocacy with a major sensitisation campaign for commercial drivers and motorcycle riders, warning against excessive speeding and highlighting the dangers of operating around truck blind spots. The weekend event, held at the busy Ilaro Motor Park, drew hundreds of…
