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The Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit has uncovered an emerging crowdfunding network being exploited by terrorist financiers to raise, move and channel funds to operatives in Nigeria.

The Unit also identified the use of women as proxies in opening bank accounts, as well as the deployment of telephone numbers not registered to account holders or actual beneficiaries for mobile banking and transaction alerts.

According to the NFIU’s 2025 annual report, the emerging crowdfunding model involves foreign-based facilitators using social media platforms to solicit donations under the guise of humanitarian relief, educational assistance or other legitimate causes before moving the proceeds through several layers to terrorist operatives in Nigeria.

The NFIU said the facilitators typically encouraged hundreds of sympathisers to make relatively small contributions, ranging from $50 to $500, through PayPal pages and conventional bank accounts.

The strategy, it noted, was designed to keep individual transactions below thresholds likely to trigger automated anti-money laundering alerts.

The report stated, ‘A foreign-based facilitator runs social-media campaigns claiming humanitarian relief or educational support and uses encrypted apps (Telegram, Signal) to share links to convincing PayPal pages or standard bank accounts.

‘Hundreds of sympathiser donors contribute $50-$500 each, amounts small enough to avoid most automated AML alerts.’

The NFIU said the proceeds were subsequently consolidated into a ‘master account’ controlled by a senior member of the network who was legally resident abroad.

It explained that once the funds accumulated to a certain threshold, the account became a central hub for moving the money to recipients in Nigeria.

Rather than transferring the entire amount in a single transaction, the facilitator allegedly fragmented the funds into dozens of smaller payments and routed them through International Money Transfer Operators and remittance applications.

The payments were then sent to a network of money mules in Nigeria, including students, small-business owners and relatives.

The Unit said the arrangement was intended to remain below reporting thresholds while making it difficult for investigators to establish the original source and ultimate destination of the funds.

‘Rather than sending one large transfer, the senior member fractures the funds and sends dozens of sub-threshold payments through IMTOs and remittance apps to a network of money mules in Nigeria; students, small-business owners, or relatives, avoiding reporting triggers,’ the report stated.

Upon receipt, the funds were either converted into cash or used to acquire items that could serve both civilian and operational purposes.

The NFIU listed motorcycles, fertilisers and satellite internet equipment among the items that could be purchased with the funds.

It added that some proceeds were transferred through mobile banking channels to logistics managers and field operatives.

According to the report, this represented the final stage of the process, where apparently legitimate donations were transformed into operational resources for terrorist groups.

Beyond crowdfunding, the NFIU identified what it described as an emerging gender-based proxy account system, in which bank accounts are opened in women’s names but are secretly controlled by male terrorist commanders or logistics managers.

The Unit said the technique was being used to create distance between illicit funds and the actual individuals controlling them.

‘Terrorist financiers are opening bank accounts in women’s names while male commanders and logistics managers secretly control them,’ the report stated.

It said wives, sisters and female associates were being used as fronts, exploiting social and cultural assumptions that women were less likely to attract suspicion during financial investigations.

The NFIU described the practice as ‘identity laundering’, explaining that male operatives could retain control of the accounts by possessing ATM cards, mobile banking credentials and personal identification numbers.

In some cases, it said, the women whose names appeared on the accounts were allegedly unaware of the nature, volume or frequency of the transactions taking place.

The financial intelligence agency also raised concerns over the use of telephone numbers that do not belong to the registered bank account holders or actual beneficiaries.

It said terrorist facilitators were using such numbers for mobile banking services and transaction alerts in an attempt to sever the link between bank accounts, SIM cards and Bank Verification Numbers.

According to the report, the techniques included the use of pre-registered SIM cards, telephone numbers registered to deceased persons and SIM cards linked to gender-based proxy account holders.

The NFIU said the practice could make investigations more difficult because a financial trail could lead investigators to an unrelated individual whose telephone number was attached to an account.

‘Terrorist facilitators use phone numbers for mobile banking or account alerts that are not registered to the account holder or the true beneficiary,’ the report stated.

It added that the practice ‘severs the audit trail’ and could allow the actual facilitator to remain anonymous while continuing to operate.

The NFIU further uncovered sophisticated methods being used to conceal the purpose of terrorist-related financial transactions through transaction narrations.

It said some terrorist cells, particularly those linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), used detailed and professional-sounding descriptions to maintain what analysts considered an internal accounting system.

According to the report, the pattern involved frequent logistics-related payments from a single source to several recipients, with detailed descriptions attached to the transfers.

The Unit said such transactions could appear legitimate to conventional monitoring systems because the narrations were often accurate descriptions of the expenditure.

It explained that terrorist cells could operate with highly structured financial controls, requiring field commanders to account for expenditures to central financial controllers.

The report stated that the apparently legitimate transaction descriptions effectively created an internal audit trail within the terrorist network.

However, the NFIU said other facilitators deliberately used innocuous words, secret codes and alphanumeric combinations to conceal the purpose of transactions.

Some also switched between languages in their descriptions in an attempt to circumvent automated banking filters that could flag terms associated with terrorism.

The report noted that terms such as ‘Jihad,’ ‘Arms’ and ‘Boko’ could trigger alerts, prompting facilitators to adopt coded alternatives.

The practice, it said, made it more difficult for automated systems to identify suspicious transfers based solely on transaction narratives.

The NFIU said its risk and crime analysis for the year revealed an increasingly interconnected threat environment involving financial crime, technology and cross-border activities.

It identified fraud as a dominant predicate offence and reported growing cases of Ponzi schemes, fraudulent crowdfunding arrangements, cryptocurrency-enabled investment scams and hacking-related fraud.

The Unit said criminals were increasingly exploiting weaknesses in fintech onboarding processes, particularly tiered accounts with minimal identification requirements. Digital platforms, it added, had also made it easier for criminal networks to recruit victims rapidly and move funds across jurisdictions.

The report also identified vulnerabilities in public-sector financial management.

According to the NFIU, state and local government funds were at risk of diversion through accounts belonging to finance officers and associated third parties.

