JT Agency’s remarkable award-winning run has continued on the global stage. Weeks after making history at the 2026 Pitchers Festival with an extraordinary debut that delivered 35 recognitions, the Abuja-based visual storytelling agency has now added another prestigious international honour as its International Women’s Day campaign, Let Her Finish, secured second place in the Human Rights category at the ACT Responsible Exhibition in Cannes.

The latest recognition reinforces what the Pitchers Festival had already signalled: JT Agency is emerging as one of Nigeria’s most exciting creative agencies, producing work that resonates far beyond the country’s borders.

At the 2026 Pitchers Festival, JT Agency announced itself in spectacular fashion, winning 18 awards, comprising one Silver and 17 Bronze medals, while earning 18 Shortlists across multiple categories.

The agency’s debut performance ranked it among the festival’s most recognised agencies and marked one of the strongest first-time outings by a Nigerian agency.

Among the standout projects at Pitchers was Let Her Finish, which earned three Bronze awards in Design Craft alongside two Shortlists.

The campaign stood out for confronting a reality that remains commonplace in professional spaces, particularly within the creative industry: women are still too often unseen, unheard, underrepresented and interrupted.

Rather than presenting the issue as an abstract conversation, JT Agency transformed it into a powerful visual statement.

Through compelling film, photography and print executions, Let Her Finish portrayed interruption not as a metaphor but as a familiar experience shared by countless women, making an uncomfortable truth impossible to ignore.

That authenticity has continued to resonate internationally. Following its success at Pitchers, the campaign was selected for the ACT Responsible Exhibition in Cannes, where it attracted public support before ultimately finishing second in the Human Rights category.

The recognition places JT Agency alongside global agencies using creativity to tackle pressing social issues and demonstrates that purpose-driven storytelling can compete on the world’s biggest stages.

The journey of Let Her Finish from Africa’s leading creative festival to Cannes illustrates the growing international relevance of Nigerian creative work when it combines cultural insight, emotional honesty and strong execution.

For JT Agency, the Cannes recognition is more than another award. It validates the agency’s creative philosophy of using visual storytelling to spark conversations that matter.

Coming immediately after its historic Pitchers debut, it also confirms that the agency’s success was no one-off achievement but part of a growing body of work attracting recognition across continents.

From a record-breaking first appearance at Pitchers to international acclaim in Cannes, JT Agency is proving that bold ideas rooted in authentic human experiences can travel—and that Nigerian creativity continues to earn its place on the global stage.

•Initiative To Strengthen Cyber resilience Begins In Nigeria, South Africa

Mastercard has unveiled its Africa Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, a pan-African initiative aimed at strengthening cyber resilience, fostering collaboration and safeguarding Africa’s rapidly expanding digital economy against evolving cyber threats.

The initiative, announced during a visit to Nigeria and South Africa by Mastercard Chief Executive Officer, Michael Miebach, underscores the company’s long-term commitment to supporting Africa’s digital transformation through stronger cybersecurity frameworks.

According to Mastercard, the Centre of Excellence will serve as a hub for governments, financial institutions, businesses and other stakeholders to collaborate, share intelligence, improve preparedness and enhance coordinated responses to cyber threats across the continent.

The launch also fulfils commitments made by Mastercard during recent engagements with the Nigerian Government in Abuja and the South African Government at the G20 meetings held in Johannesburg last year to strengthen Africa’s cybersecurity ecosystem.

Speaking at the launch, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the initiative as a significant step towards building a secure and trusted digital environment.

Ramaphosa said: “We recognise that for digitisation to be inclusive, it must be trusted and secure. Mastercard has long been a trusted partner to South Africa, and its Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence is a welcome step to build on that foundation, drawing on the country’s best and brightest to meet a challenge no government or company can solve alone.”

Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also welcomed the initiative, noting that cybersecurity would play a critical role in the country’s digital transformation agenda.

“As Nigeria deepens its digital transformation, secure and trusted systems will be critical to inclusion and growth. We welcome collaborations that strengthen our digital economy and build resilience for the future,” Tinubu said.

Mastercard said the Centre of Excellence would leverage its global cybersecurity expertise and intelligence capabilities to support one of the world’s fastest-growing digital economies.

With digital adoption accelerating across Africa, the company noted that cybersecurity has become increasingly vital to economic growth, stressing that no single organisation can effectively combat today’s sophisticated cyber threats alone.

To address this challenge, the Centre will promote collective defence by bringing together financial institutions, public sector organisations and businesses to exchange threat intelligence, improve preparedness, identify emerging risks earlier and strengthen resilience over time.

Miebach said trust remains the foundation of Africa’s digital future.

“Africa is dynamic, fast-growing and ready to scale its digital future. That won’t happen without trust. People don’t use what they don’t trust. That makes cybersecurity foundational to driving economic resilience and growth across the continent. By doing more to connect public and private sector efforts and share best practices, we can strengthen collective defence and secure a more confident and inclusive digital economy,” he said.

Mastercard noted that Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach “$1.5 trillion by 2030”, making stronger cybersecurity collaboration increasingly urgent.

The company also highlighted the growing threat posed by cybercrime across the continent, which continues to result in substantial economic losses each year.

It added that only an estimated “35 per cent” of cyber incidents are officially reported due to limited cyber maturity, inadequate detection capabilities and concerns over reputational damage.

According to Mastercard, South Africa remains the continent’s most targeted market, accounting for about “29 per cent” of ransomware attacks and “40 per cent” of phishing incidents recorded in Africa.

Nigeria, meanwhile, ranks among the countries most affected by ransomware attacks and dark web-related cyber threats.

The multi-year initiative will commence with a phased rollout in 2026, beginning in South Africa and Nigeria before expanding across the continent.

Operating as a pan-African hub supported by connected digital platforms, the Centre will provide participating organisations with improved visibility into emerging cyber threats.

During its first year, Mastercard plans to conduct ecosystem-wide cyber risk analyses involving up to 50 organisations while providing access to an Africa-focused threat intelligence feed developed by Recorded Future, a Mastercard company.

The initiative will also encourage collaboration among Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), business executives and cybersecurity professionals through secure information sharing, joint exercises and coordinated incident response.

Mastercard said the Centre has been designed to evolve in line with the continent’s cybersecurity needs and will focus on three strategic pillars.

The first pillar, “Threat Intelligence and Strategic Insights”, will provide participating organisations with Africa-focused threat intelligence, cybersecurity assessments and a shared understanding of emerging risks.

The second pillar, “Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing”, will facilitate closer cooperation among CISOs, senior business leaders and security teams to strengthen collective response capabilities and promote cybersecurity best practices across industries.

The third pillar, “Readiness and Resilience”, will support organisations through continuous risk monitoring, resilience assessments and scenario-based exercises aimed at improving response and recovery capabilities.

Mastercard described the launch as another milestone in its broader mission to strengthen trust in the digital economy.

Since 2018, the company said it has invested more than $12.6 billion in cybersecurity innovation and supported the launch of over “20 cybersecurity-focused startups” worldwide.

The company added that the initiative reflects its evolution from a payments network into a trusted technology and cyber intelligence partner committed to supporting secure, inclusive and sustainable digital growth across Africa.

By working closely with governments, financial institutions, businesses and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Mastercard said it aims to strengthen the digital foundations necessary for inclusive economic growth while helping build a safer and more resilient digital future for the continent.

More than 10,000 young people gathered at the University of Lagos Sports Centre for the fifth edition of the Gen Z Involvement in a New Nigeria, popularly known as GiNN 5.0, in what organisers described as the largest gathering of Gen Z in Africa.

The event, convened by Agomeze Saint Chukwuemeka, popularly known as Saint of Africa, brought together young Nigerians from different parts of the country for a historic convergence focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, innovation, creativity, civic participation and nation-building.

Speaking during the event, Saint of Africa said GiNN had grown beyond an annual programme into a continental youth movement.

“GiNN has grown from an idea into a movement. What we witnessed today proves that young Nigerians are no longer waiting to be handed the future. They are stepping forward to build it, lead it and redefine the narrative of this country,” he said.

The event featured leading voices across business, media, politics and enterprise, including Kola Adesina, Ayo Animashaun, Bunmi Davies, Gbenga Obadina and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour.

A major highlight was the presentation of the GiNN Young Excellence Awards, recognising outstanding young Nigerians across entertainment, entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact and professional excellence.

