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The Centre for Inclusive Development Research and Analytics (CINDRAN) has renewed its partnership with Mc Heritage Consulting Limited ahead of the 2026 Students and Graduates in Tech (SGIT) Nigeria Conference, following the success of their collaboration at the 2025 edition held at the University of Bradford.

Announcing the renewed partnership earlier this week, CINDRAN revealed plans to award over 100 premium scholarships to Nigerian participants for DataCamp’s world-class training in data science, programming, and artificial intelligence.

Through global initiatives such as Spark9ja and partnerships with platforms like DataCamp, the organization continues to equip young Africans with the digital skills needed to thrive in today’s technology-driven economy.

CINDRAN, a non-profit focused on digital transformation, AI governance, and inclusive human capital development across Africa, said the collaboration aligns with its mission to promote digital inclusion and empower youth across the continent.

‘CINDRAN believes that sustainable development begins with digital empowerment,’ said its Founder, Mr. Thompson Ikechukwu.

‘Our partnership with SGIT reflects a shared vision of nurturing Africa’s next generation of innovators by equipping them with the skills and knowledge to succeed in a data-driven world.’

The SGIT Nigeria 2026 Conference is expected to gather students, graduates, innovators, and tech professionals from within and outside Nigeria. Global industry leaders will also be in attendance to explore emerging opportunities and trends in data, software engineering, and artificial intelligence.

CINDRAN’s renewed commitment builds on its existing collaboration with DataCamp, through which it has already trained over 2,000 African youths via Spark9ja-a platform connecting young Africans to digital learning and international internship opportunities.

Mr. Chukwuemeka Osuji, CEO of Mc Heritage Consulting and convener of the SGIT Conference, welcomed the partnership renewal, describing it as a step forward in advancing Africa’s digital future.

‘We are excited to continue our collaboration with CINDRAN,’ he said. ‘Their strategic focus on digital skills development complements SGIT’s mission to bridge the gap between African and global technology ecosystems. Together, we are shaping the future of work for Africa’s youth.’

The SGIT Conference, initiated by Mc Heritage Consulting, serves as a global platform that connects young African talent with technology opportunities, fostering innovation and cross-border collaboration.

The Nigerian edition forms part of a broader vision to close the digital skills gap between Africa and Europe.

CINDRAN’s continued support for SGIT Nigeria 2026 reaffirms its leadership role in driving inclusive innovation, quality education, and digital transformation across Africa.

The organization remains committed to building a skilled and empowered generation of African youth ready for the global digital economy.

Interested individuals or organizations seeking scholarship or partnership information can visit the official SGIT website for more details.

Governor Dikko Umar Radda of Katsina State has extended security coverage to 20 local government areas as part of intensified efforts to curb the rising wave of banditry across the state.

Radda made the announcement during the commissioning of 100 newly trained officers of the Community Watch Corps (C-Watch), bringing the corps’ operations to 20 out of the 34 local government areas in the state.

Reflecting on his administration’s two-year journey to restore lasting peace, the governor said, ‘When we launched the Community Watch Corps over two years ago, we were in uncharted territory. The learning curve was steep, and the uncertainty was high. But one thing was certain, our determination to end banditry in Katsina State.’

He disclosed that 50 of the new officers would be deployed to Kankia Local Government Area and another 50 to Dutsin-Ma, one of the epicentres of banditry in the state.

Radda dismissed reports of government negotiations with bandits, clarifying that while his administration would not negotiate with criminals, it supports peace pacts initiated by local communities through the ‘Katsina Model’, a community-driven approach that encourages repentant bandits to surrender their arms.

‘The role of the state government is to encourage and support the peace process while maintaining law and order. Our focus is to ensure that peaceful communities also benefit socio-economically, giving our people a dignified existence,’ he added.

The governor highlighted the success of community peace initiatives, noting that Jibia has recorded eight months without a major attack, while Batsari has enjoyed seven months of uninterrupted peace.

Other local councils, including Danmusa, Safana, Faskari, and Sabuwa, have also witnessed relative calm since adopting the approach.

