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Hybrid Group (Hybrid HSE), Nigeria’s leading provider of health and safety training and consulting services, is participating in the Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health (LASOSH) 2025 Conference and Exhibition, hosted by the Lagos State Safety Commission at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island.

The conference, themed ‘Occupational Safety and Health as a Catalyst for Nation Building,’ brings together policymakers, industry leaders, and safety professionals to discuss strategies for creating safer and more sustainable workplaces across Nigeria.

At its exhibition booth, Hybrid Group is showcasing a range of internationally recognised training programmes, including NEBOSH and IOSH certifications, alongside tailored safety solutions for industries such as oil and gas, construction, and manufacturing.

One of the firm’s key highlights at LASOSH 2025 is the growing impact of the NEBOSH certification on career progression in Nigeria. Data from Hybrid Group shows that NEBOSH-certified safety officers earn between ?950,000 and ?2,375,000 monthly, about 20-50% higher than non-certified peers, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

‘We’ve witnessed a transformation in how Nigerian companies value safety expertise,’ said Dapo Omolade, Lead Consultant and CEO of Hybrid Group. ‘With NEBOSH and other internationally recognised certifications, safety professionals are no longer seen as compliance officers but as strategic leaders who protect both lives and business performance.’

Hybrid Group has trained more than 100,000 professionals since its inception, helping many transition into leadership roles. ‘We consistently see our graduates move from entry-level positions to senior safety management roles within two to three years,’ said Gbenga Ajayi, Lead Training Manager at Hybrid Group. ‘Companies actively headhunt NEBOSH-certified professionals because of the rigorous training and global recognition behind the qualification.’

For many alumni, the certification has been transformative. Olayinka Babajide, NEBOSH and IOSH certified professional and lead brand consultant at Argillic Brands, noted, ‘NEBOSH has elevated the profession from compliance-focused roles to strategic leadership positions. Companies increasingly view safety professionals as essential partners who protect both people and profits.’

Hybrid Group’s 2025 training calendar includes NEBOSH, IOSH, ISO, and other professional programmes aimed at strengthening workplace safety standards. By combining global best practices with local expertise, the firm continues to support organisations in embedding safety within their operations and culture.

The University of Ibadan, the University of Lagos and Bayero University led the list of Nigeria’s best universities according to Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.

The University of Ibadan, is ranked Nigeria’s best university in the recent Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, published on THE’s website on Thursday.

THE rankings placed the University of Ibadan between 801 and 1,000 globally and ahead of other leading Nigerian universities, a spot it last held in 2023.

The UK-based organization surveyed 2,191 institutions from 115 countries and assessed them based on 18 performance indicators across five key areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry, and international outlook.

The Ibadan-based Nigerian premier university, which was ranked Nigeria’s fourth best university in 2025, was ddeclared as the country’s best in the 2026 ranking.

The University of Ibadan dethroned Covenant University, which was the best university in 2024 and 2025.

Following UI are the University of Lagos, Bayero University, and CU, ranked second, third, and fourth in Nigeria, respectively.

The 2026 list reflected a shift in the global higher education landscape, with more than 174.9 million citations from 18.7 million research publications analysed and survey responses from over 108,000 scholars collected globally.

THE rankings also show the strength of individual institutions. UNILAG is ranked highest in quality research, scoring 66.7.

BUK is ranked as the best Nigerian university in terms of international outlook, while Covenant has the highest industry score, indicating its top connection to industries.

Only UI and UNILAG fall between 801-1000; BUK, CU, and Landmark University fall between 1001-1200; while Ahmadu Bello University, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Ilorin, University of Jos, University of Nigeria-stand globally between 1201-1500.

Here are the list of Nigerian universities and their rankings

University of Ibadan (801-1000); University of Lagos (801-1000); Bayero University (1001-1200); Covenant University (1001-1200);

Landmark University (1001-1200); Ahmadu Bello University (1201-1500).

