Author: damazah@gmail.com

As Delta State looks ahead to the 2027 governorship election, a growing youth movement is calling for a break from traditional politics in favour of innovation-driven leadership. At the centre of that conversation is Dr. Joshua Denila, the Youth Party’s governorship candidate, whose background in technology and software innovation has made him a rallying point for many young voters seeking a new direction for the state. Bukola Lasisi writes  How a technology innovator, software entrepreneur and political newcomer became the symbol of a generational movement tipped to redefine governance in Delta State. Interestingly, this is mainly down to the resolve of the…

Most developing countries spent less on education than they did repaying debt last year, according to the UN, at the same time as global aid to education is predicted to decline by up to 30%.More was spent on servicing foreign debt than on education in 113 developing countries in 2025, according to research by the UN’s culture and education agency, Unesco. In sub-Saharan Africa, countries spent 3.6 times more on debt than education.The situation is likely to be exacerbated by funding cuts, the agency warned. Low- and lower-middle-income countries have already lost 21% of the aid to education they were…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Xavier Niel has purchased a 16.21 per cent stake in Vodafone Group for £4.4bn, a move that will make the French billionaire the FTSE 100 group’s largest shareholder. Niel’s Vega entity acquired the position from Emirati telecoms group e& for 110 pence a share, a 15 per cent premium on Vodafone’s closing price on Thursday.The move is the latest step in Niel’s European telecoms expansion, which has seen him build established businesses in France, Italy, Poland and Ireland. Niel has long held an interest…

Cases of an explosive diarrheal parasite continue to skyrocket in Michigan, which is reporting 1,251 cases as of July 9. Of those, 44 were hospitalized. Meanwhile, across the border in Ohio, cases are also quickly rising, with news reports of a case total over 500. The outbreak in Michigan began with two cases reported on June 22 and rose steeply at the start of July. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported 572 cases on July 4. On Wednesday, July 8, 239 cases were reported, the highest single-day tally so far. The current total of 1,251 cases…

Ann Widdecombe, the former MP and MEP has died aged 78.A statement from her management said: “It is with great sadness that today we announce the death of the Rt Hon Ann Widdecombe, DSG.“We send our deepest condolences to Ann’s family and friends. We ask that the family’s wish not to be contacted at this sad time is respected.”Widdecombe was a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010 for the Kent constituency of Maidstone, later Maidstone and the Weald, and held several ministerial positions in John Major’s government.She famously clashed with her Conservative colleague Michael Howard, when she was a Home…

Anyone searching for Erling Haaland on Google is now greeted with a special surprise as the search engine celebrates the Norway striker’s outstanding performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 25-year-old has been one of the tournament’s standout players, spearheading Norway’s historic run to the quarterfinals with seven goals in just four appearances. Norway will face England on July 11 for a place in the semifinals, with Haaland hoping to continue his remarkable scoring streak. As his popularity has soared during the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Google has introduced a unique easter egg for…

Nigeria’s digital creator’s community was thrown into mourning on Monday following reports that TikTok content creator Akube Nation died in an auto crash in Lagos. However, the circumstances surrounding the crash have not been officially confirmed. As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command and the Federal Road Safety Corps had not issued a statement, and PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the claims circulating online. A video circulating on social media on Tuesday showed an unidentified man claiming to recount the events leading to the crash. In the video, the man said he had…

Olaide Alim, founder of SnappyExchange and SnappyPay, says startup founders can strengthen their leadership by developing a solid understanding of technology, particularly as Africa’s digital finance, e-commerce and technology sectors continue to evolve. According to him, while founders do not necessarily have to become software engineers, having technical knowledge enables them to make more informed product decisions, communicate more effectively with development teams, and build businesses that can scale sustainably. Alim noted that a growing number of startup founders are complementing their business expertise with technical skills to gain deeper product insight and improve execution in an increasingly competitive industry.…

Three wins to go. How can your team reach the final and win World Cup 2026? Click here to find out.Who: Spain vs BelgiumWhat: FIFA World Cup 2026 – quarterfinalWhere: Los Angeles Stadium in California, United StatesWhen: Friday at noon (19:00 GMT)How to follow: We will have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 15:30 GMT before our live text commentary stream.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listAfter crushing the “American dream” by taking down cohosts USA in a politically influenced encounter, Belgium are gearing up for their next big challenge.They face the daunting task of tackling Spain, whose robust defence and…

Michael Olugbode in Banjul The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), through the West African Health Organization (WAHO), on Friday handed over 10 fully equipped four-wheel-drive ambulances and critical medical equipment to The Gambia in a major effort to strengthen the country’s emergency response capacity and bolster regional health security. The intervention, financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) under the COVID-19 Exceptional Emergency Project for Low-Income ECOWAS Member States, represents an investment of approximately $3.4 million in The Gambia out of the project’s overall $22.3 million regional budget. The medical equipment includes oxygen concentrators, haemodialysis machines, X-ray machines,…