Author: Opalim Lifted

Julius Malema, leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has stressed that Africa’s economic progress hinges on decisive moves toward continental unity. Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Annual General Conference in Enugu, Malema urged the creation of a single African president, army, parliament, and currency — institutions he said are vital to break free from lingering neo-colonial dominance. He said the integration will unlock economic growth by removing artificial borders and building a shared beneficial continental market. The idea of “one Africa, one currency” has been a longstanding ambition within the African Union (AU) framework, aimed…

Air Peace, Nigeria’s national flag carrier, will soon begin direct flight operations from Lagos to the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo. The direct flight was one of the agreements reached between President Bola Tinubu and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil, during a state visit by the Nigerian leader. Lula announced the deal at a joint news conference with Tinubu, according to a statement on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to Tinubu on information and strategy. “Increasing the direct connections between Nigeria and Brazil is another essential step to strengthen the ties between our societies,” he said.…

Nigeria has signed a bilateral air service agreement (BASA) with Brazil to deepen economic, cultural, and diplomatic ties between the two countries. In a statement on Monday, Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the minister of aviation and aerospace development, said the signing ceremony took place during President Bola Tinubu’s two-day visit to Brazil. Moshood said Tinubu, who led a delegation comprising senior cabinet members, was received by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Among those on the presidential entourage are Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy; Bianca Onoh Ojukwu, minister…

TikTok has launched an artiste-centric platform in Nigeria to help musicians, creators, and labels grow their careers. In a statement on Monday, the company said the platform, called ‘TikTok for Artistes’, debuted globally earlier this year. The social media company said the platform provides artistes and their teams with an all-in-one dashboard updated daily with insights on song performance, fan engagement, and audience demographics. It also offers step-by-step guides and resources to support long-term career growth. Toyin Mustapha, head of music partnerships for the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland, and sub-Saharan Africa at TikTok, said the platform is designed to give…

Japan has denied plans to create a special visa category for Nigerians who wish to relocate to Kisarazu, a city it recently designated as “hometown” for Nigeria. During the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD9) last week in Yokohama, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced the launch of the ‘JICA Africa Hometown’ to strengthen exchanges between African countries and the nation’s local governments. JICA designated four cities to four African countries. Kisarazu was named as Nigeria’s hometown; Nagai as the hometown of Tanzania; Sanjo was matched to Ghana; and Imabari as the hometown of Mozambique. A statement…

The US Mission in Nigeria has reinforced its new visa rule on social media disclosure, stressing that safeguarding Americans remains the core of every visa decision. The directive, announced last week, requires Nigerian applicants to submit all social media usernames and handles used over the past five years when filling out the DS-160 visa form. Failure to disclose the information, the US warned, could lead to outright visa denials. The federal government has since responded, saying American citizens visiting Nigeria will be subjected to similar scrutiny. The move has sparked criticism. Former NNPC spokesman, Femi Soneye, argued in a recent…

The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted four internet fraudsters arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during a raid in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Justice Dehinde Dipeolu delivered judgement on Monday, finding Adeleye Emmanuel, Akinyele Kehinde Fatai, Shonekan Waris Bolaji, and Olufemi Korede Ayomiposi guilty of offences including impersonation, identity theft, and internet fraud. Emmanuel was sentenced to one month of community service and ordered to carry a placard from 8am to 5pm daily bearing the words: “Crime does not pay.” Fatai received six months in prison or a N3 million fine, alongside an order to refund…

Inter Milan wasted no time flexing their attacking muscle as they dismantled Torino 5-0 at home to open their Serie A campaign on Monday. Marcus Thuram scored twice as Inter at times turned the Torino box into a playground, creating far more chances than the scoreline suggested. Inter Milan asserted their superiority from the first whistle at San Siro, with Thuram almost striking inside the opening minute when his header flashed just over the bar. The hosts’ dominance was rewarded in the 18th minute when Alessandro Bastoni rose highest at a corner and guided a looping header over the Torino…

Sharon Chuter, the trailblazing founder of UOMA Beauty, has died at the age of 38. The Nigerian-born entrepreneur was found unresponsive in the outdoor area of a Los Angeles residence on 14 August, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner. The cause of death has been deferred pending further investigation. Chuter made her mark in the beauty industry with the launch of UOMA Beauty in 2019, followed by UOMA by Sharon C in 2021. Her brands quickly gained recognition for championing inclusivity, offering foundation in 51 shades and challenging long-held industry norms. Before building her own empire, Chuter worked…

The Lagos state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has threatened to join the Medical Guild in an indefinite strike if the withheld salaries of doctors are not paid by August 25, 2025. In a communiqué released after an emergency general meeting (EGM) held over the weekend, the NMA expressed full support for the Medical Guild’s 21-day ultimatum to the state government. The guild is demanding the immediate refund of unauthorised deductions from doctors’ July salaries and complete payment of their August wages. The association also raised fresh concerns over the welfare of doctors at the Lagos University Teaching…