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László Krasznahorkai a Hungarian novelist and screenwriter has been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Literature, the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced on Thursday.

The Swedish Academy praised Krasznahorkai ‘for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.’ The award, worth 11 million Swedish crowns (about $1.2 million), is one of the world’s most prestigious literary honours. Krasznahorkai, born in 1954 in Gyula, Hungary, is best known for his haunting, intricate novels that explore the collapse of meaning and the endurance of humanity amid despair. His works are often described as demanding but profoundly rewarding, characterised by long, unbroken sentences and a philosophical intensity that borders on the surreal.

The author once said his writing sought to ‘examine reality to the point of madness’ – a reflection of his lifelong preoccupation with chaos, beauty, and moral decay. The late American writer Susan Sontag once called him ‘the contemporary master of the apocalypse,’ a description that has followed him throughout his career. Krasznahorkai grew up in the shadow of the Soviet occupation and the failed 1956 Hungarian Revolution, events that shaped much of his outlook. ‘I was born in a predicament and a country where a person accursed with a heightened aesthetic and moral sensitivity like me simply cannot survive,’ he once said. Although only a few of his works have been translated into English, they have earned a cult following in literary circles. The critic James Wood famously remarked that Krasznahorkai’s novels ‘get passed around like rare currency.’ His best-known works include Satantango, The Melancholy of Resistance, and War and War – novels that depict bleak, often absurd worlds filled with flawed, searching characters.

The Nobel Committee said his writing, marked by ‘absurdism and grotesque excess,’ demonstrates how art can illuminate the darkest corners of existence. The Nobel Prize in Literature, established through the 1895 will of Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel, has been awarded since 1901 to writers whose work has had an outstanding impact on the literary world.

Past recipients include French poet Sully Prudhomme, the first winner in 1901; American novelist William Faulkner in 1949; Britain’s wartime leader Winston Churchill in 1953; Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk in 2006; and Norwegian writer Jon Fosse in 2023.

Last year’s laureate was South Korean author Han Kang, recognised ‘for her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.’ Han became the first South Korean and the 18th woman to win the literature prize.

For Krasznahorkai, whose novels are set in crumbling Central European towns haunted by uncertainty, the award is a recognition of a writer who has made despair luminous – and who, even amid darkness, insists on the endurance of art.

In a decisive move to strengthen Nigeria’s health insurance ecosystem through data intelligence and service excellence, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has entered into two landmark Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) – one with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the other with the SERVICOM Office.

Signed on October 8, 2025, in Abuja, the agreements represent major milestones in institutional collaboration, designed to enhance data-driven decision-making, accountability, and citizen-centred service delivery. Together, these partnerships reflect a bold stride toward the country’s ambition of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) – ensuring that every Nigerian has equitable access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.

Building an Evidence-Based Health System

Through its partnership with the National Bureau of Statistics, the NHIA is set to benefit from a more robust and integrated data architecture that will enable the accurate measurement of health insurance coverage, utilisation, and performance.

Under the terms of the MoU, both institutions will collaborate on data sharing and integration, joint research, capacity building, and the development of standardised health indicators to strengthen policy design, monitoring, and evaluation across Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. The collaboration is expected to close existing data gaps, improve coordination, and reinforce the use of reliable statistics in health sector planning and reporting.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kelechi Ohiri, director general of the NHIA, emphasised the centrality of accurate data to achieving Universal Health Coverage.

‘It is often said that anything that matters is measured and anything that is measured matters. The work that we do in NHIA is critical because it affects lives and every household deeply. Our mission is to bring Nigerians out of health poverty and ensure that they have financial access to health. It is therefore imperative that we have credible frameworks for not just assessing the impact of what we’re doing on the lives of the average Nigerian, but also ensuring that this is consistently measured and brought to the fore in our national development discourse.’

In his remarks, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, statistician-general and CEO of the National Bureau of Statistics highlighted the significance of the collaboration in advancing national health policy.

‘This integration will allow us to measure the true impact of health insurance on equity, poverty reduction, and accessibility to affordable and quality health for Nigerian citizens. Beyond that, we will work together to advance research analysis that will help us achieve our shared mandate.’

