Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is expected in Kano state, North West Nigeria, on Friday, July 18, 2025, on a condolence visit to the government and people of the state, as well as the family of the late elder statesman and renowned philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata.
The visit was confirmed in a statement released by the spokesperson to the Kano State Governor, Sunusi Bature.
President Tinubu’s visit follows the recent passing of Alhaji Dantata, a respected business magnate whose life of service, philanthropy, and investment left a lasting impact across Nigeria.
The renowned businessman and philanthropist died at the age of 94 and was buried beside his wife’s grave at the Al-Baqi Cemetery in the holy city of Madina, Saudi Arabia, on July 1.
President Tinubu was out of the country at the time of Dantata’s passing but directed some of his ministers, led by the Defence Minister, to attend the burial in Saudi Arabia as a mark of honour for the late nonagenarian.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf described the President’s visit as a symbol of national unity and a mark of deep respect for the people of Kano and the enduring legacy of the late Aminu Alhassan Dantata.
“This is a moment of solemn reflection and national respect,” the governor stated. “I urge all residents of Kano to welcome the President in our traditional spirit of hospitality, dignity, and honour.”
He also assured the public that adequate security and logistical arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth and orderly visit.
Three-time Grand Slam finalist, Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, is taking a break from competitive tennis, the 30-year-old announced in a social media post.
Jabeur, the first Arab woman to reach a Grand Slam final, has struggled with her form in recent months, failing to get past the third round of a major this year.
The two-time Wimbledon finalist’s campaign came to a disappointing end at the All England Club last month as she retired from her first-round clash against Viktoriya Tomova, unable to continue after a long medical timeout.
“For the past two years, I’ve been pushing myself so hard, fighting through injuries and facing many other challenges. But deep down, I haven’t truly felt happy on the court for some time now,” she said in a statement.
“Tennis is such a beautiful sport. But right now, I feel it’s time to take a step back and finally put myself first: to breathe, to heal, and to rediscover the joy of simply living.”
The former world number two suffers from asthma and experienced breathing difficulties at this year’s Australian Open.
Jabeur, often called the ‘minister of happiness’ for her cheerful personality, said she was not feeling truly happy on the court. She has also been open about her wish to start a family.
“Thank you to all my fans for understanding. Your support and love mean the world to me. I carry it with me always,” she added.
The leadership of the National Assembly say the legacies of former President Muhammadu Buhari will be cherished by all Nigerians.
They say he was a man of integrity and not materialistic despite the vantage positions he held while alive.
They made the remarks on Thursday, at the expanded valedictory meeting of the Federal Executive Council held in honour of the departed former President, who died on Sunday 13th July.
The valedictory cabinet meeting summoned by President Bola Tinubu, held at the Council Chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja, where the late President Buhari presided over cabinet meetings for eight years.
In his tribute, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the late Nigerian leader’s death has forced the nation to pause. He went on to describe the former President as someone who sacrificed his all for the nation.
“There are moments in the life of a nation when she must pause. Today is such a moment as we gather in very solemn remembrance of President Muhammadu Buhari. A man who gave everything he had to a country that asked for everything from him,”he said.
Senator Akpabio further described the late President Buhari as a very principled man who, although not perfect, was good and utterly uninterested in personal comfort, prioritizing duty above all else.
“His life reflected basic simplicity and integrity, reminding that goodness is not always loud and that history applauds those who live for legacy over fame,” Akpabio said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, described the late President as a man whose life and legacy are deeply woven into the fabric of our nation.
“President Buhari was not an ordinary figure in our national journey. He embodied quiet strength, moral clarity and an unshakable sense of duty. At a time when society was seduced by materialism, he chose a life of modesty and service. He was devoted to family and steadfast in his Islamic faith,”he said.
Yusuf Buhari, the son of the late President, expressed the family’s gratitude to Nigerians from all walks of life, including members of the diplomatic community, for the honour bestowed on his father in death.
He commended President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, and their wives for the outstanding support received by the family from the time their father fell ill until his departure.
“It showed that he was regarded far more than a politician, but regarded as a friend and a father to all,” Yusuf Buhari said.
Equities trading session on the floor the Nigerian Exchange Group, NGX sustained its positive momentum on Thursday as the market capitalization of listed stocks advanced further with N833 billion in value.
The day’s bargain hunting and profit-taking activities led to 1,316.79 basis points or 1.02% increase on the NGX All-Share Index to close at 130,283.87 points compared to the 128,967.08 of the previous day.
Similarly, investors gianed N833 billion on the he market capitalization to close at N82.417 trillion higher than the N81.584 trillion recorded on Wednesday.