Procurement processes were identified as another significant risk area, while extensive use of cash transactions was said to complicate audit trails and make the tracing of illicit assets more difficult.

The Unit said its findings had been converted into targeted advisories, executive alerts and strategic intelligence products for relevant authorities, reporting entities and policymakers.

VIYA Health, the exclusive distributor of Incepta Pharmaceutical’s WHO PreQualified Family Planning solution, DMPA SC, in Nigeria, had strategic discussions with the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board to expand access to quality, affordable family planning services across the State.

The stakeholder engagement session was held at the State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The meeting focused on expanding access to Medogen SubQ, a World Health Organization prequalified (WHO PQ) Family Planning product produced by Incepta Pharmaceuticals. Medogen SubQ’s WHO prequalification demonstrates quality assurance signaling adherence with stringent international standards, strengthening credibility and reputation, thus, providing healthcare providers and women with a safe, effective and affordable contraceptive option that meets internationally recognised standards.

Speaking at the event Muideen Olatunji, Physician and Executive Secretary, Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, welcomed the engagement and acknowledged the State’s long-standing openness to family planning initiatives and innovative programmes.

He reiterated the State’s commitment to investing in health commodities, including strengthening the availability of family planning products, and collaborating in other areas of public health.

Olatunji added that expanding access to a wider range of safe and affordable family planning options through the State’s Primary Health Centres would strengthen ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes while empowering individuals and families to make informed reproductive health decisions.

‘The Oyo State Government remains committed to improving access to quality primary healthcare services for our people. We commend VIYA Health for engaging with the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board to expand access to safe, effective and affordable family planning commodities across our healthcare facilities.

‘This collaboration will strengthen our healthcare delivery system and ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for women, children and families across the state,’ he added.

Speaking during the meeting, Billy Shoaga, Pharmacist and Business Lead, VIYA Health Nigeria, said the ongoing collaboration reflected VIYA Health’s commitment to improving access to quality reproductive healthcare by working closely with State Governments and other key stakeholders.

Shoaga explained that increasing the availability of affordable, high-quality family planning commodities is critical to improving maternal and child health outcomes, reducing unmet family planning needs, and empowering women to make informed reproductive health decisions.

‘At VIYA Health, we are committed to ensuring that quality healthcare products reach the people who need them most. Through our strategic collaboration with the Oyo State Primary Healthcare Board, we are expanding access to a WHO-prequalified family planning solution that combines quality, safety and affordability.

‘We believe that stronger public-private collaboration will play a vital role in improving public health outcomes and ensuring that more women have access to reliable family planning options,’ he said.

Alabi Ogundepo, a renowned Yoruba poet, actor, and master of Ìjàlà, the traditional hunters’ chant, has died at the age of 84.

Ogundepo, who hailed from Saki, Oyo State, died on Monday, August 24, 2026, according to a statement signed by Dupe Ogundepo Falana on behalf of the family.

For more than five decades, Ogundepo used poetry, performance, and broadcasting to preserve and promote the Yoruba language, history, and traditions. His death marks the loss of one of the distinctive voices of Yoruba oral literature and cultural expression.

He was particularly known for his mastery of Ìjàlà, a form of traditional Yoruba hunters’ poetry in which performers use chants, praise names, proverbs and vivid imagery to celebrate hunters, nature, courage and community life. He was also recognised for his command of Oríkì and other forms of Yoruba praise poetry.

Born in Saki, Ogundepo became a familiar voice to audiences beyond Oyo State through his work on radio and television. His performances and recordings brought traditional Yoruba poetry to a wider audience, while his appearances and productions helped keep indigenous forms of expression relevant in an era of changing cultural tastes.

He was also associated with Radio Oyo and NTA Ibadan, where his public service jingles and cultural programmes became part of his broadcasting legacy. Among his widely remembered works was the road safety campaign, ‘Eso Pele Onimoto Rora Saare,’ which urged motorists to drive carefully.

At NTA Ibadan, he produced Akiika, a cultural programme through which he promoted Yoruba language, oral literature and ancestral traditions.

Beyond his performances, Ogundepo was remembered as a writer and cultural enthusiast whose work drew heavily from Yoruba history, language and everyday experience. His family described his body of work as an important contribution to the preservation of the cultural heritage of his people.

‘Through his creative works and public engagements, he contributed significantly to the preservation and promotion of the rich cultural heritage of his people,’ the family said.

The family also described him as a man whose influence extended beyond literature and performance.

‘Beyond his literary accomplishments, Chief Alabi Ogundepo was a man of dignity, wisdom and compassion,’ it said.

‘He touched the lives of many through his counsel, friendship, intellectual contributions and commitment to the development of his community.’

For many who encountered his work, Ogundepo represented a generation of Yoruba cultural practitioners who treated oral tradition not simply as entertainment, but as a means of transmitting history, values, identity and knowledge from one generation to another.

His career also reflected the adaptability of traditional art. From live performances to radio, television and recorded works, Ogundepo carried Ìjàlà and Yoruba oral poetry into spaces where they could reach audiences far beyond the traditional settings in which such forms developed.

His death therefore comes as a significant loss not only to his family and Saki community, but also to the wider Yoruba literary and cultural community.

The family expressed gratitude to traditional leaders, literary communities, institutions, friends and well-wishers who had offered condolences following his death.

‘While the family mourns the passing of a beloved father, husband, grandfather, relative and friend, we are also comforted by the enduring legacy he leaves behind through his writings, relationships, values and contributions to society,’ the statement said.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced. The family said details would be communicated in due course.

Alabi Ogundepo may have died, but the chants, stories and cultural memory he spent decades preserving remain part of the Yoruba heritage he devoted his life to.

Corporate governance has never been more demanding. Boards are expected to provide strategic direction, oversee risk, monitor performance, ensure accountability, and safeguard the long-term sustainability of their organisations. Yet despite these expanding responsibilities, one fundamental question remains surprisingly difficult to answer: How do boards know whether strategy is being executed? The traditional answer is simple: through board papers.