Federal University of Technology, Minna (1201-1500); University of Ilorin (1201-1500); University of Jos (1201-1500); University of Nigeria, Nsukka (1201-1500); Babcock University (1501+); Delta State University, Abraka (1501+); Ekiti State University (1501+); Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (1501+).

Federal University of Technology, Akure (1501+); Federal University of Technology, Owerri (1501+); Federal University Oye-Ekiti (1501+); Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (1501+).

Others are Lagos State University (1501+); Nnamdi Azikiwe University (1501+); Obafemi Awolowo University (1501+); University of Benin (1501+); University of Calabar (1501+); University of Port Harcourt (1501+).

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is set to prosecute one Alkazim Kabir, also known as Abbati Kabiru Abuwa, a self-acclaimed journalist based in Kano, over alleged involvement in a series of fraudulent activities valued at about ?14 million.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, by Demola Bakare, the Commission’s spokesperson, the anti-corruption agency disclosed that the decision to prosecute Kabir followed several petitions from members of the public who accused him of fraud, false representation, and impersonation of top government officials.

According to ICPC investigations, Kabir allegedly posed as various public figures, including aides to the President and Vice President, as well as members of the National Assembly to deceive unsuspecting victims and obtain money and valuables under false pretences.

The statement revealed that in one instance, the suspect obtained $3,300 and 1,620 Saudi Riyals from two victims after claiming to be a Presidential and Vice-Presidential aide.

Further investigations also linked him to multiple cases of fraud connected to international religious travels.

During a trip to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, he allegedly borrowed 11,000 Saudi Riyals from a fellow pilgrim but later sent a forged bank receipt as proof of repayment.

Similarly, Kabir was accused of issuing a fake transfer receipt of ?3.2 million to a travel agent who had helped him secure flight, hotel, and train bookings for the trip.

ICPC confirmed that charges have been filed against the suspect, and he will be arraigned before a competent court of law once the case is assigned.

It also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to pursuing cases of impersonation and financial fraud, warning the public to remain vigilant and verify the identities of individuals claiming to act on behalf of government officials.

‘The ICPC remains steadfast in ensuring that those who exploit the names and offices of public officials for fraudulent purposes face the full weight of the law,’ the statement added.

The Presidency on Thursday, dismissed claims that Nigeria poverty level has increased to 139 million, adding 10 million people to the number of poor people.

Sunday Dare, special adviser to the President on media and publicity while reacting to the claim on his X handle on Thursday, noted that while Nigeria values its long-standing partnership with the World Bank and the institution’s contributions to policy analysis, the figure quoted must be properly contextualised.

Presidency also called for caution against interpreting the World Bank’s number as a literal, real-time headcount.

According to the Presidency, ‘the estimate is derived from the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day-a benchmark set in 2017 Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) terms.

‘If converted nominally, that figure equals about $64.5 per month, or nearly ?100,000 at today’s exchange rate-well above Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ?70,000. Clearly, the measure is an analytical construct, not a direct reflection of local income realities.’

It noted that poverty assessment under PPP methodology uses historical consumption data (Nigeria’s last major survey was in 2018/19) and often overlooks the informal and subsistence economies that sustain millions of households.

The government therefore, said it ‘regards the figure as a modelled global estimate, not an empirical representation of conditions in 2025. What truly matters is the trajectory-and Nigeria’s is now one of recovery and inclusive reform.’

Writing on concrete measures to cushion economic hardship, Dare said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains firmly focused on improving household welfare through targeted.

He listed the Conditional Cash Transfers (CCT), which is expanded to reach up to 15 million households nationwide, with verified digital enrolment through the National Social Register. Over ?297 billion has been disbursed since 2023 to poor and vulnerable families.

Others include the renewed Hope Ward Development Programme (RH-WDEP): A major new initiative targeting all 8,809 electoral wards, delivering micro-infrastructure, livelihoods, and social services directly at community level, as well as the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs).

‘The government has also strengthened other components such as N-Power, GEEP micro-loans (TraderMoni, MarketMoni, FarmerMoni), and Home-Grown School Feeding to protect jobs, encourage small enterprise, and keep children in school.

