Category: Daily Trust

The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering girls and young people in technology through targeted policies, digital skills programmes and investments in ICT infrastructure across the country.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said the government is creating opportunities for young innovators, particularly girls, to develop solutions that can address societal challenges and eventually become marketable products.

Speaking at the grand finale of the National Girls in ICT 2026 Competition in Abuja, Tijani said innovation goes beyond generating ideas, noting that young people must be equipped with the skills, mentorship and support needed to transform their ideas into practical solutions.

He commended teachers mentoring students in technology and disclosed that the government has supported schools to establish technology clubs to help young innovators refine and commercialise their projects.

He said Nigeria has produced several successful technology entrepreneurs, including women who have developed impactful solutions in sectors such as healthcare and digital services.

‘The future of Nigeria is bright because of these young girls. Programmes like this give us confidence that the next generation of innovators is already emerging,’ he said.

Meanwhile, students of the Special Education Centre, Bauchi State, have emerged overall winners of the National Girls in ICT competition organised by the ministry.

The Bauchi team, which included a deaf student, clinched the top prize with an AI-powered application, Hands That Speak (Sign Care), designed to bridge the communication gap between healthcare workers and deaf patients.

The team, comprising Aisha Mustapha Bala, Rukayya Ahmad and Mary Agwon, represented the North-East and outperformed contestants from the five other geo-political zones at the grand finale held in Abuja.

Speaking during the presentation, the team leader, Aisha Mustapha Bala, said the idea was inspired by the communication challenges deaf patients often encounter when seeking medical care.

Other finalists included Federal Government Girls College, Cross River (South-South), which came second; Resonance Science School, Abia (South-East), third; Sweet Heaven High School, Kano (North-West), fourth; Government Science Secondary School, Abuja (North-Central), fifth; and Kidvarc High School, Osun (South-West), sixth.

The six finalist teams received cash prizes of N1 million each during a dinner hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Payaza Africa Limited, a leading payments infrastructure company, has earned strong credit ratings from four major rating agencies, reinforcing its growing reputation as a resilient and credible player in Africa’s financial services ecosystem.

The payment company recorded upgrades across the board, with DataPro raising its rating from A to AA-, Intelligence Africa assigning it an A- investment-grade rating, Agusto upgrading it from BBB to A-, and GCR an affiliate of Moody’s also moving it from BBB to A-.

A credit rating reflects a company’s financial strength and its ability to meet debt obligations, indicating how safe it is for lenders and investors to extend credit.

In a statement on Monday, the company described the achievement as a validation of its disciplined growth trajectory and operational resilience in a dynamic fintech landscape. It added that the upgrades position Payaza as a future-ready brand with increasing relevance not only within Africa but also in the global fintech space.

Commenting on the development, the Chief Executive Officer of Payaza Africa, Seyi Ebenezer, said the ratings reflect years of deliberate effort to build a sustainable and globally competitive institution.

‘This milestone is a strong affirmation of the work we have done to build Payaza on a foundation of discipline, trust, and long-term value creation. Receiving these upgraded ratings sends a clear message that Payaza is not only growing, but growing with strength, structure, and sustainability,’ he said.

Ebenezer noted that the recognition goes beyond financial performance, highlighting the company’s ability to execute strategically while maintaining strong risk management practices.

‘For us, this is bigger than recognition. It reflects our commitment to building a world-class institution that can compete globally while continuing to serve businesses and consumers across the continent with excellence.

‘Over time, our ratings journey has reflected more than strong financial performance. It speaks to a business built on disciplined execution, prudent management, and the ability to scale responsibly in a dynamic market. This has helped us stand out not only as an innovator in digital payments, but as a maturing financial institution with the operational depth to compete globally.

‘These new ratings are expected to further strengthen Payaza’s standing with investors, regulators, partners, enterprise clients, and the wider financial community. In a sector where trust, resilience, and compliance are increasingly central to long-term success, independent ratings remain a powerful endorsement of a company’s ability to manage risk, meet obligations, and sustain growth,’ Ebenezer said.