Organisers also announced over ₦30 million in seed funding committed by speakers to support promising young entrepreneurs through the GiNN Innovation Hub.

As conversations around artificial intelligence continue to dominate the global advertising industry, X3M Ideas CEO, Steve Babaeko, has urged agencies to shift their focus away from technology itself and toward the human skills that truly create competitive advantage.
Speaking at the inaugural IAA Slam during the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Babaeko delivered a thought-provoking perspective on AI’s impact on the creative industry, arguing that the widespread availability of AI tools has not diminished the value of creativity but has instead exposed the difference between average execution and genuine mastery.

Using a motorsport analogy, Babaeko compared AI tools to cars, noting that while almost anyone can learn to drive, very few can perform at the level of seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton.
“Everyone can learn to drive a car. But everyone who can drive a car cannot drive like Lewis Hamilton. That is the AI conversation our industry is not having properly,” he said

According to Babaeko, the rapid democratization of AI means that creative agencies no longer enjoy exclusive access to the technologies that generate campaign ideas, presentations, scripts, and strategic frameworks.
With clients, marketers, and even junior professionals now able to access the same tools, the cost and speed of content production have changed dramatically.

However, he argued that this should not be a source of anxiety for agencies.
“Access to a car has never been the same thing as mastery of a car,” he noted, adding that the growing availability of AI only makes the distinction between ordinary and exceptional talent more visible.

For Babaeko, the real value lies not in the technology itself but in the judgment, experience, and cultural intelligence required to use it effectively. Drawing parallels with elite racing, he explained that exceptional performance comes from knowing when to accelerate, when to brake, and how to navigate conditions that others fail to recognize.

Applying this to the creative industry, he said the difference between average output and breakthrough work lies in human judgment rather than machine capability.

“The AI is the car. Fast, powerful, and capable of going wherever you point it. But knowing where to point it, understanding culture, emotion, and human nuance, that remains the responsibility of the creative professional,” he said.

Babaeko also challenged agencies to rethink how they position themselves in an AI-driven era. Rather than marketing their access to emerging technologies, he argued that agencies should invest more heavily in developing talent, creative judgment, and strategic thinking.

“If your pitch deck still says ‘we use AI,’ that’s like a driving school advertising that it owns a car,” he remarked.

“Everyone owns the car now.”
He urged agency leaders to prioritize the development of skills that machines cannot easily replicate, including taste, intuition, cultural sensitivity, and contextual understanding.

Referencing everyday realities and cultural experiences, Babaeko argued that AI remains limited in its ability to fully understand the subtleties that shape human connection and effective communication.
“It cannot read a room in Lagos traffic. It cannot feel the impact of an Afrobeats chorus landing at exactly the right moment. It cannot fully grasp history, irony, or the weight of a proverb,” he said.
These uniquely human capabilities, he argued, represent a significant competitive advantage for African creatives and agencies operating in culturally diverse markets.
As AI continues to transform the advertising landscape, Babaeko’s message offered a reassuring counterpoint to fears of technological disruption. Rather than replacing creativity, he suggested, AI is forcing the industry to confront a more fundamental question: who truly possesses the craft required to create exceptional work?
“AI did not lower the value of creative work,” he concluded. “It exposed who actually had craft in the first place.”
His remarks resonated strongly with industry professionals attending Cannes Lions, reinforcing the view that while technology may continue to evolve, human judgment, cultural insight, and creative excellence remain the defining factors of success in modern advertising.

…Nigerian journalist Rakiya Muhammad receives the first-place award for her story documenting the positive economic impact of Yoruba women in Côte DIvoire

The International Center for Journalists(ICFJ), in partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that operates Wikipedia, have announced three journalists from Africa as recipients of the Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards.

The winning stories, covering migration, youth sports and maternal health, are being recognized for helping highlight meaningful stories in Africa. The Awards celebrate the essential role journalists play in creating well-researched articles that volunteer editors can use as source materials to develop content on Wikipedia. Wikipedia relies on evidence-based reporting to inform and expand its content, making journalists essential partners in building a more complete global knowledge base.

Earlier this year, African journalists living on the continent were invited to self-nominate articles they had written that help expand knowledge about Africa, with a specific focus on the areas of women and/or youth, and arts, culture, heritage, and sports. In total, 320 submissions were received from40 African countries.

One of the recipients of the 2026 Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards was Rakiya Muhammad, a freelance journalist from Nigeria, who won the First place award with the article: West Africas Borderless Women: Inside the Yoruba Sisterhood Linking Nigeria and Côte dIvoire.Published in RM Times, the story documents the decades-long migration pattern of women leaving Ejigbo in southwest Nigeria for Côte DIvoire. Women from Ejigbo, fueled by the promise of economic opportunity, have become a dominant force in Abidjans market and drivers of cultural ties between the two countries. According to Muhammads story, up to 80percent of Ejigbo’s funding comes from its people in Côte d’Ivoire.

On receiving the news about her recognition, Rakiya Muhammad said; Receiving this honour renews my passion for telling stories that place African women at the heart of the narrative as active agents of development, leadership and social change. The recognition rekindles my commitment to documenting positive stories about Africa with authenticity and depth, while shedding light on the gendered dimensions often overlooked in broader discussions.”

While in second place was Abiodun Adewale, a Nigerian sports reporter for The Punch, for the piece Breaking boundaries: How Nigerias U-19 women are rewriting cricket history. The story chronicles how the Junior Female Yellow Greens, a Nigerian womens cricket team, prepared for and performed at the 2025 International Youth Cricket World Cup. Sports coverage in Nigeria rarely focuses on cricket; Adewales story highlights the sport’s growing presence in the country.

In the Special mention category was Angeline Ochieng,a Kenyan-based correspondent from Nation Media Group, for the story The converts: How reformed midwives are ending maternal deaths. Published in the Daily Nation, the article focuses on former traditional midwives in rural Kenya who have ended their practice to advocate for hospital deliveries, leading to fewer deaths and complications.

ICFJ President, Sharon Moshavi, said: “Journalism and Wikipedia need each other. Wikipedia’s volunteer editors rely on independent reporting to build a more complete knowledge resource, and journalists benefit from the global and multilingual reach that Wikipedia provides. These awards recognize that relationship and the African journalists who are making our digital information ecosystems stronger.”

Wikimedia Foundations Chief Communications Officer, Anusha Alikhan, said: “Wikipedia is the largest encyclopedia ever assembled, but it is far from complete. Having stories written by Africans about the issues they care about is vital to ensuring the encyclopedia is representative of many experiences and perspectives. We celebrate the three journalists who have received the Open the Knowledge Journalism Awards and thank them for making this kind of reporting possible.”

Wikipedia editor, President of Wikimedia Nigeria, Olaniyan Ishola Oulushola, said: “The quality and relevance of the articles received and selected in this year’s awards is commendable. As a Wikipedia editor, I see in each of them an opportunity to improve information about Africa on Wikipedia. From documenting the history of women cross-border traders in West Africa to the achievements of female cricketers, each of these articles brings us a step closer to closing the knowledge gaps we are working on every day.

“In January 2026, Wikipedia marked its 25th anniversary. Today, it is among the top-ten most-visited global websites, and it is the only one to be run by a nonprofit, the Wikimedia Foundation. Its 65 million articles in over 300 languages, created by nearly 250,000 volunteer editors from around the world, are viewed nearly 15 billion times every month.

“Yet, many topics about Africa remain missing or incomplete on the site. Currently, only 3.7% of the articles on the English Wikipedia are about Africa. This issue reflects knowledge gaps in the wider media ecosystem; new information can only be added to Wikipedia by volunteer editors if it is supported by a citation from a published, reliable source. This year’s award recipients were decided upon by a committee composed of African civil society leaders, academics, ICFJ and Wikimedia Foundation staff, and members of the Wikipedia volunteer community.”

The Arab African Investors Association has expressed readiness to mobilise $100bn investment commitments and accelerate funding into critical sectors such as energy, minerals, food, digital.

The Executive Director of the Association, HRH Princess OluToyin Abod-Onagoruwa, made this known to journalists on Monday.

She noted that this will be driven via its Arab-African Global ������Ƶ Summit in Cairo, Egypt between 21st July to 25th July, 2026.

