Reality star Adekunle speaks on life after BBNaija

Former Big Brother Naija housemate, Adekunle Olopade, has voiced concerns about the growing number of ex-participants who find themselves stranded after the reality show.

Taking to his social media handle, Adekunle acknowledged that while Big Brother Naija remains the biggest reality television show in Africa, there appears to be no clear roadmap to success for contestants once the show is over.

He wrote: ‘Let me double down and say that BBN is the biggest reality TV show in Africa, but somehow, Nigeria does not have a reality TV culture -there’s almost no certain success path after the show, and most of the reality stars suffer for this.’

His remark sparked mixed reactions online.

Responding to a follower who argued that ex-housemates should simply return to their regular jobs after leaving the show, Adekunle explained that many contestants joined the show precisely because they were unemployed and sought a change in their circumstances.

‘A lot of the cast didn’t have 9-5s to begin with -which is why they tried to change their story by going on the show. Only a few had jobs or businesses before they went in. But yes, going back if things didn’t work out doesn’t sound like a bad idea,’ he added.

Return of pork price cap eyed as costs rise

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is studying the possible reimposition of a suggested retail price (SRP) on pork nearly four months after the government lifted the price cap intended to temper soaring meat costs.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said yesterday that the department would review the matter and adjust profit margins to make them more reasonable and ensure they remain worthwhile for retailers and producers.

‘What the DA was planning when prices went out of control was to implement an MSRP (manufacturer’s suggested retail price) on pork, especially on imported pork. That is still an option,’ Tiu Laurel told lawmakers during the budget hearing of the agency for 2026.

To illustrate, Tiu Laurel said the landed cost of imported frozen liempo is at around P220 per kilo, while retail prices in local markets is P315 per kg.

He added that pork imports charged with lower tariffs cost around P250 per kg, while those taxed at higher rates are priced between P268 and P279 per kg.

The gap between import and retail prices shows a margin of roughly P65 per kilo.

‘I used to do this business. That (price markup) is high. It should just be around P260 per kg (instead of P315 per kg),’ said the agriculture chief.

Last May, the DA scrapped the MSRP on pork after traders and meat processors appealed for its suspension, citing the continuing shortage of hogs due to African swine fever (ASF).

The agency said market conditions at the time made it difficult for retailers to comply with the price ceiling as supply tightened while demand stayed strong.

Before the price cap was lifted, the DA had set the MSRP at P380 per kilo for liempo, P350 for pigue and kasim and P300 for sabit-ulo or fresh carcass.

The DA said these rates were meant to balance fair returns for producers and traders while shielding consumers from steep markups in wet markets.

The country’s hog inventory has fallen sharply to just about eight million as of this year from around 13 million heads in 2019, according to the DA, leaving local production well below pre-outbreak levels.

I’m most featured rapper by international artists – Odumodublvck

Rapper Odumodublvck has addressed criticism about his rap skills, pointing out his success and international collaborations as proof of his talent.

In a recent interview, Odumodublvck said despite claims that his rap skills are subpar, he’s the most featured Nigerian rapper by international artists and has sold out shows globally, including in Canada.

He attributed the negative opinions to envy, emphasising that his songs consistently top the charts and he secures more bookings than his peers.

According to him, he is a proof to overcoming obstacles.

He questioned the quality of other rappers’ music, highlighting the disparity between their success and his own.

Odumodublvck said: ‘In Nigeria, they said that my rap is not good but I’m the most featured rapper by international artists. Do you know what I’m saying? Yeah, it’s just a problem of envy because I sing my hooks, you know, the songs are really nice. They give me more bookings than them.

‘I have more songs on the charts. The envy is deep especially when they think they are better.

‘You get what I’m saying but we’ll pay no mind to that. We’ll just continue, you know, pushing boundaries for those that believe. Let them continue to tune in because it’s very unfortunate for the people on the other side because this thing is not going to stop anytime soon.