He further reaffirmed the Bureau’s commitment to ethical standards and data integrity:

‘As the custodian of official statistics, NBS reaffirms its unwavering commitment to data privacy, confidentiality, and integrity throughout this collaboration. We adhere to the highest ethical and statistical standards, guaranteeing that the public and our development partners can trust the resulting figures.’

Redefining Service Excellence Through SERVICOM

While the NBS partnership focuses on data, the MoU with SERVICOM places equal emphasis on the human experience of healthcare – ensuring that enrollees of the NHIA and patients in partner facilities receive transparent, responsive, and dignified service. The collaboration seeks to institutionalise clear service delivery standards, strengthen complaints and feedback management systems, and promote continuous improvement through joint monitoring and capacity-building initiatives. SERVICOM will also support NHIA in developing and enforcing service charters that define citizens’ rights and service expectations within the health insurance ecosystem.

Speaking at the event, Ohiri highlighted the significance of the timing – coinciding with Customer Service Week – and underscored the citizen-first philosophy driving NHIA’s reform agenda:

‘For NHIA, our role is to ensure financial access to health care. Why is this very important to us? Because every system we build is not about how big the hospitals are, how many drugs we procure, or how large our budget is. Ultimately, the proof of a successful healthcare system is how the citizen is impacted – the quality of care and service that that citizen enjoys. That’s why at NHIA, our strategy begins with the enrollee first. The Nigerian citizen must be at the heart of every system we design, and that means the services we provide must be of good quality.’

Anthony Oshin, national coordinator of SERVICOM, affirmed his agency’s long-term commitment to the partnership, emphasising that it is not a one-off gesture but a sustained alliance for systemic improvement:

‘Director General, sir, I also wish to affirm that the partnership we are formalising today is not just a symbolic gesture, but a meaningful alliance that we intend to nurture and sustain for the long term. We are confident that this collaboration will take both our institutions to greater heights and deliver tangible benefits to the citizens we serve.’

Driving Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda

Both MoUs mirror the practical expression of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes social protection, quality healthcare access, and improved public sector performance. By combining NBS’s data intelligence with SERVICOM’s service excellence framework, NHIA is reinforcing the government’s broader vision of a transparent, efficient, and citizen-focused public service.

The partnerships are expected to catalyse institutional reforms that ensure Nigerians not only gain access to health insurance but also experience efficient, transparent, and responsive service delivery. They also align with global best practices in health governance – where data accuracy, accountability, and user experience form the tripod for sustainable universal health systems.

A Future of Measured Impact and Meaningful Service

Together, the collaborations represent a strategic convergence of evidence and empathy – ensuring that policies are data-informed and that service delivery remains humane, reliable, and citizen-oriented.

For Ohiri, the partnerships reaffirm NHIA’s determination to make health insurance not just a policy instrument, but a promise fulfilled. By fusing NBS’s analytical rigour with SERVICOM’s service standards, NHIA is setting a new national benchmark for how institutions can work together to deliver on the fundamental right to health.

As Nigeria moves toward the next phase of its health reform journey, these agreements provide the scaffolding for a system where data tells the truth, citizens are treated with dignity, and every health interaction reflects the government’s renewed commitment to the wellbeing of its people.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the top cybersecurity investment priority for companies worldwide, as a vast majority admit they are ill-prepared to withstand growing digital threats, according to PwC’s 2026 Global Digital Trust Insights report.

The report surveyed nearly 4,000 business and technology executives across 72 countries, revealing that only 6 percent of organisations consider themselves ‘very capable’ of resisting cyberattacks across all key areas, highlighting a widening readiness gap amid an increasingly complex threat landscape.

Despite this, 78 percent of companies plan to increase their cybersecurity budgets in the next 12 months, with AI commanding the largest share (36 percent) of new investments. Cloud security (34 percent), network security (28 percent), and data protection (26 percent) follow as other major areas of focus.

‘AI presents a significant opportunity to strengthen cyber defence, but success depends on closing the skills gap and integrating these technologies into broader risk frameworks,’ said Femi Osinubi, consulting and risk services leader, PwC Nigeria.

