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15 Africans Who Made Forbes Africa’s 2026 Icons List and the Stories Behind Their Global InfluenceMeet the 15 African icons shaping business, entertainment, politics, sports and culture, honoured by Forbes Africa for their lasting impact across the continent and beyond.
By Owobu Maureen•8 hours agoAcross Africa
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15 Africans Who Made Forbes Africa’s 2026 Icons List and the Stories Behind Their Global InfluenceUK Universities Are Withdrawing Admission Offers To Nigerians. What Changed?Three Nigerians Using Technology to Solve Problems in AgricultureFrom FESTAC ’77 to CANEX 2026: Can Africa Turn Cultural Power Into Economic Value?
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15 Africans Who Made Forbes Africa’s 2026 Icons List and the Stories Behind Their Global Influence
Meet the 15 African icons shaping business, entertainment, politics, sports and culture, honoured by Forbes Africa for their lasting impact across the continent and beyond.
Read More ( 5 min. read)→
OWOBU MAUREENCANEX WKND 2026 brings Africa’s creative industries to Lagos. FESTAC ’77 raises a timely question: can cultural visibility become lasting business and investment?
The APC's National Working Committee is implementing a new strategy for the 2027 general elections, directing candidates to submit party agent names directly to the national secretariat to prevent sabotage, bypassing state chapters. This move comes amid suspicions that some governors are sponsoring opposition candidates, with specific allegations against Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who denies any wrongdoing.
The African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council (ADC-PCC) has strongly condemned the Kano State Police Command's disruption of a
The Nigerian Air Force is investigating the crash of its ATR-42 aircraft in Ondo State amid allegations of a pre-existing mechanical fault and a cover-up. The brother of a deceased sergeant claims his sister reported technical issues before the fatal flight from Benin City, a narrative supported by earlier investigative reports. This has sparked concerns over flight safety, military transparency, and the welfare of personnel.
Business
Three Nigerians Using Technology to Solve Problems in Agriculture
Femi Adekoya, Aisha Raheem-Bolarinwa and Michael Ogundare are using drones, digital platforms and mobile technology to tackle practical problems across Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
Read More ( 4 min. read)→
ADEDOYIN OLUWADARASIMI
From Viral Game to $500,000 Funding Round: What Should Tech Founders Learn From Lagos Life?
Lagos Life’s rapid growth, $500,000 funding round, and in-game partnerships show how local insight can shape digital products and turn attention into opportunity.Precious O. Unusere
AI Is Giving Small African Businesses Tools Once Reserved for Big Companies. Is That Enough to Compete?
Big companies have entire teams. Small African businesses have AI, but can a few clever tools really help a small business compete with corporate giants, or is the playing field still unfair?Owobu Maureen
These 5 FG Projects Are Rolling Out in October. Can They Help Nigeria Reach a $1tn Economy?
Nigeria is targeting a $1tn economy by 2030. These five FG projects cover fibre infrastructure, rural connectivity, digital skills, national addressing and CNG expansion. But can they actually help close the gap?Owobu Maureen
10 African Companies Ranked Among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026
Forbes has named 10 African companies among the World’s Best Employers 2026. Nine are from South Africa, while Nigeria’s GTBank is the only Nigerian company on the list. See the full ranking and what it reveals about Africa’s top employers.Owobu Maureen
Technology
OPay Wants to Go Public in the US. Could Nigerians Buy Its Shares Too?
OPay’s planned US IPO and proposed NGX listing could give investors a chance to own part of a payment company widely used in Nigeria, but the share price, offering details and timeline for a Nigerian listing remain unconfirmed.
Read More ( 3 min. read)→ADEDOYIN OLUWADARASIMI
Could This Yoruba Matchmaking App Change How Nigerians Find Love?
The alarina once helped Yoruba singles find suitable partners through family, culture and community. Now, a Nigerian entrepreneur is turning that tradition into a dating app. How exactly is he doing this?Owobu Maureen
ATMs Used to Be the Easiest Way to Get Cash in Nigeria. What Happened?
Nigeria's ATM network faces growing competition from POS agents as customers prioritise fast, reliable cash withdrawals over queues and failed transactions.Precious O. Unusere
AI Industry's Bold Move: Can Scrapping NDAs Win Over Data Center Critics?
Amazon and Microsoft are ending nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for data center negotiations with local governments, marking a shift towards transparency. This comes amid growing community backlash against AI and data centers, fueled by concerns over secrecy and the tech industry's poor communication of its projects' benefits. The move highlights a growing need for tech companies to openly justify their innovations rather than relying on an "inevitable future" narrative.Uche Emeka
Execs Declare: Voice AI's ChatGPT Moment Hasn't Arrived Yet!
The burgeoning field of voice AI, despite significant investment and technological advancements like full-duplex models, is still striving for its 'ChatGPT moment'. Industry leaders highlight critical challenges including accelerating reasoning for natural conversations, improving ASR accuracy, ensuring emotive expression, and upholding transparency with users.Uche Emeka
Discovery
UK Universities Are Withdrawing Admission Offers To Nigerians. What Changed?
UK universities are withdrawing admission offers to Nigerian students as visa refusals rise and new UK immigration rules tighten the 5% refusal threshold.
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ZAINAB BAKARE
Before Modern Borders: The Kanuri People and the Empire That Connected Africa
Long before modern borders divided Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon, the Kanuri people and the Kanem-Bornu Empire helped connect communities across the Lake Chad region.Ogochukwu Magdalene Obia
NCC Wants to Verify Your Phone, But Is Nigeria Fighting Fake Devices or Creating Another Problem?