It also listed the distribution of subsidised grains and fertilisers, mechanisation partnerships, and the revival of strategic food reserves to curb inflationary pressure on staples.

Under the renewed Hope Infrastructure Fund (RHIF), the federal government is also fnancing critical energy, road, and housing projects to lower living costs and stimulate local employment.

Other measures listed by the federal government include the national Credit Guarantee Company (NCGC), under which it is expanding affordable credit to small businesses, women, and youth entrepreneurs through risk-sharing mechanisms with commercial banks.

On contextualizing the poverty challenge, Dare said the ‘World Bank’s assessment must understand the long-standing structural distortions that this administration is actively correcting – including overdependence on imports, productivity constraints, and regional inequality.

‘Reforms such as fuel subsidy removal, exchange rate unification, and fiscal redirection toward productive sectors are difficult but necessary choices to tackle the root causes of poverty rather than its symptoms. Even the World Bank itself has acknowledged that these reforms are already restoring macroeconomic stability and renewed growth momentum.’

According to him, ‘Economic recovery alone is not enough; it must be inclusive. The government’s medium-term focus is on ensuring that macroeconomic stability results in tangible gains for citizens-through affordable food, quality jobs, and reliable infrastructure.

He stated that investments are being ramped up in agriculture, MSMEs, and power reliability.

In the area of aagricultural value chain expansion programme, new gas-to-power initiatives, and skills development hubs are designed to create jobs and reduce living costs.

He stated that, ‘Nigerians should begin to feel more visible improvements in food prices, income, and purchasing power as these programmes mature.’

Nigeria’s U20 side, the Flying Eagles, have been eliminated from the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile after suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16 on Wednesday night.

Argentina made a blistering start, taking the lead in just the second minute through Alejo Sarco, before Maher Carrizo doubled the advantage in the 23rd minute with a superb free-kick after Nasiru Salihu was penalised for a foul at the edge of the box.

The Flying Eagles had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down after a clumsy challenge by Ramirez on Salihu in the area. Oseer Achihi was a constant threat down the left flank, delivering dangerous crosses that forced the Argentines into desperate defending, conceding several throw-ins and corners.

Daniel Daga came close to pulling one back for Nigeria in first-half stoppage time, but his close-range effort was saved by goalkeeper Santino Barbi, keeping Argentina two goals up at the break.

The South Americans resumed the second half with renewed energy, and Carrizo struck again in the 53rd minute to make it 3-0. Substitute Matheus Silvetti then completed the rout in the 66th minute, beating the offside trap before bending his effort past Ebenezer Harcourt into the bottom corner.

The defeat ends Nigeria’s campaign at the 2025 U20 World Cup, with the two-time silver medallists bowing out at the Round of 16 stage.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for August 2025 global passenger demand showing African airlines saw a 7.1 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity was up 5.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 79.7 percent (+1.3 ppt compared to August 2024).

Total demand, measured in revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), was up 4.6 percent compared to August 2024. Total capacity, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK), was up 4.5 percent year-on-year. The August load factor was 86.0 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024), a record high for the month.

International demand rose 6.6 percent compared to August 2024. Capacity was up 6.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.8 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024).

Domestic demand increased 1.5 percent compared to August 2024. Capacity was up 1.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 86.3 percent (+0.1 ppt compared to August 2024).

‘August year-on-year demand growth of 4.6 percent confirms that the 2025 peak northern summer travel season reached a new record high. Moreover, planes were operating with more seats filled than ever with a record load factor of 86 percent. Despite economic uncertainties and geopolitical tensions, the global growth trend shows no signs of abating, as October schedules are showing airlines planning 3.4 percent more capacity. Airlines are doing their best to meet travel demand by maximizing efficiency, making it even more critical for the aerospace manufacturing sector to sort out its supply chain challenges,’ said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

International RPK growth reached 6.6 percent in August year-on-year, and load factor reached a historic high. International traffic was by far the dominant driver of growth, accounting for 87 percent of the net increase in global RPK in August.

