Author: bukoye

Grammy-winning singer, Wizkid, has marked his 34th birthday, receiving accolades from colleagues and fans worldwide. Notably, Reekado Banks praised Wizkid’s significant influence on the new generation of afrobeats artists. “Happy birthday to the biggest bird @wizkidayo,” Banks wrote on X. “Your talent inspires a whole Generation. You’re blessed and I tap from it.” Wizkid expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love, taking to X to say, “Appreciate all of the love. God bless and grant all the heart desires! Real thankful.” As the music industry celebrates Wizkid’s milestone, his impact on the afrobeats genre and inspiration to younger artists are…

The Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) has announced October 19 as the date for the local government election across the state. This decision follows the Supreme Court’s judgment declaring caretaker committees in local government areas illegal. According to KOSIEC Chairman, Mamman Eri, the election date is in accordance with the 1999 Constitution and the powers vested in the state electoral commission. A comprehensive timetable has been prepared to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process. Eri assured stakeholders that the commission has considered inclusivity, transparency, and adherence to electoral laws in the timetable. Candidates for counselorship and chairmanship positions…

Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, has announced a $30 billion revenue target by 2025, which is expected to boost the value of the naira. During a media tour of Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertiliser Limited, Dangote said the significant inflow of foreign exchange into Nigeria through his businesses will automatically boost the value of the naira. The refinery, which began full operations in 2024, is expected to produce 53 million litres of petrol per day and 1.1 million tonnes per day. Dangote also announced plans to list Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals and Dangote Fertilizer Limited…

Swiss midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a illustrious career that spanned 14 years and 125 caps. The 32-year-old, who currently plays for Chicago Fire in the US, is Switzerland’s second most-capped player behind Granit Xhaka. Shaqiri made his international debut in 2010 at the age of 18 and went on to represent Switzerland at four World Cups and three European Championships. His last game for the national team was the Euro 2024 quarter-final against England, where he scored in the penalty shoot-out. In a social media post, Shaqiri bid farewell to…

Rwandans headed to the polls on Monday to elect their president and parliamentary representatives, with incumbent Paul Kagame poised to secure a fourth term in office. Kagame, who has ruled Rwanda since 2000, faces only two challengers, Frank Habineza and Philippe Mpayimana, after several prominent opposition figures were barred from running. Despite his controversial rule, Kagame remains popular among many Rwandans, who credit him with rebuilding the nation after the 1994 genocide. However, his regime has been criticized for its autocratic nature, human rights abuses, and suppression of political opposition. The election has been marked by “severe restrictions” on opposition…

A massive wildfire has forced the evacuation of 9,000 residents in northeastern Canada, officials said Saturday. The towns of Labrador City and Wabush in Newfoundland and Labrador province were evacuated due to the raging blaze. “We are seeing extreme fire behaviour out there. The fire is moving about 50 meters per minute,” said provincial fire duty officer, Jeff Motty. Residents described the scene as “shocking” with enormous clouds of smoke obscuring the sky. The fire has made it impossible for water bombers to be used. The evacuation comes as Canada enters its peak wildfire season, with 575 active fires burning…

Global leaders have united in condemnation of the shooting at a US election rally that left one dead and several wounded, including former President Donald Trump. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell denounced the attack, saying, “Unacceptable acts of violence against political representatives have no place in our societies.” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed shock and emphasized that “political violence in any form has no place in our societies.” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wished Trump a speedy recovery, hoping that “dialogue and responsibility can prevail over hate and violence.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Such violence has no…

Experts in the health sector have joined forces to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Nigeria, unveiling a Baby Shower Toolkit to achieve this goal. The initiative, launched by the Centre for Integrated Health Programs (CIHP), targets expectant mothers through religious leaders equipped with toolkits to educate congregations. According to Dr Bola Oyeledun, CEO of CIHP, the toolkit includes guidelines for organizing baby shower events, managing group sizes, and training health assistants. Dr Timothy Efuntoye, US CDC Nigeria Representative, emphasized the importance of regular check-ups and knowing one’s HIV status. Dr Hafsat Iyanda, PMTCT lead of the National AIDS and…

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has lifted restrictions on former US President Donald Trump’s accounts, allowing him to post without penalties. Trump’s accounts were suspended indefinitely in 2021 after his supporters stormed the US Capitol, and he was found to have praised violent behavior on social media. Although reinstated in February 2023, his accounts were subject to heightened suspension penalties for future breaches. However, Meta has now lifted these restrictions, stating that “former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties.” In a blog post, Meta…

Renowned Afrobeats singer, Davido, has ventured into the tech world with the launch of his own social media application, Chatter. In a post on his official X handle on Friday, Davido announced the launch of Chatter, a social audiovisual utility platform that connects content creators to a lively community and helps magnify their voices. He revealed that he co-owns the application with his close friend, Sir Banko. This marks Davido’s third internet project in the last eight months. However, his previous venture into cryptocurrency, $DAVIDO coin, crashed days after its launch, sparking controversy among cryptocurrency enthusiasts. Chatter aims to provide…