‘Nigerian businesses must invest not just in AI-driven tools but also in developing local talent. Combining technology and skills is key to protecting Nigeria’s digital economy and infrastructure.’ PwC stated that the findings mark a turning point for global businesses that are now betting on AI-driven defence systems to detect, anticipate, and neutralise threats faster.

The report underscores that while AI adoption is accelerating, skills shortages remain a major barrier. Half (50 percent) of respondents cited a lack of knowledge in applying AI to cyber defence as a key challenge, while 41 percent pointed to insufficient expertise.

Meanwhile, one in four businesses (27 percent) said their most damaging data breach over the past three years cost at least $1 million, with large enterprises and technology, media, and telecom (TMT) firms facing the greatest exposure.

PwC also warned that organisations must prepare for next-generation risks, including quantum computing threats, which 49 percent of companies have yet to address due to limited understanding and resources.

‘Cyber resilience comes from foresight, not hindsight. The organisations that will lead in the future are those investing in AI and cyber skills not just to respond, but to anticipate,’ said Sean Joyce, Global Cybersecurity and Privacy Leader, PwC US.

The Nigerian Senate on Thursday rejected what it described as ‘false and dangerous’ claims of an ongoing Christian genocide in Nigeria, resolving to engage members of the United States Congress to correct what it termed a gross misrepresentation of the country’s security situation.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South), and co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South), and seven others.

The motion, titled ‘Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative in Nigeria and International Communities,’ warned that the growing narrative of religious persecution was being weaponised by foreign interests and advocacy groups.

Presenting the motion, Ndume said while the Senate acknowledges the ‘tragic and unacceptable’ attacks suffered by Christian communities, it was misleading to interpret Nigeria’s security crisis in purely religious terms.

‘Nigeria’s insecurity is multi-faceted driven by terrorism, poverty, banditry, and communal conflicts not by religion. Labeling it a ‘Christian genocide’ distorts the truth, deepens division, and misguides international partners,’ Ndume stated.

He noted that recent debates in the U.S. Congress, particularly the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, had raised concern.

The bill seeks to impose sanctions on Nigerian officials accused of enabling violence against Christians and other minorities and recommends re-listing Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) for alleged religious persecution.

Co-sponsor of the motion, Senator Suleiman Kawu (Kano South), described the U.S. proposal as ‘ill-informed,’ urging the Senate to defend Nigeria’s image through diplomatic dialogue.

‘In my constituency alone, there are more than 50 churches, and we coexist peacefully. The idea that Nigeria is killing Christians is unfounded. Muslims and Christians alike have been victims of terrorism and insecurity,’ Kawu said.

He cited multiple incidents where Muslims were killed in terror attacks, including the 2014 Kano mosque bombing that claimed over 250 lives and the accidental airstrike in Kaduna that killed more than 100 worshippers during a Maulud celebration.

Another contributor, Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South), called for a deeper understanding of the terrorist networks behind the violence, suggesting that the Senate hold a closed-door session to review Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy and strengthen diplomatic communication with Washington.

‘Sanctions breed poverty, and poverty knows no religion. We must engage knowledge, develop a unified counterterrorism approach, and ensure the U.S. understands our reality,’ he said. Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, backed the motion, stressing that violence in Nigeria affects citizens across all faiths.

‘When attacks occur in Christian-dominated communities, Christians die; when they happen in Muslim regions, Muslims are victims. Terrorists are not targeting religion, they are targeting Nigerians,’ Akpabio said.

He said the Senate would support diplomatic efforts to engage the U.S. Congress and other international partners to provide a balanced, fact-based understanding of Nigeria’s situation.

Following deliberations, the Senate resolved to reject the blanket characterisation of Nigeria’s security crisis as a Christian genocide.

It also urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to provide verified data and context-driven communication to counter misinformation.

It also prayed that ‘the Senate engage U.S. lawmakers, diplomatic missions, and international media to clarify facts through official briefings; and

‘Mandate the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Information, and National Security to develop a coordinated national communications strategy with the Executive.’

Nigeria’s removal from the U.S. ‘Country of Particular Concern’ list in 2021 is now being revisited by some American lawmakers who argue that violence against Christians has continued unabated.

