News

...As UBEC lauds state govt’s utilisation of matching grants Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has flagged off the distribution of multimillion-naira instructional materials, furniture and sports kits to pupils of primary and junior secondary schools across the state. Items distributed included textbooks of English, Mathematics and other core subjects; pencils and exercise books; plastic chairs... The post Kwara Gov Flags Off Distribution Of Instructional Materials appeared first on New Telegraph .

Cuba Cuba power grid Cuba blockage News ECM World News By G. A. McNeeley Image: Havana, Cuba by Anselmo Guvaldo via Pixabay March 17, 2026 (Washington D.C.) -- Cuba’s power grid has collapsed, leaving the island nation without power CNN reports , as the result of a U.S. blockade that has shut off oil to the Caribbean nation. Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said regarding the prospects of taking over or liberating Cuba, “I think I can do anything I want.” The fervent, if intermittent, hostilities between the United States and Cuba spanning six decades have been marked by pressure campaigns, antagonism, and the occasional bursts of violence, according to USA Today .

The Federal Government of Nigeria have declared March 19 and 20 as public holidays for Eid-ul-Fitr, shutting schools, banks and offices nationwide.

Beyond the Code: How Africa’s Top Fintech is Reimagining the "Woman in Tech" Narrative

The senate committee on petroleum resources (upstream) on Monday cleared Magnus Abe, former senator representing Rivers south-east, for appointment as chairman of the board of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The committee screened Abe and other nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu. Eteng Williams, senator representing Cross River central, chaired the committee. The lawmakers considered nominees for appointment as chairman and non-executive commissioners of the commission. In line with senate tradition, Abe was asked to “take a bow and go,” a privilege usually extended to former lawmakers appearing before the senate for confirmation. Other nominees screened by the senate committee include Paul Jezhi, former chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Kaduna, and Sunday Babalola, former deputy director at the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). Speaking with journalists after the screening, Abe said rising global oil prices triggered by tensions involving Iran and the United States present both challenges and opportunities for Nigeria. “This is a very difficult time for the entire planet. It’s not just a Nigerian challenge; it is a global challenge,” he said. Abe said the global crisis could increase fuel prices but also boost Nigeria’s oil revenue. “You must look at the balancing act. Prices will definitely be affected, but revenues from our oil sales will also be positively affected,” he said. “There will be some measure of balance in what will happen.” ABE CALLS FOR END TO US-IRAN WAR Abe, who is also a former member of the Rivers state house of assmebly, called for an end to the conflict. “Human beings are actually dying,” he said. “Our prayers should be that this conflict, which in my opinion is unnecessary and harmful to the entire world, should quickly come to an end so that we can begin to recover.” Abe urged Nigeria to take advantage of the situation to strengthen its energy sector. “If the price of oil is going up, it allows us to invest in marginal fields that otherwise would not have been profitable,” he said. “If gas supplies are being disrupted globally, this is an opportunity for Nigeria to optimise its own gas production, which will create jobs and new opportunities.” Abe also expressed appreciation to Tinubu for nominating him to serve on the commission’s board. “I am sincerely grateful to Mr President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, for considering me and other members of the board worthy of service to this country,” he said. “I see it as a great privilege and an opportunity to contribute to the Renewed Hope Agenda.” Abe said the incoming board would work with stakeholders to strengthen regulation in the petroleum sector. He said the Petroleum Industry Act provides solutions to challenges such as oil theft and community agitation. “With the Host Communities Fund, the host communities themselves are now stakeholders. They benefit from production, and nobody destroys what he is eating,” he said. Abe was accompanied to the screening by Philip Aduda, former senator representing the federal capital territory (FCT), Olaka Nwogu, former senator representing Rivers south-east, and Ayo Akinyelure, former senator representing Ondo central, among others. Tinubu had earlier written to the senate on January 5 seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for the boards of the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

In the rapidly evolving digital economy of Nigeria, where fintech companies have seen a 70% growth in just one year, a quiet revolution is taking place that goes beyond mobile wallets and transaction volumes. At the heart of this shift is the PalmPay Purple Woman program, a program designed to bridge a stark reality: women currently represent only 17% of Nigeria's tech workforce. For many, the barrier to entry into technology is as much psychological as it is technical. "I’d seen the tweets, heard the buzz, but to me, tech just meant ‘hacking and coding,’" says one participant in a recent first-hand account. "I never imagined it was a space I could truly belong in". This participant was one of 100 women selected for a competitive 3-day masterclass 2025 cohort. What began as a "quietly terrified" leap of faith transformed into a career pivot. After the intensive training, she became one of only ten women selected for a high-stakes, six-month internship within PalmPay’s internal teams. Unlike traditional "coding bootcamps," the PalmPay Purple Woman program recognises that a thriving fintech ecosystem requires diverse talent. The program provides specialised training in; Technical Tracks: Software Engineering, Data Analysis, and UI/UX Design. Operational Excellence: Product Management, Digital Marketing, and Human Resources. Economic Resilience: Personal Financial Management and Workplace Policy. For the aforementioned participant, the path led to the Human Resources department, where she now manages hiring, onboarding, and payroll. "Interning in HR was more than I ever imagined," she notes. "I am learning aspiration, resilience, and responsibility". The program which is in its third year, is indeed impacting careers and lives as participants are equipped to thrive even in a male-dominated corporate world. Cumulative Reach: In the past 3 years, the program has empowered approximately 250 young women. Direct Employment: It has facilitated 20 internships to date, moving women directly from classroom theory to the fast-paced environment of Africa’s #1-ranked fintech company by Financial Times x Statista Africa’s Fastest Growing Companies 2025. Knowledge Driven Masterclass: Every year, the shortlisted women are empowered with knowledge to thrive at work and life. A key component of the international appeal is PalmPay’s unique corporate culture, which seeks to dismantle traditional African corporate hierarchies. The program introduces participants to a “no door” policy, where interns can walk directly up to the Managing Director to pitch ideas. "It completely shifted the vibe—less hierarchy, more collaboration," the intern shared. "It makes the workplace feel open, empowering, and far from toxic". As Nigeria cements its status as a leading emerging tech hub, the Purple Woman program serves as a blueprint for how market leaders can build sustainable, inclusive growth. By focusing on both "hard" technical skills and "soft" organisational leadership, PalmPay is ensuring that as the sector scales, the faces behind the technology are as diverse as the millions of customers they serve. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of PalmPay. About PalmPay: PalmPay is a leading emerging markets-focused fintech platform committed to driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money. PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products including mobile payments, embedded credit, savings and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network. Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users and connects over a million businesses through its network of agents and merchants. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.. For more information, visit www.PalmPay.com