OluToyin noted that the global economy is at crossroads; Hence, the issues of fragmented supply chains, climate pressures, demographic shifts and many others propelled the search for growth, reliability and shared prosperity.

The ED stated that the Summit will unlock the combined economic destiny of the Arab and African regions as a unified global powerhouse.

She cited the capacity to redefine world markets, supply chain, sustainability and the future of human development.

The Head stated that stability, economic cooperation, and peace building will be promoted.

According to her, Global investors with emerging market opportunities, SMEs, MSMEs and youth innovators empowerment will be brought into existence.

“In 2026, the global economy stands at a crossroads. Fragmented supply chains, climate pressures, demographic shifts, technological acceleration, and geopolitical fractures have made the world search for new hubs of growth, reliability and shared prosperity.

“To unlock the combined economic destiny of the Arab and African regions as a unified global powerhouse with the capacity to redefine world markets, supply chain, sustainability and the future of human development.

“To mobilize over $100bn in investment commitments, accelerate funding into critical sectors such as energy, minerals, food, digital.

“Promote stability, economic cooperation, and peace building, connect global investors with emerging market opportunities, empower SMEs, MSMEs and youth innovators.” She said.

Abod-Onagoruwa, who is also The Chief Financial Officer of QWorldgroup UK Limited, said the Summit is built to inspire Governments, CEOs, Investors, Multilateral Institutions, Sovereign Funds, Innovators and Global Change Makers.

Ventura Hotel and Suites Asaba is steadily redefining the hospitality experience in Delta State’s capital, combining contemporary luxury, thoughtful comfort, and attentive service tailored to today’s discerning traveller.

Strategically located directly opposite the Asaba International Airport, off Vanguard Avenue, the hotel offers unmatched convenience for guests while preserving a calm, secure atmosphere suitable for both business and leisure stays.

Founded and led by hospitality entrepreneur Prince Obi, Ventura Hotel and Suites reflects a clear vision: to deliver world-class service anchored on professionalism, warmth, and consistency.

Since its launch, the hotel has grown into one of Asaba’s notable hospitality destinations, earning patronage from corporate executives, government officials, and leisure travellers alike.

The property is designed with understated elegance, featuring tastefully furnished rooms, refined interiors, and a service culture that prioritises guest comfort.

Whether for short business trips, extended stays, weekend retreats, or special occasions, Ventura Hotel and Suites offers an experience defined by quality, discretion, and attention to detail.

According to Prince Obi, the hotel’s philosophy is simple but deliberate; creating an environment where guests feel genuinely welcomed, relaxed, and at home from arrival to departure.

Beyond ambience, location remains a key differentiator.

With the airport just three minutes away and excellent road connectivity to major parts of Asaba, the hotel appeals strongly to travellers who value efficiency without sacrificing comfort.

Guests benefit from a range of modern amenities, including uninterrupted high-speed Wi-Fi, complimentary breakfast, 24-hour power supply, and fully equipped rooms featuring air conditioning, work desks, smart-screen televisions, tea and coffee facilities, mini-bar refrigerators, en-suite bathrooms, and dedicated internet access.

These features are thoughtfully integrated to support both productivity and relaxation.

BANGUI, Central African Republic – December 28, 2025 – Voting officially commenced today in the Central African Republic (CAR) as polls opened nationwide for the country’s general elections. Approximately 2.4 million eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots to select a president, members of the National Assembly, and local authority representatives.

Polls opened at 6:00 a.m. local time across 6,700 polling stations. Early reports indicate that voting is proceeding in a calm and peaceful atmosphere, with no serious security incidents registered as of this morning. Significantly, voting is active and orderly even in remote regions and areas previously impacted by insecurity, such as the city of Bambari.

Seven candidates are contending for the office of the President. The incumbent, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra, is seeking re-election following his victories in 2016 and 2020. He faces opposition from six other candidates, with former Prime Ministers Anicet-Georges Dologuélé and Henri-Marie Dondra regarded as his primary competitors.

Under the constitution, the presidential mandate is for a seven-year term. To win in the first round, a candidate must secure an absolute majority (50% plus one vote). If no candidate achieves this threshold, a runoff election will be held between the top contenders.

Voters are simultaneously electing 140 deputies to the National Assembly, the nation’s unicameral parliament. The parliamentary mandate is also set for a term of seven years.

The legislative field is competitive, with 685 candidates vying for seats. The pool of candidates is comprised of nominees from over 40 political parties, as well as a significant number of independent candidates, who make up nearly half of the field.

Political observers are closely watching the performance of the Movement of United Hearts (MCU). The party, which currently holds 61 seats following the 2020–2021 elections, is projected to remain a dominant force in the legislature.

VFS Global team processing applications at Premium Application Centres, bringing UK visa services closer to residents in Enugu and Kano without the need to travel to Lagos or Abuja

As Nigeria continues to strengthen its position as Africa’s largest economy and one of its most vibrant travel markets, demand for faster, safer, and more personalised visa application experiences is rising sharply- especially amongst group travellers.

This growth has created a new wave of discerning Nigerian travellers seeking smart, secure, and bespoke experiences- a segment VFS Global is uniquely positioned to serve. From sports teams and corporates to families and leisure groups, Nigerian travellers are increasingly choosing technology-enabled solutions that bring greater convenience and confidence to their journeys from the very first step- applying for their visa.

VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions, offers an extensive portfolio of smart visa application solutions in Nigeria to meet this growing demand.

Chief Operating Officer for Sub-Saharan Africa at VFS Global, Mr. Siddharth Mehra, said: “Our mission is to ensure that every traveller’s journey begins smoothly, supported by technology, security, and trust,” said “By expanding our suite of smart services in Nigeria, we’re enabling travellers whether individuals or groups to enjoy a world-class visa experience that’s flexible, accessible, and reliable.”

These solutions combine accessibility, premium comfort, and digital convenience for a smooth
application: Visa At Your Doorstep (VAYD) / On-Demand Mobile Visa (ODMV): Through the Visa At Your Doorstep service (known as On-Demand Mobile Visa for UK applications), applicants can now complete their visa submission — including biometric enrollment — from the comfort and safety of their chosen location.

Suitable for busy professionals, sports teams, film crews, students and families, the service offers: application submission from home, office, or preferred venue that saves time, attractive packages for families and groups, and strict adherence to WHO and local health guidelines.

This solution has been particularly well received by group travellers and teams in Nigeria who require efficient, coordinated processing without disruption to their schedules.

Recently, we received this heartfelt testimony from the Official Spokesperson, Remo Stars FC, a Nigerian Premier Football League Team, for a recent group booking requirement. “I would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to your team for the excellent support during our team’s group submission yesterday. The entire process was seamless and efficiently managed, and your staff ensured that everything went smoothly for our players. We truly value the professionalism and hospitality shown throughout the day. Thank you once again for your assistance and cooperation.”

Premium Application Centres (PACs): VFS Global’s Premium Application Centres, now operational alongside our regular centres in Abuja and Lagos, bring the UK visa application experience closer to home. Applicants in Enugu, Kano, Ibadan and Port Harcourt can submit applications and biometrics in a premium, hotel-like environment with added services such as document scanning and upload support, real-time notifications, courier return of passports with optional services like Keep My Passport While Applying and Prime Time Appointments. These centres ensure comfort, privacy, and speed — ideal for business travellers, delegations, and high-volume groups without having to spend extra to travel to Lagos or Abuja, where we have our UK centres.

Premium Lounge: In addition, our Premium Lounge service offers a personalized submission experience with dedicated staff members. The services can be booked in advance on our website or at the Visa Application Centre at the time of the appointment. These services are completely optional and have no bearing on the processing timeline and outcomes of visa applications.

Recognising that many applicants prefer flexibility, VFS Global offers Prime Time Appointments, enabling customers to submit applications outside standard working hours — including evenings and weekends —for added convenience. Additionally, VFS Global’s Live Identity Processing (LIDPro) technology underpins these services, ensuring biometric accuracy, secure data handling, and faster turnaround times —a key factor in maintaining service reliability for large-scale group applications. For applicants who prefer guided support, VFS Global’s Form Filling Assistance service ensures applications are completed accurately and efficiently, reducing errors that may cause delays.