However, Nigerian senators maintain that such assertions ignore the broader realities of insecurity affecting both Muslims and Christians nationwide.

‘This is a time for Nigeria to speak for itself,’ Ndume said in closing.

‘We must correct this dangerous narrative before it damages our international standing and national unity.’

Two freshly minted Computer Science graduates from the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, are on course to redefine how everyday Nigerians interact with the stock market.

In their early 20s, Elijah Asaolu and Joel Olawanle are building a bridge between technology and finance. Their innovation promises to simplify the often-complex world of investing on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX).

Their interest was sparked earlier this year after a sudden surge of buzz around the stock market on social media. In July alone, the NGX All-Share Index jumped by an impressive 16.6 percent, while retail participation soared to N516.5 billion, a record high for a single month.

‘There’s been a lot of buzz this year, especially on Twitter, with people sharing stories of massive returns,’ Joel recalled. ‘Since we’ve always followed the U.S. stock market, it naturally piqued our interest.’

The turning point, however, came when Kolawole Asaolu, Elijah’s older brother, shared an idea that would eventually shape their project. He suggested building a platform that would make Nigerian stock and forex data more accessible to the public.

As software engineers, they swung into action. They decided to apply their coding skills to a problem many Nigerians face: accessibility and transparency of market data.

That idea became NGNMarket.com, an online data aggregator designed to make it easier for retail investors, analysts, and curious newcomers to interact with Nigerian stock and forex data in real time.

Breaking down barriers to market access

Elijah explained the inspiration behind the platform, tying it to a recurring issue within the NGX ecosystem: limited access to timely, clear information.

‘The main motivation,’ he said, ‘is to make Nigerian forex and stock data easier to process. A lot of Nigerians today would rather invest in U.S. stocks or crypto because they don’t really understand the structure of the Nigerian stock market.’

That sentiment is supported by data. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as of 2024, fewer than five percent of Nigerian adults invest in stocks, a stark contrast to the 62 percent participation rate in the United States and projected 35 percent in South Africa.

While the NGX has recorded impressive growth and visibility in 2025, the gulf between curiosity and actual participation remains wide. The biggest obstacle is information.

A recent Cowrywise report observed that older Nigerians once viewed stocks as ‘an exclusive club,’ but younger people crave immediacy, ‘real-time information about Nigerian stocks, not yesterday’s news.’

Filling the information gap with technology

NGN Market addresses that gap. The platform refreshes data every 20 minutes, offering users a simplified interface that breaks down market movements in a digestible way. It also includes unique features such as a ranking of all listed companies by market capitalization, alongside a daily summary of trading activity, features rarely available in one place. ‘Our main goal,’ Joel said, ‘is to make it easier for people to understand the Nigerian stock and forex markets and, eventually, to make it easier for them to start investing.’

Beyond data aggregation, the platform reflects a broader mission: to demystify the stock market for Nigeria’s digital generation, turning curiosity into confidence and participation.

From pet project to platform with potential

What started as a pet project between two friends has quickly gathered momentum.

‘Honestly, when Joel and I decided to build this, we weren’t expecting much, maybe ten people saying, ‘Oh, this is nice,” Elijah admitted with a laugh.

But what happened next surprised them.

‘When we announced the platform, the traction was incredible,’ Elijah said. ‘Hundreds of people commented, saying things like, ‘Wow, this is long overdue.’ Many even shared how difficult it was to get accurate data before, and how our site made things easier.’

In the first week alone, NGN Market recorded over 7,000 page views, with users spending an average of six minutes per visit, a strong signal of deep engagement for a brand-new platform.

Now, the duo is thinking bigger. Plans are already underway to introduce a ‘Smart Tracker’ feature that will allow users to monitor specific stocks and receive alerts on market changes, further enhancing the investing experience.

Redefining the future of retail investing

As Nigeria’s capital market continues its digital transformation, Joel and Elijah’s innovation represents more than just a tech success story. It signals a shift in how a new generation of Nigerians wants to invest, informed, empowered, and in real time.

Their journey, from university hostels in Okitipupa to the fast-moving world of fintech, underscores a growing truth. Seasoned traders or big institutions may not lead the next frontier of Nigeria’s stock market revolution, but it will be driven by the curiosity and creativity of young minds determined to make finance more inclusive.