Every quarter, management presents reports, dashboards, PowerPoint slides, and narrative updates describing progress against the organisation’s strategic priorities. These reports are often comprehensive, professionally prepared, and reassuring. But they also expose one of the greatest gaps in modern corporate governance. So, the question is – where is the evidence?

Management reports that strategic initiatives are on track. Where is the evidence? A transformation programme is described as successful. Where is the evidence? Customer experience is said to be improving. Where is the evidence? Traffic lights are green, risks appear controlled, and milestones seem to have been achieved. But beyond the summaries and narratives, what objective evidence can directors examine to satisfy themselves that strategy is truly progressing as intended? These don’t show up in the board papers!

‘Board papers remain essential because they provide context, interpretation, recommendations, and professional judgement. However, they become significantly more valuable when supported by objective evidence that directors can interrogate independently.’

This distinction matters. A board’s primary responsibility is not to manage the organisation – that is management’s role. Boards approve strategy, oversee its implementation, challenge management where necessary, and hold executives accountable for results. Effective governance therefore depends on visibility. Directors cannot effectively oversee what they cannot objectively see.

Ironically, evidence-based decision-making is already embedded in many organisational functions. Finance departments rely on audited financial statements before major investments are approved. Internal auditors insist on documentary evidence before providing assurance. Procurement teams compare competing bids before awarding contracts, while banks perform rigorous credit analysis before approving loans. Acting without evidence in these areas would rightly be considered poor governance.

Yet when it comes to strategy execution – the very process that determines whether the organisation’s long-term ambitions will be achieved – many boards still depend largely on manually prepared reports, spreadsheets, and presentations assembled shortly before board meetings. They receive management’s interpretation of progress rather than direct visibility into execution itself.

Robert Kaplan and David Norton, creators of the Balanced Scorecard, argued that strategy should become a continuous management process rather than an annual planning exercise. Their work demonstrated that organisations perform better when strategic objectives are continuously linked to measurable outcomes, operational activities, and organisational performance. Strategy, they argued, should be monitored as rigorously as financial performance.

The implication for boards is profound. Governance should not depend solely on periodic presentations. It should be supported by continuous, evidence-based visibility into strategy execution.

This represents an important evolution in board governance. Board papers remain essential because they provide context, interpretation, recommendations, and professional judgement. However, they become significantly more valuable when supported by objective evidence that directors can interrogate independently.

Imagine a board that can see, at any point in time, the progress of every strategic objective, initiative, key performance indicator, milestone, dependency, and strategic risk. Rather than asking, ‘What happened?’ directors begin asking more strategic questions: Why are we behind? What assumptions have changed? Which initiatives require intervention? Where are the emerging risks? Governance shifts from reviewing reports to actively improving execution.

The benefits extend well beyond transparency! Strategy tracking strengthens accountability because every initiative has a clearly identified owner, measurable milestones, agreed timelines, and visible progress. It enables boards to identify execution risks before they appear in disappointing financial results. It also improves strategic alignment by allowing directors to determine whether projects, investmentsE, and operational priorities remain consistent with the organisation’s long-term direction.

Perhaps most importantly, it enables evidence-based governance.A opinion with management by evidence. The same principle applies to boards. Directors should not be expected to rely solely on confidence, optimism, or well-crafted narratives. Good governance demands evidence, not because boards distrust management, but because effective oversight requires transparent visibility into organisational performance.

Technology now makes this possible. Just as enterprise resource planning systems transformed financial management, customer relationship management platforms transformed sales, and human resource information systems transformed people management, digital strategy tracking platforms are beginning to transform strategic governance. They provide a transparent line of sight from strategic objectives to operational execution, allowing directors to move from hindsight to foresight, from assumptions to evidence, and from periodic reporting to continuous oversight.

Board papers will always remain an indispensable part of good governance. They communicate analysis, recommendations, and informed judgement that technology can never replace. But they should no longer be the board’s only window into strategy execution. In an increasingly complex and fast-moving business environment, governance requires more than quarterly updates. It requires timely, transparent, evidence-based visibility into whether strategy is delivering results.

Ultimately, boards are not responsible for writing strategy documents. They are responsible for ensuring that strategy results. They cannot fully discharge that responsibility if they receive only summaries of progress without the evidence that underpins them. The future of corporate governance therefore lies not in replacing board papers but in moving beyond them. Because the quality of governance will increasingly depend not on how much information boards receive, but on how much evidence they can see.

Omagbitse Barrow is the chief executive of Efiko Management Consulting, and he supports organisations and leaders to translate their strategy to results.

The naira remained broadly stable against the dollar on the first trading day of this week as activity in the foreign exchange (FX) market moderated, while Nigeria’s external reserves continued to build, strengthening the country’s capacity to support the local currency.

Data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the naira depreciated marginally by 49 kobo, with the dollar quoted at N1,346.98 on Monday at the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), compared with N1,346.49 on Friday.

In the parallel market, also known as the black market, the naira remained steady at N1,405 per dollar. This narrowed the gap between the official and parallel market rates to 4.38 percent from 4.75 percent on Friday.

Market activity also moderated, with total turnover at the interbank segment of the FX market declining by 4.47 percent to $152.59 million on Monday from $159.73 million recorded on Friday.

The number of deals at the interbank segment fell sharply by 51.02 percent to 144 from 294 deals recorded on Friday, indicating softer trading activity.

Although NFEM figures for Monday’s deals and turnover were not available as of the time of reporting, activity at the window had already moderated at the end of last week.

Total turnover at the NFEM window fell by 17.88 percent to $755.87 million on Friday from $920.46 million on Thursday, while the number of deals declined by 66.36 percent to 109 from 324 deals.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s external reserves, which provide the CBN with the capacity to support the naira and meet the country’s external obligations, continued their upward trajectory.

CBN data showed that the reserves rose to $52.83 billion as of August 21, 2026, representing a 28.6 percent increase from $41.08 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

The rising reserves are strengthening Nigeria’s external position and providing a larger buffer against foreign exchange pressures, at a time when improved FX supply and market confidence have supported the naira.