Payaza Africa provides payment infrastructure solutions focused on collections, payouts, embedded finance, and digital commerce enablement for businesses across Africa.

The company has also continued to expand its product ecosystem with solutions such as Payaza Checkout for payment collections and payouts, Chat and Pay by Payaza for WhatsApp-based transactions, Payaza Give for donations and digital contributions, and Shopaza, its e-commerce platform designed to help businesses sell and receive payments more efficiently.

I am impressed by the alacrity shown by the newly elected President of the Republic of Benin, Romuald Wadagni, upon assuming duty. In just a few days, he has gone round to visit his neighbours. He was sworn in on May 24, and a week or so later, he visited Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on June 1. The day after, he was with the President of the Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tiani. On the same day, he hopped into Burkina Faso to see the Head of State, Captain Ibrahim Traore.

Why? I understand that even before he won the election, he had promised to make the insurgency eating up his country a priority. The Republic of Benin shares a long border of about 800km on its eastern side with Nigeria and two shorter ones on its northern side with the Niger Republic (277km) and Burkina Faso (380km). The four countries, along with the Republic of Chad, Mali, and Guinea, all share the grief of the banditry perpetrated by a host of insurgent groups. Benin is a latecomer to the insurgents’ incursion. They only arrived there in late 2021, acquiring bases in the national parks in the northern part of the country, where Benin borders both the Niger Republic and Burkina Faso. In a short while, terrorist activities escalated in Benin.

The president’s visit to Nigeria was unsurprising, as the two countries have long maintained close ties. We recall that in December of last year, Nigeria’s security forces helped to thwart an attempted coup in Benin, highlighting the strong security partnership between the two neighbouring countries. What excited me was President Wadagni’s visit to Niger Republic and Burkina Faso. Since the military coups in Burkina Faso in 2022 and the Niger Republic in 2023, Benin has kept the two countries at arm’s length, in accordance with the ECOWAS Protocol that maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against unconstitutional changes of government.

Cooperation among the three countries came to a standstill as only recriminations came to be exchanged between them. Hitherto, Benin’s relationship with the Niger Republic has been chummy. Niger is a landlocked country. The Port of Cotonou in Benin has been the easiest route for importing its essential supplies and exporting its raw materials. Today, the only bridge linking the two countries, separated by the River Niger, is reportedly closed and guarded by heavy security. It is the same story with Burkina Faso. It is equally landlocked and relies on the goodwill of its coastal neighbours, the Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo and the Republic of Benin for its imports and exports.

The fact that all four countries closed their borders with Burkina Faso led to a dire economic situation for the country. It is in this light that one can view the importance of President Wadgani’s move towards détente with his erstwhile estranged neighbours. In both countries he visited, the emphasis was on reopening the border and deepening collective efforts to fight shared security threats. I consider President Wadgani’s quick move a valiant endeavour worth emulating by other countries.

It is a lesson for us in Nigeria, where we have been treating our neighbouring countries with levity, particularly since the Tinubu administration came to power. We have ignored our neighbours and treated their leaders with haughty indifference and disdain. Nigeria has a border of about 2,000 km with the Republic of Cameroon and shares deep, age-old historical ties with its people. At least five states of the federation, Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Benue and Cross Rivers are on that border with shared ethnicity, language and religion. Yet President Tinubu has not set foot in the Cameroon Republic since he came to power in 2023.

Though we don’t have a meaningful land border with the Republic of Chad, we share suzerainty over Lake Chad and its innumerable islands, where Boko Haram insurgents are very active. President Tinubu has been to the Republic of Chad only once, and even that was a ceremonial event commemorating the installation of President Derby. The configuration of the relationship with the Republic of Niger is even worse. We share a common border of some 1500km whereby seven states of the far north, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi States lie contiguous to the regions in the Republic of Niger.