And with platforms like NGN Market, that future is close.

The Bank of Industry (BOI) has launched a N2 billion entrepreneurship programme to provide affordable loans to members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), in a push to tackle unemployment through job creation and promote youth-led enterprises across Nigeria.

The programme allows eligible corps members to access up to N5 million each at a single-digit interest rate of 9 per cent per annum, repayable over three years, with a three-month moratorium on both principal and interest payments.

The initiative signals a growing national effort to equip young Nigerians with financial tools and entrepreneurial support essential for navigating the country’s challenging economic landscape. The initiative, tagged the ‘N2bn BOI-NYSC entrepreneurship programme’, was unveiled in Abuja by Olasupo Olusi, BOI managing director, who was represented by Shekarau Omar, executive director for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) at the bank.

Olusi said the initiative forms part of the bank’s broader strategy to empower young Nigerians with the financial support, capacity-building, and mentorship required to grow sustainable enterprises.

‘This partnership between BOI and NYSC builds on earlier collaborations such as the Graduate Entrepreneurship Fund (GEF), which trained over 3,000 graduates, financed 609 businesses, and disbursed more than N1 billion in loans,’ he said.

‘These numbers are not just statistics, they represent poultry farms, fashion houses, tech start-ups, and creative studios brought to life. When young people receive targeted training, affordable finance, and mentoring, they repay, they employ, and they grow.’

Olusi praised the NYSC’s Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) department for its ongoing efforts to equip corps members with practical business skills. He added that the new loan scheme would further enhance the department’s impact by providing much-needed financial backing for trained entrepreneurs. He also encouraged corps members to demonstrate discipline and innovation during their service year, stressing that the success of the initiative would be measured by the number of loans approved, jobs created, and businesses that remain viable beyond the service period.

In his remarks, Olakunle Nafiu, NYSC director-general, commended BOI for its continued support, urging the bank to expand the fund to n5 billion in order to reach more beneficiaries nationwide. Nafiu noted that BOI and NYSC have worked together since 2012 to foster youth entrepreneurship and skill development through the SAED programme. He added that the latest initiative reaffirms their shared vision of building sustainable livelihoods for the over 400,000 corps members who participate in the NYSC scheme each year. The new BOI-NYSC entrepreneurship programme follows last month’s announcement of a similar partnership between the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CREDICORP) and the NYSC, which provides corps members with access to personal credit facilities.

UPDC Real Estate Investment Trust (UPDC REIT) recorded an after-tax profit of N1.09 billion for the half year ended June 30, 2025, marginally below the N1.11 billion reported in the corresponding period of 2024.

The steady earnings came despite a decline in overall revenue to N1.54 billion from N1.59 billion the previous year, reflecting lower non-recurring gains recorded in 2024.

A closer look at the result shows that rental income, the trust’s main revenue driver, rose by 22 percent to N837.1 million, up from N683.5 million in the same period last year, supported by improved property occupancy and higher lease renewals. Meanwhile, interest income from bank deposits surged 25 percent to N633.9 million, reflecting higher yields on money market placements and short-term instruments. Interest income from assets measured at fair value also jumped over tenfold, reaching N63.1 million compared with N5.9 million in the same period of 2024, driven by returns from treasury bills and bonds.

On the cost side, operating expenses rose modestly to N389.16 million from N376.33 million, reflecting higher maintenance, insurance, and professional fees.

The trust also recorded an impairment charge on receivables of N48.85 million, a 52 percent decline from the N102.46 million reported in H1’2024, showing some moderation in credit losses. Notably, in H1 2025, the REIT did not record gains from the disposal of investment assets (such as real estate sales), unlike in H1 2024, when it had recognised N410 million from the sale of the UAC complex.

The trust maintained a strong balance sheet, with total assets rising to N33.77 billion from N33.43 billion at the end of December 2024. Investment properties accounted for N27.48 billion of this total, following improvements valued at N241.8 million during the period. Cash and cash equivalents also inched up to N5.82 billion, reflecting robust liquidity and efficient fund management.