A half-year financial market report by United Capital Plc said the naira appreciated by 4.52 percent against the dollar in the first half of 2026, driven largely by rising FX supply from oil revenues, remittances and capital inflows, as well as improved market confidence following FX reforms.

‘Going into H2 2026, we expect stability and marginal appreciation in the value of the Naira against US dollars,’ the report said.

United Capital said Nigeria’s external reserves performance in the first half of 2026 reflected a three-phase pattern of early stability, sustained drawdown and late-period recovery.

It attributed the recovery to increased crude oil revenue, higher capital importation, an improved net export balance, increased remittances from abroad and growing confidence in the Nigerian economy.

The investment firm said the current reserve level was sufficient to cover more than 10 months of imports, providing support for naira stability and the possibility of further appreciation.

It revised its year-end reserve forecast to $53.25 billion, which it said would be enough to cover more than 13 months of imports.

The combination of stronger external buffers, improved FX supply and confidence in the market is therefore expected to continue supporting relative stability in the naira, even as trading activity moderates.

The 18th Headies Awards nominees were unveiled on Tuesday, 25 August 2026, with FOLA being the most nominated artist with 10 nominations. His was nominated in Best Recording of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Best RandB Album, Best Collaboration, Afrobeats Single of the Year, Headies Viewer’ Choice, Album of the Year, Digital Artiste of the Year, Next Rated, and Best Male Artiste.

Wizkid and Omah lay earned seven nominations, Asake, Davido and rising star Mavo had six nominations, Adekunle Gold, Ayra Starr has Tiwa Savage had five nominations while Burna Boy, ODUMODUBLVCK, AMAEYA, SEWA, Kunmie and Rema share four nominations each.

Only music materials including singles, videos, EPs and albums released and distributed on digital streaming platforms within the year in review, from 1 August 2024 to 30 April 2026, were considered for nomination. This period captured a stretch of two years for Nigerian and African music, defined by major album releases, street-hop dominance, high-profile collaborations and sustained global chart presence that kept Afrobeats firmly in the international spotlight.

According to The Headies, the award show will be held abroad once again, this time in Toronto, Canada. Below are the categories presented with official criteria.

Full List

Afrobeats Album of the Year

A voting category for the best Afrobeats album or EP (solo or group) in the year under review that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

5IVE – DAVIDO

CAPTAIN – BNXN

CLARITY OF MIND – OMAH LAY

FUJI – ADEKUNLE GOLD

MORAYO – WIZKID

NO SIGN OF WEAKNESS – BURNA BOY

Album of the Year

A voting category for the best overall album or EP (solo or group) in the year under review that meets judges’ requirements of excellence (songwriting, production, rendition and impact).

CATHARSIS – FOLA

CLARITY OF MIND – OMAH LAY

G.O.A.T – ERIGGA

MORAYO – WIZKID

THE MACHINE IS COMING – ODUMODUBLVCK

THIS ONE IS PERSONAL – TIWA SAVAGE

NO SIGN OF WEAKNESS – BURNA BOY

SONG OF THE YEAR

A category that recognises the song that achieved the greatest cultural impact within the year under review.

‘ARIKE’- KUNMIE

‘HEY JAGO’- POCO LEE, SHODAY and RAHMAN JAGO

‘HOT BODY’- AYRA STARR

‘JOY IS COMING’ – FIDO

‘MMS’ – ASAKE and WIZKID

‘WITH YOU” – DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY

AFROBEATS SINGLE OF THE YEAR

A category for the year’s most outstanding Afrobeats single by a single individual or group.

‘FUN’- REMA

‘JOGODO’- ASAKE and WIZKID

‘JOY IS COMING’- FIDO

‘LAHO’- SHALLIPOPI

‘WITH YOU’- DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY

‘YOU’- FOLA

‘BUNDLE BY BUNDLE’- BURNA BOY

Best Street-Hop Artiste

A category that recognises the artist whose music best reflects street culture and resonates strongly with grassroots audiences.

FAMOUS PLUTO – NA SCRA

KASHCOMING – ALL MY MONEY

POCO LEE – HEY JAGO (W/ SHODAY and RAHMAN JAGO)

SEYI VIBEZ – SHAOLIN

SHALLIPOPI – LAHO

TUFF KING – NKEMAKONAM

RYBEENA – GADDEM (W/ SHODAY)

Best Rap Album

Recognises the best rap album or EP by an artist or group in the year under review.

TUFF KING – BLACK SHEEPIZEN (THE 13TH DISCIPLE)

A-Q – GE3 (THE BEGINNING)

ERIGGA – G.O.A.T

JERIQ – KING

BLAQBONEZ – NO EXCUSES

ODUMODUBLVCK – THE MACHINE IS COMING

BEST RAP SINGLE

A category that recognises the best rap song released as a single, by a solo artiste or group in the year under review.

‘2:02 PM IN LONDON’- ODUMODUBLVCK

‘ACL’- BLAQBONEZ

‘MAN2MAN’- DREMO

‘MOSHOOD’- PDSTRN

‘NKEMAKONAM’- TUFF KING

‘WUSE TU’ – ZAYLEVELTEN, MAVO

‘JOHN WICK’- ZHUS JDO

Lyricist on the Roll

A non-voting category for the rapper with the most lyrical depth on a song in the year under review.

BLAQBONEZ – ACL

DREMO – MAN2MAN

MODENINE – IF YOU LIKE GYM (W/ ODUMODUBLVCK)

PDSTRN – MOSHOOD

YCEE – MAN2MAN REMIX (W/ DREMO)

Best Alternative Song

Category for the best song that creatively explores sounds outside the mainstream.

CYK BADDIE – LUWA.MP4 and JELEEL!

LAGOS LOVIN – SEWA

OLIVER – WIZARD CHAN

OMO TO SEXY – BLNDE

PRADA BABY – WAVE$TAR

SWEET DANGER – OBONGJAYAR

SUMMER ADINA – CHIEF PRIEST, BOYPEE and ZORO SWAGBAG

BEST ALTERNATIVE ALBUM

A category for the best Alternative album or EP by an artist or group in the year under review.

