Author: Press Room

In Summary Africa’s banking sector is undergoing a digital revolution, driven by mobile money, fintech partnerships, and AI-powered financial services. Over 60% of Africans now use mobile banking, surpassing traditional banking in many regions. Banks like Standard Bank and Ecobank are leveraging AI, blockchain, and cloud technology to enhance security and accessibility. Nigeria and South Africa lead in fintech-driven banking, while Morocco and Tanzania are fast adopters. Metrics like digital transaction volume, app usability, cybersecurity strength, and AI-driven customer service define top-tier digital banking services. Deep Dive!!With billions invested in fintech, African banks are no longer catching up—they are setting global benchmarks. Banking in…

Former president Goodluck Jonathan says the issue with voter turnout in Nigeria is that there are too many ghost voters on the electoral register. Jonathan spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at the YIAGA Africa reflection conference on democratic elections in West Africa. The former president said West Africa has made significant strides in its democratic journey in the past few decades amid several challenges. He said despite the introduction of the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the 2023 general election in Nigeria, and the use of technology in Sierra Leone in 2023, there…

Agency The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has urged healthcare workers to adhere strictly to Infection Prevention and Control measures when handling Mpox cases to prevent further spread. The Director General of NCDC, Dr Jide Idris, stated that it was important for frontline workers to prioritise their safety while providing care for patients. In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja, he said, “Protect yourself while caring for Mpox patients. Your safety is just as important as your patients.” Mpox, a viral disease caused by the Monkeypox virus, spreads primarily through close contact with…

An Indian man awoke on a funeral pyre moments before it was to be set on fire after a doctor skipped a postmortem, medical officials said Saturday. Rohitash Kumar, 25, who had speaking and hearing difficulties, had fallen sick and was taken to a hospital in Jhunjhunu in the western state of Rajasthan on Thursday. Indian media reported he had had an epileptic seizure, and a doctor declared him dead on arrival at the hospital. But instead of the required postmortem to ascertain the cause of death, doctors sent him to the mortuary, and then to be burned according to…

In a gripping climax to the Miss Universe 2024 contest, Nigeria’s representative Chidimma Adetshina emerged the first runner-up, making her the first Nigerian to finish that high in the competition. Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned the winner of the 73rd Miss Universe pageant at Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Chidimma’s journey to the Miss Universe competition was quite tumultuous. Before coming to Nigeria to take the Miss Universe Nigeria crown, she contested in the South Africa where she was forced to withdraw before the final following a nationality row. Born to a Nigerian father in South Africa, 23-year-old withdrew…

Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers scored a brace for Rangers in their hard-fought 4-2 win over Kimarnock at the Rugby Park, Soccernet.ng reports. Rangers returned to action with a game against Premiership strugglers Kilmarnock on Wednesday. The Gers were still smarting from their loss against oing into the fixture, as they they fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to St. Mirren. That result saw the club sack coach Philippe Clement and employed Barry Ferguson. The Sottish tactician gave Super Eagles star Dessers a place in the starting eleven. And he delivered. More to follow…

The Nigerian Communications Commission has suspended its planned barring of Glo subscribers from calling MTN lines for 21 days. The commission disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Mouka, as a follow-up to its Pre-Disconnection Notice issued on January 8, 2024. In the first notice, the commission stated that it has approved MTN Nigerian Communications Plc. to commence the phased disconnection of Globacom Limited with effect from January 18, 2024, due to a long-standing interconnection debt dispute between the parties. Announcing its extension, the NCC said, “The commission is pleased to announce that…

The Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ola Olukoyede, has raised the alarm that organised foreign fraud syndicates are establishing cells in Nigerian cities. He also said the criminals are recruiting young Nigerians into serious organised cybercrimes, including cryptocurrency fraud. This was contained in a statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, yesterday, which was disclosed by Olukoyede while receiving participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course, EIMC 18 of the National Institute for Security Studies, led by the Director of Studies, Hyginus Ngele to the Commission. “Another dimension that is…

Telecoms subscribers association has rejected the hike in tariffs which they described as unacceptable. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) had on Monday approved a 50% tariff increase for telecom operators in the country following calls by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) and the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) for an upward review of tariff. But the National Association of Telecoms Subscribers (NATCOMS) has faulted the move and threatened to sue. “It is not it at all. It is so much for subscribers to bear. Already, we are grappling with a lot of things that…

Moved by revelations made by former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), that the 1966 coup was not an Igbo coup, an Igbo group, Njiko Igbo Forum, has demanded the sum of N100 trillion from the Nigerian government on account of the injustice suffered by the Igbo people from 1966 to date. Babangida, in his new book, ‘A Journey in Service’, released last week, exonerated the Igbo as plotters of the coup. Reacting to the development, Njiko Igbo, an affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement by its President, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, asked members of the National…