In recent months, VFS Global has successfully managed large-scale group bookings for Nigerian organisations and sports delegations travelling internationally, processing dozens of applications seamlessly through ODMV/VAYD and PAC solutions. For more information about VFS Global’s suite of services, visit: https://www.vfsglobal.com/en/governments/solutions.html

Africa Hyperscalers convened a high-level virtual forum that brought together the most influential voices shaping the continent’s digital future from national regulators and telecom operators to cloud providers, hyperscalers, data center executives, and frontier technology leaders.

The session examined with uncommon clarity and urgency what Africa must build to compete in an AI-driven world, spotlighting the foundational pillars of compute, cloud, connectivity, power, governance, and talent as the engines of the continent’s next phase of digital competitiveness.
Delivering the keynote address, themed: “AI-Ready Africa: Building the Compute, Cloud, and Connectivity Foundations for the Next Digital Leap” Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, stated that AI has become “part of the basic infrastructure of competitiveness, just like roads, power, and ports.”

He emphasized that countries that build the right foundations “will unlock new productivity, new jobs, and new opportunities,” while those that do not “will find themselves consuming other people’s innovations instead of shaping theirs.”

The NCC boss highlighted the compute divide, the algorithmic divide, and the data divide as Africa’s most urgent gaps. “We risk being stuck as AI consumers, not AI creators,” he said emphasizing the importance of locally governed data and African-relevant models.

He reiterated the NCC’s commitment to connectivity expansion, open-access frameworks, cloud adoption, data center development, cybersecurity, and adaptive regulation, noting that “the digital future is a shared future.”

In his keynote on “The Future of AI in Telecoms – Opportunities and Challenges for Nigeria”, the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere underscored the scale of change ahead, noting that AI is no longer theoretical in telecoms.
He highlighted opportunities in predictive maintenance, smarter customer engagement, network optimization, and operational intelligence, while calling for stronger industry coordination to accelerate adoption.

After Vertiv’s presentation on AI-ready infrastructure solutions, the keynote panel -themed “Building the Right Infrastructure for AI-Driven Telecom Networks” and moderated by CEO of Open Access Data Centres, Dr. Ayotunde Coker, delivered sharp, practical insights into Africa’s AI readiness.

Speakers included General Manager, Architecture and Enterprise IT MTN Nigeria, Bukola Ajayi; Chief Executive Officer, Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi; Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Oladejo Olawumi; Vice President/Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), and Group Head of Artificial Intelligence, IHS Towers, Mike Salem; Regional Account Manager, Vertiv, Wilson Eigbadon; Head, Cybersecurity and Internet Governance, Nigerian Communications Commission, Engr. Babagana Digima; and Co-Founder, AI in Nigeria, Dotun Adeoye.

Ajayi of MTN stated that “the countries with the strongest infrastructure discipline will lead in AI,” noting that energy and connectivity remain decisive enablers. She emphasized that AI-ready data centers require high availability, liquid cooling, and resilient networks, warning that “if you don’t have connectivity, you can’t even talk about AI.”

On the power challenge, Eigbadon of Vertiv emphasized that Africa is entering an era where “data centers will have to bring their own power,” pointing to new gas corridors and decentralized power policies as opportunities for more reliable energy. Dr. Coker added that the global trend shows even advanced markets “are now looking for small nuclear reactors” as AI workloads expand.

Talent development emerged as a strong theme. Adeoye of AI in Nigeria highlighted that with 63percent of Nigerians under 25, “the future depends on how early we train the next generation.” He called for structured AI clubs, industry–university partnerships, and practical training aligned with real infrastructure environments. “No matter how much we talk about infrastructure or data, we will need local talent to drive this,” he said.
Collaboration was repeatedly emphasized across speakers. Salem of IHS noted that Africa will only progress “if infrastructure providers, carriers, hyperscalers, government, and investors work as an ecosystem,” adding that “no company can build AI infrastructure alone – collaboration is not optional.”

NITDA’s Oladejo Olawumi reinforced the importance of data sovereignty, noting that “data is the currency on which AI runs,” and warning that Africa must ensure its strategic datasets remain local, trusted, and interoperable.

The session offered a rare cross-sector view of Africa’s AI readiness, examining the infrastructure gaps, investment needs, and policy frameworks required to support AI workloads at scale. Supported by Vertiv and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), the forum signaled a stronger alignment between government, operators, and technology leaders on building the continent’s AI foundation.

Africa Hyperscalers continues to champion the collaboration needed to strengthen Africa’s digital backbone across data centers, cloud, connectivity, power systems, and AI infrastructure.

Africa is moving to position itself for the next wave of artificial-intelligence development, as researchers, policymakers and technology executives concluded the 5th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (ICAIR 2025) with renewed commitments to infrastructure, regulation and talent.

The three-day gathering organized by the Machine Intelligence Research Group (MIRG) in partnership with NITDA IT Hub (NITHUB) and the Nigeria AI Research Lab (NAIL) drew about 1,000 participants from four continents.

Discussions centered on “Building Sustainable AI-Driven Digital Infrastructures for African Economies,” with officials underscoring that the continent is no longer debating AI adoption but confronting what it must build to compete globally.

Conference Convener and MIRG Chairperson, Dr. Victor Odumuyiwa, said Africa must define its own AI trajectory. Digital transformation, he said, “is no longer a luxury but a necessity,” adding that MIRG’s mission is to ensure African AI systems are inclusive, ethical and relevant to local needs across education, agriculture, security and cultural industries.

The University of Lagos used the conference to announce a structural shift in its academic programs. Dr. Chika Yinka-Banjo, Head of Computer Sciences, confirmed that a new Department of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics will admit its first students in 2026—seen as a sign of institutional commitment to long-term talent development.

Government officials also outlined new initiatives. Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani—represented by Dr. Bunmi Ajala—confirmed updates to the National AI Strategy, including investments in GPU infrastructure and the rollout of N-ATLAS, Africa’s first multilingual, open-source large language model.

Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Olatubosun Alake, described Lagos as “Africa’s innovation capital,” announcing a ₦1 billion R and D fund, the Lagos Innovation Bill and an AI Ethics Platform.

Several keynote speakers pressed for AI models that reflect African languages and social contexts. Dr. Avishkar Bhoopchand of Google DeepMind said the continent must align reinforcement-learning techniques “with local languages, values and cultures.” Prof. Muhammad Abdul-Mageed of the University of British Columbia said African NLP systems must embed identity and cultural nuance, while South Africa’s Prof. Chijioke Okorie emphasized the emerging importance of IP and licensing as data and models become commercial assets.

Other presentations highlighted practical challenges. Dr. Tajudeen Gwadabe called community-driven data collection essential to addressing Africa’s linguistic diversity, and technologist Emeka Okoye argued that smart-city governance will increasingly depend on AI-enabled reasoning tools such as knowledge graphs.

Industry masterclasses ranged from autonomous vehicles to GPU-accelerated AI innovation and consumer-level automation using Google’s Gemini tools.

Young African innovators were also prominent. Startups including Dawn AI, NeoBlankey, YarnGPT and Korin AI presented early-stage solutions targeting dyslexia, neonatal health, indigenous language processing and content creation. More than 16 peer-reviewed papers and 20 posters explored applications in healthcare, agriculture, finance and education.

Two research prizes capped the event. Blessing Adetokunbo received the Best Paper Award for “Harnessing DeepSeek for African NLP,” while the Best Poster Award went to Ayomide Fagoroye and Josiah Adesola for their work on ensemble deep-learning models used in poultry-disease detection and counterfeit-product authentication.

In closing, Odumuyiwa framed ICAIR 2025 as a turning point for African AI research and deployment. The conference, he said, served as “a launchpad for Africa’s AI journey, moving from conversation to concrete commitments.” Organizers confirmed that the next edition will be held in November 2026.

Marketing Director at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Maureen Ifada, has been named the Nigeria Marketing Amazon at the 2025 Nigeria Marketing Awards, adding yet another major honour to a year marked by exceptional professional recognition.

Ifada, who has built a remarkable two-decade career in brand building and consumer marketing, is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Nigeria’s marketing landscape.

Her leadership has strengthened the positioning of Peak, Three Crowns and other dairy brands, driving campaigns that resonate deeply with Nigerian households and reinforcing FrieslandCampina WAMCO’s dominance in the sector.

This latest award joins an impressive list of honours she has received recently. Earlier in the year, she was celebrated as the Outstanding Marketing Amazon of the Year by Marketing Edge.