AFRIKA MAGIK- SDC

DETOX- SEWA

DUPLICITY- BOJ

HEALERS CHAPEL- WIZARD CHAN

OLORIN PACK- SCOTTYOLORIN

THEN 1T GOT CRAZY- ZAYLEVELTEN

Music Video of the Year

Award presented to the video director of the most outstanding music video within the year under review.

DIRECTOR PINK – 10 KILO (DAVIDO)

TG OMORI – AFROCULTURE (FLAVOUR FT. BAABA MAAL)

DK – BUNDLE BY BUNDLE (BURNA BOY)

JYDE AJALA – WIZARD CHAN

MEJI ALABI – WHO’S DAT GIRL (AYRA STARR FT. REMA)

DAMMY TWITCH – WITH YOU (DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY)

DIGITAL ARTISTE OF THE YEAR

A voting category for the artist or group with the most outstanding achievement and digital impact in the year under review.

ASAKE

AYRA STARR

BNXN

CHELLA

FOLA

MAVO

SEYI VIBEZ

WIZKID

BEST RECORDING OF THE YEAR

A category that recognises the most outstanding recorded song released during the year under review, celebrating excellence in recording quality and musical execution.

‘ARIKE’- KUNMIE

‘HOW DO YOU?’- AMAEYA

‘BABY (IS IT A CRIME)’- REMA

‘COPING MECHANISM’- OMAH LAY FT. ELMAH

‘WITH YOU’ – DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY

‘YOU’- FOLA

Best Collaboration

A vote category that recognises the most outstanding collaborative recording featuring two or more artistes.

CKAY and MAVO – BODY (DANZ)

MAVO and WAVE$TAR – ESCALADIZZY

POCO LEE, SHODAY and RAHMAN JAGO – HEY JAGO

ODUMODUBLVCK and VICTONY – PITY THIS BOY

DAVIDO and OMAH LAY – WITH YOU

MR EAZI and KING PROMISE – SEE WHAT WE’VE DONE

CHIEF PRIEST and SPYKI – FINALLY

Best RandB Album

Recognises the best RandB album or EP by an individual or group.

BEFORE WE BECAME STRANGERS – KUNMIE

CATHARSIS – FOLA

I AM THE BLUEPRINT – QING MADI

LOVE IS A KINGDOM – TEMS

REFLECTION STATION – TAY IWAR

THIS ONE IS PERSONAL – TIWA SAVAGE

BEST RandB SINGLE

Recognises the best RandB single by a solo artist or group released in the year under review.

‘6:35’- LAYEFA

‘HOW DO YOU?’- AMAEYA

‘I LOVE YOU’- AMMA

‘WHAT YOU NEED’- TEMS

‘WINTER and SUMMER’- MAGIXX

‘YOU4ME’-TIWA SAVAGE

Best Female Artiste

A category for the female artiste with outstanding cultural impact, having a minimum of 3 singles or an EP/album in the year under review.

AYRA STARR

QING MADI

SEWA

TEMS

TENI

TIWA SAVAGE

BEST MALE ARTISTE

A category for the male artiste with outstanding cultural impact, having a minimum of 3 singles or an EP/album in the year under review.

ADEKUNLE GOLD

ASAKE

FOLA

MAVO

REMA

WIZKID

BURNA BOY

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

An award that is presented to the producer responsible for the most exceptional production on a song, EP or album released during the year under review.

MAGICSTICKS- ‘JOGODO’ BY ASAKE and WIZKID AND ‘REAL, VOL. 1’ BY ASAKE and WIZKID

P.PRIIME- ‘MMS’ BY ASAKE and WIZKID, ‘BABY (IS IT A CRIME)’ BY REMA,’BILLIONAIRES CLUB’ BY OLAMIDE, DARKOO and WIZKID

RAGEE- ‘HOT BODY’ BY AYRA STARR AND ‘WHO’S DAT GIRL’ BY AYRA STARR FT. REMA

SARZ- ‘GETTING PAID’ BY SARZ ASAKE, WIZKID and SKILLIBENG AND ‘UHH YEAHH’ BY ASAKE AND ‘C’MON LOOK!’ BY SARZ FT. ASAKE

TEMPOE – ‘WITH YOU’ BY DAVIDO FT. OMAH LAY AND ‘SMH’ BY JOEBOY

International Artiste of the Year

A voting category for the non-African artiste or group that made the most significant contribution to the global growth of Afrobeats.

CIARA

DAVE

GUNNA

JAZMINE SULLIVAN

SHENSEEA

TIAKOLA

Best West African Artiste

Recognises the most outstanding artiste or group from West Africa in the year under review (non-Nigerian).

BLACK SHERIF ????

HIMRA ????

KIDI ????

KING PROMISE ????

MOLIY ????

WALLY B. SECK ????

STONEBWOY ????

Best Southern African Artist

CIZA ????

DJ MAPHORISA ????

JAZZWRLD ????

KABZA DE SMALL ????

TYLA ????

UNCLE WAFFLES ????

BEST CENTRAL AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognises the most outstanding artiste or group from Central Africa in the year under review.

FALLY IPUPA (DR CONGO) FERRÉ GOLA (DR CONGO)

HÉRITIER WATANABE (DR CONGO)

HIRO (DR CONGO)

INNOSS’B (DR CONGO)

LOCKO (CAMEROON)

BEST NORTH AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognises the most outstanding artiste or group from North Africa in Che year under review.

BALTI (TUNISIA)

DYSTINCT (MOROCCO)

MARWAN MOUSSA (EGYPT)

SOOLKING (ALGERIA)

TUL8TE (EGYPT)

BEST EAST AFRICAN ARTISTE

Recognises the most outstanding artiste or group from East Africa in Che year under review.

ABIGAIL CHAMS (TANZANIA)

BIEN (KENYA)

BRUCE MELODIE (RWANDA)

HARMONIZE (TANZANIA)

JOSHUA BARAKA (UGANDA)

HEADIES VIEWERS’ CHOICE

A fan-voted award recognising the year’s favourite artist based on public support and digital engagement.