Radda commended the Nigerian Air Force, Army, and Police for their collaboration with the state government, saying their synergy has strengthened intelligence sharing, improved response times, and enhanced coordinated operations.

He also praised traditional and religious leaders for their roles in promoting community unity and resolving conflicts.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Dr. Nasir Mu’azu, commended the governor’s commitment to reducing insecurity, while the Chairman of the Standing Committee on the C-Watch Corps, Major General Junaidu Bindawa (Rtd), said the recruits received intensive training in minor tactics, weapon handling, communication, arrests, community policing, and intelligence gathering.

Veteran Nollywood actress Iya Ile Okan has passed away, according to an announcement by actor Kunle Afod on his social media page.

Expressing deep sorrow over her demise, Afod wrote, ‘We finally lost her. May her perfect soul continue to rest in peace. Iya Ile Okan. It’s a final wrap.’

Her death comes barely two months after Afod visited her home in Ogun State, where she revealed her struggles with medical bills following a fall.

Known for his humanitarian outreach to elderly Nollywood stars, Afod had earlier shared a video of Iya Ile Okan appealing for assistance, captioned, ‘Iya Ile Okan really needs God’s intervention.’

The news of her passing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans and colleagues, who described her as a gifted actress and a beloved mother figure in the Nigerian film industry.

Disc jockey Nonso Temisan Ajufo, popularly known as DJ Big N, has expressed concern over what he described as the worst decline in Afrobeats’ global influence in two decades.

Speaking in a recent interview with Echo Room, DJ Big N blamed both artists and music executives for compromising the genre’s quality in their quest to appeal to international audiences.

He criticised the increasing dilution of Afrobeats’ original sound, saying it has resulted in less authentic and lower-quality music that fails to connect with global listeners.

‘The uniqueness of Afrobeats is what made the world fall in love with it,’ he said, stressing the need to preserve the genre’s authenticity.

Citing journalist Joey Akan’s views, DJ Big N argued that exporting an inauthentic product is unsustainable, noting that ‘no one can beat Americans at being American or making hip-hop.’

He also highlighted the issue of rising performance fees among Afrobeats artists, which he said have made many acts unaffordable even within Nigeria.

DJ Big N urged Nigerian artists to re-evaluate their creative direction and pricing models, warning that without a shift in approach, Afrobeats risks losing its hard-won global prominence.

‘Afrobeats right now is at its worst position in the last 20 years. And everyone, from musicians to music executives, has a part to play. The quality of music.you have to understand that the quality of the product is important in every way.

‘Joey Akan said they wanted us for our originality. Always remember that whatever you want to export has to be original, first and foremost. If you tried to export something else, it’s only a matter of time. You can’t sell Hip-Hop to Americans, that’s their genre. We have to embrace our originality,’ he expressed.

Senegal secured a runaway 4-0 victory over neighbours Mauritania to finish top of their qualifying group and reach next year’s World Cup finals.

Senegal were quarter-finalists in 2002 and also competed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.

Elsewhere, Cote d’Ivoire overcame Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifier on Tuesday to finish top of their group and secure a berth at next year’s World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.

The Ivorians are reigning African champions and will be competing at a fourth World Cup but first since 2014.

In a bid to diversify the economy and reduce over-dependence on oil, President Bola Tinubu has announced N1 trillion investment in the solid minerals sector.

The president disclosed this while delivering the keynote at the 10th Edition of Nigeria Mining Week 2025, in Abuja.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the president noted that the N1 trillion commitment, which is the largest government-led mining initiative in the nation’s history, was drawn from the N4.5 trillion increase in the 2025 federal budget.

The president said the landmark investment, which was in alignment with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, will fund geo-scientific exploration, geological surveys, and critical infrastructure needed to unlock mineral-rich regions.

‘This is the most significant single investment in Nigeria’s mining industry by any administration. We are turning the wealth beneath our feet into prosperity in our hands,’ Tinubu said.

Commending the sectoral progress made, Tinubu noted that the revenue generation of the sector grew by six-fold from N6 billion in 2023 to N38 billion in 2024.