All along the border and deep within the countries, there are shared ethnicity, language (Hausa and Kanuri), religion, and common historical ties. President Tinubu has not been to the Niger Republic since he came to power. To worsen matters, Tinubu has fully implemented ECOWAS stance on the unconstitutional change of government that occurred in Niger in 2023. The common border has since been closed. There were even threats of invading Niger to restore constitutional government. Obviously, this has not gone down well with the regime in Niamey, which has also been hostile to Nigeria.

This has deeply ruptured communal and trade relations, as well as efforts to fight the insurgents. It is time we rethink this ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. We need a common ground for all West African countries to meet and fight the growing insurgency. To begin with, President Tinubu needs to emulate President Wadgani and embark on serious legwork by visiting Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

Operatives of the Edo State Police Command have arrested a woman for allegedly spreading false information about the kidnapping of students in the state.

The suspect, identified as Uzebor Emmanuel, popularly known on social media as ‘Aza Woman,’ allegedly circulated reports claiming that students of the Green Park Academy, Aduwawa, and Western Boys’ College, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City, had been abducted.

She reportedly alleged that six students travelling to write examinations were kidnapped through various mini-buses operating in the state.

In a statement, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, said the suspect was arrested for allegedly disseminating false information capable of causing public panic and misleading residents.

‘The command wishes to inform the public that one Uzebor Emmanuel, popularly known on social media as ‘Aza Woman,’ has been arrested in connection with viral publications containing false kidnapping claims,’ the statement said.

According to the police, preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect knowingly circulated false reports alleging that six persons had been abducted through commercial mini-buses operating within the state.

The police added that she also claimed that some of the alleged victims escaped from their abductors while others paid ransom to secure their freedom.

The command said the publications generated widespread fear and anxiety among residents and had the potential to undermine public confidence in the state’s security architecture.

The police urged members of the public to verify information before sharing it on social media and warned against the spread of false reports capable of causing unnecessary panic.

Investigation into the matter is ongoing.

A woman identified as Oluchi, whose family reported her being kidnapped in Edo State, has been found with her lover in a hotel in Delta State.

The development comes after relatives and associates launched efforts to secure her release following ransom demands reportedly made after her disappearance.

Family members had earlier informed the police that Oluchi was abducted in the Ikpoba Hill area of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

Her children, including a daughter based in Canada, had appealed to the public for assistance in raising funds after the suspected kidnappers allegedly demanded N50 million ransom, which was later reduced to N20 million.

However, investigations by the police led operatives to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State, where the woman was found.

Punch quoted a source familiar with the investigation as saying police tracked a phone number linked to one of the suspects to the hotel.

‘Police traced the number of the man to a hotel in Ubiaroko, Delta State. They met the man and the kidnapped woman inside a hotel,’ the source said.

According to the source, the woman’s husband was later informed of the development after police operatives made the discovery.

Reacting to the incident in a now-viral video, the woman’s daughter, Anita, expressed shock over the outcome of the investigation, saying the family had been devastated by the development.

‘My mum has been released. My mum is involved in this kidnapping case. I only did what I did to save my mom,’ she said.

Anita said the family had worked closely with law enforcement authorities throughout the period of the reported abduction and had not paid any ransom before her mother’s recovery.

‘We were called that my mum has been released. We didn’t pay the kidnappers. The money is intact. We are going to make a refund. We involved the Police from the beginning. We now know it was not a real kidnapping,’ she said.

She further alleged that investigators informed the family that her mother and another individual had agreed to obtain part of the funds that had already been raised.

‘They said my mom is involved. They are having a relationship. The guy was traced. They had agreed to take what we already raised to N20m,’ she said.

Anita described the development as emotionally traumatic for the family.

‘This has shattered my family. My dad has some health issues. This is so unfortunate,’ she stated.

The Harmony Ladies Club, a social group to which Anita belongs, also reacted to the development, expressing disappointment over the outcome of the case.