AYRA STARR- ‘HOT BODY’

MAVO -‘ESCALADIZZY'(FT. WAVESTAR)

DAVIDO- ‘WITH YOU’ (FT. OMAH LAY)

REMA- ‘BABY (IS IT A CRIME)’

FOLA- ‘YOU’

WIZKID- ‘JOGODO’ (WITH ASAKE)

KUNMIE- ‘ARIKE’

Next Rated

An award that recognises the most promising emerging artiste poised for mainstream superstardom. Material can be two singles, an EP or an album.

FIDO

FOLA

LLONA

MAVO

SHODAY

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

A category that recognises the most outstanding new artist who achieved a breakthrough during the year under review and has not released a commercially distributed full-length album before the eligibility period.

AMMA

DANPAPA GTA

FIRSTKLAZ

KIDD CARDER

No11

PRIESST

OG ABBAH

SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR

This is a category that honours the songwriter responsible for the most exceptional writing on a song in the year under review.

ADEKUNLE KOSOKO (ADEKUNLE GOLD)- ‘MANY PEOPLE’

ANTHONY EBUKA VICTOR (VICTONY)- ‘COUGH SYRUP’ (WITH BNXN)

FUAYEFIKA MAXWELL (WIZARD CHAN)- ‘TIME TRAVELER’

ODUNLAMI AFOLARIN TEMILOLUWA (FOLA)- ‘WHO DOES THAT?’

OLUWABUKUNMI ARIYIBI PETER (KUNMIE)- ‘ARIKE’

PEACE CHIDINMA AMAEFULA (AMAEYA)- ‘HOW DO YOU?’

BEST PERFORMER (LIVE)

A non-voting category for the artist with the most outstanding live performance in front of an audience by singing, or playing a musical instrument. The live performance must have been recorded and officially released in video format – streaming, TV and/or physical media.

ADEKUNLE GOLD- ‘LIVE AT THE NATIONAL THEATRE LAGOS’ (WITH MUSON ORCHESTRA)

ASAKE- ‘RED BULL SYMPHONIC’

AYRA STARR -‘GLOBAL CITIZEN FESTIVAL NYC 2025’

JOHNNY DRILLE- ‘JOHNNY’S ROOM LIVE 6’

RUGER- ‘LIVE @ INDIGO AT THE 02, LONDON (2025)’

Best Inspirational Single Nominees

SJNMISOLA AGBEBI and YINKA OKELEYE – AMIOLUWA

FAVOUR – LAWRENCE OYOR

SINACH – IDINMA (YOUAREGOOD)

EMMA OMG – KO’RIN IYIN (I WILL PRAISE YOU)

GAISE BABA and LAWRENCE OYOR – NO TURNING BACK II

MERCY CHINWO – WE MOVE

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (MALE)

Category that recognises the male artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on an eligible recording.

ADEKUNLE GOLD – I’M NOT DONE

FLAVOUR – ORENTE

MAGIXX – SUMMER and WINTER

ODEAL – PATIENCE

SYEMCA – LOVE EGBUGOMO

TAY IWAR – BAD BELLE

BEST VOCAL PERFORMANCE (FEMALE)

Category that recognises the female artiste with the most outstanding vocal performance on an eligible recording.

LAYEFA- ‘6:35’

AMAEYA- ‘HOW DO YOU?’

SEWÀ- ‘LAGOS LOVIN’

QING MADI- ‘SCUMBAG’

LIYA- ‘SKIN TO SKIN’

TIWA SAVAGE- ‘YOU4ME’

BEST ORIGINAL SONG FOR VISUAL MEDIA

A non-voting category for a song written and composed originally for use in a motion picture or series.

‘ALL MY LOVE’- OSAS OKONYON and ABBEY WONDER FROM ‘EVI (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK)

‘BEHIND THE SCENES’ (ORIGINAL FOR FAAN PICTURE SOUNDTRACK)- FUNKE AKINDELE, TOLU OBAN RO FROM ‘BEHIND THE SCENES.’

‘SAVE ME’- OSCAR HEMAN-ACKAH and 2BABA FROM ‘TO KILL A MONKEY (ORIGINAL TV SERIES SOUNDTRACK)’

‘ONLY IN LAGOS’- WURLD and LIYA FROM ‘CHRISTMAS IN LAGOS (ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK)’

BEST AFRICAN DIASPORA-CANADIAN ARTISTE

A voting award category for the best Canadian or Canada-affiliated artiste of African descent in the year under review.

DEBBY FRIDAY- ‘LIPSYNC’

TÖME- ‘CC’ (FT. ALPHA P)

BOLU AJIBADE- ‘DIANA’ (WITH FRIYIE)

NONSO AMADI – ‘DIVE IN’

ROOKY KAMIZ – ‘DEEPER’

TOBI – ‘OUT THE MUD’

The nominations highlight both established stars consolidating their influence and rising voices from the street-hop and alternative scenes. Voting and judging processes will determine the winners ahead of the Toronto ceremony later in 2026.

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has warned the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) against adopting what they described as dictatorial practices, urging the council to embrace dialogue to avert another industrial crisis.

Matthew Ogunyade, chairman of NASU, WAEC, Nigeria, made this known in his speech during the union’s peaceful rally at the examination council’s office at Yaba, Lagos, on Monday, August 24, to demonstrate their displeasure on the worsening industrial relations climate under the leadership of Amos Dangut as the head of the National Office at WAEC, Nigeria.

Ogunyade emphasised the growing labour dispute between NASU and WAEC, which he said is raising concerns over staff welfare, workplace relations and the potential impact of industrial action on the council’s operations.

‘NASU’s WAEC Nigeria remains open to dialogue with management, but the Amos Dangut-led administration is failing to resolve several issues affecting our members. We don’t want to disrupt the council’s activities but would continue to defend our interests through lawful means.

‘We do not desire disruption of council activities. However, a peaceful, motivated, and fairly treated workforce is the bedrock of credible examinations,’ Ogunyade said.

The labour dispute at WAEC, Nigeria covers staff development, disciplinary procedures, promotion, recruitment, union representation and the scheduling of examination-related work.