Asia-Pacific airlines achieved a 9.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 9.5 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 85.1 percent (+0.2 ppt compared to August 2024). Growth was driven by strong demand from China and Japan (+11.8 percent and +12 percent respectively).

European carriers had a 5.3 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 5.3 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was flat (0.0 ppt compared to August 2024).

North American carriers saw a 1.8 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity increased 2.6 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 87.5 percent (-0.6 ppt compared to August 2024). This was the fourth consecutive month of YoY declines in international PLF for North America.

Middle Eastern carriers saw an 8.2 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity rose by 6.9 percent year-on-year, and the load factor was 83.9 percent (+1.0 ppt compared to August 2024).

Latin American airlines saw a 9.0 percent year-on-year increase in demand. Capacity climbed 9.3 percent year-on-year. The load factor was 84.7 percent (-0.2 ppt compared to August 2024).

Andry Rajoelina, Madagascar’s president, has asked citizens to give him one year to fix the country’s worsening crises, promising to resign if he fails.

Rajoelina made the pledge during a town-hall-style meeting at his presidential palace in Antananarivo, where he met with groups of supporters and members of the public. The event, broadcast live on national television, was part of his recent effort to ‘listen more’ to the people amid mounting protests and discontent.

‘I don’t want flattery. I want to hear the truth,’ he told the audience. ‘It’s the people who kept telling me that everything was fine who are responsible for our current situation.’

The president’s comments come at a tense time for the Indian Ocean island nation, which has been rocked by protests since September 25. The demonstrations began over chronic power and water shortages but have grown into wider anger over corruption, unemployment, and the rising cost of living.

The main group behind the demonstrations – a movement known as Gen Z Mada – has dismissed the president’s call for dialogue, saying it refuses to engage with a government that, in its view, ‘represses, assaults, and humiliates’ young people demanding their rights.

‘We refuse the president’s invitation to talks,’ the group wrote on its Facebook page. ‘We will not engage in dialogue with a regime that represses, assaults, and humiliates its youth in the streets.’

Gen Z Mada has called for new protests on Thursday, maintaining pressure on Rajoelina’s administration despite a recent decline in turnout on the streets.

In his address, Rajoelina focused heavily on Madagascar’s chronic electricity shortages, a major trigger of public anger. He said ongoing energy projects would soon add 265 megawatts to the national grid – a move he claims will end the blackouts that plague the capital.

‘I swear that if power cuts persist in the capital within a year, I will resign,’ he declared.

The president’s remarks appear aimed at rebuilding public trust after weeks of political unrest and deadly clashes. According to the United Nations, at least 22 people have been killed and dozens injured during confrontations between protesters and security forces, figures the authorities dispute.

In a surprise move last week, Rajoelina dismissed his entire cabinet, replacing the prime minister with an army general. The decision, intended to signal a fresh start, has instead deepened scepticism among his critics, who view it as an attempt to tighten military control.

Despite the turmoil, life in most parts of Antananarivo remains largely normal, though some neighbourhoods continue to see a heavy police presence and roadblocks.

Rajoelina, who first came to power in 2009 after leading protests that ousted then-president Marc Ravalomanana, faces a familiar challenge: managing a restless population demanding change, transparency, and relief from hardship.

For now, he has given himself a clear deadline, one year to deliver results or leave office. Whether the people will grant him that time remains uncertain.

Leatherback, a leading cross-border business banking and financial technology company, has been named ‘Banking-as-a-Service Innovator of the Year 2025’ at the prestigious Brit Fintech Awards held in London.

The award recognises Leatherback’s immense work in building a unified financial infrastructure that empowers businesses and individuals to send, receive, and manage money seamlessly across borders.