The Exchange clinched further on its northward movement due to the recently released inflation points to possible rate cut at the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) next week.
The equities market is also bullish as investors continue to reroute funds from the fixed income (FI) market, particularly as the moderating rate of the treasury bills (T-bills) is making investors rethink in favour of equities.
This is also coming as many investors are positioning ahead of half year (H1) earnings season in expectation of interim dividend payment by the regular companies.
The equities market has risen this year by 26.58 percent majorly driven by consumer goods, banking and insurance stocks while oil & gas stocks have seen remarkable profit taking by investors.
On price movement, 30 equities appreciated relative to 47 decliners.
BUA Cement emerged top on the gainer’s table with a 10% profit on its share price to close at N112.20k, followed by Dangote Cement with a 9.99% gain to close at N473.30k; then CHAMS recorded a 9.96% profit on its share price to close at N3.09k.
Conversely, FG192038S2 led the losers table with a 17.0% decline to close at N83.00k.
HMCALL, MECURE, BERGER, JOHN HOLT, MAYBAKER, and RTBRISCOE witnessed a 10% drop on their respective share prices to close at N4.68k, N11.70k, N33.75k, N9.00k, N15.30k and N3.42.
FTNCOCOA followed with a 9.97% loss to close at N6.32k while ACADEMY share price dropped but 9.96% to close at N7.50k.
A total of 1,193,193,643 units of shares exchanged hands in 37,418 deal.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled its General Authorisation Framework (GAF) to enhance growth in the industry and empower underserved communities.
The commission did the unveiling at its headquarters during a stakeholder engagement for the Nigerian Telecoms Industry, on Thursday in Abuja.
The Executive Vice-Chairman (EVC) of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida said that the sector had become a symbol of innovation and progress, revolutionising communication, improving access to information, and reshaping business operations.
Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, highlighted the tremendous progress made in the telecommunications sector over the past 24 years.
He said that the sector was at a turning point, where disruptive innovations were accelerating the evolution of the communications ecosystem.
“This progress has been driven by the rapid uptake of mobile technologies, surging data consumption, and an increasing appetite for digital services.
“But we are now at a turning point, where the nature of innovation demands a regulatory paradigm that is not only responsive but enabling.
“Broadband Penetration continues to grow, while digital literacy is on the rise. These are creating a solid foundation for a vibrant digital economy driven by accessibility, innovation, and inclusivity Technological innovation is accelerating across the world and nation.”
He emphasised the need for a regulatory paradigm that was not only responsive but enabling, allowing innovators to experiment and innovate without unnecessary restrictions, adding that the framework is introduced as a key initiative to achieve this goal.
According to him, the framework has introduced three key instruments that would provide a platform for innovators to test and validate their ideas, assess risk, and measure outcomes before deployment.
He said that the success of the framework depended on the active participation of stakeholders, including mobile network operators, service providers, infrastructure companies, OEMs, startups, civil society, and academia.
He said that the framework aimed to promote inclusive innovation, expanding access, closing connectivity gaps, and empowering underserved communities.
“This is an objective that lies at the core of the NCC’s latest initiative, the General Authorisation Framework.
“By adopting this approach, we are providing a platform for innovators of various sizes, whether they are startups or established companies, to demonstrate feasibility, assess risk, and measure outcomes before deployment.
“This model encourages experimentation and responsible innovation while safeguarding consumer rights and public interest,” he said.
He expressed optimism that the stakeholder engagement would spark curiosity, refine the collective vision, and accelerate the journey towards a more connected, innovative, and prosperous Nigeria.
The EVC called for collaboration and partnership to refine the approach and ensure that it worked for Nigeria.
He added that the future of Nigeria’s digital economy was unfolding rapidly which the communications sector was at the heart of this future.
Earlier, the Director of Licensing and Authorisation Department, NCC, Mr Usman Mamman, hinted that GAF was the outcome of extensive research, cross-departmental collaboration, and evaluation of global best practices and local industry dynamics.
Mamman described it as a flexible and forward-looking approach to licensing that promotes innovation while ensuring regulatory oversight, consumer protection, and market integrity.
According to him, the NCC conducted an internal review of recent service applications and pilot proposals, revealing a growing need for a flexible pathway to test new and emerging ideas.
He said that a benchmark study was also carried out to learn from other countries, including the UK’s Ofcom Sandbox model and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (MDA) testbeds.
“This shows a growing need for a flexible and well-structured pathway to test new and emerging ideas,” he said.
He called on stakeholders to ensure that this framework becomes a solid bridge between innovation and regulation, between start-up visionaries and established players, between present limitations and future possibilities.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerians to carry the memory of late former President Muhammadu Buhari as a standard of humility in power and discipline in leadership.