He however attributed the performance of the sector to new policies, tighter regulations, and the establishment of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) designed to attract capital, form joint ventures, and boost local mineral processing.

Tinubu then re-emphasised his administration’s zero tolerance for unsafe or environmentally harmful mining practices, stressing that ‘natural resources must enhance lives today and for future generations. Mining should heal and build, not hurt or divide.’

Reaffirming the National Assembly’s support for the sector, Chairman Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, Sen Ekong Sampson expressed readiness of the legislative arm to provide legislative backing for the President’s mining reforms.

He assured that the Senate would continue to enact progressive laws and provide oversight to sustain investor confidence and transparency.

He said: ‘Our focus is to unlock the full potential of this sector through enabling policies and strategic partnerships.’

He expressed optimism that ongoing reforms under the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development would position Nigeria for global competitiveness.

He, however, identified collaboration among government, industry players, and communities as the only way to achieve inclusive growth.

He said: ‘What we need for every sector is collaboration, not conflict. We have no excuse not to make the best of our country’s natural endowments’.

In his address, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake described the sector’s rapid growth now contributing about 4.6 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as proof of the effectiveness of President Tinubu’s reform-driven agenda.

‘From all available evidence, our policies are working. But we couldn’t have achieved this without the cooperation of stakeholders,’ he said.

Alake then disclosed that the Federal Government is addressing two major financial gaps limiting local participation, particularly through the African Joint Committee (AJC) framework, to empower indigenous investors to compete with international players.

On his part, the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s determination to revive Nigeria’s steel industry as a backbone of industrialisation and infrastructure expansion.

He revealed that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with a Chinese firm for the rehabilitation of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant, targeting the production of 10 million metric tonnes of steel by 2030. ‘With the right partnerships and renewed investor confidence, Nigeria’s steel industry will soon take its rightful place as the bedrock of national development,’ he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr. Faruk Yabo emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to building a transparent, technology-driven, and investor-friendly mining environment.

Yabo noted that the various reforms introduced under Alake’s leadership are repositioning the sector to meaningfully contribute to national GDP while promoting responsible mining.

‘Our goal is to ensure Nigeria no longer exports raw minerals but value-added products that create jobs, foster innovation, and strengthen prosperity,’ Yabo stated.

Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in building investor confidence.

He stated that NEITI’s latest report shows the mining sector still underperforms due to poor data management and weak inter-agency coordination.

‘Transparency is not an option; it is the foundation upon which trust and investment confidence are built,’ Dr. Orji said, pledging NEITI’s continued support for reforms that guarantee fairness and shared prosperity.

Earlier, the National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke expressed the association’s unwavering commitment to the promotion of a collaborative, transparent, and sustainable partnership with government and other stakeholders in the sector.

He noted that the progress recorded in the sector was made possible by the exemplary leadership of the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Alake and his team.

He said the mining week has remained a catalyst for sectoral dialogue, innovation, and reforms – bridging the gap between policy and practice, operators and investors, and ideas and implementation.

Ayanleke noted that the sector in the last decade witnessed the introduction of cutting-edge technologies, policy reforms, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives that continue to redefine the mining landscape in Nigeria.

The executive director of Women in Mining Africa, WiM-Africa, Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, has challenged women in the mining sector in Africa to shun every form of competition capable of hindering their collective growth.

She charged them to deliberately embrace meaningful collaboration as the key to lasting progress.

Asokoro-Ogaji gave this charge while addressing participants at the ongoing hybrid online and physical week-long engagement of women miners and entrepreneurs in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

She told her audience that meaningful collaboration amongst women is the alternative to competition.

According to Asokoro-Ogaji, ‘When women compete destructively, it divides our strength and slows our progress. But when we collaborate, we build power that moves the sector-and the continent-forward.’

She stressed that the future of Africa’s mining industry depends on women supporting each other’s growth through partnerships, joint ventures, and cooperative structures that foster shared prosperity.

‘In the artisanal and small-scale mining, ASM, sector, collaboration means forming cooperatives that actually work-women pooling resources, skills, and tools to scale up production and safety. Among companies, it means merging capacities to become stronger together. And in advocacy, it means designing and launching joint programs that strengthen one another’s institutions instead of competing for recognition,’ she stated.