‘This recognition is a testament to the work our team puts in every day to make global payments simple, accessible, and borderless,’ said Ochebhoya Ekpete, CEO of Leatherback. ‘Innovation has always been at the heart of what we do, and this award fuels our mission to continue redefining what business banking can look like in emerging and developed markets alike.’

Leatherback’s Banking-as-a-Service model enables businesses, platforms, and institutions to integrate financial capabilities directly into their products – creating faster, more affordable, and compliant global financial solutions. The company’s infrastructure powers cross-border payments and business banking services across multiple markets and currencies, including NGN, GBP, USD and CAD.

As the fintech landscape continues to evolve, Leatherback remains committed to enabling global financial participation through technology, partnerships, and an inclusive approach to digital banking.

About Leatherback

Leatherback is a global fintech platform that simplifies cross-border payments and business banking. Through its innovative payment infrastructure, Leatherback connects people and businesses to borderless financial opportunities in over 20 currencies.

Funso Doherty, a former governorship candidate in Lagos State, has declared that he will contest again in the 2027 elections, expressing confidence that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) can be unseated in the state.

Speaking during his appearance on Silverbird Television on Thursday, Doherty said the notion that Lagos is an impregnable APC stronghold is false, pointing to the outcome of the 2023 presidential election as evidence.

‘In the last presidential election, who won Lagos? APC lost Lagos. That’s a fact,’ he said. ‘So, the premise that Lagos is irrevocably tied to the APC and cannot be dislodged is faulty.’

He confirmed his readiness to run again under the PDP banner. ‘I will be in the race in 2027, by the grace of God, God willing, and God giving us life and strength, absolutely with the PDP,’ Doherty declared.

The politician said that the people, not the political establishment, will determine the outcome of the next elections.

‘At the end of the day, in 2027, the decision people are going to make is whether they are faced with a strong candidate and what their options are,’ he noted. ‘The people are going to decide it in 2027.’

On the national political climate, he criticised the

APC-led federal government for worsening poverty and ethnic divisions across the country.

‘We are more divided today than we have ever been as a people,’ he said. ‘Ethnic tensions are probably higher today than they were when this administration took over.’

Doherty described Nigeria as a country split between ‘a nation of the few and a nation of the many.’

While the government celebrates exchange rate stability and reserve build-up, he said, the majority of Nigerians are battling declining living standards. ‘When you talk about the quality of life of the people, education, health, income levels, poverty, you see that economically, we are in a very difficult place,’ he stated.

The PDP candidate also called for a stronger, more independent electoral body ahead of 2027. ‘People are looking for an INEC that will follow its own rules,’ he said.

‘Even if we don’t get an amendment of the Electoral Act, at least implement faithfully the act that we presently have.’

He added that while Nigerians still face challenges with electoral integrity, overwhelming voter turnout can overcome manipulation.

‘If the people come out and 80 percent of them say this is the person I want, even today, that person will prevail,’ he said. ‘We want to move away from a situation where people have to scream to make their votes count.’

He called for practical political reforms rather than idealistic debates. ‘Between now and 2027, the process of appointing the INEC chairman is not going to change,’ he said. ‘Let’s understand that and work with the practicalities that lie before us.’

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s geo-tagging mandate represents a watershed moment in the evolution of Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem. With over 4.2 million point-of-sale terminals now required to integrate GPS technology and connect to the National Central Switch within a 60-day compliance window, this directive transcends routine regulatory housekeeping. It signals a fundamental shift toward creating a fully monitored, geospatially aware financial infrastructure that could reshape how economic activity is tracked, regulated, and understood across Africa’s largest economy. The timing is particularly significant as Nigeria continues its aggressive push toward cashless transactions while grappling with persistent fraud challenges that have eroded consumer confidence and inflated transaction costs across the payment value chain.

