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National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Circuits, Africa’s virtual cinema and audiovisual distribution platform, to digitise its educational and culinary content.

The partnership aims to accelerate the digital transformation of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism industry by providing online access to NIHOTOUR’s training, capacity development programmes, and culinary showcases.

Established under NIHOTOUR Act, the institute serves as Nigeria’s top agency for training, regulation, and capacity building in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.

Through Circuits’ advanced digital platform, NIHOTOUR will deliver its courses and initiatives to a wider audience, allowing Nigerians, particularly those in hotels, restaurants, catering, travel, and related sectors to access high-quality training.

As part of the collaboration, they will produce and stream culinary shows that highlight Nigeria’s diverse food culture and creative gastronomy. The initiative is expected to set standards for African culinary excellence and promote Nigeria’s reputation as a hub of hospitality innovation.

NIHOTOUR’s Director-General, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, described the agreement as a milestone for the sector.

‘This partnership with Circuits aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which prioritises innovation, youth empowerment, and economic growth.

‘By embracing digital dissemination, we are extending our mandate to Nigerians, providing them with knowledge and skills to compete globally.’

Chief Operating Officer of Circuits, Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, said the collaboration reflects their commitment to connecting African creativity with global audiences. ‘Partnering NIHOTOUR allows us to merge education, entertainment, and tech to redefine how hospitality expertise and indigenous culinary excellence are shared and celebrated,’ she said.

The MoU reinforces NIHOTOUR’s leadership in hospitality capacity building while leveraging Circuits’ digital infrastructure to expand Nigeria’s global footprint in tourism and gastronomy.

By combining innovation with accessibility, both organisations are paving the way for a new era in Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism education.

Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has won the Integrity Governor of the Year Award of the Nigerian Association of Christian Journalists (NACJ).

Presenting the Award on Tuesday in Ilorin, President of the Association, Dr Charles Okhai, said AbdulRazaq merited the recognition on account of his impressive achievements across many sectors.

Okhai said the Governor emerged top in the ranking process involving four other states.

Okhai said the Governor scored higher in sectors like education, road infrastructure, healthcare, youth empowerment, and transparency.

He said the Association was thrilled by AbdulRazaq’s commitment to the welfare of the civil servants and teachers, as seen in regular promotion and prompt payment of salary, and how his government transparently recruited at least 8,601 qualified teachers to fill manpower gaps across public schools.

He said NACJ is a body of Christian media personnel, which pursues strictly national development.

‘When we nominated you, we didn’t look at you from a religious perspective but on account of your sterling performance,’ he said.

He was accompanied on the visit by Mr Nasir Lawal.

AbdulRazaq thanked the Association for the honour, which he dedicated to the people of the state for their support and trust in his administration.

‘We take this award as an acknowledgement of our modest efforts to improve the conditions of our people and deliver political goods to the largest majority,’ the Governor said.

‘Beyond the routine adherence to the bureaucratic due processes and transparency, our state has often come out in good standing in peer-review indices for transparency and good governance, including at the level of programmes conducted by the World Bank and other global bodies.

‘We have made significant progress in every sector. We are clearly leaving the state better networked in road and other socioeconomic indices. And we are not resting.

‘No government since 1999 has delivered as many projects in road connectivity, education, health, sports or tech infrastructure as we have done in the last six years.’

AbdulRazaq commended President Bola Tinubu for his support to the state over the years.

The Social and Integral Development Centre (SIDEC) has begun mobilising traders across Anambra State to actively participate in the forthcoming governorship election. It said their involvement is crucial to achieving a higher voter turnout.

SIDEC noted that only 92,000 out of over 2.6 million registered voters participated in the 2021 governorship election-a figure the organisation described as worryingly low.

The group is currently implementing the Inclusive Mobilisation for Participation, Advocacy and Civic Transformation (Project IMPACT) in partnership with the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, with funding support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK-FCDO).

Speaking during a voter education session at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, SIDEC’s Executive Director, Mrs Ugochi Ehiahuruike, stressed that good governance depends on the active involvement of citizens, not just elected leaders.