‘This is God’s glory in full display. You get me? I’m like a testimony. You know, coming from Abuja, they say we cannot blow.

‘They say we should not use hip-hop. Everything they say we could not do. I went down that path and now I’m in Canada.

‘I’m the only rapper in Nigeria that has sold out a show in Canada but I cannot rap. So what is this that you guys are rapping? Kendrick Lamar is rapping what you guys are rapping now but you guys are not selling out. Stop deceiving us’.

’Growth slowdown only temporary’

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) expects the ongoing economic slowdown to last only two to three quarters, saying continued policy easing will help offset the drag from weaker business sentiment due to governance concerns surrounding public infrastructure projects.

Speaking in an interview on ‘Money Talks,’ BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said central bank projections point to a slower growth in the near term, followed by a strong rebound starting in late 2026.

‘Once we factored in negative business sentiment, we found that growth would slow down in 2026, but recover and more than catch up in 2027,’ Remolona said.

‘Inflation as well would be lower than we thought in 2026 and 2027. So that gave us more room to cut,’ the BSP chief added.

The Monetary Board on Thursday surprised markets by slashing its benchmark rate by another 25 basis points to 4.75 percent, marking its fourth straight rate cut this year. This brought the cumulative rate cuts to 175 basis points since August 2024.

According to the governor, the Monetary Board’s decision was ‘overwhelmingly in favor of a cut,’ amid growth concerns.

Based on the BSP’s latest baseline scenario, the economy is now projected to grow below the government’s target of 5.5 percent this year and further down to 5.3 percent in 2026.

‘We had thought we would see higher growth rates in 2023 and 2024, but we didn’t get those growth rates. Now we know why. What we thought was investment was not investment,’ Remolona said.

He said the central bank’s latest model adjustments indicate that the so-called ‘Goldilocks rate’ – or the level of policy rate that is just right for the economy – is closer to four percent, giving policymakers more room to support the economy.

‘The numbers changed, and one reason for the change was negative business sentiment,’ he said. ‘The Goldilocks rate could be lower than we thought. That factored into the decision as well.’

He attributed the weaker business confidence to governance issues surrounding government flood control projects, which have led to a corruption probe and the suspension of several infrastructure initiatives.

‘The scandal and the business sentiment associated with it made it clearer that we needed a rate cut,’ he said. ‘It suggested a significant slowdown – not a deep one, but enough to justify a cut in the policy rate.’

According to Remolona, another rate cut remains possible before the year ends, with one more policy meeting scheduled in December.

‘It’s possible – one more 25-basis-point cut. We’re most likely to do something during a scheduled policy meeting,’ he said, while clarifying that an off-cycle move would require ‘something really bad’ in the economic data.

He noted that a 50-basis-point cut would only be considered if indicators of growth or confidence ‘surprise us on the low side,’ which the BSP currently views as a low-probability risk.

Remolona also warned that failure to strengthen the country’s anti-money laundering framework could risk the Philippines’ return to the Financial Action Task Force’s gray list.

‘We’re worrying about that, and we’re doing our best. We certainly don’t want to be back on the gray list,’ he said. ‘It took a lot of work to get out of it.’

Despite ongoing investigations, Remolona said the banking system remains sound, with ample capital and liquidity buffers.

‘The health of the banking system looks good,’ he said. ‘There’s no sign or risk of an imminent crisis. A crisis is when you begin to see deposit runs and we’re not seeing that.’

The Monetary Board will have its final review this year on Dec. 11.

Gowon, Gambari, Buratai for historical society anniversary

Former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, former Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, are among prominent eminent personalities that will attend the 70th Anniversary/Congress of the Historical Society of Nigeria (HSN) and 6th Congress of the Association of African Historians.

Announcing the activities for the congress slated for Monday, October 13, at a press conference, the Acting President of the Historical Society of Nigeria, Professor (Mrs.) Zara Kwaghe, stated that the Congress theme, ’70 Years of Resilience: Honouring Nigeria’s Past, Envisioning its Future,’ reflects on the society’s achievements and contributions to scholarship and nation-building.

