By Ayomide Otitoju Australia’s landmark decision to ban social media use for children under 16 is set to turn the country into a real-world test case for how restrictions on online platforms affect young people, according to digital wellbeing experts. Supporters of the December 10 ban cite a growing body of research linking excessive screen…
By Ayomide Otitoju First HoldCo Plc has announced the completion of its full divestment from FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited, confirming the sale of its 100 per cent equity stake to EverQuest Acquisition LLP. The company disclosed the development in a regulatory notice to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), stating that the transaction was finalised following…
By Ayomide Otitoju Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced plans to release 1.5 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the Nigerian market in December 2025 and another 1.5 billion litres in January 2026 to ensure steady fuel supply during the festive season and early New Year. President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Senior policymakers, investors, and development finance executives gathered on Thursday at the 2025 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) Market Days to address one of the continent’s most urgent challenges: mobilising the capital needed to meet fast-growing infrastructure and climate demands. At a high-level panel titled “Innovative Finance Instruments Powering Africa’s Sustainable Transformation,” speakers…
By Ayomide Otitoju Afreximbank has successfully closed its second Samurai bond transaction, raising a total of JPY 81.8 billion (approximately USD 527 million) through a combination of Regular and Retail Samurai bond offerings. The issuance surpasses the Bank’s 2024 debut size and drew participation from more than 100 institutional and retail investors, underscoring sustained confidence…
By Ayomide Otitoju Anambra State’s 2026 budget, themed “Changing Gears 3.0,” allocates a 12.2% year-on-year increase to the Administrative Sector—a deliberate move that reflects Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s long-term governance strategy rather than a modest commitment, according to Chief Press Secretary Christian Aburime. The ₦757.9 billion budget, presented on 25 November, builds on the administration’s…
By Ayomide Otitoju Anambra State Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, fresh from a historic landslide re-election, on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, presented the state’s 2026 budget of ₦757.9 billion to the House of Assembly, signalling the start of his second-term development agenda. Tagged “Changing Gears 3.0: Solution Continues,” the budget marks a 24% increase over…
By Ayomide Otitoju Papa Samba, Director General of Control and Monitoring Operations at Senegal’s Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, has been confirmed as a speaker at the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2025 conference and exhibition, scheduled for 8–10 December in Dakar. Samba’s participation comes at a pivotal time for Senegal’s energy sector, which…
By Ayomide Otitoju Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo — Following a joint review, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) have approved a comprehensive plan to enhance the performance of the Bank’s project portfolio in the country. The Country Portfolio Performance Review took place from 17…
