Author: damazah@gmail.com

Bennett Oghifo The immediate past President of FIABCI-Nigeria, Mr. Akin Opatola, has urged the incoming leadership of the international real estate federation’s Nigerian chapter to build on the visibility achieved by the outgoing executive, deepen engagement with government and expand membership. Opatola, who spoke on his tenure, said one of his major objectives when he assumed office two years ago was to make FIABCI-Nigeria more visible, noting that despite the organisation’s more than five-decade history, its activities were largely unknown outside its immediate professional circle. According to him, the opportunity to host the FIABCI World Congress provided a major platform…

The federal government has officially handed over 188 housing units to the Taraba State Government in Jalingo, as part of its renewed commitment to providing access, increasing affordability and bridging the housing deficit in the country.  The houses were built under the government’s National Housing Programme (NHP), initiatives in all the states of the federation, a statement in Abuja from the ministry of housing stated. Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Muttaqa Darma, performed the hand-over of the houses to the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas at a ceremony held at the Government House in Jalingo, alongside the Minister…

In its lawsuit against OpenAI, Apple filed what it calls “shocking evidence” to bolster its allegations that former employees stole trade secrets for OpenAI’s benefit. These new details emerged after the legal counsel for former Apple employee Chang Liu — who now works at OpenAI — handed over Liu’s old Apple work laptop for investigation earlier this month. Apple now alleges that Liu used a confidential Apple circuit schematic in his work at OpenAI, as well as a tool that shares a name with an internal Apple engineering application. The company claims that OpenAI was “well-aware” of Liu’s access to…

On August 22, the APC unveiled President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 Presidential Campaign Council. Among the names listed was Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), appointed Deputy Director of Fundraising under Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. The reaction was expectedly immediate. Former Senator Dino Melaye threatened to approach the courts, arguing that a serving public official cannot legally occupy a senior position in a partisan campaign structure. The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties went further, demanding Adedeji’s resignation to protect the institutional integrity of the revenue service. Both positions rest on the same concern: a man responsible…

Scientists at the University at Buffalo have developed an injectable hydrogel designed to keep osteoarthritis treatments inside the joint for much longer than conventional injections. After a single minimally invasive injection, the material changes from a liquid into a smooth, lubricating semisolid depot at body temperature. Once in place, it can remain in the joint for several weeks while gradually releasing drug-loaded nanocarriers. A Major Challenge in Osteoarthritis Treatment Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the world’s leading causes of chronic pain and disability. Common treatments delivered directly into joints, including analgesics, corticosteroids, and viscosupplements, can ease symptoms, but their effects…

Guardian writers’ predicted position: 1st (NB: this is not necessarily Tom Garry’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)Last season’s position: 1stProspectsChampions again at last, after a 10-year wait, Manchester City now face an even tougher task: defending their title. They appear to have a good chance of succeeding, especially after keeping their star striker, Khadija “Bunny” Shaw. The WSL’s top scorer and best player of 2025-26 performed a dramatic U-turn by signing a new four-year contract in May rather than leaving on a free transfer, and that may prove crucial in continuing City’s positive momentum.Their squad looks to…

Sheri Herman, the cable executive involved in the launches of E! Entertainment television, the Fashion Channel and American Cybercast, has died. Herman suffered heart failure in her sleep in Florida on August 6th, her family announced. She was 71. After graduating magna cum laude from Temple University, Herman got a job as a TV commercials producer at AC&R in New York. In 1983, following a period in the marketing department of The Entertainment Channel, she was recruited to join multi-system operator United Cable in Denver as Director of Programming. While there, Herman was responsible for negotiating carriage agreements with many…

Cardinal Torch Company Limited is betting big on processing. After raising ₦10 billion in the capital market and planning a stock exchange listing, the company says it wants to move Nigeria from exporting raw commodities to producing finished, value-added goods for global markets. Writes MARY NNAH At an exclusive media parley hosted by Cardinal Torch Company Limited, the management laid out an ambition that sounds simple but is radical for Nigerian agriculture: stop shipping raw beans, cashews, and cocoa abroad and start exporting finished products. Six years after it was founded in 2020, the company is trading millions of metric tons of…

.175 Quantity Surveyors Inducted .Institute Demands Realistic Estimates, Tighter Procurement, Accountability Bennett Oghifo Nigeria cannot afford further waste of scarce infrastructure funds as unrealistic estimates, cost overruns and abandoned projects continue to undermine development, the Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS) has warned. The NIQS has thus called for stronger cost discipline and accountability in public infrastructure projects, warning that poor financial planning and weak project management could further deepen Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit. The President of the Institute, QS Dr. Aminu M. Bashir, FNIQS, gave the warning at the induction of 175 new members of NIQS in Abuja, charging the…

Bennett Oghifo Afriland Properties Plc has announced the appointment of Agatha Obiekwugo as Chairman of its Board of Directors, succeeding Emmanuel Nnorom, who is retiring after a tenure as Chairman which spanned more than a decade. Obiekwugo joined the Board of Afriland Properties Plc in October 2018 as a Non-Executive Director. During her tenure, she has served on the Finance, Risk and General-Purpose Committee, as well as the Nomination, Audit and Governance Committee. As Chairman, she will lead the Board in providing strategic oversight as the Company continues to expand its real estate portfolio and strengthen its position in the…