The Nigerian Leader gave the charge during the expanded special session of the Federal Executive Council held in honour of Buhari at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
In his tribute, President Tinubu described Buhari as first among soldiers in war, first among citizens in peace, and first in the hearts of his fellow citizens without ambition or flattery.
“He was first among soldiers in war, first among citizens in peace, and first, without ambition or flattery, in the hearts of his fellow citizens. Yet it was in the quiet and unadorned settings of his private life that his true greatness was revealed: pious without show, just without cruelty, humane without sentimentality, temperate without coldness, and sincere without guile.
Steady in posture and spirit, dignified in bearing, and commanding by his very presence, his example guided all who encountered him. Still, it endures.
To his peers, he was respectful and without pretence. To those who served under him, he was kind without condescension. And, to those whom he loved most intimately, he was unfailingly tender, loyal, and good.
His life was a rebuke to vice and a refuge for virtue. The purity of his private character gave radiance to the discipline and integrity of his public service,” he said.
President Tinubu described Buhari as a leader “unmoved by the temptation of power” and “unseduced by applause”, guided by moral clarity and quiet courage throughout his public service.
“Today, we gather under a heavy shadow, drawn from the silence surrounding a departed leader and from the immense weight of a life whose absence will be felt for generations.
“We meet to honour a man whose presence once commanded this room, whose voice summoned the best in us, and whose convictions never bowed, even to the strongest winds of public opinion,” he said.
The President hailed Buhari’s austere integrity, firm convictions, and enduring patriotism.
“President Buhari’s life was one of austere honour. He stood always ramrod—unmoved by the temptation of power, unseduced by applause, and unafraid of the loneliness that sometimes comes to those who do what is right rather than what is popular,” he said.
President Tinubu praised Buhari’s humility and discipline, stating that his true greatness was evident in his private conduct.
“Yet in his private life’s quiet and unadorned settings, his most real greatness was revealed: pious without show, just without cruelty, humane without sentimentality, temperate without coldness, and sincere without guile,” he said.
He recalled their political journey, highlighting Buhari’s key role in Nigeria’s democratic transition.
“We stood together, he and I. Alongside others drawn from across the political spectrum, various regions, and different languages, we formed an alliance that enabled Nigeria to experience its first true democratic transfer of power from one ruling party to another.
When he was sworn in as our party’s first elected President, he led with restraint, governed with dignity, and bore the burdens of leadership without complaint,”Tinubu said.
While acknowledging Buhari’s imperfections, the President maintained that he remained a good, decent, and honourable man.
“Nigerians and the world will debate his record, as all legacies are. Still, the character he brought to public life, the moral force he carried, and the incorruptible standard he represented will not be forgotten.
“His life was dedicated to serving Nigeria and Allah,” he said.
Yusuf Buhari, who attended the session with his siblings and other family members, thanked the Nigerian government for honouring their late father.
The expanded FEC session is part of ongoing national tributes following Buhari’s death on July 13, 2025, in London. He was buried at his Daura residence in Katsina State in accordance with Islamic rites.
The former leader, who ruled Nigeria as Head of State from 1984 to 1985 and later as an elected President from 2015 to 2023, is being remembered nationwide for his commitment to discipline, integrity, and national unity.
The Geeks and Founders Alliance for Soludo (GEFAS), a network of tech-savvy young professionals, on Thursday unveiled a state-of-the-art operational hub in Awka to support Governor Charles Soludo’s reelection bid under the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in the upcoming November 8, 2025, governorship election.
The newly commissioned one-storey facility is equipped with cutting-edge Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure and is designed to serve as a nerve center for digital engagement, grassroots mobilization, and collaborative strategy among young professionals in Anambra State. The initiative underscores GEFAS’s commitment to advancing Soludo’s vision for a technologically driven and prosperous state.
Speaking at the launch, Governor Soludo, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Solo Chukwulobelu, commended the group for embracing digital innovation in political engagement. He noted that their efforts reflect growing youth support for his administration.
“Our goal is to secure victory in the upcoming election and continue delivering good governance to the people of Anambra. Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra. We must ensure there is no vacancy in Government House come 2025,” he said. He urged GEFAS members to remain steadfast and resilient in the face of opposition.
Professor Chukwulobelu also emphasized the broader significance of the hub. “This platform enhances our capacity to communicate with the electorate and showcases the transformation underway in every sector of the state economy. It’s a strong signal that young people are not only committed to voting for Soludo but are also actively engaging others to understand and support this administration’s impact.”