She also won Marketing Director of the Year at the Brand Handlers Awards, and was named twice among WIMCA’s Top 50 Most Influential Women in Marketing and Communications in Nigeria.

Her rising global profile was also acknowledged through her appointment as a judge for the International Content Marketers Award (ICM).

In her acceptance remarks, Ifada dedicated the Nigeria Marketing Amazon award to her team, describing the recognition as “a celebration of shared vision, creativity, and relentless dedication.”

Her win is seen as a strong reaffirmation of the growing influence of women shaping the future of marketing in Nigeria.

A Non- Governmental Organisation, Dr Abbey Akinoshun Foundation- DAAF has received the Oodua Special Recognition Award (OSRA) in Ile-Ife in recognition of the organisation’s humanitarian impact in Nigeria, particularly working with the elderly, orphans, and widows.

The OSRA ceremony, held annually to commemorate the birthday of His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, celebrates individuals and organisations who embody service, compassion, and commitment to community development.

In his remarks, The Founder, Dr. Abbey Akinoshun described it a day of pride, purpose, and gratitude, adding that it is a reminder that service to humanity remains the highest calling.
He narrated that the event was magnificent, expressing gratitude for the warmth and wisdom of Ooni of Ife.
Akinoshun, therefore, expressed profound gratitude to the monarch for encouraging the daughter to find love in Nigeria, describing it as a gesture symbolising bond between tradition and new generation.
Meanwhile, Dr. Akinoshun donated food items to 51 beneficiaries, including elderly people, widows, and widowers, in celebration of the 51st birthday of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
“It was truly a day of pride, purpose, and gratitude — a reminder that service to humanity remains the highest calling. It was a great honour to be named a Special Guest of Honour at such a magnificent event and to share a personal conversation and photo session with His Imperial Majesty, Kabiyesi Ojaja II. His warmth and wisdom were deeply inspiring.

“A particularly memorable moment came when Kabiyesi joyfully conversed in Yoruba with my British-born daughter and affectionately encouraged her to find love in Nigeria — a gesture that beautifully symbolised the bond between tradition and the new generation. This gesture was our humble way of honouring Kabiyesi’s legacy of love, generosity, and community upliftment.

“As part of our visit, the DAAF Foundation presented food items to 51 beneficiaries, including elderly people, widows, and widowers, in celebration of the 51st birthday of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II,” He said.

 
The Bright Peter Impact Initiative (BPI) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing quality education and youth empowerment by donatingschool bags and learning materials to students across public schools in Lagos State.

This initiative is part of BPI’s education empowerment program, designed to support children from low-income families and promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
 
Speaking during the donation exercise, the Founder of the Bright Peter Impact Initiative, Peter Ibizugbe Righteousness B, fondly known as Bright Peter, emphasized that the gesture reflects the foundation’s continuous effort to remove barriers to learning and provide students with the tools they need to succeed.
 
“At BPI initiative, we believe education is the foundation for social and economic transformation. By equipping young learners with basic school supplies, we invest in the future of our communities and help create more inclusive and sustainable society,” Peter said.

He also explained that the foundation plans to extend its education-focused initiatives to other states in the coming year while strengthening collaborations with schools, community leaders, and development partners to reach more children and students across Nigeria.

 
The Bright Peter Impact Initiative, a privately funded nonprofit organisation, focuses on projects that empower the marginalised, nurture leadership among young people, promote sustainability and provide hope to the common man.

Its core values, sustainability, inclusion, impact, and love shape its diverse programs, which include Education, medical outreach and sensitization, entrepreneurship empowerment programme aids, prison missions and various community development drives.
 
Bright Peter noted that BPI’s guiding philosophy is rooted in love and collective responsibility.

“Our work is driven by love for humanity and for the idea that every individual deserves a fair chance at success. Society thrives when we uplift one another, and that is what our initiative stands for,” he said.
 
Data from the Lagos State Ministry of Education indicates that over 1.5 million pupils are enrolled in public schools, many of whom struggle with limited access to basic educational materials.

Stakeholders have lauded initiatives like BPI’s as crucial in complementing government efforts to improve learning conditions across the state.
 
BPI’s donation is part of its broader vision to build a generation of empowered, educated, and socially responsible citizens.

The foundation has pledged to sustain its outreach programs and expand its partnerships to ensure that every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to learn, dream, and thrive.

Through its initiatives, BPI Initiative aims to contribute to making the world a better Place.

Learn More about The Bright Peter Impact Initiative commitments on www.brightpeterinitiative.org

A social enterprise, Humble Fellow, has launched an AI-powered solar energy project to provide clean and reliable electricity for residents of Olorunda-Abaa, a peri-urban community in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The project, known as “Solar for Olorunda-Abaa Initiative,” aims to deliver renewable energy to over 500 homes, schools, and businesses while promoting economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Founded by James Akinleye, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and engineer who hails from Olorunda-Abaa, Humble Fellow is deploying an AI-enabled solar mini-grid that will power households, classrooms, and small businesses.

The project also includes a solar-powered ice-making and cold storage facility to support farmers, traders, and healthcare providers in preserving food and medicines.

Akinleye said the initiative goes beyond providing electricity. “This is about empowering the next generation. We are harnessing the sun not just to light homes, but to power futures.”

The system’s AI-driven monitoring and predictive maintenance features are designed to ensure peak performance and long-term efficiency.

In addition, the project includes a training and capacity-building programme to equip local youths and technicians with the skills to install and maintain solar systems—creating jobs and developing green-tech talent in the region.

Olorunda-Abaa, like many peri-urban communities in Nigeria, has long faced energy insecurity, with unreliable grid power affecting education, healthcare, and commerce.

The initiative is expected to reduce dependence on diesel generators, cut carbon emissions, and improve residents’ quality of life.

Humble Fellow said the project represents a replicable model for other communities across Oyo State and beyond, combining renewable infrastructure with digital tools such as AI monitoring, cloud analytics, and online training to drive sustainable development.

The firm noted that beyond lighting homes, the initiative will boost local agriculture, enhance healthcare delivery, and strengthen small businesses, ushering in “a new era of clean, inclusive growth” for Olorunda-Abaa.

Africa Hyperscalers is convening policymakers, operators, and digital infrastructure leaders for a strategic session on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, titled: “AI-Ready Africa: Building the Compute, Cloud, and Connectivity Foundations for the Next Digital Leap.”

The session will examine what Africa – and particularly Nigeria – must put in place to ensure its telecom networks, data centers, and cloud environments can support emerging AI-driven applications at scale.

Scheduled speakers include: President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), Tony Izuagbe Emoekpere; Chief Executive Officer, Open Access Data Centres, Dr Ayotunde Coker; General Manager, Architecture and Enterprise IT, MTN, Bukola Ajayi; Chief Executive Officer, Tizeti, Kendall Ananyi; Director, IT Infrastructure Solutions, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Oladejo Olawumi; Regional Account Executive, Vertiv, Okechi Osuagwu; Vice President and Chief Information Security Officer and Group Head of Artificial Intelligence, Mike Salem; and Co-Founder, AI in Nigeria, Dotun Adeoye.

Through keynote insights and panel dialogue, the session will explore how AI adoption is reshaping network planning, compute workloads, and energy systems, and what investments are required to build resilient, scalable AI-ready infrastructure. Discussions will also focus on policy alignment, interconnection ecosystems, cloud localization, and the development of regional talent and capability pipelines.

Executive Director of Africa Hyperscalers, Temitope Osunrinde, said the session is designed to help industry leaders move from high-level ambition to actionable readiness.

Osunrinde noted, “AI presents enormous opportunities for Africa’s digital ecosystem but its impact will only be realized if the underlying compute, power, and connectivity layers are scaled sustainably. This session will highlight proven use cases, outline emerging infrastructure demands, and offer practical steps stakeholders can take to ensure their networks, data centers, and talent pipelines are truly AI-ready.”

The webinar will take place on Zoom at 10:00 AM (WAT), November 19, 2025, and is open to C-level executives, network planners, regulators, and technology partners. To register, click here https://convergenceafrica.hyperscalers.news/ai-infrastructure-readiness-session/

Veritas Glanvills Pensions Limited (VG Pensions), one of Nigeria’s licensed Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), has once again demonstrated resilience and operational excellence, recording a 17.6% growth in gross earnings for the financial year ended December 31, 2024.