‘It is not their government but our government,’ she said. ‘We all must take ownership, and one way to do that is by casting our votes for candidates of our choice.’

Ehiahuruike urged traders not to stay away from the polls or allow a few voters to decide the future of the state.

‘November 8, 2025, is not a day for football matches or movie marathons. It is a day to decide the destiny of Anambra State for the next four years.

Even if you choose not to vote, those who do will determine our collective direction. Come out and be counted. INEC has assured that every vote will count-speak loudly with your voter’s card.’

She also appealed to candidates, supporters, and the electorate to maintain peace before, during, and after the election, stressing that development can only thrive in a peaceful environment.

Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will grow by four per cent, and the Naira will further strengthen in 2026, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has projected.

Director, Research and Economic Policy Division, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Oluwasegun Osidipe, who made the projections yesterday in Lagos at a news conference on the 2025 MAN Think Tank Session, also projected sustained decline in inflation, and improved access to credit in 2026.

He predicted these projections on favourable oil prices, rising foreign investments, stable energy costs, and the effective implementation of key industrial and fiscal policies.

Osidipe said the projections, if actualised, would lead to higher manufacturing output.

He said: ‘For manufacturers, naira is projected to appreciate further to N1, 300 to N1, 400 per dollar, driven by global oil price recovery, stronger external reserves, robust export earnings, increased foreign investments, and remittance inflows.

‘Headline inflation will decelerate further to 14 per cent, supported by easing food prices, stable energy prices, and appreciation of the naira.

‘The Central Bank of Nigeria is anticipated to implement further cuts in the benchmark interest rate to about 23 per cent, in line with disinflationary trend, and to stimulate credit expansion and output growth.

‘Further reduction in lending rates and completion of the bank recapitalisation exercise will enhance credit availability to manufacturers, strengthening investment and capacity utilization’.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Osidipe said that for manufacturing output, real growth was projected to reach 3.1 per cent while contribution to real GDP was expected to rise to 10.2 per cent.

He, however, said the expected gains will be propelled by the effective execution of new tax laws’ incentives, operationalisation of the National Single Window Project, and purposeful implementation of the Nigeria Industrial Policy in close alignment with the ‘Nigeria First’ policy framework.

Osidipe said overall GDP growth was expected to reach four per cent in 2026 due to higher oil output and further improvement in fiscal space.

He added that expansion in financial and manufacturing sectors, and heightened consumption during the election campaigns in fourth quarter 2026, would also spur GDP growth.

Preparations are underway for the inaugural edition of À?É10: A Reign of Peace, Culture and Unity, a global cultural festival designed to celebrate Yoruba heritage and strengthen connections across the African diaspora.

Organised by SloweGanzi International, the week-long event will hold from November 30 to December 7, 2025, under the royal patronage of Arolé Odùduwà, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojájá II, the 51st Ooni of Ife.

The festival coincides with the Ooni’s 10th Coronation Anniversary, marking a decade of what organisers describe as visionary leadership dedicated to peace, youth empowerment, and the global renaissance of Yoruba culture.

According to a statement from SloweGanzi International, À?É10 represents more than just a cultural gathering. It is a movement to reunite Yoruba people at home and abroad, from Africa to the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond, in a renewed spirit of shared identity and cultural pride.

The festival will unfold across Lagos and Ile-Ife, combining exhibitions, performances, academic discussions, and traditional ceremonies that highlight the richness of Yoruba civilization.

Activities will include art and cultural showcases, film premieres, scholarly dialogues on Yoruba identity and Pan-Africanism, fashion and culinary displays, as well as music and dance performances blending traditional and contemporary influences.

A royal banquet and fireworks display will crown the week-long celebration in Ile-Ife, often regarded as the spiritual cradle of the Yoruba people.

In addition to the festivities, organisers will unveil plans for the Yoruba History and Arts Museum, a landmark legacy project to be established in Ile-Ife.

The museum is envisioned as a global center for the preservation and promotion of Yoruba art, history, and philosophy, ensuring that future generations can access and celebrate their cultural heritage.

Speaking on the significance of the event, a representative of SloweGanzi International described À?É10 as ‘a call to reconnect, rediscover, and reassert the power of Yoruba heritage as a global force for unity and peace.’

