Author: Atoyebi Adenike

By Atoyebi Nike Google has opened its first Artificial Intelligence Community Centre in Africa, located in Accra, Ghana, as part of a $37 million investment aimed at accelerating AI innovation and capacity building across the continent. The centre will serve as a hub for training, research, and collaboration, offering workshops, events, and resources to support responsible AI development rooted in African priorities. According to Dr. James Manyika, Senior Vice President for Research, Labs, and Technology & Society at Google, the initiative demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to Africa’s digital transformation. He said Africa is home to some of the most…

By Atoyebi Nike The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigeria loses between ₦13.3 trillion and ₦17.9 trillion annually due to direct and indirect costs associated with hepatitis, a disease that affects over 20 million citizens. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, revealed this on Monday at a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Hepatitis Day themed “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down.” Represented by the Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, Pate stated that Nigeria carries the third-highest hepatitis burden globally, with 18.2 million people infected with Hepatitis B and 2.5 million with…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigerian fashion designers are emerging as the top applicants for the UK’s prestigious Global Talent fashion visa, outpacing every other nationality and marking a significant shift in the international fashion landscape. According to a report by The Telegraph, Nigerians submitted 291 applications between 2019 and 2024 more than four times the 67 applications filed by Chinese designers, who ranked second. Endorsements have also surged, rising from just three in 2019 to 145 this year, with 71 Nigerian designers backed by the British Fashion Council (BFC) more than any other country. The BFC, which receives £2 million annually…

By Atoyebi Nike Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, says Nigeria is on track to experience a more favourable exchange rate as recent monetary and economic reforms begin to yield results. Speaking during the visit of Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, to the Dangote Refinery and Fertiliser plant in Lagos, Dangote noted that stability is gradually returning to the naira-dollar exchange market, helping restore investor confidence. He praised President Bola Tinubu for being a “listening president” whose policies especially the Naira-for-Crude initiative and Nigeria First strategy are reviving local industry. “There’s now less fluctuation in the exchange…

By Atoyebi Nike More than 3,200 people displaced by Sunday’s flooding in Adamawa State are now taking refuge in makeshift classrooms at Yelewa Primary School and Namtari camps in Yola South. When visited on Monday, the camp was filled with women, children, and the elderly, many lying on mats without food or proper shelter. “My house, animals, and farm are gone. My two brothers are still missing,” said Alhaji Bello Pegi, a victim. ADSEMA Executive Secretary Dr. Celine Laori said the government had delivered food and relief items to both camps. She confirmed that Deputy Governor Kaletapwa Farauta ordered all…

By Atoyebi  Nike The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has expressed deep concern over the devastating floods that struck Yola North and Yola South Local Government Areas in Adamawa State, leading to the loss of lives, destruction of property, and displacement of residents. In a statement issued on Sunday by the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, the Forum extended its condolences to the government and people of Adamawa State under the leadership of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri. “The Forum stands in solidarity with Governor Fintiri and the good people of Adamawa as they mobilise resources to…

By Atoyebi Nike The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has raised alarm over the mass resignation of doctors from Jigawa State, citing poor remuneration and the government’s delay in implementing a promised salary adjustment. Speaking at a press briefing on Monday in Dutse, the NMA State Chairman, Dr. Usman Haruna, said 30 doctors have left the state’s service since February 2025, worsening an already fragile healthcare system. He described the exodus as a major blow to the sector, warning that the state is losing highly trained professionals to better-paying institutions in neighboring states and federal hospitals. “Jigawa is losing its best-trained…

By Atoyebi Nike Nigeria is adopting artificial intelligence and advanced climate technologies to transform its food system and address growing hunger, Vice President Kashim Shettima said on Monday. Speaking at the United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Shettima said the government is now using AI, geospatial analytics, and satellite-driven climate intelligence as key tools in agriculture. He said these technologies are being deployed to monitor food production, improve transparency, link producers to markets, and reduce waste along the value chain. According to Shettima, Nigeria is investing in Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones developed with support from…

By Atoyebi Nike The Super Falcons of Nigeria are set for a hero’s welcome at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after clinching their 10th WAFCON title in Rabat, Morocco, over the weekend. President Bola Tinubu will host the team in recognition of their exceptional performance at the continental tournament. The Falcons defeated host nation Morocco in a tense final to reclaim their place at the top of African women’s football. The win has sparked widespread celebrations across Nigeria, with citizens lauding the team’s discipline, determination, and resilience. Ahead of the reception, Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara), and Hope Uzodimma…

By Atoyebi Nike In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s tertiary education system, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Education, has introduced the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF). The initiative was officially launched during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement held in Abuja. According to a statement signed on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the scheme aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is part of ongoing efforts to reposition the education sector. “TISSF is not just about welfare. It is about empowerment,” Alausa…