In a statement circulated on its WhatsApp platform, the group said its members had provided emotional, logistical and financial support after learning of the reported abduction.

‘When news of her alleged abduction broke, the club acted swiftly in good faith. Out of sisterhood, love, and a sense of community responsibility, we rallied immediately,’ the statement read.

The group added that it was shocked by findings from the police investigation.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Edo State Police Command, CSP Moses Yamu, said four persons had been arrested in connection with the case.

‘I can confirm the incident and also let you know that four people have also been arrested in connection with the incident,’ he said.

Police said investigations into the matter are ongoing.

The Federal Government, in collaboration with the World Bank through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), had secured funding worth nearly $100 million for mini-grid projects across the east district of Kogi state .

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu disclosed this on Friday while performing the groundbreaking ceremony for a 20-megawatt mini-grid power project in Egume in Dekina Local Government Area of the State.

Prince Audu stated that the 20- megawatt project is the largest mini-grid power project in North Central Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led federal administration.

He added further that projectd form part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to deliver the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President to the people of Kogi State.

He noted that the ‘Light Up Kogi’ initiative is aimed at expanding access to reliable electricity, stimulating economic growth, enhancing security, and improving the quality of life of residents across Kogi East and the entire state.

The Minister stated : ‘The groundbreaking of this 20-megawatt project, the largest mini-grid power project in North Central Nigeria, demonstrates President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the development of our people.

‘Through our engagements with the Rural Electrification Agency and the Federal Ministry of Power, we have secured over 40 mini-grid electrification projects across the nine local government areas of Igala land.

‘In the coming months, communities across the region will begin to witness the benefits of these interventions’.

He stressed further that the projects will create opportunities for businesses to thrive, improve healthcare and educational services, enhance security, and raise the overall standard of living of the people.

Prince Audu therefore urged communities to cooperate fully with government officials and project developers to ensure the smooth execution of the projects, noting that access to reliable electricity remains one of the most critical enablers of economic growth and social development,

The Minister emphasised that the projects also serve as a call for the people of Kogi State to come out in their numbers to vote for the re-election of President Tinubu in 2027, while assuring the President of a resounding victory in the state.

Accordingly, the Minister commissioned two other mini-grid projects in the district : a 700-kilowatt mini-grid in Offa Community, Olamaboro Local Government Area; and a 400-kilowatt mini-grid in Emewe Efopa Community, Dekina Local Government Area

In his remarks, the Managing Director of REA, Alhaji Abba Abubakar Aliyu stated that the Minister has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the development of his people. stressing that his efforts has attracted about 29 megawatts of renewable energy projects to the State.

‘The projects will deliver reliable and affordable electricity to homes, businesses, schools, and healthcare facilities, creating new economic opportunities for the people’, he said.

While Aliyu noted that the Egume project would be completed within six months, he urged residents to position themselves to take advantage of the economic opportunities that would accompany improved electricity access.

Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers of the communities, the Ejeh of Dekina, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji (Dr.) Usman Obaje, OON, thanked the Honourable Minister for his efforts to ensure the people of kogi east enjoy uninterrupted energy supply .

Consumers and experts have faulted a telecommunications firm, MTN over its claims that unlimited data does not exist anywhere in the world even as the telecommunication company denied short changing its subscribers through quick data depletion.

Daily Trust had reported that there has been a surge of complaints from consumers over data depletion, raising concerns over increased spending on data.

In a fresh twist, the MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Toriola, made a series of remarks that critics say amounted to a public admission dressed up as a defence.

Speaking during a #DataonTrial gathering convened by the firm, Toriola sought to draw a distinction between what his company promises and what subscribers believe they are entitled to.

‘We don’t guarantee you uninterrupted quality of service, and I am not sure any telecom operator in the world does,’ he said.

He declared that there is no unlimited data anywhere in the world, saying, ‘The issue of unlimited data on mobile network, it does not exist anywhere in the world, except you are paying $400 dollar a month or whatever.