The WiM-Africa Executive Director then encouraged women in the industry to replicate the programmes of the organization at various levels of the member states, advising Women in Mining across Africa to prioritize NextGen programs and invest intentionally in the professional development of young women in the sector.

She emphasised that the next decade must produce a new generation of vibrant, intelligent, and professionally grounded female leaders driving policy, innovation, ESG, and enterprise within Africa’s mining industry.

She also encouraged national and community WiM chapters to ‘copy all that there is to copy from WiM-Africa’ – adapting its frameworks, fellowships, and leadership models to strengthen their own structures and ensure continuity of impact.

Asokoro-Ogaji further called for closer ties between women-led enterprises, mineral sourcing companies, beneficiation industries, and continental policy bodies.

The WiM Africa boss recommended the formation of alliances that align with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 – ‘The Africa We Want’, ensuring that women play a central role in driving responsible mineral value chains and economic transformation.

She then reaffirmed WiM-Africa’s commitment to building a unified, inclusive, and sustainable mining sector through the ongoing implementation of its Five-Year Action Plan (2025-2030), which seeks to empower women miners, strengthen cooperatives, and expand industrial value addition across Africa.

World Food Programme (WFP), says about 673 million people or around eight per cent of the world population are not getting enough to eat and going hungry.

The WFP, a UN food programme said export restrictions, tariffs and volatile commodity prices were destabilising food markets, making food less affordable and accessible in food-deficit countries.

These issues are compounded by trade policy uncertainty, especially global tariffs and inflation, WFP said adding, this ultimately limits people’s access to affordable food.

It said this ahead of the 2025 World Food Day which is commemorated every Oct. 16, and listed Nigeria as one of the eight countries facing acute food security.

According to the WFP, out of the nearly 700 million people who live in extreme poverty globally, two-third resides in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The UN global food agency gave reasons why there are not enough food to feed the global population of over eight billion and people still go hungry.

‘Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Nigeria, and Ethiopia all face acute food insecurity driven by a combination of conflict, droughts, floods and desertification,’ it said.

The WFP said conflict, climate change and inequality were all playing roles in the development, adding that there were also other reasons for food insecurity.

It said armed conflicts such as those in Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza disrupt food production, supply chains and access to markets.

‘This leads to the displacement of people, creating acute food insecurity for millions,’ it said.

WFP also said that increasing climate variability, including droughts, floods and heat waves, were all affecting ability of farmers to grow food.

‘This undermines agricultural productivity and food availability, especially in vulnerable regions.

‘Global and regional economic downturns, rising food and energy prices and inflation have combined to reduce purchasing power and access to nutritious food, particularly in low-income countries.

‘The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine and climate shocks all contributed to food prices surges between 2020 and 2024.

‘As food prices rose, real wages fell and inflation kicked in, people, especially in low-income countries, were less able to afford nutritious food and often ate fewer meals per day,’ it further said.

The WFP noted that deep-rooted poverty and social inequality limited access to food and resources, especially in rural and marginalised communities, perpetuating chronic hunger.

According to it, low incomes, poor infrastructure and local services often mean that those marginalised, and especially women and indigenous groups, are not getting enough to eat.

The Federal Government on Wednesday commended the process for the reform of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, enacted in 2011.

The process, being undertaken by the Nigerian Law Reform Commission (NLRC), is intended to address existing gaps and inadequacies noticed in the implementation of the law since it came into effect.

The Chairman of the NLRC, Professor Dakas A. Dakas (SAN) gave details of the rationale behind the reform while addressing stakeholders and law experts at ‘a round table discussion on the reform of the FOI Act,’ held in Abuja by his commission on Wednesday.

Dakas stressed the need for constant reform of the nation’s laws to make them conform to the current global reality, citing the examples of the Sales of Goods Act and the Official Secrets Act, enacted during the colonial era.

Describing the FOI Act’s reform process as a significant milestone of the NLRC under his leadership, Dakas assures of the commission’s commitment to strategic law reform for national transformation, in a manner that renews the hopes and aspirations of Nigerians and other stakeholders in the Nigerian legal system.