According to Kwaghe, the 6th Congress of the Association of African Historians, which will be held in Nigeria for the first time, promises to be a significant milestone, bringing together distinguished historians and scholars from across Africa to share their research, insights, and perspectives on the conference theme.

Kwaghe said: ‘The conference is not just the gathering of historians, it is a conference that discusses everything that we have done all this while for the past 70 years and how we have impacted, on scholarship in Nigeria and also how the existence of Historical Society of Nigeria has brought a lot to the academic world and at the same time, improving nation building.

‘At a particular point in time, history was removed from the school curriculum in this country, but it was the Historical Society of Nigeria that fought for its return, and today, we are glad to say that that has happened.

‘Our theme, ’70 Years of Resilience: Honoring Nigeria’s Past, Envisioning its Future,’ poses crucial questions: What have we passed through? How did we get here? And what’s our future? This conference will explore these questions, offering insights into our journey and direction.’

She said the grand opening ceremony, featuring the prestigious D.K. Memorial Lecture, which would be delivered by Professor Emeritus Baru Zwidi Wodehana from Ethiopia, and chaired by Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.

‘The conference will also feature a series of engaging plenary sessions, covering thought-provoking topics that trigger meaningful discussions and insights.

‘The congress will culminate on Thursday, October 16, in a spectacular gala and award night, celebrating excellence and achievements,’ Kwaghe said.

From galleons to green trade: Why the future of Philippines and Europe is tied

The 21st century differs from the centuries that came before it in one essential respect: the emerging world order is now shaped by shared, long-term expectations and the inescapable logic of interdependence. No nation holds a monopoly over the resources it needs. This condition gave rise to what we now call globalization – though the concept itself is far older than the word.

Even in ancient times, communities traded and interacted with one another, albeit without the rules or uniform conditions that govern commerce today.

Globalization as we know it can be traced, in part, to a voyage that began in 1519 when Portuguese explorer Fernão de Magalhães – better known as Ferdinand Magellan – set sail under the Spanish flag in search of a westward route to the spice markets of Asia. His expedition crossed the Pacific Ocean and, by accident, landed on the Philippine archipelago in 1521. Though Magellan met his end there, the journey’s greater legacy was not the discovery of new lands but the observation of a time discrepancy that would later lead to the establishment of the International Date Line near the Philippines.

It was only in 1565 that the Galleon Trade between Manila and Acapulco was formally established. At the time, both the Philippines and Mexico were under Spanish rule, with Spain standing as the world’s dominant military and economic power. The Manila Galleon trade endured for 250 years, creating the first sustained trans-Pacific commercial route linking Asia, the Americas, and Europe.

Goods from East and South Asia converged in Manila before being shipped to the Americas, while the galleons returned laden with silver and European products. Beyond trade, this route also sparked migration and cultural exchange – Filipinos, Latin Americans, and Europeans shared languages, food, and art, leaving a legacy still visible in the Philippines’ diverse cultural landscape.

The galleons of that era were, in effect, the international liners of their time – massive ships built first in Spain and Mexico, and later in Philippine shipyards. Shipbuilding, already a thriving industry here by the 1600s, enabled Manila to become one of the world’s earliest global ports: a hub of commerce, education, and faith.

Today, globalization is no longer carried by ships but by data. Physical borders have blurred, replaced by digital connectivity. Products are now European in design, American in technology, and Asian in manufacture – the product of a global workforce that is increasingly mixed in culture and nationality.

Europe and the Philippines: A refreshed partnership

From October 13 to 15, 2025, representatives of European companies will gather in Manila for the EU-ASEAN Business Mission, aimed at deepening institutional, commercial, and social partnerships. While the European Union remains one of the Philippines’ most important trading partners, both sides acknowledge that much remains to be done to realize the relationship’s full potential.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine exports to the EU reached US $8.07 billion in 2024, while imports totaled $7.46 billion, producing a trade surplus of about $610 million – evidence of the competitiveness of Philippine goods in European markets.

