Mariega Efe

Published: August 16, 2025 • Category: Politics , Elections , Kaduna Security operatives in Kaduna have arrested a man with cash totaling about ₦25,963,000 , allegedly meant for vote buying during the state’s by-election. The suspect was intercepted within Kaduna metropolis, where he was found carrying the huge cash sum. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. What Happened The arrest was made by a joint security task force after intelligence reports suggested that the money was intended to influence voters. Officials noted that such acts directly undermine the democratic process. Police Response The Kaduna State Police Command, in a brief statement, confirmed the arrest and assured citizens that all forms of electoral malpractice would be dealt with decisively. They urged voters to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity during the elections. Why This Matters Election Integrity: Vote buying weakens trust in democratic ins...

Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s headline inflation rate slowed to 21.88% in **July 2025**, down from **22.22%** in **June**, marking the **fourth consecutive month of decline**, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). 0 Key Highlights Headline inflation: 21.88% (July) vs. 22.22% (June) 1 Food inflation: rose slightly to 22.74% in July from 21.97% in June 2 CBN policy rate: held at **27.50%**, reinforcing its commitment to sustaining disinflation 3 Why Inflation Is Easing The downward trend reflects several factors — statistical base effects from the Consumer Price Index rebasing, tighter monetary policy, and improved macroeconomic conditions including FX stability and harvest-led relief in food supply. 4 Why It Still Matters Despite the welcome slowdown, food prices remain elevated and continue to exert pressure on household budgets. Sustaining this disinflation path will require persistent policy discipline and supply-side reforms. 5 ...

Published: August 15, 2025 • Category: Celebrity News / Gospel Music “The Lord Has Done It Again” — Mercy Chinwo Welcomes Second Child Illustrative image. Credit: Unsplash. Nigerian gospel powerhouse Mercy Chinwo and her husband, Pastor Blessed Uzochikwa , have joyfully announced the arrival of their second child . The couple shared the good news on social media today, expressing gratitude to God and appreciation for the love from fans, family, and friends. Quick Highlights Mercy and Pastor Blessed welcomed their second baby on August 15, 2025 . The couple married on August 13, 2022, and welcomed their first child in October 2023. Fans and fellow gospel artists flooded their pages with congratulatory messages. What Mercy Shared In their announcement, the couple d...

OpenAI GPT-5 Launch Sparks Mixed Reactions Published: August 15, 2025 • by Steve Fe On August 7, 2025, OpenAI rolled out its latest AI model, GPT-5 , to all ChatGPT users—both free and subscribed—marking the next step in AI evolution 6. Global Reactions & Market Insights Mixed reviews: GPT-5 brings technical improvements in coding, reasoning, and reduced hallucinations, but users say its tone feels colder and still makes factual mistakes 7. India’s growth: Sam Altman shared in a podcast that India is now OpenAI's second-largest market and may soon become the largest, highlighting GPT-5’s international impact 8. Rolling back changes: Due to user pushback, OpenAI restored GPT-4o for ChatGPT Plus users and promised GUI and performance refinements to GPT-5 9. What’s Next? OpenAI appea...

From AI adoption and supply-chain rewiring to the clean-energy push and digital payments, here are the global business trends redefining 2025—and what they mean for companies, creators, and consumers in Nigeria and across Africa. Tech, finance, and trade are converging to reshape global business. In this analysis AI & automation Supply chains go regional Clean-energy transition Rates, inflation & capital Digital payments & fintech What it means for Nigeria & Africa FAQ 1) AI & automation become everyday business Enterprises are moving from AI pilots to production: customer support, fraud detection, demand forecasting, and content ops. Winners invest in clean data, workflow integration, and employee upskilling . Action: Start with high-impact processes (support, finance ops); measure uplift, then scale. Internal link: See our tech coverage: Technol...

