Author: Vardiafrica

The victory celebrations have continued in Lagos as the 10-time WAFCON champions, the Super Falcons, paraded their trophy through the streets to the cheers of enthusiastic football fans. Still riding high on the wave of national recognition, including a presidential honour and generous cash rewards, the triumphant Super Falcons touched down in Lagos on Wednesday afternoon. Their arrival set off a jubilant trophy parade that passed through iconic landmarks on Lagos Island, drawing crowds of elated fans who lined the streets to celebrate the team’s historic WAFCON triumph. The parade began at Costain, passed through Eko Bridge, Apongbon, Obalende, Ikoyi…

Turkey unveiled its most powerful conventional aircraft bomb GAZAP, which has a warhead weighing 970 kilograms (2,000 pounds), at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2025 in Istanbul. The bomb, designed by Türkiye’s National Defense Ministry’s research and development (R&D) center, disperses 10.16 fragment explosions per meter (3.2 feet) instead of 3 meters (9.8 feet), an official told Anadolu. With its blast effect, the bomb has a very destructive capability, which can be dropped from an F-16 fighter jet. “The R&D center has modified the explosive and filler design,” the official said. “Qualification and certification processes are complete and ready…

Kenya is taking bold steps to curb alcohol consumption. The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse, or NACADA, has just announced a sweeping crackdown on where and how alcohol can be sold across the country. In a report released Wednesday, July 30, the authority banned alcohol sales in ten types of locations. The move is part of a broader effort to reduce access to alcohol, drugs, and other substances of abuse. Under the new rules, selling alcohol through online platforms, home deliveries, and couriers is now completely prohibited. Also affected are petrol stations, restaurants, residential areas,…

Three months before Ivory Coast’s presidential election, long-standing leader Alassane Ouattara has announced he will be standing for a fourth term in office, ending months of speculation. “I am a candidate because I want our beloved Côte d’Ivoire to continue to remain a prosperous country, in peace and security,” he said in a televised address on Tuesday. The 83-year-old president said both his health and the country’s Constitution allows him to serve another term. Ouattara, who has been president since 2011, said the country was facing “unprecedented security, economic, and monetary challenges. “Indeed, the terrorist threat is growing in the sub-region and…

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Wednesday charged outgoing trainees in bag-making to establish cooperatives and business hubs to bolster their performance and productivity and engender an ecosystem for a thriving bag-making industry in the country. Speaking at the close-out ceremony of a bag-making training and empowerment programme at the UNDP Multipurpose Vocational Training Centre, Warri, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, advised the start-ups to shun the temptation of operating in isolation to enable them develop the requisite clout for credit facilities and wide patronage. According to him, “With a cooperative you’ll…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed the Pro-Chancellor, governing council members, and principal officers of the Federal University of Environment and Technology, Koroma/Saakpenwa, Ogoni in Rivers State. Prof. Don Mon Baridam, from the South-South, is the pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, while Prof. Chinedu Mmom, also from the South-South, will serve as the vice-Chancellor. Baridam is a professor of Management with a specialisation in Organisational Behaviour. He previously taught at the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State. Mmom is a professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the University of Port Harcourt. He was…

A total of 51 trainees on Friday completed an intensive training programme on solar panel PV installation at the Standard Institute of Technology (SIT), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, as part of capacity building initiatives of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The training which covered areas such as procurement and maintenance, in addition to installation, is one of such initiatives taking place simultaneously at six different centres across the country. Speaking at the SIT, Uyo, close-out ceremony on Friday, the Executive Secretary, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said the Board is deliberate in its capacity building programmes, to help…

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has dissolved the state executive council, retaining only the office of Chief of Staff, which will now be occupied by former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Moses Atagher. Atagher, a seasoned administrator and former acting Managing Director of the Federal Mortgage Bank, was announced as the new Chief of Staff with immediate effect at the close of the 12th executive council meeting of 2025. Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Terso Kula, disclosed that the dissolution affects only the commissioners. Governor Alia expressed appreciation to the outgoing commissioners for their two…

Nigeria’s Government has commenced plans to support light rail projects in key Northern States, starting with Kaduna and Kano, as part of efforts to enhance public transportation and boost economic productivity in the region. Nigeria’s Minister of Transportation, Saidu Ahmed Alkali stated this while chairing a discussion on infrastructure at the ongoing 2-day interactive session organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation in Kaduna, North West Nigeria. Speaking on the Renewed Hope Cities (RHC) Project, the Minister revealed that 3,112 housing units have been completed in Abuja, while Kano has 1,500 units and an additional 500-unit estate. In other states,…

The Minister of State Education, Dr. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, has announced that the guidelines for accessing intervention funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) are currently being reviewed to make them more flexible for state governments. She made this known on Wednesday during the ongoing government-citizen engagement organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Foundation in Kaduna. Dr. Ahmad further stated that, going forward, the disbursement of funds to state governments would be tied to performance metrics to ensure quality control and value for money