T he National Universities Commission (NUC) has released guidelines to regulate the conferment and use of Honorary Doctorate Degrees in Nigerian universities. The move is aimed at addressing the increasing incidence of indiscriminate conferment and misuse of these degrees within the country's university system. In a public notice issued on its official website, NUC emphasized the need to preserve academic integrity and safeguard the credibility of the Nigerian University System. The guidelines, approved by the Commission's management, are expected to ensure that the conferment process is done in an orderly and transparent manner. According to the notice, all Nigerian universities and other degree-awarding institutions are required to strictly adhere to the provisions of the guidelines. This is in line with the principles enshrined in the Keffi Declaration of 2012, which was signed by all Vice-Chancellors. The Commission also reminded the public that Honorary Doctorate Degrees a...

  T he Federal Government has awarded ₦2.5 billion in grants to 45 outstanding staudent ventures at the 2026 Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG) Bootcamp and Awards. The event, held at the UNDP Innovation Hub, Lagos, recognized the innovative projects of students from across the country. Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to transforming tertiary institutions into hubs of innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical problem-solving. "This initiative is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu," he said. The Minister noted that beneficiaries can access up to ₦50 million in equity-free funding, alongside mentorship, incubation support, and digital tools. The selection process involved 65 finalists, chosen from over 30,000 applications from 404 institutions. This, according to the Minister, is evidence of Nigeria's growing innovation capacity....

  T he Africa Magic Viewers' Choice Awards (AMVCA) has dropped the nominees for its 12th edition. This was announced live on Africa Magic channels on Sunday, 29th March, 2026, hosted by Chimezie Imo . Voting was opened to the public on Sunday, 29th March at www.africamagic.tv/amvca and will close on April 26th, 2026.  View the full list below. Best Short Film • Rise - Jessie J. Rowlands • Fleas - Jordy Sank • Telephone - Fimisinuola Adejonwo • Hussainin - Orire Nwani and Josh Olaoluwa • My Body, God’s Temple - Uzoamaka Power Best Digital Content Creator • Dr Judgina – Situationally Transmitted Delusion • Elozonam Ogbolu and Genoveva Umeh • Destiny Ogie Osarewinda • Emmanuel Kanaga and Sophia Chisom • Benedict Ehimare Oriaifo • Maryam Apaokagi-Greene (Taaoma) • Steve Chuks • Akwaman Best Indigenous Language (Southern Africa) • Bet I Love You - Joseph Duke and Keamogetse Modise • Sebata - The Beast • Ben Made It - Thabang Mathumetse and Thapelo Dikhutso • Terra Of Queens And Ku...

  T he Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), through a press release on their official socials on 29th March, 2026, revealed that mobile network operators will start compensating customers for poor network signals and service disruptions.  According to the NCC, telecommunication firms will now give automatic airtime credits to customers affected by network failures. The compensation will be calculated based on a subscriber's average spending pattern and location. This move is part of the NCC's new "consumer-centric" approach, aiming to hold telecoms accountable for service quality. Tower companies aren not off the hook either; they will  have to reinvest fines into upgrading infrastructure. Credit: X formerly Twitter

P resident Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a special fund to support Nigeria's Armed Forces, including wounded soldiers and families of fallen heroes, as he celebrated his 74th birthday. In a statement on Sunday, 29th March, 2026, Tinubu directed the Accountant General to set up a dedicated account for the fund. "I celebrate our brave Armed Forces," he said, adding that the fund will support injured personnel and dependents of those who died serving. Tinubu's pledging his salary as seed funding and is calling on governors, lawmakers, and the private sector to contribute. "This isn't charity, it's duty," he emphasized. The President decided to keep his birthday celebration low-key, due to the country's challenges, and thanked Nigerians for their support, as fund details will be shared later. Credit: X formerly Twitter 

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN  T he Imo International Film Festival (IMIFF) is set to make a significant impact on the global film scene with its 2026 edition, themed "Local 2 Global." Scheduled to take place from November 27 to 29, 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria, the festival is sponsored by Julob Entertainment, with professional roots connected to the British Council’s Film Lab Africa and local creative partners like Clifford and Stanford Igbo. In a brief chat, Izuchukwu Okafor , Founder of IMOIFF, stated that the festival aims to bridge the gap between local filmmakers and international distribution platforms like Netflix, Prime Video, and Apple TV. The festival will feature a diverse range of award categories, including Best Feature Film, Best Short Film (Narrative/International), Best Documentary, Best Student Film, Best Animation, and Best Experimental Film, among others. Technical awards for Best Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Actress will also be high-profile h...

N igeria's Federal Government pledges to crack down on cyber threats to protect citizens' digital rights and privacy. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on March 16th, 2025, Dr. Ayodele Bakare, Assistant Director of the Cybersecurity Department at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), revealed the country's robust cybersecurity measures. The government has developed policy and regulatory frameworks, including the National Cybersecurity Policy and Strategy Framework, and the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention) Act 2015, amended in 2024. NITDA has also introduced sector-specific regulations, such as the National Public Key Infrastructure Regulation, to enhance digital security. Bakare highlighted NITDA's role in Nigeria's data protection landscape, including the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation 2019, which has evolved into a full legal framework implemented by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. The agency is fin...

