Author: Vardiafrica

Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has flagged off the Aliko Dangote Foundation Education Scholarship Initiative, calling on stakeholders to recommit to building a future where every Nigerian child can become the best version of themselves. The programme, projected to cost ₦1 trillion over the next ten years, will support students across multiple levels through a range of targeted schemes. Speaking on Thursday in Lagos during the launch of the education scholarship scheme, the Vice President extolled Dangote’s philanthropic efforts, saying education is a burden carried by those who understand its transformative power. “Now is the time to recommit to building…

The Police Service Commission (PSC), in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is pleased to announce the commencement of recruitment of Fifty Thousand (50,000) Police Constables into the Nigeria Police Force, as directed by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Following this Presidential directive aimed at strengthening community policing, enhancing internal security and expanding the manpower base of the Nigeria Police Force, the Commission has approved the opening of the recruitment portal for applications from eligible Nigerians.Qualifications: General Duty cadre applicants must be holders of GCE Ordinary Level, SSCE/NECO or their equivalents witha minimum of five (5) credits…

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has met with his Beninese counterpart, Olushegun Adjadi Bakar, in Abuja. At the office of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), both sides reflected on the recent attempted coup in the Republic of Benin and the growing security concerns across the region. Tuggar explained that much of Nigeria’s insecurity is exogenous, noting that Nigeria and Benin share very close ties, and whatever happens in one country inevitably triggers ripple effects in the other. According to him, this is why a coordinated regional response is no longer optional. Both ministers emphasised the…

US President Donald Trump has launched a gold card programme that offers fast-tracked citizenship to wealthy foreigners who can pay at least $1 million. Trump announced the card’s launch on Wednesday in a Truth Social post alongside a website where interested persons can apply. To apply, an applicant must pay a non-refundable $15,000 processing fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after which a background approval and a subsequent payment of $1 million must be made to receive US residency in “record time”. “Additional small fees to the U.S. Department of State may apply depending on the applicant,” the website noted. A separate…

Two Nigerians, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Mo Abudu, have been named among Forbes’ 100 World’s Most Powerful Women for 2025, reflecting their influence across global trade, governance and media. The annual ranking, released on Wednesday, profiles women shaping policy, business and culture internationally. Okonjo-Iweala, positioned at 92, is the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the first African and first woman to hold the office since March 2021. Forbes highlights her over 30 years of experience in economic development across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America and North America. She previously served twice as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and briefly as Foreign…

The leader of the failed coup d’état in the Benin Republic, Lt Col Pascal Tigri, is reportedly hiding in neighbouring Togo, according to a senior government official in Benin. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the Beninese government would formally request Tigri’s extradition, though Togo’s authorities have yet to comment publicly on the claim, according to the BBC. The failed coup was the latest in a string of military coups and coup attempts across West Africa, fuelling growing concerns that democratic governance in the region is under increasing threat. The plot was foiled after Nigeria deployed fighter jets to help…

Lai Mohammed, ex-minister of information, has insisted that there was no massacre at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos during the #EndSARS protests.  In a report on the October 20, 2020 incident, CNN had alleged that soldiers used live bullets on the protesters. However, the army had repeatedly denied deploying live ammunition, saying it fired blank bullets in a bid to disperse the protesters after the government had announced a curfew. At the time, Mohammed, who was minister of information, wrote to Jonathan Hawkins, VP communications at CNN, to say the report “did not just fall short of journalistic standards but reinforces the…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has named Africa’s leading industrialist, Aliko Dangote, as the pioneer Chairperson of its newly created ECOWAS Business Council. ECOWAS Commission President, Omar Touray, announced the appointment at the 95th Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers in Abuja, saying the move aims to boost private sector investment, strengthen financial stability, and enhance economic integration across the region. Touray said the council will serve as a platform for dialogue between the private sector, governments, and ECOWAS institutions, adding that the region must rely more on intra-African capital rather than unstable foreign investment. He…

President Bola Tinubu has met with All Progressives Congress leaders and governorship aspirants in Osun state and appealed for unity and consensus-building ahead of the party’s primary on December 13. The President met with the aspirants at the State House, Abuja, on Monday night. The Osun State governorship aspirants who attended the meeting with the President include former Deputy Governor Benedict Olugboyega Alabi, Dotun Babayemi, Akin Ogunbiyi, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Kunle Adegoke (SAN), Babatunde Hareter Oralusi, Mulikat Abiola Jimoh and Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji. Also in attendance at the meeting were the National Chairman of the APC, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda; the…

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it will prohibit air ticket taxes to reduce airfares in all airports across the subregion from January 2026. Chris Appiah, the ECOWAS director of transport and communications, spoke in an interview with journalists on the sidelines of the ECOWAS council of ministers’ meeting on Wednesday in Abuja. According to NAN, Appiah said the move was part of a sweeping regional policy that was approved by the ECOWAS authority of heads of state and government in December 2024. He said the decision aims to make air travel more affordable and deepen subregional…