The performance, announced at the Company’s 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on October 16, 2025, in Lagos, underscores VG Pensions’ consistent growth trajectory and prudent financial management amid challenging macroeconomic conditions.

The Company’s gross earnings rose from ₦2.43 billion in 2023 to ₦2.85 billion in 2024, while profit before tax stood at ₦724.01 million, representing a modest increase over the previous year’s result. In recognition of this performance, the Board approved a final dividend of 8 kobo per share, reinforcing its commitment to creating enduring value for its shareholders.

Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Farouk Lawal Yola, commended the Company’s resilience, agility, and customer-focused strategy, all of which have helped to distinguish VG Pensions within the pension industry. He noted that “VG Pensions maintained its strong focus on service excellence, stakeholder engagement, and market expansion despite macroeconomic headwinds. We remain optimistic that as ongoing economic reforms take hold, our Company will continue to deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders.”  The Chairman also acknowledged the unwavering support of the shareholders, regulators, customers, and employees, noting that their commitment has been instrumental to the Company’s continued success.

The Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Godson Ukpevo, OON, in his remarks, emphasized that the Company’s performance reflects strategic discipline and operational efficiency amid a challenging economic environment. He noted that, despite inflationary and cost pressures, VG Pensions sustained steady growth driven by efficiency and strong customer engagement. He added that VG Pensions is well positioned to sustain its growth trajectory and continue delivering lasting value to all stakeholders.

Mr. Ukpevo also highlighted the robust performance of the Nigerian pension industry, which recorded a 23% growth to ₦22.51 trillion in assets under management as of December 2024, underscoring Nigerians’ continued confidence in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

By Michael Adesina

The Regional Economic Department of the French Embassy in Nigeria and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) have officially launched a technical cooperation project designed to strengthen Nigeria’s institutional and operational capacity in personal data protection. While the initiative has been in development for several months, this event served to formally celebrate and reaffirm the growing partnership between France and Nigeria in advancing robust data protection practices.

Building on the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) of 2023, the collaboration seeks to enhance the NDPC’s ability to conduct compliance audits, develop practical methodologies and training tools, and draw inspiration from France’s well-established expertise in data regulation.

France, a global leader in data protection through institutions such as the Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) and Expertise France, will share its experience and best practices to support Nigeria in consolidating and implementing its regulatory framework.

As part of the cooperation, a study tour to France will be held later this year, allowing NDPC officials to engage directly with leading French and European institutions responsible for data protection, digital regulation, and public sector modernization. This study visit marks a significant milestone in the broader roadmap designed to support Nigeria’s implementation of the NDPA and promote a strong data protection culture across public institutions and society at large.

By Ugo Aliogo

It was 2 p.m. on a bright Saturday in Lagos. Sunlight poured through the windows of a café in Victoria Island, warming the wood tables and lighting the green plants that leaned lazily toward the panes. Soft jazz murmured from hidden speakers, and the faint aroma of baked croissants mingled with espresso. A few foreigners typed intently on laptops, wine glasses catching the sun, while couples whispered across tables, voices low and intimate, almost blending into the music.

I was already seated, a glass of fresh juice glistening with condensation. My blue top caught the light every time I shifted, and though my fingers played with my phone, my mind was elsewhere—circling the conversation ahead. The air hummed with the casual rhythm of weekend life, yet there was a stillness at my table, the kind that comes when you know something important is about to unfold.

Then David arrived.

He walked in with the kind of ease that fills a room before words do—a plain white T-shirt, black trousers, and sneakers that had clearly seen a few airports. There was an energy about him, a quiet excitement that slipped through his calm. When our eyes met, his grin came quick and unguarded before settling into something softer, steadier. “Helloooo,” he said, sliding into the chair across from me. The smile lingered in his eyes—the kind that says it’s been a long time coming.

“How are you doing?” he added. I smiled. “I am doing very well. It’s so good to see you.”

We ordered jollof rice with turkey and cake for dessert, along with another round of juice. While the waitress prepared our plates, we talked about his month..

“So,” I began, watching him stir his juice, “what has it been like, moving between these worlds—Geneva, Ghana, Lagos—all in a matter of weeks?”

He leaned back, fingers tracing the rim of his glass. “It’s exhausting,” he said, voice level but amused, “but that’s fine. You realise quickly what matters, and what’s just… noise.”

Curiosity and Mischief

If mischief had a face, it would probably wear David’s grin. “I once convinced my father—a pastor—to let me attend Quranic school,” he recalls, “I also mostly lied about fasting so I could eat the insanely good early morning food my Muslim friend’s mom made.”

It’s the kind of memory that says everything—mischievous, crazy, curious, and an unwillingness to accept things as they are. “I hated school and often thought I was smarter than my teachers,” he says, amused. “I might have been.” He adds. I wasn’t sure what to make of that.

In Primary 2, during a Home Economics assessment, he was asked how many times people eat in a day. He wrote five. The teacher failed him. “I told her we eat five times in my family, so I wasn’t wrong. The question was,” he recalls. “She laughed and told me to sit, but I went to the proprietor and reported it. In the end, I got full marks.”

He pauses, “By the way, I knew three was the expected answer. I just wanted to prove the question was badly phrased.”

I nodded, jotting notes silently. “You’ve always questioned the framing of things,” I said.

He shrugged. “If the world doesn’t make sense, why pretend?”

That defiance wasn’t arrogance—it was clarity. Even as a child, he wanted things to make sense or at least, make sense out of nothing. He remembers his first day at school at age two. “I couldn’t sit still. I cried for my mom. Other kids stopped after a week or two, but I didn’t. I just learned it didn’t matter if I continued crying, so I stopped and at around age 6, switched to faking sickness.”

Despite this restlessness, brilliance followed him. “I finished both primary and secondary school as the best student, but with less than 50 percent attendance. Teachers thought I had sickle cell or something.”

Competition was his only motivation. “I think I was in primary 2 when inter-class quizzes started, I learned everything up to Primary 6 so I could beat everyone—especially my elder sister’s class. And I always did.” He shakes his head, remembering. “In secondary school, boredom returned. Until competitions came back in my last year, I joined older boys and did terrible, terrible things.”

David left the classroom only to find himself in a laboratory where the world studies the universe. Before Idalia Africa, before the applause, before he became the young man building bridges for others to cross into possibility, David was just another student in a Nigerian lecture hall, restless and uneasy, wondering why learning felt like confinement.

He didn’t hate education; he just couldn’t stand its cage. So he walked away—not out of arrogance or rebellion, but from a deep knowing that purpose sometimes lives outside permission. “Fk seeking permission from people. Fk them,” he says, his tone hard but unbothered.

Years later, that decision would lead him to CERN, the world’s largest particle physics lab, and then to co-founding Idalia Africa, a nonprofit helping Africans access education and opportunities that feel more like discovery than punishment.

University and Strategic Dropouts

UNIBEN — a new world, but, really, the same David.

“Uniben was great,” he says, drawing out the word like he’s tasting it. “I mostly skipped classes, had awesome but unserious friends.” He laughs. “By Year 3, I dropped out to program robots for a company in Benin. Got fired for not being punctual, then went back to school just before exams. That was the only year I didn’t make a first class.”

He shrugs, the memory landing like some private joke. “It cost me the overall first class, but honestly? I never wanted or needed it anyway.”

Post UNIBEN, he applied for a fully funded masters scholarship in advance particle physics and got it. However, 10 months into what is supposed to be a two year program, he dropped out. For most people, this would feel like failure. For David, it was a “why not?” thing. “I always knew I wouldn’t finish my master’s. I was broke and bored. A fully funded master’s in Europe seemed like a smart fix for both.”

Decisions and Clarity

When asked whether his decisions built up over time, David pauses, eyes narrowing slightly. “No. I don’t think I build up decisions over time. Clarity is my edge, career-wise. Not that you asked, but relationship-wise, I’m total shit.”

He’s fascinated by how people see opportunities. “Most think of opportunities as lifelines. I see them as attacking vectors aimed at the concrete ideas I have on how to build the future. When they come—and they often do—I treat them like chess pawns or cards. Play the best hand I can, then step back if a better move presents itself.”

“Sunk-cost,” he reflects, “is what withers most promising careers. The only immutable laws are those of physics. Everything else is, in my view, a suggestion. So why people defer life plans or feel they ‘have to finish’ what they start is something I’ll never understand experientially. Maybe that’s good. I don’t care.”

