Author: Opalim Lifted

Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in a deal worth £30.3 million, securing the attacker on a contract that runs until June 2030. The Spanish club confirmed the transfer on Monday, just hours before the close of the 2026 winter transfer window, after reaching an agreement with the Serie A side. Lookman arrived in Madrid on Sunday to complete medical checks before finalising the move. The 28-year-old becomes the first English-born footballer to have featured in the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga. Only 21 players have achieved that feat, while…

At just 14, Obadina Folawe Azeem should be focused on school, friends and dreams of the future. Instead, his days are now shaped by hospital wards, medical reports and an uncertain fight against osteosarcoma, a rare and aggressive bone cancer. Folawe’s ordeal began quietly. What started as persistent pain soon escalated into a life-altering diagnosis. Doctors later confirmed he was suffering from a primary malignant bone tumour, a condition that requires urgent and intensive treatment to prevent it from spreading. For his mother, Sholola Islamiat, the diagnosis was devastating. “Nothing prepares you for hearing that your child has cancer,” she…

Former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has warned that Nigeria is paying a “heavy price” for years of neglect in its education sector, describing many schools across the country as broken and chronically underfunded. Osinbajo said the failure to prioritise education has weakened the nation’s leadership pipeline and eroded the moral and civic foundations needed for long-term national development. He spoke on Monday as the guest lecturer at the 94th Founders’ Day celebration of Igbobi College, Lagos, where he delivered a lecture titled “Building generational strength for educational institutions in Nigeria.” Reflecting on his own secondary school experience, Osinbajo…

A High Court in Nasarawa State has sentenced an armed robbery convict, Saidu Idi, to death by hanging for the killing of Hardo Adamu Buli during a robbery attack in Kokona Local Government Area in 2015. The death sentence was delivered by the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman, after the court found Idi guilty of armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death. The Nasarawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Isaac Danladi, confirmed the judgment shortly after proceedings concluded, noting that the case had dragged on for nearly a decade. According to Danladi, the…

Africa’s weakest currencies continue to reflect deep economic pressure across the continent, exposing countries struggling with inflation, import dependence and fragile fiscal conditions. Measured against the United States dollar, currency weakness offers a clear snapshot of how hard rising prices, foreign exchange shortages and political or economic shocks are hitting national economies. Countries that rely heavily on imports for fuel, food, medicines and industrial machinery are often the most vulnerable. While some African currencies have shown marginal improvement in recent months, analysts warn that rankings can shift quickly. Inflation spikes, devaluation, global oil prices and domestic instability remain major risks.…

Nigeria’s deepening unemployment crisis is forcing millions of citizens into what appears, on the surface, to be an entrepreneurship boom. But new market insights reveal a more troubling reality, most of these ventures are not built for growth, they are businesses of survival. As formal jobs shrink, Nigerians are increasingly turning to nano businesses and accidental enterprises simply to stay afloat. While the numbers suggest a dramatic shift towards entrepreneurship, the underlying business models prioritise daily income over sustainable wealth creation. A new report by MoniePoint Inc highlights the scale of this shift. According to the data, 24 per cent…

Ayra Starr, Davido, Omah Lay, Wizkid and Burna Boy have lost their respective categories at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The ceremony was held on February 2 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles and was hosted by South African comedian Trevor Noah. In the ‘Best African Music Performance’ category, South Africa’s Tyla won, edging out nominees such as Burna Boy ‘Love’, Wizkid & Ayra Starr ‘Gimme Dat’, Davido & Omah Lay ‘With You’, and Ugandan artiste Eddy Kenzo alongside Mehran Matin ‘Hope & Love’. Burna Boy was also a nominee in the ‘Best Global Music Album’ category, which he did…

Abuja-based singer Ifunanya Nwangene, popularly known as Nanyah, has died after suffering a snake bite at her residence, in a tragic incident that has renewed concerns over Nigeria’s emergency healthcare system. Nanyah reportedly rushed herself to two hospitals on Saturday in search of urgent medical help but was unable to receive timely treatment due to the lack of anti-venom. Her death was confirmed by Amemuso Choir, where she sang as a soprano. In a statement shared on social media, the group described her as a rising star whose life and talent were cut short. “Amemuso Choir regrets to announce the…

The Federal Government has announced that suspects arrested over the deadly Yelewata attack in Benue State will be arraigned in court on Monday. More than 100 people were killed in June 2025 when suspected criminal herders stormed Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area, triggering one of the deadliest attacks in the state in recent years. Following the incident, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, confirmed the arrest of 28 suspects linked to the killings. In a statement issued on Sunday, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Senior Assistant to the President on Communication and Publicity in the Office of the Attorney-General of the…

Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, has asked Nigerians to pray for their political leaders. Speaking on Sunday at the thanksgiving service to mark Oyo state’s 50th anniversary at the Cathedral of St. Peter Anglican Church, Aremo, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, Obi said politicians are responsible for the country’s challenges. “I want to make a request from Nigerians. Do remember us politicians in your prayers. We are the problem of Nigeria, no other person,” he said. “Nigeria is not a poor country, it is poorly governed. Remember us in your prayers that…