Nigeria’s AI interest surged by 130% in 2024, while startups like Awarri and CDIAL AI lead the charge for language-inclusive and culturally relevant tech. Futuristic AI-driven cityscape—symbolizing Nigeria’s digital technology leap. Why AI Is Trending in Nigeria Google search trends show AI-related queries in Nigeria rose by 130% in 2024, placing the country 6th in Africa and 25th globally. Searches for “what is AI” increased 30%, while “how to use AI” searches jumped by 40%—showing both curiosity and intent to adopt. 1 Local Innovations Transforming the AI Space Awarri : Developing Nigeria’s first multilingual LLM supporting Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Pidgin—backed by the 3MTT program. 2 CDIAL AI : Creator of Indigenius, a multilingual AI keyboard and dictionary supporting 180+ African languages. 3 AI’s Impact on Industries—Now & Tomorrow AI isn't limited to talk—it's powering real change. Paystack and Flutterwav...

Nigeria’s D’Tigress have cemented their legacy by winning a record fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket championship—sending their 29-game unbeaten streak into history. Historic moment: Nigeria’s D’Tigress celebrate their fifth Women’s AfroBasket victory in Abidjan. In an unforgettable display of dominance, Nigeria’s D’Tigress defeated Mali 78–64 in the final of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket in Abidjan—a win that marks a record-breaking fifth consecutive continental championship. ([AfricaBasket](https://www.africabasket.net/articles/nigeria-makes-history-dtigress-clinch-fifth-straight-afrobasket-title?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [Guardian](https://guardian.ng/breakingnews/dtigress-wins-5th-consecutive-title-after-beating-mali/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Unbeaten Legacy The D’Tigress extended their unbeaten run to 29 games, a feat unmatched in African women’s basketball. Their disciplined defense and balanced scoring made the difference. ([AfricaBasket...

Nigeria has officially submitted a historic bid to hold the first African Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abuja, aiming to boost tourism, infrastructure, and national pride. Concept art showing Abuja transformed into an F1 race venue. In July 2025, Nigeria took a bold step into the global racing arena by officially bidding to host the first Formula 1 Grand Prix on African soil. Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), confirmed that Opus Racing Promotions will represent the country in this ambitious push. ([BusinessDay](https://businessday.ng/sports/article/nigeria-submits-bid-to-host-first-african-formula-1-grand-prix-in-abuja?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [The Guardian](https://guardian.ng/sport/nigeria-submits-official-bid-to-host-formula-1-grand-prix-in-abuja/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) Why It Matters for Nigeria Boosts tourism and signals readiness for large-scale events. Potential annual investment revenue projected ...

Discover how Clayrocksu and her community are keeping Nigeria’s underground rock scene alive through DIY shows, passion, and raw creativity. Clayrocksu captivating audiences during a rock show in Lagos. In a country dominated by Afrobeats, **Clayrocksu** is hitting back with gritty, unapologetic rock. Through basement gigs, WhatsApp communities, and grassroots passion, she’s cultivating **Nigeria’s underground rock movement**—one raw riff at a time. Why This Scene Matters DIY venues and house concerts: fan-owned and fiercely creative. Shared gear and community support via WhatsApp groups like *Rock Republic* — helping bands like PainPerception and LoveSick thrive. 1 Clayrocksu won AFRIMA’s Best African Rock Artist (2022) and is redefining Afro-Rock with Igbo and Pidgin influences. 2 Her Vision and Influence As the founder of the collective *AfroRockstars*, Clayrocksu is nurturing a new generation of rock artists, hosting in...

Want to avoid boring movies? Use these five simple checks to spot a must-watch movie fast—whether you love action, romance, comedy, or thrillers. This guide shows how to read trailers, ratings, and reviews the smart way so your next watch is absolutely worth it. By Staff Writer • August 14, 2025 Quick checks that help you choose a movie you’ll actually enjoy. In this guide Check the cast & crew Watch the trailer the smart way Read ratings—don’t be fooled by the number Scan the synopsis for three hooks Use the “first 10 minutes” rule Bonus: Quick red flags FAQ 1) Check the cast & crew (track record matters) Look beyond star power. A “must-watch” often has director + writer + lead who’ve delivered quality before. Search their previous films and note awards, audience scores, or cult followings. If the same team has made two or more solid title...