Author: Adejuyigbe Francis

NITDA Launches National Cybersecurity Conference To Tackle Nigeria’s Skill Gap. On Wednesday, 9 July 2025, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), kicked off the inaugural National Cybersecurity Conference (NCSC 2025) in Abuja. The two-day event, themed “Building a Resilient Digital Future,” aims to address Nigeria’s critical cybersecurity workforce shortage and bolster the nation’s digital defences. NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Abdullahi, revealed that Nigeria faces a staggering 90.6% cybersecurity workforce gap, with only 25,760 professionals available to serve a population exceeding 220 million. To meet global standards, the country…

Senate President Akpabio Replaces Senator Natasha As Committee Chair. On Thursday, 10 July 2025, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the removal of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan as Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). The decision, revealed during a plenary session in Abuja, saw Senator Aniekan Bassey, representing Akwa Ibom North-East, appointed as her successor, effective immediately. Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) representing Kogi Central, has faced a turbulent period in the Senate. This marks the second time she has been stripped of a committee leadership role. Initially, she chaired the…

“There Is No Force On Earth That Can Stop China From Reclaiming Taiwan,” Declares Xi Jinping. Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed China’s unyielding determination to reunify Taiwan with the mainland, delivering a forceful statement during a recent address. His bold declaration has reignited global focus on the sensitive issue of cross-strait relations, raising concerns about potential escalation in an already tense region. The remarks come against a backdrop of heightened activity in the Taiwan Strait, where military manoeuvres and sharp diplomatic exchanges have become increasingly frequent. Xi’s comments align with his earlier statements, such as those in his…

16-Year Old Girl Sentenced To Life Imprisonment For Murder Of FUT Minna Lecturer. A 16-year-old girl, Joy Afekafe, has been sentenced to life imprisonment by a High Court in Minna, Niger State, for her role in the brutal murder of Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT) Minna. The verdict, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of Minna High Court No. 4, also included a 10-year sentence for armed robbery, to be served concurrently. The shocking crime, which occurred on 28 October 2023 at the lecturer’s residence in the Gbaiko area…

PDP Rejects Coalition Rumours, Emphasises Party Unity And National Convention. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has firmly dismissed speculations of forming coalitions with other political parties, reaffirming its commitment to internal unity and preparations for its national convention. In a statement issued on 3 July 2025, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) addressed what it described as misleading reports, clarifying that no official decision has been made regarding any political alliances. The PDP’s statement comes amid growing speculation about potential mergers or coalitions, particularly with the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as Nigeria’s political landscape heats up ahead of the…

Japan Sets New Global Internet Speed Record At 1.02 Petabits Per Second. Japanese researchers have achieved a monumental breakthrough, shattering the world record for internet speed with a staggering 1.02 petabits per second, a rate so fast it could theoretically download the entire Netflix library in under a second. This remarkable feat, announced on 29 May 2025 by the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) in collaboration with Sumitomo Electric Industries, marks a significant leap forward in optical fibre communication technology. The record-breaking speed was achieved using an innovative 19-core optical fibre, which transmitted data over an…

Breaking: Supreme Court Upholds Monday Okpebholo As Edo State Governor. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the rightful governor of Edo State, bringing an end to a contentious legal battle over the 2024 gubernatorial election. The unanimous decision, delivered on Thursday, 10 July 2025, by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal, dismissed the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, for lacking merit. The court’s ruling upholds earlier decisions by the Edo State Governorship Election Petition…

EFCC Uncovers Staggering Corruption In Nigeria’s Oil And Gas Sector. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has exposed what it describes as “mind-boggling” levels of corruption within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, as the agency intensifies its probe into the sector’s financial dealings. EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede, speaking on Wednesday, revealed that the commission’s ongoing investigation, launched just three weeks ago, has already uncovered extensive financial misconduct, with much more expected to be revealed as the inquiry deepens. Olukoyede highlighted the scale of the corruption, stating, “What we have discovered is mind-boggling. And we have only just opened…

GTBank Makes History As First West African Bank To List On London Stock Exchange Main Market. Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), the parent company of GTBank, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first West African financial institution to list its ordinary shares directly on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). The historic listing, which commenced trading on 9 July 2025, marks a significant step for Nigeria’s banking sector, elevating its presence on the global financial stage. The listing saw GTCO raise $105 million through a fully marketed equity offering of approximately 2.29 billion…

High Levels of Child Poverty in Katsina Highlight Urgent Need for Action, Says UNICEF. A recent statement from UNICEF has revealed that 75.5% of children in Katsina State, Nigeria, are living in multidimensional poverty, underscoring a pressing need for targeted interventions to improve their quality of life. This alarming figure, reported by the United Nations Children’s Fund, highlights the severe challenges faced by children in the region, including lack of access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and adequate nutrition. Multidimensional poverty, as defined by UNICEF, goes beyond financial hardship and encompasses deprivations in critical areas of child…

Chinese Politician Wang Yong Sentenced To Death With Reprieve For $37.8 Million Bribery Scandal. A Chinese court has sentenced Wang Yong, a former senior official, to death with a two-year reprieve for accepting bribes worth over 271 million yuan (£29.3 million), marking one of China’s most high-profile corruption cases in recent years. The ruling, announced by the Chenzhou Intermediate People’s Court in Hunan province on 8 July 2025, underscores China’s ongoing crackdown on corruption under President Xi Jinping’s administration. Wang, previously the vice-chairman of the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region government, was found guilty of leveraging his positions between 2007…

Police Launch Investigation Into Mysterious Disappearance Of Two Adekunle Ajasin University Students. Authorities in Ondo State have initiated a thorough investigation into the troubling disappearance of two second-year students from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), who have been missing for over two weeks. The students, identified as Andrel Eloho Okah, studying History and International Studies, and John Friday Abba, have sparked widespread concern among their peers, family members, and the university community. The case came to light after fellow students reported the pair’s absence to both the university management and the Ondo State Police Command. According to a student, Ajibola,…