Her Royal Majesty, Queen Aderonke Ademiluyi Ogunwusi, also commended the initiative, noting that the Ooni’s decade on the throne has redefined traditional leadership as ‘a living, evolving anchor for culture, unity, and development.’

The organisers said the festival aims to promote cultural preservation, strengthen diaspora bonds, foster economic empowerment through tourism and creative industries, and position Ile-Ife as a global hub for African creativity and identity.

SloweGanzi International has called for participation from traditional rulers, cultural custodians, artists, scholars, entrepreneurs, development agencies, and sponsors across the world.

Based in the United States and Nigeria, SloweGanzi International is a global sports and entertainment event company known for creating transformative cultural experiences that connect communities, inspire engagement, and promote social and cultural growth.

Club World Cup champions Chelsea have entered the race to sign highly rated Nigerian winger Sani Suleiman, joining a host of European clubs monitoring the AS Trencin sensation, as reported by Tribalfootball.

Suleiman, 19, has been in outstanding form since returning to his Slovak club after representing Nigeria at the U20 World Cup. His recent assist against Skalica earned Trencin a valuable draw and saw him named in the Nike Liga Team of the Week.

Chelsea’s scouting team have reportedly requested updated information on the young winger, who is attracting growing attention across Europe. Suleiman’s contract runs until June 2026, with Trencin holding a two-year extension option, effectively securing his services until 2028 – a clause that strengthens the club’s hand in any transfer talks.

The Nigerian’s impressive displays have also drawn interest from Tottenham Hotspur, Rangers, and Bayer Leverkusen, alongside several Italian clubs making preliminary enquiries.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, Suleiman was recently rated the most complete U21 winger in the world, based on seven key performance metrics, and ranked among the top 200 U20 outfield players globally.

With his meteoric rise and increasing demand, this season could mark Suleiman’s final campaign at Trencin, as Europe’s elite continue to circle one of Africa’s brightest young talents.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has warned night club operators and fun seekers that organising, hosting and attending drug parties is illegal under Nigerian law.

The agency’s warning comes on the heels of a raid carried out by its operatives at a drug party, which held last Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday at Proxy Night Club on 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Over 100 attendees were arrested along with the owner of the facility, Mike Eze Nwalie Nwogu alias Pretty Mike and his manager Joachin Millary.

Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, said: ‘Any gathering organised for the purpose of consuming, distributing, or abusing illicit substances is an act of criminality. These ‘drug parties’ contravene the explicit provisions of the NDLEA Act and will be treated as serious narcotic offences. In the case of the drug party at Proxy night club, organisers went above board and had the audacity to produce and circulate flyers inviting fun seekers to come together to commit crime, an act that not only constitutes an incitement to commit crime but equally an affront to the law enforcement capabilities of the country if condoned.

‘Nigeria is currently grappling with a very high prevalence rate of drug abuse, particularly among our youths. These illicit drug parties do not only fuel the drug scourge but equally serve as hubs for new recruitment into drug addiction and actively undermine our current national efforts to safeguard public health and security.

‘In the recent case, the NDLEA was meticulous and professional throughout the processes leading to the raid and during the operation. Following intelligence on the party, our undercover agents conducted surveillance on the facility, made pre-purchases of illicit drugs from within the club and for four hours between 11pm on Saturday and 3am on Sunday during the party, our operatives observed and recorded drug transactions and abuse going on before we eventually disrupted the brazen public display of illegality and made arrests.

‘All attendees initially arrested were later profiled, addressed, counselled and released within hours in custody, in line with best global practices while the two principal suspects: Pretty Mike and his manager, Joachin Millary remain in custody following the seizure of 384.882 kilograms of Canadian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis and other substances from the club’s store.

‘While the agency will intensify surveillance and apply the full force of the law against perpetrators, owners of properties, hotels, and event centres found to be knowingly hosting such illegal activities risk the confiscation and forfeiture of their assets to the Federal Government. Those held in custody in the ongoing case will face prosecution while we will file for forfeiture of the property, Proxy Night Club, in which the drugs were found.’