Ogunyade explained that the union had previously issued a 14-day ultimatum after what it described as management’s failure to resolve its concerns. The ultimatum was expected to culminate in an indefinite strike on July 22, 2026.

Besides, he noted that subsequent meetings between the union and management, including one that lasted from 3:00 pm to 1:00 am, failed to produce sufficient results on the outstanding issues.

‘We remain committed to peaceful resolution, but we will not compromise on the rights, welfare and dignity of our members,’ he said.

He stressed that staff welfare is at the centre of the dispute, especially as concerned the scheduling of examination-related activities.

‘The management under Dangut decided to reduce the packing schedule for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination from 48 hours to 24 hours, which exerted excessive pressure on staff,’ NASU emphasised.

Moreover, Ogunyade alleged that three members of staff died during the examination period, linking the deaths to fatigue arising from the compressed schedule.

However, the claim has not been independently verified, but the union maintained that its members died as a result of fatigue from excessive work pressure.

According to the union, Dangut and his management team quickly and subsequently returned to the 48-hour schedule, after the harm had been done.

Consequently, NASU called for a review of examination work schedules to ensure that pressure to meet operational deadlines does not undermine employee welfare; besides, the union criticised the suspension of the staff upgrade programme, emphasising that employees had invested time and resources in preparing for the process before it was halted.

The union said it had asked management to provide clarity on the decision and called for the programme to be reinstated and concluded transparently.

The union further stated that WAEC constituted some panels without its members being represented, and demanded that all the panels being considered improperly constituted be reviewed.

The union leader also cited the case of Elizabeth Okolie, the branch treasurer, who he said faced a disciplinary panel and was denied promotion due to what he described as a minor incident at WAEC Press House in Lagos, after which Sanni Moshood and others were dismissed from service.

‘We are not saying that staff should not be disciplined where there are genuine cases of misconduct. What we are insisting on is fairness, due process and the right of affected workers to representation,’ Ogunyade said.

Speaking about WAEC’s decision to head to the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the union from embarking on industrial action, Ogunyade noted that the union urged the council to avoid steps that could prejudice matters before the court and allow the judicial process to run its course.

‘We demand that management obey the court process and allow the law to take its course, because such actions amount to contempt of court, and would ultimately be a matter for judicial determination,’ he noted.

Ogunyade called on the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, WAEC’s administrative and finance committee and other stakeholders to intervene in the dispute.

‘Our priority is to return both sides to meaningful negotiations while addressing the underlying workplace concerns that have repeatedly brought industrial relations to the brink of disruption.

‘Our position is very clear: dialogue is the best way forward, but dialogue must be meaningful and must produce results,’ he said.

He emphasised that, bearing in mind that the dispute came at a time when the reliability and credibility of examination systems remain critical to students, schools and families, who depend on WAEC’s operations, resolving the conflict could therefore require more than an agreement to suspend industrial action.

‘It involves establishing clearer mechanisms for handling staff grievances, disciplinary procedures, promotion, recruitment and examination workloads before disputes escalate.

‘We want a WAEC where management and workers can work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, fairness and trust,’ he said.

Ghana will require artisanal gold bought by self financing aggregators to be refined locally before it can be exported from September 1, as the country moves to retain more value from its fast growing small scale mining industry.

The new rule, issued by the Ghana Gold Board, known as GoldBod, means gold dore purchased under arrangements with approved off takers can no longer be exported in unrefined form.

GoldBod said export applications will only be considered after the gold has been refined at a refinery approved or designated by the board and all applicable charges and regulatory requirements have been met.

The directive requires self financing aggregators, which are licensed gold buyers that use their own funds to purchase gold, to amend existing off take agreements with approved buyers by August 31 to reflect the new local refining requirement.

According to GoldBod, exports will only be authorised after the board confirms that the gold was refined in Ghana, the required refining charges were paid and all assay, regulatory and export conditions were satisfied.

The cost of refining will be borne by either the aggregator or the approved off taker, depending on the terms of their agreement.

GoldBod warned that failure to comply with the new rules could lead to sanctions, including the revocation of licences.

The move is the latest effort by Ghana to tighten control over its artisanal gold industry and capture more value from a resource that is central to the country’s economy.

Ghana, Africa’s largest gold producer, established GoldBod last year as the sole authorised buyer and exporter of artisanal gold. The reform was designed to bring greater control to the sector while increasing gold production and foreign exchange inflows.

The latest directive also reflects a wider push across Africa to process minerals locally rather than export them in raw or semi processed form. By requiring gold to be refined domestically, Ghana is seeking to keep more of the value generated by its mineral resources within the country.

GoldBod exported 104 metric tons of artisanal gold in 2025 and is on course to match or exceed that volume this year, underscoring the growing importance of the sector to Ghana’s foreign exchange earnings.

For traders and aggregators, however, the new rule will increase compliance requirements and could add to the cost and time involved in exporting gold.

The policy therefore marks a significant shift in how Ghana manages its artisanal gold trade, balancing the need to increase foreign exchange earnings with a broader effort to ensure more of the economic value from gold production remains within the country.

The federal government has rolled out uniform continuous assessment (CA) guidelines that compel the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), to build secure, interoperable portals linked to the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI).

The policy, which covers public and government-approved private secondary schools nationwide, mandates the use of National Learner Identity Numbers (NLIN) tied to the National Identification Number (NIN) for every student, alongside strict termly submission deadlines and penalties for schools that fail to comply.

Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, speaking to stakeholders that included state commissioners for education, private school owners, administrators and other educators, said the reform underscores the government’s commitment to repositioning the education sector for global competitiveness.

The new guidelines show that every licensed school and national examination body is required to comply or risk sanctions, including suspension for examination malpractice, non-compliance with registration directives, misrepresentation of learners, or fraudulent CA submissions.

Experts believe that the reform will effectively end the practice of schools uploading CA data at their own convenience, as portals will now open and close on fixed, nationwide deadlines.

Starting with the 2026/2027 academic session, schools will be required to upload first-term CA records in January, second-term records in April, and third-term records in August.