Dakas noted that in a democracy, access to information is not a luxury but a right, adding that access to information is an essential tool for promoting transparency, openness, accountability, and good governance.

He said, ‘While the Freedom of Information Act 2011 marked a historic milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey, recent experiences from emerging global trends, judicial interpretations, and enactment of related legislation, such as the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, have highlighted several operational, legal, and institutional gaps in the Act, thus necessitating this reform initiative.

‘This gathering is part of our deliberate and sustained efforts to review, enhance, and strengthen key legislation in Nigeria to reflect present-day realities, best practices, and legitimate aspirations of the people,’ Dakas said.

He said the need for strategic law reform is necessitated by the fact that we live in a time when outdated or ambiguous legal frameworks hinder innovation, economic growth, justice delivery, and social progress.

Dakas noted that many of the nation’s laws, some dating back to colonial times, no longer reflect current realities or align with international best practices.

He added, ‘Strategic law reform is, therefore, a national imperative. It is through strategic reform that we can enhance access to information, combat corruption, strengthen institutions, promote ease of doing business, ensure gender equity, protect the vulnerable, enhance access to justice, and ultimately, transform society.

‘By anchoring our national transformation on sound legal reform, we strengthen the institutions that sustain democracy and development,’ he said.

In his presentation, Professor Peter Akper (SAN) of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS) assessed the scope and clarity of the rights of access to information under the FOI Act.

Akper suggested areas where the required alterations are needed and queried the continued retention of the Official Secret Act (OSA) that promotes secrecy in the face of the FOI Act that promotes transparency and openness in the operations of public institutions and public officials.

He equally suggested the review of the timeframe allowed under the FOI Act to comply with information requests from the current seven days to about 21 days or more.

Akper argued that such a review was necessary because countries with developed technologies and improved information management capabilities, like the United Kingdom and South Africa, allow a longer period for compliance.

Top Islamic leaders and lawmakers in Northern Nigeria have raised fresh concerns over rising insecurity and the growing misuse of social media, warning that the nation risks sliding into chaos if decisive action is not taken.

Speaking at a special summit of Northern Ulamas in Kaduna, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, represented by the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli called for urgent regulation of social media, which he said is being used to spread division and hatred.

‘This is the time to unite the Muslim Ummah,’ the Sultan urged. ‘Our clerics must preach peace, tolerance, and national unity in line with Islamic teachings.’

House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who also addressed the summit, called for stronger collaboration between Islamic leaders and lawmakers to shape policies that promote peace and good governance.

‘Security is everyone’s business,’ Doguwa said. ‘We in the National Assembly will support any initiative that unites our people and upholds Islamic values.’

Senator Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara West) echoed similar concerns, noting that insecurity has deep roots in the North, especially in mineral-rich communities.

‘Insecurity started in Muslim-dominated areas,’ Yari said. ‘We can’t blame the government alone. The solution lies in our hands – in unity, action, and honest dialogue.’

He warned against the region’s worsening economic gap, saying: ‘We’re sleeping in our rooms and expecting to become billionaires. It doesn’t work that way. We must address economic realities.’

On the issue of social media, Yari was blunt, ‘Social media doesn’t spare anyone – rich or poor. We are all victims of its abuse. It’s time to regulate it and use it responsibly, like other nations do.’

Prominent cleric, Sheik Ahmad Abubakar Gumi, called for dialogue among Islamic sects to tackle poverty and banditry, which he said are being exploited by external forces.

‘Banditry is being fueled by outsiders who covet our mineral wealth,’ Gumi warned. ‘They use uneducated herders as pawns in a larger game. We must talk among ourselves and end it internally.’

He urged a review of existing laws to curb social media defamation without stifling freedom of expression. ‘This summit is not against anyone,’ he said, ‘but about the unity and progress of Nigeria.’

The summit ended with a collective call for inter-sect cooperation, peaceful dialogue, and stronger religious leadership to address insecurity, disunity, and economic hardship across the North.