Struggle, Sacrifice, and Garri

The months after leaving his master’s program were anything but glamorous. “Terrible,” he says plainly. He was broke, returning to building a startup while surviving mostly on garri. Since his father passed when David was 12, he had been the family’s breadwinner. “So my family suffered my decision with me. But I made sure the startup profits kept them afloat. My friends helped a lot too. Outside of them, I an nothing.”

Sometimes, he allowed himself vulnerability. “Sometimes I’d cry in the bathroom. My friends would sing Baby Shark or You Are My Sunshine until I laughed again.”

Yet, he never doubted his capacity to rise. “I knew I could always go back to school anywhere in the world if the startup failed. That knowledge was my backup plan—and my freedom.”

Books and friendships became his refuge: Dreams from My Father by Barack Obama, Zero to One by Peter Thiel, and essays by Sam Altman. “Ann. My friends. They kept me grounded,” he adds quietly, as if remembering the warmth that pulled him through the noise.

CERN and Validation

In 2022, while still at UNIBEN, David landed an internship at CERN—becoming one of the first sub-Saharan Africans in the summer school program. “It was surreal,” he says. “It felt like confirmation and that was validating.”

He leans back, thinking. “The rules aren’t real,” he says eventually, his voice low but steady. “If you’re special—or just stubborn enough—the universe will rearrange itself to meet you halfway.”

A few months after leaving his master’s program and wrestling with a struggling startup, CERN reached out. He took the job offer. “Now I do AI research and lecture master’s students at the University of Geneva twice a week,” he says.

“It was surreal and validating,” he admits. “There’s something beautiful about being one out of many. But when I got to CERN and saw how few Black people there were, it broke my heart a little. That was one of the experiences that made me want to do more.”

He looks up, his tone softening. “People often think I’m arrogant—I’m not, but I don’t mind the perception. If you come from an underrepresented place, you cannot afford to be the kind of humble people want—unless you have mentors who would help you navigate the world’s political bit, that is.”

His voice sharpens again, that familiar defiant spark resurfacing. “Physics is the law. Everything else? A suggestion. You can email your way into whatever life you can imagine. Why most people don’t do this has been one of the questions I’ve pondered on a lot lately. Thankfully, I think it can be taught.”

He leans in, “I’ve always thought of the world as split between two factions; the agents and the NPCs—abbreviated for the non-player-characters that serve as backdrops in video games, and whose actions are hardcoded by the game designers. Ours is a continent blessed by folks who define success by titles and degrees, which unfortunately, makes them not so different from NPCs. Thankfully, this can be fixed.”

Idalia Africa

David co-founded Idalia Africa with Destiny Ogedegbe, a Harvard-trained New York attorney. “We wanted to build something that exponentially increases Africa’s contribution to global innovation by training, equipping, and accelerating talented people across the continent,” he says.

He lights up as he talks about their progress. “Our virtual lecture series pulled in thousands of students from seventy-four institutions across Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya,” he says. “We even facilitated virtual tours of CERN’s CMS experiment — you know, letting African students actually see what world-class research looks like. We brought in top researchers, helped schools collaborate internationally and next, we’re embedding professors into African universities. OpenAI, NASA, Tesla, SpaceX—those are the kinds of partnerships we’re chasing.”

I raise my brows. “That’s… huge.”

He nods, but there’s no trace of arrogance—just conviction. “We’re democratizing innovation,” he says. “It shouldn’t matter what school you went to or what state you’re from. The multiplier effect we’re creating is borderless. You’ll see.”

When I ask what he’s learned from all of this—the mischief, the dropouts, the breakthroughs—he pauses for a moment. “It’s important to be maximally useful,” he says finally. “You become special because you compounded advantages caused by luck. Don’t hoard it. Find a cause and be its channel. Everything good will come”

As he spoke about Idalia, about rebellion, about usefulness, I realised that David’s story wasn’t about success in the traditional sense; it was about the refusal to let the usual structure dictate destiny.

In a world obsessed with permission, he chose possibility. And maybe that’s the lesson: that the world bends, not for those who wait to be chosen, but for those bold enough to rewrite its rules.

David Dosu is a research scientist at CERN and co-founder of Idalia Africa, an accelerator reshaping African higher education and innovation.

Lagos, Nigeria – October 10, 2025 – Maxitech Global Investment Limited, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing IT distribution and enterprise support companies, has been honored as the HP Retail PC Partner of the Year 2024 at the prestigious HP | Intel Channel Awards Event, themed “A Night of Radiance”, held at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA.

The annual HP | Intel Channel Awards celebrates outstanding channel partners who have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence within HP’s distribution network. Maxitech Global emerged as the top-performing partner in the retail PC category, recognized for its unparalleled sales execution, retail channel development, customer experience delivery, and strategic growth contributions across Nigeria.

“This recognition is a testament to the dedication, discipline, and innovation of our entire team,” said Oluwaseun Akinwale, Managing Director of Maxitech Global. “At Maxitech, we believe in transforming technology into opportunity. Our partnership with HP continues to redefine value delivery, expand access to quality computing, and enable businesses and individuals to do more.”

In partnership with Intel, HP continues to foster an ecosystem of excellence by rewarding partners who push the boundaries of performance and collaboration. This latest win positions Maxitech Global as the benchmark for retail excellence in Nigeria’s technology sector.

Building on this recognition, Maxitech Global aims to deepen its collaboration with HP and other OEM partners to drive innovative retail programs, customer-centric campaigns, and regional expansion across Africa.

About Maxitech Global:
Maxitech Global Investment Limited is a leading IT distribution and enterprise support company headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. The company specializes in the distribution of laptops, computers, and technology solutions for individuals, institutions, and resellers. Through its commitment to excellence, transparency, and customer satisfaction, Maxitech Global continues to redefine the retail technology landscape across West Africa.

Communications Department
Maxitech Global Investment Limited
sales@maxitechglobal.com

www.maxitechglobal.com

Lagos, Nigeria

Founding Director General of the PDP Governors Forum and former Director General of Nigeria Governors Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has expressed deep concern over what he described as a worrying decline in honour, integrity, and ideology among today’s politicians.

Speaking on the state of Nigeria’s political landscape, Onaiwu said it is sad to see that the country is fast losing men and women of principle who once stood for something meaningful.

“Nigeria is fast losing men of honour and integrity in politics. What we see today are politicians who have no ideology or conviction. They keep cross carpeting from one party to another, not because of service to the people, but for personal gain,” he said.

Onaiwu wondered what message this sends to the younger generation who once looked up to the political class for inspiration and guidance.
“When our youths see leaders changing parties at will with no clear values or purpose, how do we expect them to respect the process or believe in our democracy?” he asked.

He called for a return to the kind of politics that is driven by conviction, principle, and a genuine desire to serve, not by greed or self-interest.
“We must rebuild a culture of integrity in our politics,” Onaiwu said. “Without honour, there can be no true leadership. Without ideology, there can be no real direction for our nation.”

The curtain has officially closed on the inaugural Innovista Hackathon 1.0, a groundbreaking tech event that brought together some of Nigeria’s brightest minds to tackle real-world challenges through innovation. Organised by Digihub Technologies and Quadorra Technology, the hackathon marked a bold step toward building a future powered by visionary ideas and transformative solutions.

After an intense round of competition, two teams, Nova and Fusion emerged as the finalists. In a thrilling finale, Team Nova emerged victorious, clinching the top prize with their standout creation: CareBridge, a digital-first health insurance (HMO) platform designed to make healthcare more affordable and accessible. CareBridge impressed judges with its seamless integration of features including real-time doctor consultations, access to hospital and doctor networks, digital insurance claims processing, and AI-powered preventive health tools. The app was praised for its relevance, technical depth, and user-centric design. Submissions were evaluated across six key criteria which include innovation and creativity, impact and relevance, functionality and user experience, completeness and polish, use of emerging tech, and technical implementation.

Speaking on behalf of Team Nova, Osaretin Okunrobo, the team lead, expressed gratitude to the organisers: “We’re honored to have participated in Innovista Hackathon. This experience has inspired us to keep building life-transforming solutions using technology.” Team Fusion, who secured second place, also commended the organisers for the opportunity to be part of such a dynamic and inspiring event.