Beyond tightening data integrity, the government said the move is designed to stop schools from retroactively altering or forging student scores ahead of final examinations, a practice that has fuelled examination malpractice in the sector.

The guidelines also introduce a formal process for student transfers between schools. Under the framework, schools will initiate transfer requests through the portal, which receiving institutions must either accept or reject. Once approved, the system automatically updates the student’s record on the examination portal, carrying over all historical CA data.

This provision effectively establishes that CA data belongs to the learner, not the school, meaning no institution can unilaterally delete or alter a student’s past assessment records.

For schools placed under suspension, the consequences are immediate: their CA portals will be blocked, and their students will be automatically flagged as ‘orphaned’ in the system. Examination bodies are required to notify the host state’s Ministry of Education within two days of any suspension.

Affected students will subsequently be redistributed to nearby accredited schools or temporary examination centres approved by the relevant examination body, to ensure continuity of their CA records.

The reform follows longstanding difficulties faced by both WAEC and NECO in incorporating students’ CA scores from SS1 to SS3 into the final grading of school-based components of their examinations, a gap the new portal infrastructure is intended to close.

Compliance monitoring will fall under the Federal Ministry of Education’s Basic and Senior Secondary Departments, which will provide oversight and intervene where necessary.

The ministry noted that the guidelines will be subject to review after one year of implementation, should the need arise.

Moniepoint is winding down MonieWorld, its UK-based remittance business, just 14 months after launch, in a strategic retreat from the diaspora market that shifts capital and management attention back to Nigeria and Kenya.

The decision marks a recalibration of the Nigerian fintech’s international expansion strategy. Rather than continue investing in a highly competitive UK-Nigeria remittance corridor, Moniepoint said it will redirect its technical, financial and operational resources toward its core African markets.

Moniepoint said on Tuesday that a review of its portfolio and long-term priorities led to the decision. The company described the move as a strategic transition rather than a retreat from its broader African ambitions.

The timing is significant. MonieWorld launched in April 2025, giving Nigerians in the UK a way to send money directly to Nigerian bank accounts through bank transfers, cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. At launch, Moniepoint said the product was built to tap into Nigeria’s large remittance flows.

The business gained some early traction. Moniepoint said monthly transaction volume among UK diaspora users using cards and digital wallets rose 70 percent. It did not disclose MonieWorld’s total transaction value, revenue or customer numbers.

That growth, however, was not enough to justify the continuing cost of building a meaningful position in the UK market, according to the company’s latest decision.

Moniepoint had made a sizeable upfront commitment to establish the business. After incorporating Moniepoint GB in February 2024, it spent £1.2 million on setup costs, including technology, administration and compliance staffing, while also securing a $2.5 million equity deposit for the acquisition of FCA-authorised electronic money institution Bancom Europe in July 2025.

The UK expansion therefore required Moniepoint to build not only a remittance product but also a regulated operating structure in a mature financial market.

That investment gave the company something beyond the MonieWorld product itself: experience in cross-border payments, UK compliance and international financial infrastructure.

Moniepoint now intends to reuse that capability in Africa. The company’s retreat also highlights the difficulty of competing in the UK-Nigeria remittance corridor, where established fintechs and global money-transfer companies already compete aggressively on exchange rates, fees, speed and customer loyalty.

MonieWorld entered the market with a technically strong product and reported rapid transaction growth. But remittances are a scale business in which established customer relationships can be difficult and expensive to displace.

For Moniepoint, the strategic question appears to have shifted from whether it could build the technology to whether the UK market offered sufficient returns to justify the additional capital required to scale it.

The answer appears to be no.Instead, Moniepoint is returning its focus to businesses where it already has distribution, customers and infrastructure.

Nigeria remains the centre of that strategy. Moniepoint says it serves millions of businesses and individuals through its banking, payments, credit and business-management products and processes more than $250 billion in digital payment transaction value annually.

Its payment infrastructure subsidiary, TeamApt, powers more than 24 banks and financial institutions, while Monnify serves thousands of businesses. Moniepoint Microfinance Bank has also built a large merchant and small-business network in Nigeria.

The company is simultaneously increasing its commitment to Kenya, where it completed the acquisition of a 78 percent stake in Sumac Microfinance Bank in May. The deal gives Moniepoint a regulated foothold in East Africa’s largest economy and provides a platform from which it can build financial services for Kenyan businesses.

In Britain, Moniepoint was entering an established consumer financial market where customer acquisition, regulatory compliance and brand-building require sustained spending. In Nigeria and Kenya, it can build on existing financial infrastructure, distribution networks and business relationships.

The shift could therefore improve capital efficiency by putting more resources behind markets where Moniepoint already has scale or a clearer path to scale.

Moniepoint’s own history supports that logic. The company built its strongest position by solving payment and financial problems for African businesses, particularly merchants and small enterprises. Its current product portfolio increasingly links payments with banking, credit and business-management services.

The company has also been pushing deeper into the credit opportunity around payments in Nigeria, arguing that transaction data can be used to expand financing for small businesses.

That makes the decision to wind down MonieWorld more than a product-level closure. It represents a decision about where Moniepoint believes its competitive advantage is strongest.

Moniepoint said customers will continue to receive information about the transition, including timelines, next steps and support for funds or transactions already in progress.

‘MonieWorld customers will continue to receive clear and timely communication including guidance on timelines, next steps and support for any funds or transactions in progress,’ the company said in a statement, made available to BusinessDay.

The restructuring will also affect employees. The company said changes will include role transitions and redeployment, with affected employees already informed and supported. Further changes are expected in the coming weeks.

Moniepoint’s UK experiment was not without value. The company built MonieWorld from scratch, developed cross-border payment capabilities and tested its ability to operate within the UK’s regulated financial system. Moniepoint itself has said the product was engineered around UK payment methods while leveraging its Nigerian payment infrastructure to deliver funds to beneficiaries at home.

The strategic value now lies in taking those capabilities elsewhere. The decision also sends a message to other African fintechs pursuing international expansion: entering a large diaspora market is easier than achieving the scale needed to make the economics work.