Addressing information asymmetry and market failures

From a macroeconomic perspective, this initiative tackles a critical market failure: the proliferation of information asymmetry in Nigeria’s payment ecosystem. The current system allows ‘ghost’ terminals and cloned devices to operate with minimal oversight, creating an environment where fraudulent transactions can flourish unchecked. By mandating real-time location verification and centralised monitoring, the CBN is essentially installing a comprehensive surveillance mechanism that brings previously invisible economic activity into the formal framework. This transparency dividend extends beyond fraud prevention-it creates the foundation for evidence-based monetary policy, more accurate GDP calculations, and targeted financial inclusion interventions. The reduction in transaction uncertainty should theoretically lower risk premiums embedded in payment processing fees, potentially benefiting end consumers through reduced merchant costs.

The compliance challenge and market dynamics

The operational burden imposed by this directive cannot be understated. With approximately 1.5 million active PoS agents requiring hardware upgrades and software integration within 60 days, the logistics challenge is unprecedented in Nigeria’s fintech history. Industry estimates suggest that GPS-enabled terminals cost between ?35,000 and ?50,000-a significant capital expenditure for micro-enterprises operating on razor-thin margins. Major operators like Moniepoint, OPay, and PalmPay face the dual challenge of retrofitting existing infrastructure while maintaining service continuity. The economic calculus is stark: non-compliance results in terminal deactivation, effectively forcing a binary choice between substantial upfront investment and market exit. This creates natural consolidation pressure that may favour larger, well-capitalised operators while potentially displacing smaller players who cannot absorb the compliance costs.

Geographic mobility and financial access implications

Nigeria’s agent banking success has been built on mobility and accessibility, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas where formal banking infrastructure remains limited. The 10-metre restriction radius fundamentally alters this value proposition, potentially constraining agents who operate at rotating markets, transport hubs, or community gatherings. This geographic constraint could inadvertently reverse financial inclusion gains, particularly in underserved regions where mobile agents have been the primary bridge between formal financial services and excluded populations. The policy creates a tension between security and accessibility that requires careful calibration. Rural agents who depend on mobility for their livelihoods may find their business models suddenly unviable, potentially creating service deserts in areas where financial access was already precarious.

Data goldmine and policy intelligence

Perhaps the most transformative aspect of this directive lies in its data generation potential. Geo-tagged transactions will create an unprecedented granular map of Nigeria’s commercial activity, providing policymakers with real-time insights into economic patterns previously hidden in the informal sector. This intelligence can inform everything from monetary policy decisions to infrastructure planning and social programme targeting. The ability to track transaction flows at the local government level enables more sophisticated analysis of regional economic disparities, seasonal commerce patterns, and the effectiveness of development interventions. For economists and policymakers, this represents a quantum leap in data availability that could fundamentally improve the precision of economic forecasting and policy calibration across Nigeria’s diverse regional economies.

Market consolidation and competitive dynamics

The geo-tagging requirement will likely accelerate market consolidation as compliance costs create natural barriers to entry and operational scale becomes increasingly important. Well-funded operators with robust technical infrastructure will emerge stronger, while smaller players may struggle to justify the investment required for compliance. This consolidation could improve service quality and regulatory compliance across the sector, but it may also reduce competitive pressure and innovation incentives over time. The surviving operators will control larger market shares and potentially gain greater pricing power, which could offset some of the consumer benefits expected from fraud reduction. The CBN must carefully monitor market concentration to ensure that enhanced security does not come at the expense of competitive dynamics that have driven innovation and cost reduction in Nigeria’s payments sector.

Implementation strategy and economic resilience

The success of this initiative hinges critically on implementation flexibility and stakeholder collaboration. A rigid enforcement approach could trigger widespread service disruptions that undermine the very financial inclusion objectives the policy seeks to protect. The CBN should consider a phased rollout with differentiated compliance timelines for urban versus rural areas, given the distinct operational challenges each environment presents. Technical support programmes, device financing schemes, and temporary compliance waivers for genuinely challenged operators could ease the transition while maintaining policy integrity. The ultimate goal should be building a more resilient payment ecosystem that balances security imperatives with accessibility requirements, ensuring that enhanced oversight strengthens rather than fragments Nigeria’s digital economy foundation.