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN T he advent of the internet and multimedia devices has revolutionized human life, provided unprecedented access to information, promoted e-commerce, aided remote learning and work, and supported entertainment.  It's introduction actually created new possibilities for personal and professional growth. However, I sincerely believe that Nigeria's internet space is cluttered with a lot of noise and some unnecessary content. The emerging content trends include the abuse of platforms, the promotion of sexual acts, infodemics, virtue shaming, and the undermining of our cultural values as Africans. A few days ago, popular Nigerian social commentator Abisoye Olukoya Michael, known as Oyemykke, took to the internet to lament the level of vox pop (interviews) with degenerates, promoting prostitution, while virtue shaming people who practice originality. Another incident is the online feud between popular Nigerian activist Vincent Martin Otse and Michelle Muko...

  BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN T he tragic death of Nanyah, the fast-rising Nigerian singer whose real name was Ifunanya Nwangene but on socials was known with the username ‘Nanyah music’, has triggered a lot of buzz online and offline. The deceased was said to have been bitten by a venomous snake at her residence in the early hours of Saturday, 31st January, 2026, in Abuja.In the early hours of Sunday, 1st February, tributes and a lot of posts by Nigerians clustered the internet, with some apportioning blame to the hospitals she rushed to for not having anti-venom treatment, which led to her death. In reference to the above speculation, The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja, debunked the above claim and revealed that the deceased passed away due to neurotoxic complications following a snake bite, despite all the efforts made by the medical personnel who attended to her upon arrival. In this piece, we will be highlighting some of the ways or things we should observe to rep...

  BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN   H uman trafficking has been a significant issue affecting millions worldwide, causing long term physical and emotional harm to victims. In this interview, Nigerian award-winning filmmaker Asurf Oluseyi Samson reveals how he started as a filmmaker and unveils what prompted him to shed light on the harrowing reality of human trafficking through the movie " 3 Cold Dishes ," which explores themes of trauma , revenge , and survival , showcasing women's strength and resilience in the face of human trafficking. Asurf Oluseyi, founder of Asurf Films Ltd ., directed the movie " A Day with Death ," which received 10 international nominations and won Best Short Film at AMVCA 2016 . He is also the director of the movie " Hakkunde ," which represented Nigeria at the 50th anniversary edition of the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) in 2019. EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN brings excerpts. 1. How did yo...

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN  ✓ Afriland &  Central Plaza  Infernos: A Call to Action for Enhanced Fire Safety F ire outbreaks remain a persistent crisis in Nigeria, claiming lives and destroying properties. The two recent incidents in Lagos show how severe it can be. On  September 16, 2025 , around 1:20 pm, a fire broke out at  Afriland Towers  on  Broad Street, Lagos Island . The inferno was triggered by an  electrical fault in the basement of inverter batteries  in the building, which resulted in the tragic loss of ten lives due to smoke spreading via air-conditioning ducts. The deaths were caused by  smoke inhalation  and  carbon monoxide poisoning . According to national dailies, at least 25 people were injured. The high-rise building harbored different firms, including United Bank for Africa (UBA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and  United Capital Plc . Just hours later, between 7:00 and 8:00 pm, anothe...

BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN ✓ DANGOTE TRUCKS UNDER FIRE: CALLS FOR STRICTER REGULATIONS D ays after the controversy involving two Nigerian airlines and their passengers occurred, triggering public discourse, a heartbreaking news story erupted on the internet that is worth discussing. Considering the steady occurrence, level of damages, and lives that similar incidents have taken due to recklessness by some truck drivers, especially those linked to the Dangote Group , this issue demands federal government attention. Though the focus seems to be on Dangote Group truck drivers because of the high level of their indulgence in accidents, this doesn't take away the fact that other truck drivers from other companies or privately owned trucks also poses high level of threat to people's lives due to their recklessness and inability to ensure that the cargo containers are properly belted or tightened to the truck.  This became a public discourse, following report that the winner of Bi...

  BY- EGUNGWU CHUKWUKA BENJAMIN The two recent incidents involving Nigerian passengers on commercial flights have generated a lot of debate online and offline. The first incident occurred on Tuesday, August 5th, involving Popular Nigerian Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde Adewale (K1 De Ultimate) and some Value Jet staff members, including Captain Oluranti Ogoyi , at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja . The second incident took place on Sunday, August 10th, between a passenger, Ms. Comfort Emmanson , and Ibom Air flight staffs on a flight from Uyo to Lagos . Judging some incident based on videos that emerged online might not be the best approach. Most times, the media is used to project a specific narrative, showcasing only what an individual or group wants the public to see. So, it is very important that we don't base our judgement on videos that emerged online. I commend the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for demanding firsthand reports from passengers on th...