Author: damazah@gmail.com

In 2008, Ismail Eleburuike, a graduate of Federal Government College Ilorin, Nigeria, moved to Sweden in search of top-quality education. On arrival, he wasn’t content making personal progress alone; his mind kept reminding him of his place of origin and how he could contribute to educational development back home. Within three years, Eleburuike earned two Master’s degrees: one in Electrical Engineering with an emphasis in Telecommunications from Blekinge Institute of Technology, and another in Project Management and Operational Development from KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Yet, something remained missing: a desire to give back. The perfect opportunity presented itself when…

Olly Robbins, the former Foreign Office chief sacked by Keir Starmer over the Peter Mandelson security vetting scandal, has submitted a legal challenge over his dismissal.Robbins has applied to the high court for a judicial review of the prime minister’s decision to remove him as the top civil servant at the Foreign Office, the FDA union representing him said in a statement.The announcement comes three months after he was dismissed by Starmer following the Guardian’s disclosure that he had overturned a recommendation from UK Security Vetting (UKSV) to deny clearance for Mandelson.There was strong support for Robbins within Whitehall, with…

Bacteria that cause gum disease may do more than damage your teeth. New preliminary research suggests they could also contribute to the buildup of calcium in the heart’s aortic valve, potentially leading to calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS), a common and potentially life threatening heart valve disorder. The findings were presented at the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Scientific Sessions 2026, held in Boston from July 13 to 16. The meeting is one of the world’s largest gatherings focused on basic and translational cardiovascular research. According to the American Heart Association, CAVS develops when the aortic valve gradually becomes…

The South African sports community has been thrown into mourning following the death of midfielder Jayden Adams, who died at the age of 25, only weeks after representing Bafana Bafana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The talented midfielder featured in all three of South Africa’s group matches as the team reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in its history before bowing out to co-hosts Canada in the Round of 32. South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, described Adams’ death as a huge loss to the country. “It is with…

Sinatra was playing over the speakers at Yankee Stadium, but the night wasn’t over, not quite. No, as Frank’s voice rang out at 2:30 a.m., in the wee small hours of Monday morning — “I want to beee a part of it…” — Jay-Z still had a few more verses left in him. Seeing Jay live is a rare enough treat in these days when the man who was once rap’s most prolific hitmaker is more or less retired, for real this time, emerging only when he wants to say something to the generations of hip-hop fans who still revere…

There’s something festive about bringing a whole roast feta to the table, and even more so when it’s thickly covered in toasted pine nuts. Tenderstem broccoli is a real treat in this dish, and my top tip is to blanch the spears in boiling water before you roast them – it really improves their texture. Crunchy, lemon-dressed radishes and spring onions add freshness, making this a lovely dish for a meze with friends.Pine-nut crusted feta, roasted broccoli and radish saladIf you want to get ahead, keep the pine-nut topped feta and broccoli in a roasting tin in the fridge, ready…

Alex Enumah in Abuja  The Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has stressed the input of legal practitioners towards the success of the various reforms being effected in the nation’s judiciary. According to the CJN, the success of judicial reforms depends on the continued partnership between the Bench and the Bar.  Kekere-Ekun in addition observed that the legal profession and the judiciary share a common responsibility in promoting the efficient administration of justice and the rule of law.  The CJN made the observation when she received a delegation of the outgoing leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA),…

The sudden demise of longtime United States Senator Lindsey Graham could impact the country’s politics and upend the US Congress’s balance of power ahead of midterm elections scheduled later this year.The 71-year old Republican Party politician was a close ally of President Donald Trump in the Senate, both on domestic and international matters, including the ongoing US-Israel war on Iran.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listSo how will his death impact Trump’s agenda? And what effect will it have on the Senate?Here’s what we know:What did Trump say on Graham’s death?On Saturday evening, shortly after returning from a business…

NINAuth and NITDA’s incoming digital public infrastructure standards answer a real problem: an identity system citizens cannot control is one they will not trust. But trust only gets people enrolled. Whether the system ever pays for itself depends on something else, and the evidence from 210 countries suggests Nigeria should be paying closer attention to it. The argument made on these pages last week, that consent has become the new security perimeter of Nigeria’s digital identity system, is correct and overdue. NINAuth, the National Identity Management Commission’s app that lets citizens grant or revoke permission each time their National Identification…

Waze is getting an AI makeover. Google is integrating its flagship AI assistant, Gemini, into the driving app with the goal of letting users personalize their trips a little more.Of the four new updates, only two are being described as involving Gemini. Waze says its updating its conversation reporting feature, first introduced in 2024, to allow drivers to use conversational voice commands to report traffic incidents and suggest map updates, like a road closure or outdated house number. In addition, Waze introduced Destination Search, enabling drivers to use (again) use conversation voice commands (e.g., “Find me a coffee shop that’s…