On investments, the United Kingdom ranked among the top sources of foreign direct investment in 2024, accounting for 35% of total inflows, second only to Japan’s 38%. While no longer part of the EU, the UK’s strong presence underscores the broader significance of Europe as a long-term economic partner.

Several major European companies – including Bosch, Unilever, Shell, and Acciona – maintain substantial operations in the Philippines, contributing not only capital and technology but also expertise in sustainability and workforce development.

The moment for diversification

Amid evolving global dynamics, the Philippines has a timely opportunity to strengthen ties with Europe. Collaboration can focus on areas where European expertise aligns with Philippine development goals – renewable energy, green transition technologies, digitalization, and infrastructure modernization.

The recent 19% U.S. tariff on Philippine products may pose short-term challenges, but it also presents a strategic incentive to diversify. Expanding trade and investment with Europe, while supporting innovation and upskilling at home, will make the Philippine economy more resilient in the face of shifting geopolitical winds.

To this end, the government’s Strategic Investment Priority Plan (2025-2028) and the forthcoming Philippines-EU Free Trade Agreement could serve as key platforms for cooperation.

With its strategic location, youthful English-speaking workforce, and resource potential, the Philippines is well-positioned to attract European investment that can drive industrial upgrading and job creation. As political and economic conditions stabilize, investment momentum is expected to build.

A partnership built on shared values. Ultimately, deepening trade and strategic partnerships with Europe is more than an economic exercise. It is a reaffirmation of shared values – fairness, sustainability, and mutual prosperity.

The Philippines, much like in the days of the galleons, stands once again at the crossroads of continents. This time, its challenge is not to build ships, but to build enduring bridges – economic, cultural, and moral – that will carry it forward in an international order defined by what is right, fair, and just for all.

Stop grandstanding with Nnamdi Kanu’s name, APC chieftain tells Otti

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in Abia, Prince Paul Ikonne, has challenged Governr Alex Otti, to stop exploiting the appeal for Mazi Nnamdi Kalu’s freedom for personal and political gains.

He said recent pronouncement by the Governor on the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was nothing but a desperate political grandstanding, aimed at seeking attention.

The former Director General of National Agricultural Land Development Authority accused the Governor of leaving the substance for the shadows, insisting that Otti should concentrate on providing good, transparent and accountable governance to the people of Abia State.

Addressing a large gathering of Ukwa la Ngwa youths, who paid him a courtesy visit, Ikonne expressed deep concerns that Governor Otti appeared to have continued to use sensitive national issues to distract Abians from his growing record of underperformance and questionable financial practices.

In a statement on Saturday in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ujo Justice, the APC Chieftain said: ‘It is unfortunate that rather than giving Abians a transparent account of how public funds are being utilized, Governor Otti has chosen to play politics with the emotions of the people by dragging the name of Nnamdi Kanu into his failing government narrative.

‘For more than two years in office, Governor Otti never paid a visit, never made a concrete intervention, and never demonstrated any concern about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s situation. Now that his government’s credibility is collapsing, he suddenly remembers Kanu. That is hypocrisy at its peak,’ Ikonne said.

He emphasised that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu will regain his freedom without Alex Otti’s political grandstanding, and urged the governor to stop exploiting the issue for personal and political advantage.

‘Let me thank my friend and brother Hon. Obi Aguoch and Hon. Ichita for their efforts towards the freedom of Mazi Nnamdi which I believe will bring good results very soon.’

Ikonne then encouraged Abia youths to remain vigilant, courageous, and firm in demanding accountability from their leaders, noting that no amount of propaganda can substitute for genuine performance.

Commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring consistent financial support to state governments and for creating national frameworks aimed at stabilizing the economy, Ikonne expressed disappointment that while such resources are available, the Abia State Government has failed to translate them into real developmental results.

‘Leadership is about impact, not impression,’ he concluded. ‘Abians deserve transparency, real projects, and visible progress – not endless excuses, photo-ops, and political drama.’

Money, health top stress factors of Filipinos – SWS

Finances and health issues are among the major factors for the stress experienced by most Filipinos, according to a survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey, conducted from Sept. 24 to 30, found that 53 percent of the respondents experienced ‘big’ stress in relation to their financial situation.

Some 37 percent considered it a ‘small’ factor, while 10 percent were undecided.

In terms of stress due to one’s health, 42 percent considered it a ‘big’ factor, while 46 percent said it was ‘small.’ Eleven percent were undecided.

Thirty-nine percent of the respondents said stress related to job or school was a ‘big’ factor, while 51 percent said it was ‘small.’ The remaining nine percent is undecided.

Some 38 percent said they had ‘big’ stress related to their families, while 52 percent considered it ‘small.’ Ten percent were undecided.

The survey was released in time for the annual commemoration of World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10.

According to the survey, 34 percent of the respondents experience stress ‘frequently’ in their daily lives. It was up seven points from a similar survey in December 2019.

Meanwhile, those who said they experience stress ‘sometimes’ dropped from 37 percent to 32 percent, while those who ‘rarely’ experienced stress in their daily lives dropped from 34 percent to 30 percent.

Those who said they never experienced stress increased from two percent to four percent.

Across areas, frequency of experiencing stress was higher among respondents in Metro Manila, where 50 percent of the respondents said they ‘frequently’ experienced stress in their daily lives.

It was followed by those in the rest of Luzon at 36 percent, Mindanao at 28 percent and the Visayas at 26 percent.

The survey also showed that women experience stress more frequently (41 percent frequent, 31 percent sometimes) than men (27 percent frequent, 33 percent sometimes).

The survey had 1,500 respondents and a margin of error of plus/minus three percent for national percentages.

Nigerian developer reveals secrets behind secure payments

A fintech engineer, Babatunde Esanju, has shed light on the complexities and innovations involved in developing secure cross-border payment systems, describing the process as one of the toughest challenges in modern software engineering.

Esanju, who serves as Lead Software Engineer at Wyrr, made this known in a statement detailing his experience in architecting and developing Wyrr’s cross-border payment platform, which currently serves over 5,000 users across Africa.

According to him, while cross-border transfers may appear seamless to users, the technology behind them requires solving difficult problems involving exchange rates, regulatory compliance, and system reliability.

‘You tap a button, and money appears somewhere else in the world. But anyone who has architected the technology behind that button knows the truth – it’s one of the hardest problems in modern software engineering,’ he said.

He noted that building fintech infrastructure involves more than just coding, as developers must ensure compliance with anti-money laundering regulations, sanctions lists, and identity verification processes. ‘Every transaction must be screened for money-laundering risks, validated against sanctions lists, and verified through multiple identity checks,’ he explained.

Esanju added that in building Wyrr’s system, he designed fraud-prevention mechanisms that analyse transaction patterns in real time to detect suspicious activity before completion. He said this required integration with multiple regulatory APIs while maintaining sub-second response times.

Highlighting the importance of trust and compliance, he stated, ‘You can’t ‘move fast and break things’ when handling people’s money. You have to build fast and protect everything. That balance between innovation and regulation is what separates serious fintech companies from experimental ones.’

Esanju stressed that security formed the foundation of Wyrr’s payment platform. He revealed that the company implemented multiple layers of encryption, HMAC signatures, and timestamped headers for every API call to ensure transactions were both secure and verifiable. ‘These weren’t just technical decisions; they were promises to our users,’ he said.

He added that the system was designed to ensure that payments initiated in Lagos would settle correctly in Accra, even in the event of network disruptions or provider downtime.

