Author: Vardiafrica

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with CypherCrescent Limited, has announced an upcoming digital research capacity development programme designed to equip undergraduate students in Nigeria with modern technology skills, advanced research methods, and industry-relevant digital competencies. Students of science, engineering and technology disciplines in public universities, who are at 300 and 400 level, including those currently on industrial training (IT), are eligible to apply for registration, using the contact address [email protected] or www.cyphercrescent.com. In a statement on Wednesday, the NCDMB said the programme, themed ‘Catch-the-Researcher-Young Programme (CRYP), is created to prepare young talents for a future…

Israel said Sunday that Iran launched missiles at it in the first such bombardment since a fragile ceasefire took effect in early April, further complicating mediation efforts for a deal to end the war. Iran’s state broadcaster confirmed the missile launches and cited the armed forces as saying that “if Israel responds to Iranian attacks or does not stop its attacks on Lebanon, Iranian attacks will continue.” Israel’s military said it intercepted all missiles from Iran but warned “the defense is not hermetic,” adding that sirens sounded in several areas of the country. Multiple explosions were heard in northern Israel, but…

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commenced a comprehensive 90-day nationwide review of projects funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), amid growing concerns over allegations of abandoned projects, poor execution, delayed delivery, and substandard implementation in tertiary institutions across the country. The student body said the initiative was prompted by increasing reports and public complaints regarding the quality and completion status of several TETFund-funded interventions in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. In a statement issued on Sunday, NANS noted that allegations involving some contractors responsible for executing TETFund projects had raised serious questions about accountability,…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has deployed aerial surveillance assets to support ongoing search-and-rescue operations to secure the release of teachers and pupils abducted from Yawota and Ahoro-Esinele communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. The development was disclosed by the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, during a courtesy visit by a delegation representing the Chief of Air Staff, Sunday Kelvin Aneke, led by the Air Officer Commanding Logistics Command, Abubakar Suleh, at the Government House. Makinde said the Air Force immediately deployed an aerial surveillance platform after the abduction incident was reported, providing critical intelligence to…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced stricter sanctions for banks that process foreign exchange transactions without proper documentation, imposing penalties that could run into hundreds of millions of naira. Under the revised foreign exchange regulatory framework, authorised dealer banks found to have completed forex transactions with insufficient supporting documents will pay a N100 million fine. They will also incur an additional N10 million penalty for each affected transaction. The sanctions are contained in the fourth edition of the Foreign Exchange Manual released by the apex bank. The document serves as the operational guide for participants in Nigeria’s foreign…

Clubs whose players go to the World Cup, or appeared in qualifying, will receive increased compensation this summer, FIFA, the governing body of world football, announced on Friday. FIFA said it had increased the amount of money in its Club Benefits Programme to $355 million (306m euros). It had already announced last September that it planned this increase of 70 percent from the amount distributed for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. While FIFA does not give total revenue figures for the World Cup, it estimates that its total revenue this year will be 56 percent up on 2022, and…

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has impounded more than 30 vehicles for using tinted glasses, obscured number plates, and improper registration as it commenced enforcement of the ban on tinted vehicles across Abuja. Addressing journalists at the command headquarters on Friday, the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Sanusi, said the operation was aimed at tackling the growing use of such vehicles by criminals involved in one-chance robberies, kidnappings, and other violent crimes within the territor According to him, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Tunji Disu, has authorised the command to enforce the ban. CP Sanusi said intelligence…

The Federal government has commenced plans to repatriate more than 1,000 of its citizens from South Africa as concerns grow over rising anti-immigrant sentiments and renewed xenophobic tensions in the southern African nation. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday, with authorities expecting over 1,000 Nigerians to participate. Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa told AFP that the final number of those seeking to return home had not yet been determined but noted that the figure was expected to exceed 1,000. “Total figure not out yet,” he said. “We are…

The Federal Government on Thursday assured Nigerians that all abducted pupils and teachers from a school in Oyo State, and other parts of the country would be safely rescued, declaring that the return of every victim remains a top national priority. Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, gave the assurance during a press briefing in Abuja, where he outlined ongoing efforts by security agencies to secure the release of the victims and combat terrorism and kidnapping across the country. According to the minister, President Bola Tinubu has directed that every lawful instrument available to the Nigerian state be…

The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has dismissed allegations of irregularities and imposition of candidates in its recently concluded presidential, governorship, National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly primaries, insisting that all contestants were given a fair opportunity to participate in the democratic process. The party said claims that its primaries were manipulated were either borne out of ignorance of its constitution and guidelines or deliberate attempts by opponents unsettled by the party’s growing popularity across the country. In a statement on Friday and signed by the National Secretary of the party, Ikenna Morgan Enekweizu, the NDC maintained that its primary…