‘There are high bundles and fair usage policies. On mobile networks, it does not really exist. There is a limit, because you can never build enough capacity for everyone to be on an unlimited bundle and you think you will provide quality service that will be decent,’ he said.

The MTN boss insisted the company’s billing integrity was sound, pointing to oversight by global audit firm KPMG and review by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

‘Is our billing constructed to short-charge you? No – it is what you consume and we bill you for,’ he said.

Toriola acknowledged, however, that even internal staff sometimes struggled to navigate the company’s billing architecture.

‘A lot of things happen – even MTN staff get lost in it – but you don’t ever cheat,’ he said.

He expressed optimism that Nigeria’s expanding fibre infrastructure would eventually resolve the disputes.

‘As Nigeria prospers and gets more fibre, this issue will die away,’ he said.

Omoyele Sowore, an activist framed the CEO’s position as a straightforward falsehood.

‘The issue of unlimited data on mobile networks is that it doesn’t exist anywhere in the world unless you’re paying a fortune,’ he wrote on his ‘X’.

Sowore argued that millions of consumers in other countries enjoy genuinely unlimited or effectively unlimited broadband and mobile data plans – often at prices cheaper, relative to income, than what Nigerians pay for inferior service.

‘Nigerians deserve affordable, reliable, and genuinely consumer-friendly telecommunications services, not endless tariff hikes, poor network quality, and excuses,’ he wrote.

He threatened a nationwide OccupyMTN protest.

The sentiment was echoed widely online.

A consumer, Richard Nnorom echoed the same sentiment, describing the depletion of data by telecommunication firms as wrong practices.

‘It’s because it’s been largely unregulated and the government gave them the liberty to swindle its citizens. Unlimited data shouldn’t be capped. You can vary download and upload speed but not cap limit,’ he said.

Another consumer, Ezechikelu, accused the telecom firm of defending claims like politicians.

‘Both political and business leaders in Nigeria often speak with a certain level of unwarranted pride. Not their fault,’ he wrote on X.

‘I pay $84 a month for unlimited WIFI at home and $32 for unlimited calls/text and 20gb mobile data in Canada. So MTN is lying because they are happy to milk Nigerians,’ said Olu Jastro.

In an interview with Daily Trust, Shina Bilesanmi, the National President, Association of Telephone, Cable TV and Internet Subscribers of Nigeria (ATCIS) advocated for better service delivery for telecom subscribers.

Reacting to the MTN CEO’s claim, Bilesanmi blamed it on a weak regulatory body, accusing the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) of abandoning its mandate to consumers in favour of revenue collection.

‘The regulators are supposed to defend us, protect us. They have failed. NCC is no more NCC. They promised Nigerians they were going to give them compensation. Did they? No.’

He also challenged MTN’s claim that it had invested approximately one trillion naira in infrastructure upgrades.

‘If it is true, if it is not true, we can see. But the only area I can fault is that they are not engaging us,’ he said.

He stressed that the operator’s greatest strategic error was not its billing practices, but its failure to bring consumer advocacy groups into its confidence.

An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate Court has remanded a 45-year-old pastor, Isaac Moses Adedokun, and his alleged accomplice, Aje Olajide Emmanuel, in a correctional facility for 10 days over alleged ritual activities and threats to attack a community in Ekiti State.

The defendants were arraigned on allegations of conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and activities said to have created fear and apprehension among residents of Ijadu community in Ado-Ekiti.

The prosecutor, O.S. Ojo, Officer-in-Charge of Legal Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ekiti State Command, told the court that between April and May 2026, Adedokun allegedly threatened to attack the community and carried out ritual activities in public places, causing panic among residents.

Ojo further alleged that Emmanuel accommodated the pastor and helped shield him from arrest.

According to the prosecutor, the offences are contrary to Sections 69(1)(a) and 181(1)(d) of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, and punishable under Sections 69(1)(b) and 181(2) of the same law.