This, he said, was achieved through idempotent transaction handling, detailed audit logging, and automated reconciliation processes that detect and flag discrepancies within minutes.

Esanju also described innovation in fintech as an iterative process, not a single breakthrough.

He explained that continuous product refinement had allowed Wyrr to reduce settlement times from three days to three minutes and to improve its currency conversion process, reducing errors by 40 per cent.

Reflecting on Africa’s fintech growth, Esanju said the continent’s unique challenges had driven homegrown innovation.

‘Africa didn’t wait for global systems to include it; we built our own,’ he said, noting that the need to serve users in regions with inconsistent connectivity and limited identity infrastructure had made African fintech systems more resilient.

He added that Wyrr’s infrastructure was designed to scale efficiently, using a microservices architecture, message queuing for high traffic periods, and automated monitoring to maintain performance under heavy loads.

Esanju emphasized the human side of fintech, explaining that each cross-border payment represented real human connections – from parents sending support to children, to traders restocking goods. ‘We’re not just moving money; we’re moving trust,’ he said.

Looking ahead, he said the future of fintech in Africa would depend on building systems that are inclusive, reliable, and grounded in trust. ‘The next challenge isn’t just building faster payment systems; it’s building fairer ones – systems that serve the underbanked as effectively as they serve the wealthy,’ he concluded.

Esanju is a fintech innovator and lead engineer who specializes in designing secure, scalable payment systems with a focus on compliance, fraud prevention, and resilient infrastructure for emerging markets.

Our unity, not factionalism, will secure victory for Tinubu in 2027 – APC group

A support group within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, the Asiwaju Media Team, has cautioned party members against factionalism ahead of the 2027 general election, stressing that only unity can guarantee victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

In a statement issued in Akure by its Director-General, Prince Emorioloye Owolemi, the group warned against the formation of ‘parallel structures’ within the party by desperate individuals seeking political relevance under the guise of supporting the President.

According to the group, such moves are contrary to the ideals of unity, discipline, and loyalty that define the ruling APC.

‘Our unity, not factionalism, will secure victory in 2027 and protect the progress we have fought for,’ the statement read.

The group also expressed concern over renewed attempts by some individuals to destabilize the party by operating outside recognized structures.

It alleged that those behind the move were the same people who, two years ago, engaged in a scheme to collect money from opposition members under the pretext of securing federal appointments for them.

The statement added that the fraudulent act was reported to the presidency, which subsequently terminated the ‘illegally obtained’ appointments.

‘Since that exposure, those responsible have distanced themselves from genuine APC structures in Ondo State,’ the group said.

‘Rather than working with the party to promote good governance, they have resorted to false propaganda aimed at creating a rift between the President and the state leadership.

‘If they truly seek redemption before the President after their earlier misconduct, they should have chosen the path of loyalty, contrition, and service – not further provocation.’

The group maintained that the so-called parallel organ neither participated in the 2023 campaigns nor holds any legitimate claim to party support ahead of 2027.

It further accused the sponsors of the dissident group of operating from Abuja and Port Harcourt to destabilize the peaceful coexistence of APC members in Ondo State instead of joining collective efforts to strengthen the party.

Describing their actions as self-defeating, the group said it was unacceptable for federal appointees to act as independent support groups when their conduct undermines the same party that gave them political platforms.

It also alleged that many of those behind the controversial groups were long-time political appointees who had held various offices since 1999 but were removed by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration to create room for new faces and broader inclusion.

‘The Aiyedatiwa administration has deliberately opened the space for inclusion, giving opportunities to genuine APC loyalists who have served the party faithfully since its formation,’ the statement noted.

The Asiwaju Media Team reaffirmed its total support for President Tinubu and Governor Aiyedatiwa, describing them as the national and state leaders of the party.

It added that those funding opposition narratives or spreading damaging information about federal and state officials were ‘neither helping the President nor the APC.’