Author: damazah@gmail.com

By Elizabeth Adegbesan Firms are expecting borrowing cost for banks’ loans to decline in the next three months deapite seeing rates elevated in July. This was contained in the Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, latest Business Expectation Survey Report. CBN said: “Respondents expect borrowing rates to remain elevated across the same periods, as indicated by the consistently positive borrowing rate indices. “The relatively stable indices, fluctuating around 18-19 points, suggest expectations of a marginal decrease in borrowing costs over the near – to medium term.” The survey report also showed that the Business Confidence Index was 5.7 points, reflecting continued optimistic…

President Bola Tinubu’s proposed official visit to Akwa Ibom State in September to inaugurate projects executed by Governor Umo Eno has generated excitements and expectations. Etim Etim previews the many dimensions of the visit. Recently, Governor Umo Eno extended an invitation to President Bola Tinubu to visit Akwa Ibom State and inaugurate some of the projects executed in the last three years. The visit may happen in September, and may last two days. Details are, however, still being worked out. Akwa Ibom would be the 14th state to be visited by the President, either in-person, virtually or through a representative,…

The Trump administration is waging an unprecedented war on institutions devoted to research and higher learning. While plenty of countries have harmed universities by imposing neoliberal logics on academia – creating artificial markets in the name of spurring professors to be more productive – the Trumpist subjugation of all science to political imperatives has no equivalent in a democracy; if anything, it is reminiscent of Stalin’s Soviet Union. The assault now also targets foreign students and any kind of international collaboration – a major blow to US soft power. Why are Trumpists engaging in what can only be described as…

Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad on Thursday exchanged sharp criticisms in a social media row sparked off on X by the controversies surrounding the 15 August Osun governorship election. They traded barbs about their political influence, electoral credibility and Grammy nominations. It began after Davido reacted in apparent excitement to presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga post on X sharing an update on the President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Osun State Government account freeze controversy. Mr Onanuga announced in the post that President Tinubu had a phone conversation with Governor Ademola Adeleke,…

A frozen drink and a classic dessert all rolled into one. Instead of piña coladas and getting caught in the rain, we’re whipping up these and manifesting a sunny summer.Peaches & creamServes 150ml spiced dark rum – we use Diplomático Riserva Exclusiva1 small handful frozen peach slices – 5-7 pieces should do it, plus 1 slice extra, to garnish3 tbsp coconut cream30ml peach juice, or any sweet fruit juice15ml fresh lime juicePut everything into a blender and blitz for 30-60 seconds, until very smooth. Pour into a highball glass, garnish with the extra slice of frozen peach and serve.

Nigerian disc jockey and entrepreneur, Florence Otedola, popularly known as DJ Cuppy, has revealed that she receives marriage proposals every day. Cuppy made the disclosure while speaking about her academic journey, career and philanthropic work in an interview with Marie Claire, published on Thursday. The entertainer, who is known for her music career, has also built an impressive academic profile, earning degrees from New York University, the University of Oxford and King’s College London, with another qualification already in view. Speaking about her decision to continue pursuing education, Cuppy jokingly linked her growing collection of certificates to her grandmother’s questions…

Funmi Ogundare Veteran journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch, Ray Ekpu, Thursday, called on the Nigerian government to intensify diplomatic engagement with South Africa over recurring xenophobic attacks, insisting that Pretoria must enforce its laws, prosecute perpetrators and compensate victims. He made the call at a Pan-African roundtable organised by League of Nigerian Columnists (LNC) in partnership with the Commonwealth Institute of Advanced and Professional Studies. The dialogue themed, ‘From Mayibuye IAfrica to Abahambe! South Africa and Other African Countries: Reflections on the Trajectory of a Relationship’, was attended by scholars, diplomats, media professionals and policy analysts. Ekpu, who chaired the…

Since its flag-off, the Lagos Boy Child Initiative has been intentional with its focus on the boy-child, discovering, training and equipping them with useful skills that help them to live responsible life, rather than drifting into crime. This year, the initiative, a brainchild of Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, the First Lady of Lagos State, expanded from sport to a cooking competition, drawing participants from all five divisions of the state and students from public, private schools, orphanages and correctional facilities with the aim of encouraging them to learn cooking, develop interest and further it to become chefs in the future. In…

Donald Trump has ordered a new 15% tariff on imported products made of polysilicon, an important ingredient in microchip manufacturing that is primarily produced by China.The new tariff, which will take effect on 4 December, is aimed at supporting US chip and solar panel supply chains to compete with Beijing on artificial intelligence and energy.The executive order signed by the president on Thursday evening said: “The plan of action in ⁠this proclamation will, among other things, help ensure the commercial viability of United States production of polysilicon and its derivatives that is necessary to meet United States economic and national…

Overall, the German firm plans to invest approximately €17bn (£14.5bn; $19.6bn) in the US over the next six years “to grow its generation capacity”.Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement posted on X that Americans deserve an energy system built on common sense and not one dependent on “costly subsidies”. “We welcome RWE’s agreement and voluntary investment in projects that strengthen our nation’s energy security,” he added.The deal is the latest the Trump administration has reached this year as Trump, a vocal supporter of the fossil fuel industry, continues his push to halt offshore wind projects.Trump has sought to…