UPDC REIT’s net asset value stood at N32.8 billion, compared to N32.53 billion as of December 2024, while the earnings per unit came in at N0.41, slightly down from N0.42 in the same period last year.

The Trust distributed N800.5 million to unitholders during the first half, demonstrating its continued commitment to steady investor returns amid a challenging real estate environment.

As of October 7, 2025, the company reported a share price of N7.3, with a market capitalisation of N2.66 billion.

Smartphones today are more than just gadgets – they’re our cameras, our entertainment centers, our workstations, and sometimes even our survival tools when the day gets long. With the launch of the REDMI 15, Xiaomi is proving once again that cutting-edge tech doesn’t need to come with a heavy price tag. Instead, it should deliver power, performance, and practicality that fits perfectly into everyday life.

So, what exactly makes the REDMI 15 stand out in Nigeria’s highly competitive smartphone market? Here are six things you absolutely need to know about this new device.

A Battery That Refuses to Quit

We’ve all had those days when our phone’s battery dies in the middle of something important. That’s a headache REDMI 15 is here to solve. With its massive 7000mAh (typ) battery, this phone is built for marathon use. Whether it’s endless WhatsApp chats, hours of YouTube, or a long day of work and play, REDMI 15 keeps going.

Paired with 33W fast charging, even when the battery does run low, you won’t be stuck waiting for hours. Just a short recharge gets you right back on track.

A Big Screen Made for Big Moments

The REDMI 15 is equipped with an immersive 6.9-inch FHD+ display, which means everything from movies to mobile gaming looks better. The size makes it perfect for those who use their phone as a primary entertainment device – and for those who enjoy split-screen multitasking, the extra space really comes in handy.

Whether you’re watching Netflix, scrolling Instagram, or video calling loved ones, the REDMI 15’s display makes the experience brighter, bolder, and more engaging.

Reliable Power Under the Hood

At the heart of the REDMI 15 is the Snapdragon 685 processor. While it may not be a flagship chipset, it’s a strong and efficient performer for daily use. From running multiple apps smoothly to handling casual gaming, the Snapdragon 685 ensures you get a reliable and lag-free experience.

Pair that with RAM options of 6GB+128GB or 8GB+256GB, and you’ve got plenty of space for apps, photos, videos, and everything else you need on the go.

Capture Every Angle with the 50MP AI Dual CameraThe REDMI 15 comes with a 50MP AI dual camera system that makes mobile photography simple yet stunning. Whether you’re snapping photos of Lagos street life, family gatherings, or that perfect food shot for Instagram, the REDMI 15 has you covered.

AI optimization helps balance lighting, color, and detail, ensuring your pictures are clear and vibrant without needing professional editing. It’s the kind of camera that lets anyone become the storyteller of their own life.

Designed with Style in Mind

Smartphones are an extension of personal style, and the REDMI 15 doesn’t disappoint. Available in Midnight Black, Titan Gray, and Sandy Purple, it’s sleek and modern without being over the top.

Despite packing a huge battery, the REDMI 15 manages to feel comfortable in hand – showing Xiaomi’s commitment to design balance between power and portability.

A Price That Puts Power Within Reach

One of the strongest reasons Nigerians will love the REDMI 15 is its affordable pricing. For a device with such a massive battery, a huge display, and reliable performance, the REDMI 15 starts at just:

?186,400 for 6GB+128GB

?212,900 for 8GB+256GB

This makes it one of the best value-for-money smartphones in its category. It’s clear that Xiaomi designed REDMI 15 not just to impress on paper, but to be truly accessible to everyday users.

Availability and Where to Buy?

The REDMI 15 is now available in Nigeria through all authorized Xiaomi stores, including Finet, Raya, 3C Hub, Slot, and more. Prefer online shopping? Visit Jumia.com to purchase your favorite Xiaomi products with just a few clicks! Stay tuned for more exciting updates and promotions by following Xiaomi Nigeria on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

The Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Olaniyi Yusuf, stressed that Africa’s economic transformation relies on strengthening regional collaboration, removing trade barriers, and accelerating cross-border investments.