He urged the court to remand the defendants pending further investigation.

Counsel to the defendants, Barrister A. Ayodeji, opposed the application and urged the court to admit his clients to bail.

In his ruling, the Chief Magistrate, Mr Abayomi Adeosun, ordered that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility for 10 days and advised their counsel to apply for bail.

The case was adjourned until June 15, 2026, for further hearing.

A self-styled native doctor, Olorunbukunmi Taiwo, and his wife, Awolegan Omolola Omotola, have been arraigned over an alleged N1.09 billion contract fraud said to have been perpetrated against a widow and school proprietor.

The case is being prosecuted by the Il?rin Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The couple appeared before Justice Abubakar Usman of the Federal High Court in Ado-Ekiti on a six-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and retention of proceeds of crime.

According to the EFCC, the case stemmed from a petition filed by Anazia Colina Kenechukwu, a Delta State-based private school owner, who alleged that Taiwo convinced her to finance a road construction contract he claimed had been awarded to him by the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC).

The anti-graft agency told the court that the representation allegedly induced the complainant to part with huge sums of money over a period spanning January 2024 and November 2025.

In one of the charges, the EFCC alleged that the defendants fraudulently obtained N1,098,961,500 from Kenechukwu through Taiwo’s bank account under the guise of executing the purported road project, a claim the Commission said was false.

EFCC said investigators further traced transactions linked to the case and discovered that a total of N1.98 billion was allegedly paid into an account operated by Taiwo.

The Commission also alleged that part of the proceeds was channelled into the acquisition of landed assets in Ado-Ekiti, including a hospitality facility known as Town Tavern Lounge on Ikere Road and a four-bedroom bungalow located within Irewolede Estate.

The properties had earlier been placed under interim attachment following an order secured by the EFCC on May 25, 2026.

When the charges were read in court, Taiwo and Omotola pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Following the plea, EFCC counsel, Sesan Ola, urged the court to fix a date for trial and remand the defendants pending further proceedings.

Justice Usman subsequently adjourned the matter until June 11, 2026, for the hearing of the defendants’ bail application and the commencement of trial.

The judge also ordered that the couple be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the determination of their bail request.

The Adamawa State Government has summoned the contractor handling the construction of the College of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studies, Gulak, over delays in the completion of the project.

Deputy Governor of the state, Professor Kaletapwa George Farauta, issued the directive after conducting an inspection tour of the institution in preparation for its commencement.

During the visit, Professor Farauta expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work and identified defects in some sections of the project. She consequently directed the contractor to appear before the Government House immediately to explain the reasons for the delay and address the observed shortcomings.

The College of Technology, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Studies, located in Gulak, Madagali Local Government Area, was established to drive economic growth by equipping young people with practical technological, industrial, and vocational skills.

Professor Farauta reiterated that the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri places a high premium on project monitoring and supervision, stressing that the government has zero tolerance for negligence, poor workmanship, or delays in the execution of public projects.

She assured that the state government would continue to closely monitor the project to ensure its timely completion and smooth take-off.

According to the Deputy Governor, the institution is expected to equip youths with the knowledge and skills required to become self-reliant, innovative, and productive contributors to society.

She also called on members of the host community to take ownership of the institution and work collectively to safeguard its facilities.

Earlier, a representative of the PTIL Madagali host community, Emmanuel Tsamdu, pledged the community’s commitment to supporting government efforts by collaborating with security agencies to ensure the safety and protection of the college and its facilities.

The Acting Rector of the college, Dr. Yusuf Gambo, commended the Deputy Governor for the inspection visit and expressed the management’s renewed determination to position the institution for excellence.

He also appealed for additional support in key areas, including landscaping and the provision of a sustainable water supply system to enhance the learning environment.

Observers say the establishment of the college represents a strategic investment in human capital development, with the potential to create employment opportunities, stimulate the local economy, and bridge the skills gap in the state.