Dr. Alex Obiogbolu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Politics, lauded the youth-led initiative, stating that it exemplifies the potential of digital tools in modern political campaigning and governance. He expressed optimism that a second term for Soludo would unlock further innovations.
In his remarks, GEFAS Convener Mr. Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata described the hub as a symbol of collective resolve and digital progress.
“This space reflects our shared commitment to innovation and our belief in the possibilities that come with visionary leadership. Governor Soludo has championed youth empowerment and fostered an environment where technology thrives,” Agbata said.
He concluded, “This platform ensures that the continuity of Soludo’s administration remains anchored in the values of digital transformation and inclusive development.”
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says while it does not guarantee jobs, it is developing a centralised job portal to give beneficiaries early access to employment opportunities in Nigeria and abroad.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this on Thursday during a media engagement in Abuja marking one year since the scheme’s launch.
Sawyerr said the portal would aggregate listings from the public and private sectors, as well as from international employers seeking Nigerian talent.
“We don’t just give a loan and leave students on their own. This job portal is our way of supporting their journey toward economic stability,” he said.
He stressed that repayment would only begin after beneficiaries secure employment, noting that repayment starts after their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
“If you don’t have a job, you don’t pay. And when you eventually get a job, your repayment starts fresh.
“Once employed, 10 per cent of the beneficiary’s monthly income is deducted automatically by the employer and remitted to NELFUND, following verification through the NELFUND employment register.
“If an employee is laid off or resigns, the deductions stop. And in the event of death, the loan is written off. The family is not harassed,” Sawyerr added.
On the issue of non-refund of fees to students who had paid before NELFUND disbursed their tuition to schools, the managing director appealed to institutions to return the fees to affected students.
He said institutions have a moral and professional obligation to refund these monies.
“We’ve received multiple petitions from students who paid under duress only to find their fees had also been paid by NELFUND.
“Institutions must refund this money. It’s disappointing that some schools have ignored this responsibility,” he said.
Sawyerr noted that the ICPC and EFCC have started questioning some institutions over delays or refusals to refund students.
“If an institution cannot refund directly to the student, they can pay the money back to us and we will ensure it gets to the rightful student,” he stated.
Speaking on the Fund’s future projection, the Executive Director of Operations, NELFUND, Mustapha Iyal, said the agency is currently managing over 3.2 million student records.
Iyal said NELFUND projects to process one million new applications by the end of 2025, stressing that the target is not mandatory but aimed at ensuring no student drops out due to financial hardship.
“Basically, our projection right now, we have about 3.2 million data students in our system.
“What we’re looking at this year, from now to the end of the year, we’re looking at about 1 million applications. We’re not pushing. We’re not saying that it’s compulsory.
“But we’re looking at how can we support 1 million applications to make sure that no one is dropping out of school,”he said.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the renaming of the University of Maiduguri to Muhammadu Buhari University, in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.
BigBrother Naija Season 10 is set to ignite screens with a record-breaking grand prize of N150 million. The new season is scheduled to premiere on Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27.
Busola Tejumola, Executive Head, General Entertainment, MultiChoice Group, made the announcement about the upcoming season at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos.
Tejumola said that the new season, which promises 10 weeks of captivating drama, strategic gameplay, and unparalleled entertainment, would culminate in the grand finale on Oct. 5.
“Today, we are not just announcing another season, we are celebrating a legacy.
“While the official theme for Season 10 will be unveiled on the premiere night, viewers can anticipate a fresh wave of excitement.
“The beloved Ebuka Obi-Uchendu is returning as host, guiding viewers through every twist and turn of the season.
“This 10th season also has the highest prize at stake – valued at a whopping N150 million,”Tejumola added that BBNaija had become more than just a television show.
“It’s a living, breathing cultural force.
“It has given voice to a new generation of talent, creatives, entertainers, and the influencer community.
“It has refined what homegrown entertainment can achieve when it is done at scale with intention and ambition.
“With a two-night opening live show for Big Brother Naija Season 10, the season is poised to build upon the legacy of its predecessors,” Tejumola said.
This year’s edition of the show was preceded by a meticulous audition process designed to unearth the most engaging and dynamic personalities from across Nigeria.
Recall that, audition registrations were held from May 3 to May 7, and saw an overwhelming response, followed by rigorous in-person auditions conducted in Lagos, Abuja, and Enugu from May 16 to May 18.
Senator Akpabio further described the late President Buhari as a very principled man who, although not perfect, was good and utterly uninterested in personal comfort, prioritizing duty above all else.
Yusuf Buhari, the son of the late President, expressed the family’s gratitude to Nigerians from all walks of life, including members of the diplomatic community, for the honour bestowed on his father in death.