It urged all patriotic Nigerians, parents, religious and community leaders, as well as concerned citizens to be vigilant, report such activities, and partner with the NDLEA in combating this threat to national well-being.

Nigeria is seeking partnership with Denmark’s richest man and Chief Executive Officer of Bestseller Group, Mr. Anders Holch Povlsen.

Yesterday, the President met with Povlsen, accompanied by Danish Ambassador to Nigeria, Jens Bach Hansen, at the Presidential Villa.

Other senior officials of the global fashion and philanthropy group were also on the delegation.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, writing on his X handle @aonanuga1956, the meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.

The Bestseller Foundation, a private philanthropic arm funded by Denmark’s Bestseller A/S, focuses on driving social and environmental impact-particularly across West Africa-and supports entrepreneurs and ventures that combine social progress with sustainable financial outcomes.

Before the meeting with President Tinubu, Mr. Povlsen and his delegation were received by Gbajabiamila and Dr. Tijani at the State House.

The Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank) has identified the South-South region as the emerging strategic hub for export diversification.

It said the South-South has access to infrastructure like ports and proximity to export corridors.

Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Abba Bello, stated this in Benin City at the opening session of a one-day NEXIM SME Export Finance Sensitization Forum.

Bello noted that the South-South offered offers immense potential for trade following successful agro-processing clusters in oil palm, cassava, cocoa, rubber, solid minerals projects and in the petro-chemical industries in Rivers State.

He said industrial hubs in the region were home to MSMEs along value chains that produced high-quality food products, chemicals, building materials and servicing oil companies.

The NEXIM bank boss said the industrial hubs provided products and services that would shape Nigeria’s non-oil export future.

Represented by Mr. Flaring Tianiyu, Bello noted that improved access to finance, robust infrastructure, and effective trade facilitation would help the South South region continue to be a strong contributor to Nigeria’s non-oil export growth.

He said the NEXIM Bank was working with partners such as GIZ, to address challenges faced by the over 41 million MSMEs in the country.

Bello explained that the EXCEL Programme was designed to identify, strengthen, and finance export-ready MSMEs across the country, by leveraging digital tools, providing targeted-training, and enhancing financial-inclusion strategies.

His words, ‘The EXCEL Programme enables small businesses to scale up their operations, improve quality standards, and trade seamlessly within regional and international markets.

‘This initiative falls within the NEXIM Bank’s mandate of promoting diversified, non-oil exports, through inclusive financing models that empower women, youth, and small businesses to participate effectively in trade.

‘In addition, through the Nigeria Export Academy (NEXA), a digital platform, the Bank is expanding export capacity, providing export advisory and enabling MSMEs to operate with greater transparency and efficiency. We are also onboarding SME clients onto the African Trade Gateway (ATG), a digital ecosystem powered by Afreximbank, which integrates risk management tools (MANSA) payment systems (PAPSS), trade documentation, and logistics support to facilitate seamless cross-border trade for SMEs within Africa’, Bello further explained.

GIZ Trade Advisor, Raymond Dangana, said major objective of the event was to sensitize participants on export financing.

History was made at the Choice De Immaculate Demonstration School (CIDS), Obosi in Idemili North LGA, Anambra State where Miss Saka Aliyat emerged the overall best graduating student of the school.

Aliyat, an indigene of Osun State, bagged awards in multiple subjects, including Igbo language, English, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Economics and Marketing.

The Yoruba girl, who smiled home with several gifts, received additional awards of Best Student in Neatest/Complete Uniform, Affinity to Students, Most Hardworking Student, Most Disciplined and Most Punctual.

Speaking during the 15th Valedictory/Sendforth Ceremony and Prize Giving Day of the school, Aliyat advised fellow students to focus on their studies with more interest, enthusiasm, dedication, diligence and hard work.

She urged them to follow the instructions of the school teachers and that of the Director who, she described as her mentor if they plan to come out in flying colours.

Director of the school, Engr. Solomy Ochokwu, advised the graduating students to be courageous, resilient and embrace integrity and work ethics as they join the larger society.

He urged them to always reflect on the times they spent in the school where they were taught to become the best students in the world.