Imagine buying an expensive phone only to be told it could be disconnected. Is the NCC protecting Nigerians from fake phones or punishing innocent buyers?Ogochukwu Magdalene Obia
In This Nigerian Community, Men and Women Speak Different Languages but Understand Each Other Perfectly
Ubang, Nigeria, is known for its unique gender-based language system, where men and women use different words for everyday objects while understanding each other, as English and Nigerian Pidgin threaten its preservation.Precious O. Unusere
Africans Are Being Lured IntoThe Battlefield With Fake Jobs. How Exactly Is This Happening?
The same internet helping Africans land global jobs is also being used to recruit them into foreign wars. How are recruiters turning online opportunities into dangerous traps?Owobu Maureen
Opinion
The War on Poverty is on Pause: What Tinubu’s Reforms Really Mean for the Average Nigerian
President Tinubu’s bold economic reforms promised long-term growth, but for many Nigerians, they’ve brought deeper poverty and hardship. Here’s what the reforms really mean for the average citizen
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ZAINAB BAKARE
OPINION: Should Education Be Free To All?
This in-depth analysis examines the promise and pitfalls of tuition-free learning, from breaking cycles of poverty to fears of declining quality. With examples from Finland to sub-Saharan Africa, it explores how nations can balance equity, funding, and excellence in an age where knowledge is the key to progress.Eric Namso
Should Nigeria Adopt a Four-Day Work Week?
As countries experiment with shorter work weeks, Nigeria faces a pressing question: could a four-day schedule ease burnout, boost productivity, and reshape work culture—or would it clash with our unique economic realities?zainab bakare
How Remembering Ancestors Shapes Moral Philosophy
By reflecting on the lives of those who came before us—their virtues, mistakes, and choices—we uncover a deeper, more personal foundation for understanding right and wrong.Ibukun Oluwa
Opinion: The Dangerous Binary of Modern Narcissist Theory
Can Empaths Be Narcissists and what type of narcissistic behaviors exists?Ibukun Oluwa
Lifestyle
Nigerian Doctors Are Using ChatGPT. Who Takes the Blame When It Gets Things Wrong?
Nigerian doctors are using ChatGPT for consultations, but with limited AI training and no specific liability law, who takes responsibility when it gets a diagnosis wrong?
Read More ( 5 min. read)→ZAINAB BAKARE
FashionLore: The Congolese Women Sold as “Ubangi Savages” in a 1930 American Circus
In 1930, Congolese women were exhibited as “Ubangi Savages” in an American circus, turning African cultural practices into spectacles for Western audiences.Zainab Bakare
The Different Forms of Albinism and Why Skin, Hair and Eye Colours Vary
Albinism is not a single, uniform condition: the form a person has can affect their skin, hair and eye colour differently, and some rare related syndromes also bring additional health complications.Adedoyin Oluwadarasimi
The Unlikely Dumplings of Nigerian Cuisine
Nigeria has its own traditional dumplings. From Northern Nigeria’s danwake and fura to Ijebu ikokore and Efik ekpang nkukwo, meet the local foods that fit the dumpling definition.Zainab Bakare
6 Nigerians Shaping How We Experience Nigerian Food
Meet six Nigerians shaping Nigerian food in different ways, from documenting food histories and teaching culinary skills to rethinking indigenous ingredients, preserving recipes online and taking Nigerian food beyond the country.Adedoyin Oluwadarasimi
Entertainment
Shanghai Shocker: Bergs Stuns Alcaraz, Zverev Eyes World No.1 Spot
Alexander Zverev is guaranteed to finish the 2026 season as the ATP World Number One, an achievement cemented by Carlos Alcaraz's shock defeat to Zizou Bergs at the Shanghai Masters. This historic milestone for Zverev follows a season of Grand Slam success and a remarkable comeback from injury, while Alcaraz's early exit signals a surprising turn in the tournament.
Read More ( 3 min. read)→
Quentin Tarantino Shocks Hollywood: New Play 'The Popinjay Cavalier' Set for West End Debut!
Quentin Tarantino makes his theatrical debut with “The Popinjay Cavalier,” a swashbuckling comedy starring Sacha Baron Cohen. Opening in London's West End, the play promises Tarantino's signature wit and a rambunctious tale of deception set in 1830s Europe. Previews begin February 23, 2027, with the official opening on March 18, 2027.Precious Eseaye
Breaking News: Russell Brand's Rape and Sexual Assault Trial Kicks Off in London!
Russell Brand's criminal trial has commenced at London’s Southwark Crown Court, where he faces multiple charges including rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault. Brand has pleaded not guilty to all counts, with the trial expected to last up to two months and its outcome decided by a jury. These charges follow a 2023 media investigation and subsequent police inquiry.Precious Eseaye
Legend's Health Scare: Art Garfunkel Postpones UK Tour Due to Respiratory Illness!
Art Garfunkel has postponed his upcoming U.K. tour due to a respiratory infection, acting on doctor's orders. The legendary singer expressed deep regret and promised fans he would return to the stage as soon as his health permits. Rescheduled dates are yet to be announced.Precious Eseaye
Exclusive: Sylvester Stallone Unleashes 'Tulsa King's' Final Chapter Secrets
Sylvester Stallone envisions a unique, non-tragic ending for his 'Tulsa King' character, Dwight Manfredi, drawing inspiration from historical figures who left their criminal lives. With Season 4 premiering and Season 5 renewed for a move to New York, the show will delve deeper into Dwight's Mafia roots and the importance of his makeshift family. This series continues to highlight Taylor Sheridan's distinctive approach to complex character narratives within his expanding universe.Precious Eseaye