Yusuf made the remarks at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) in Abuja on Wednesday, urging the continent to move beyond rhetoric toward deepening integration and mobilising regional capital for development.

He said Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic growth depended on collaboration through shared markets, talent, and resources, adding that without this, long-term prosperity would remain elusive.

Yusuf highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a historic chance to unlock regional value chains and increase Africa’s GDP by 140 billion dollars by 2035 if properly implemented. He called for urgent removal of non-tariff barriers, harmonisation of regulations, and mobilisation of African institutional capital to support regional industries and infrastructure projects.

‘We rely heavily on external financing, yet more than 2.9 trillion dollars in assets exist within Africa.

‘Deploying this capital to support trade and investment could transform the continent,’ Yusuf said.

He emphasised mobilising pension and sovereign wealth funds to drive cross-border investments and industrial expansion, noting Nigeria’s pension assets alone exceeded N20 trillion.

Yusuf urged governments and private sector leaders to create regional capital markets and investment instruments that fostered intra-African trade and sustainable development. ‘Reforming domestically without aligning with Africa will leave progress incomplete and fragile.

‘When Africa invests and grows together, Nigeria will rise with it,’ he stated.

He called for public-private partnerships, policy coherence, and cross-border trust to build a prosperous future with no economic borders in Africa.

Yusuf reiterated NESG’s commitment to the Rising Together initiative, a platform supporting Nigeria’s regional footprint and Africa’s collective economic transformation. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, said Nigeria’s foreign policy must align with economic priorities by removing trade barriers, attracting investment, and driving continental industrialisation.

Tuggar noted foreign and economic policies were inseparable, stating Nigeria’s diplomacy would focus on trade expansion, partnership security, and opportunities for Nigerian businesses.

The minister highlighted the government’s 4D foreign policy agenda, Democracy, Development, Demography, and Diaspora, as the foundation for strengthening economic diplomacy.

‘With our demographic weight and strategic position, we can drive industrialisation in Nigeria and Africa, but this requires policy alignment across sectors,’ he said.

Tuggar added that Africa’s transformation depended on sound industrial policies and regional coordination that attract private capital, not on donor dependence.

Red Media Africa, one of the continent’s most influential communications consultancies, has been named Outstanding PR Agency of the Year at the 2025 Marketing Edge Awards, reaffirming its leadership in Africa’s public relations landscape.

The accolade, presented at the 13th edition of the annual ceremony held at Balmoral Event Hall, Sheraton, Lagos, recognises the firm’s creative storytelling, strategic brand building, and measurable impact across multiple sectors over the past year.

‘This is another noteworthy recognition and irrefutable proof of mastery and craftsmanship in our field,’ said Ayodeji Razaq, chief executive officer of RED for Africa, the parent company of Red Media Africa. ‘It strengthens our resolve to set new benchmarks of excellence, innovation, and impact, as we continue to redefine how brands connect, engage, and thrive across the continent.’

The Lagos-based agency, co-founded two decades ago by Adebola Williams and Chude Jideonwo, has played a defining role in shaping youth-led brand storytelling and socio-political campaigns in Nigeria and beyond.

Its latest award follows a string of recent industry recognitions underscoring its staying power in Africa’s fast-evolving marketing communications space.

Earlier this year, Red Media Africa won Public Relations/Corporate Communication Campaign of the Year at the Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) Awards for its Amstel Malta Sleek Can Launch.

In 2023, it took home the PR Agency of the Year and Best Social Media Campaign of the Year titles at the Nigerian Marketing Awards (NMA), alongside Silver and Bronze wins at the Pitchers Awards for excellence in reputation management and insights-driven strategy.

The new honour coincides with the agency’s 20th anniversary, a milestone Razaq described as both ‘a celebration of resilience and a call to action.’

Over two decades, Red Media Africa has expanded its portfolio from media strategy and content creation to brand communications, youth engagement, and culture-shaping campaigns across Africa.

As the agency looks ahead, it aims to deepen its influence by leveraging data, storytelling, and digital culture to help brands navigate an increasingly complex communications landscape.

‘For us,’ Razaq said, ‘this isn’t just about awards, it’s about impact, innovation, and storytelling that moves markets and shapes mindsets.’