The hackathon featured a distinguished panel of judges from both Nigeria and abroad, bringing global perspectives to the evaluation process. The diverse expertise of the speakers and judges, encompassing fields from academic research to senior product management, logistics, banking, social work, and management consulting, provided a multifaceted perspective crucial for a successful hackathon. For instance, Victor Agboli’s research background offered academic rigor, while Ahmed A. Ogundimu’s role at Amazon.com Inc. brought real-world product development insights. Benita Abuo and Oluwabukola Sambakiu contributed practical business and financial acumen, and Seye Olayinka Omiyefa’s social work experience highlighted the importance of human-centered design. Adebimpe Mercy Adegoke and Kevin Ifiora, from NXT Management Consulting and Boston Consulting Group respectively, offered strategic and entrepreneurial viewpoints, ensuring that participants’ ideas were not only technically sound but also viable and impactful. In addition, Funmilayo C. Akintunde, an agricultural microbiologist, one of the guest speakers and judge reviewed several submissions and initial products that helped in the selection of the winners. Winners were presented with cash prizes and tech gadgets.

With a mission to host tech events that unite visionary minds, and a vision to become a leading innovation hub, Digihub Technologies and Quadorra Technologyhave set a new benchmark for collaborative problem-solving and digital transformation.

Afri Invoice is marking its second anniversary with a nationwide raffle campaign, ddesigned to reward users and onboard new businesses into Nigeria’s evolving digital economy. With over ₦5 million in prizes, including cash awards, solar generators, laptops, and more, this event promises to be one of the most exciting business raffles of the year.

In a statement, it was noted that since its inception, Afri Invoice has been driven by a singular purpose: to simplify how African businesses get paid and manage their finances.

Founder of Afri Invoice, Mark Odenore, said: “Two years ago, we set out to solve one of the biggest challenges facing African entrepreneurs—slow payments and inefficient invoicing. Today, we celebrate not just our anniversary, but the thousands of businesses that have grown with us and the future of digital commerce across the continent.

“Afri Invoice believes that when businesses thrive, communities flourish. That is why the company continues to invest in innovation, education, and outreach—ensuring that every entrepreneur, regardless of size or sector, has the tools to succeed in the digital economy.”

It was noted that as Afri Invoice celebrates two years of impact, it reaffirms its commitment to this cause: to be more than a software provider—to be a partner in progress for African businesses.

According to the statement, “In 24 months, Afri Invoice has processed tens of thousands of invoices across Nigeria, enabled faster payments for SMEs, freelancers, and enterprises, integrated with FIRS for seamless e-invoicing compliance, delivered mobile-first solutions optimized for local internet speeds, and provided secure, scalable tools for financial management and analytics. These achievements reflect Afri Invoice’s role as a catalyst for digital transformation in Nigeria’s business landscape.

The statement further explained that all qualified participants compete in the same pool, increasing the chances of winning and amplifying word-of-mouth buzz.

It was disclosed that cash prizes of ₦100K to ₦1,000,000 will be won by five businesses, two business will win solar generators, two businesses are also to win Laptops. In the same vein two businesses are billed to win mobile Phones, two businesses will win printers – while 10 businesses will win 1-Year free legal service gift cards among others cash prizes.

The statement added that the deadline for new customer eligibility is 1st December 2025, while the winner announcement date is 3rd, June 2026. Existing customers automatically entered if actively using Afri Invoice for 6+ months. New ������Ƶes should sign up at afriinvoice before 1st December 2025 to qualify.

Continuing, the statement added: “Why ������Ƶes Choose Afri Invoice
Afri Invoice offers a robust suite of features tailored for Nigerian businesses: instant digital Invoicing with custom templates, automated payment tracking and reminders,
multi-currency support for local and global transactions, advanced business analytics for smarter decisions, bank-grade security and regular backups, mobile-first design optimised for Nigerian internet speeds, FIRS E-invoicing integration for compliance, and flexible pricing plans for freelancers, SMEs, and enterprises. Afri Invoice has processed thousands of invoices and helped businesses accelerate payments and growth. This raffle is more than a celebration it’s an invitation to transform your operations with modern financial technology.”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the leadership of Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) for its innovation in the Nigerian oil sector at the just commissioned crude oil export terminal in Otakikpo, Rivers State.

The crude export terminal which is the first by a Nigerian company, and the only one built in the country in over 50 years will open an efficient evacuation outlet for marginal and stranded fields across the Niger Delta region, unlocking billions of barrels of reserves and creating value for the economy, which is also a core focus of the President.

Commending the management of GEIL, the President assured the company and other operators that are keeping to the terms of their licenses of total support and collaboration. He noted that the project represented a new and positive chapter in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and aligned directly with the core priorities of his administration to ramp up crude oil production by enabling a secure, transparent, and efficient evacuation system.

Speaking through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the President added that he was particularly impressed at the company’s vision and implementation of the project, noting that GEIL has shown exemplary leadership and innovation among other indigenous firms who were awarded marginal field operating licenses about the same time.

On his part, the Chairman, GEIL, Prof. Anthony Adegbulugbe thanked the President for his unwavering support. He added that the terminal was conceived, designed and implemented wholly by Nigerians and was completed within a record time of 2 years.

According to him, the facility will “open the door to more than 40 stranded fields in the region with over 3 billion barrels of reserves, long held back the lack of export infrastructure. These fields alone could contribute more than 200,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s production”

In a significant gesture that underscores the enduring power of traditional diplomacy and pan-African fraternity, His Excellency George Weah, a former President of the Republic of Liberia, paid a solidarity nay courtesy visit to His Royal Majesty, Eze Dr. Amb. Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu, Eze-igbo Ghana.

The meeting, held in a spirit of mutual respect and camaraderie, transcended conventional politics, delving into the rich tapestry of African cultural heritage and spiritual fellowship.

According to Country Director on Media Strategy and Communications, Njoku Macdonald Obinna, the Igbo Diaspora King in Ghana, Eze Ihenetu, the visit served as a powerful reminder that leadership in Africa often operates on a dual plane: the modern,state-level governance and the ancient, culturally-grounded authority of traditional institutions.

The convergence of these two spheres-a former head of state and a revered royal father-created a poignant narrative of unity and shared destiny.

At the heart of the meeting was the profound and symbolic tradition of the kolanut ceremony, a cornerstone of Igbo culture used to welcome esteemed guests and commune with the divine. Eze Ihenetu, in his role as both host and spiritual leader, performed the sacred rite of Iwaoji (kolanut blessing).

With deep reverence, he presented the kolanut, lifting prayers to the Almighty God to “put life into it”.This act is far more than a formality, it is an invocation for the gathering to be blessed , fruitful and guided by divine Providence.

The Diaspora Monarch’s prayers were specifically directed towards his distinguished guest, asking for God’s blessings upon Mr. George Weah, for the visit to be a source of mutual benefit, and for the fulfilment of the former president’s heart desires, coupled with good health and long life.

Demonstrating a truly pan-African vision, Eze Ihenetu extended his prayers beyond the individuals present , calling upon God to bless the nations of Nigeria and Liberia, even the host country — Ghana, and indeed the entire African continent.
This act positioned the meeting not as an isolated event, but as a microcosm of a larger aspiration for continental peace and prosperity.

The ceremony evolved into a meaningful cultural exchange. Following the prayers, a drink was offered to His Excellency George Weah, which he accepted with obvious joy and appreciation.

The moment became a bride between two West African cultures as Mr Weah engaged his host in a brief discourse on the traditions of his own ancestral home, SasaVillage in Liberia.

He shared parallels, noting how in his community, similar gestures of offering Kolanut and drink are performed to honor guests and foster community bonds.

This exchange highlighted a shared cultural lexicon across West Africa,where the principles of hospitality, respect for elders and communion through symbolic items form a common thread.

The climax of the ritual was deeply symbolic.
A special Kolanut, identified as the “oji Igbo was presented. Eze Ihenetu explained its profound significance “when the kola gets home, it speaks where it comes from” in accordance with Igbo tradition.

One part of the broken kola is given to the guest to take home. This serves as a tangible testament and messenger, carrying the story of the warm reception and the blessings from the host’s household to the guest’s family.

After offering a final prayer, Eze Ihenetu presented this specially blessed Kolanut to His Excellency George Weah, a scared token meant to be shared with his family in Liberia, thereby eternally linking the two lineages in a bond of friendship and goodwill.