Category: News

Baltasar Engonga, Notorious Equatorial Guinea Official, Jailed For Embezzlement

DAMILOLA OLONADE

  Nicknamed “Bello”, Engonga made world headlines in November with the sex tapes, some of them filmed in his office at the finance ministry, published on social media while he was in detention pending the embezzlement case.   A court in Equatorial Guinea has sentenced a senior government official, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, to eight years in prison for embezzlement, months after he became notorious over leaked sex tapes with other officials’ wives. The Bioko provincial tribunal convicted Baltasar Ebang Engonga of diverting money claimed as professional travel expenses for personal…

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Reactions As Activist Lists Four Alleged Ghost Ministers In Tinubu’s Govt

DAMILOLA OLONADE

Human rights lawyer, Deji Adeyanju has alleged that four Ministers serving in President Bola Tinubu’s government are ghosts. In a post on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, Deji, a known critic of the All Progressives Congress, APC administration said the four Ministers are not known. According to him, the Ministers include, Sa’idu Alkali, Minister of Transportation; Ibrahim Gaidam, Minister of Police Affairs; Bosun Tijjani, Minister for Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy and Oyetola Gboyega, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy. A number of his followers, who stormed the comment…

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Nigeria Bans Shea Nut Export, Eyes $300m Annual Revenue

Abibat Babalola

President Bola Tinubu has approved a 6-month ban on the export of raw shea nut (Vitellaria paradoxa) to curb informal trade, boost local processing, protect and grow Nigeria’s shea industry, with a revenue target of $300m revenue, annually. It was gathered that the ban, which is with immediate effect, is subject to review on expiration and specifically aimed at boosting Nigeria’s shea value chain to generate around $300 million annually in the short term. Stanley Nkwocha, the senior special assistant to the president on media and communications, office of the…

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Nigeria’s Dantsoho Elected VP Global Ports Body, Cements Country’s Maritime Influence

DAMILOLA OLONADE

‘Tale of IAPH,’ What to know about the election that threw up NPA MD as second in command for a global alliance of more than 190 ports and 167 port-related businesses across 89 countries.   Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has been elected Vice-President for Africa of the International Association for Ports & Harbours (IAPH), further cementing Nigeria’s growing influence in global maritime affairs. Platforms Africa reports that the election, held in Tokyo, marks another milestone for Dantsoho, who previously made history as the…

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2026 Top 10 Best Universities in Africa Emerge + LIST

DAMILOLA OLONADE

    ‘Surprise, Disappointments. None From Nigeria and Ghana, South African Varsities dominate,’ details of QS World University Rankings 2026   The QS World University Rankings has released the 2026 top 10 universities list, stiring surprises and disappointment in some countries. Platforms Africa reports that the group is one of the most respected global ranking systems, evaluating institutions based on academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-to-student ratio, research impact, and international outlook. In the 2026 rankings, several African universities have made remarkable strides, showcasing the continent’s growing influence in higher education.…

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‘Gain Or Pain,’ Why You Must Be Mindful Of What You Share On WhatsApp, Facebook

DAMILOLA OLONADE

    ‘Share, forward buttons on your phones hold the key to your digital footprints that will outlive you,’ Lecture Team Lead of Platforms, Dr. Adeola Yusuf, delivered at MAPOLY AMACOS Symposium + PHOTOS       Nigeria’s Frontline Digital Mediaprenuer, Dr. Adeola Yusuf, has advised everyone, especially the youths to become more intentional, purposeful, and mindful of information they share on digital media, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram and others. The multiple award-wining digital entrepreneur, who is the Team Lead at Platforms Africa gave this advice while delivering his paper…

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‘Not Too Late,’ 5 Morning Signs Your Body Uses To Warn You Ahead of Kidney Crisis

DAMILOLA OLONADE

    Kidneys are vital organs responsible for filtering waste, balancing electrolytes, and producing hormones that regulate blood pressure and red blood cell production. When kidney function declines, subtle symptoms can emerge, often going unnoticed. Recognising these early signs is crucial for timely intervention and preventing further damage. According to Kidney Care UK, common early indicators include facial puffiness, foamy urine, dry and itchy skin, brain fog, and persistent bad breath. Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure significantly increase the risk of kidney disease. Understanding and identifying these…

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‘Guilty, Jailed,’ The $4.2m Fraud That Landed Nigerian Monarch In US Prison

DAMILOLA OLONADE

    ‘His Un-Royal Majesty,’ What the 62-year-old Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State did that made US District Judge Christopher Boyko also ordered him to pay $4.4m in restitution, surrender his home in Ontario, and hand over nearly $100,000 in stolen money that had already been seized.      A king in southwest Nigeria, the Apetu of Ipetumodu in Osun State – Oba Joseph Oloyede- has been sentenced to more than four years in an American prison for stealing millions of dollars from emergency COVID-19 relief programmes. Platforms Africa…

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How Poor Pay Forced 239 First-Class Lecturers To Quit University of Lagos

DAMILOLA OLONADE

“Many of us are tired. By the time you get home, there is no light, and the Federal Government is saying they are giving us N10m to access as loans. You can see how our lives have been devalued. Can I use N10m to build a security post? Everything Ex-VC of UNILAG said on man-power crisis rocking Nigerian varsities   No fewer than 239 first-class graduates of the University of Lagos, employed as lecturers, left the institution within seven years. Immediate past Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, disclosed this…

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Panic As Abuja-Kaduna train Derails

Abibat Babalola

A passenger train traveling from Abuja to Kaduna derailed on Tuesday morning, sparking panic among passengers and their families. The incident reportedly occurred along the Kaduna corridor shortly after the train left Abuja around 11 a.m. on its way to Kaduna. A passenger on board described the situation as “chaotic,” noting that people were “scrambling to safety in fear and confusion.” READ ALSO: We’ll Shutdown Nigeria If FG Ignores ASUU’s Demands – NANS Man Dies While Fighting With Another Man He Met At girlfriend’s House Race For Vacant Awujale’s Stool…

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