Author: Prima News

Africa can unlock more than $469bn in additional annual revenue without raising statutory tax rates, according to the African Development Bank. Chief Economist and Vice President for Economic Governance and Knowledge Management at the African Development Bank, Prof Kevin Urama, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja. He said the additional revenue could be mobilised without increasing tax rates, stressing that stronger domestic resource mobilisation remained the most sustainable source of development financing for the continent. According to him, improving tax administration through digitalisation, strengthening public institutions, and enhancing service delivery would…

At a time when universities around the world are grappling with the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence, the University of Abuja has unveiled what is believed to be Nigeria’s first AI-powered academic research ecosystem dedicated to structured thesis, dissertation, and scholarly writing through its Thesis-Speedwrite platform. Specifically, the platform is designed to support ethical, structured, and disciplined research writing by guiding students, researchers, and academics through the various stages of scholarly work, from topic development and literature review to data analysis, citation management, and final manuscript preparation. Developed by Professor Isaiah Ilo of the Department of Theatre Arts, the…

The Federal Government on Thursday said it is targeting the engagement of at least 20,000 young Nigerians annually through the Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme (NJFP) as part of efforts to tackle youth unemployment. The government also noted that selected fellows receive a monthly stipend of N150,000 for one year while gaining hands-on workplace experience. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Delivery and Coordination, Akubo Adegbe, disclosed this in Abuja, at the NJFP 2.0 Abuja Job Fair, themed “Building a National Workforce for the Future.” Adegbe said the government was working to ensure the sustainability of the programme beyond…

FIFA has banned fans from bringing refillable water bottles into stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a decision that will require supporters to buy bottled water inside the venues. According to reports, FIFA recently changed its stadium rules. Last month, the guidelines allowed fans to bring empty, clear reusable plastic bottles with a capacity of up to one litre into stadiums. However, the updated rules now clearly state that reusable water bottles will not be allowed inside any World Cup venue. Explaining the decision, FIFA said the change was made for safety reasons. “FIFA is committed to protecting the…

Nollywood actor and politician, Emeka Ike, has said he felt “insecure for the first time in his life” following the exposure of his personal data at the Independent National Electoral Commission. Speaking on News Central Television in a video shared on X on Thursday, the Nigeria Democratic Congress, House of Representatives aspirant described the incident as an abuse of power, adding that it raised concerns about citizens’ safety and data protection in the country. Ike confirmed that he has initiated legal proceedings against Lere Olayinka, media aide to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike. “It was…

Outlining “repeated attacks” and “routine targeting” of law enforcement personnel in Gaza, OHCHR said that they have been killed while directing traffic and patrolling streets and crowded markets.This “systematic targeting” of key public institutions and workers has caused a collapse of civic and public order since Hamas-led terror attacks in Israel sparked the war in Gaza on 7 October 2023, maintained Mayy El Sheikh, OHCHR spokesperson in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Obligations ignored“Israel as the occupying power actually has the obligation under international law to ensure civic and public order for Palestinians who live under the occupation… targeting them, unless they are…

It was a quiet Tuesday, May 26, 2026, evening in Lagos when my wife, a primary school teacher in the Lagos State public school system, calmly informed me that she would not be travelling to Ijebu Ode for this year’s Ojude Oba festival. Usually, the annual celebration is a remarkable display of Yoruba culture, colour, and heritage that attracts thousands of Nigerians from across the world. This time, however, her decision was shaped by fear rather than inconvenience, such as finance, logistics, or the family’s inability to get festive clothes. A few days earlier, she had watched reports about the…

Benchmark Capital, the storied Silicon Valley VC firm known for early investments in eBay, Snap, Uber, and Twitter, is breaking with one of its signature traditions: keeping its funds to about $425 million and backing only young startups. After more than two decades of restricting its vehicles to that amount or lower, the outfit has closed on commitments of $2 billion across two new funds, including a $1.25 billion vehicle dedicated to later-stage investments, according to the Wall Street Journal. While the fund sizes of many venture capital firms have ballooned into billions of dollars over the last decade, Benchmark…

The Oyo State House of Assembly, on Wednesday, rejected suggestions and calls that the state government should negotiate with the bandits who abducted teachers and students during the coordinated attack at Ahoro-Esiele in Oriire Local Government Area of the state on Friday, May 15, 2026. It, however, called for intensified rescue operations to secure the release of victims abducted during the attack. This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing Oriire State Constituency, Johnson Ogundele, during plenary, shortly after the House resumed from the Eid-el-Kabir (Sallah) recess. The motion highlighted growing insecurity in parts…

Airtel Africa Plc has announced the applicable exchange rates and currency election arrangements for its final dividend payment for the financial year ended March 31, 2026. The telecommunications and mobile money operator disclosed that shareholders will receive a final dividend of 4.26 U.S. cents per ordinary share, following approval by the Board of Directors. The dividend is scheduled for payment on July 24, 2026, to shareholders whose names appear on the register at the close of business on June 19, 2026. According to the company, shareholders on both the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) will…