By Ayomide Otitoju The Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, has concluded the 7th edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit 2025. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Dr. Frank Stangenberg-Haverkamp, Chairman of the Merck Foundation Board of Trustees; Senator Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and President…
By Ayomide Otitoju Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has inaugurated the 2025 edition of the Fidelity Nigeria International Trade and Creative Connect (FNITCC), held at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta, United States, on Thursday, September 18. In his keynote address, Sanwo-Olu underscored Lagos State’s commitment to partnering with corporate organizations and sub-national governments worldwide…
By Ayomide Otitoju Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has accused President Bola Tinubu’s administration of centralizing power and stifling dissent, warning that Nigeria risks sliding into authoritarian rule if urgent political unity is not achieved before 2027. Speaking at a political gathering, El-Rufai likened Tinubu’s style of governance to that of Cameroon’s long-serving leader,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.23% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, marking a stronger performance compared to the 3.48% recorded in the same period of 2024, according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The report highlighted broad-based growth across major sectors. Agriculture expanded by…
By Ayomide Otitoju Paris Saint-Germain, France forward Ousmane Dembélé has won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, edging out Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal to claim football’s most prestigious individual prize. The 28-year-old playmaker enjoyed a stellar campaign last season, scoring 35 goals and providing 14 assists in 53 appearances as PSG secured a historic treble, including their…
Tara Reade, the American woman who accused former U.S. President Joe Biden of sexual assault in the 1990s, has been granted Russian citizenship, according to a decree signed Monday by President Vladimir Putin. The decree, published on Russia’s official legal information portal, confirmed that “McCabe Alexandra Tara, born February 26, 1964” — Reade’s legal name…
The Trump administration’s sudden imposition of a new fee on H-1B visas triggered panic and confusion among foreign workers, particularly from India and China, with many abandoning travel plans to rush back to the United States. According to Reuters, major technology firms and banks issued urgent memos to employees abroad, advising them to return before…
By Ayomide Otitoju The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Union (EU) have renewed their collaboration on universal health coverage (UHC) with the launch of Phase V (2025–2028) of the UHC Partnership, WHO’s largest platform for strengthening health systems and advancing primary health care. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the 80th…
By Ayomide Otitoju President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema has conferred the National Order of Merit on Prof. Benedict Oramah, outgoing President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and Dr. George Elombi, the Bank’s incoming President and current Executive Vice President. The awards, presented on 15 September during the…
