Author: Mohammad Adamu

Africa and Artificial Intelligence: Will AI Finally Help Africa Leapfrog—or Widen the Gap? The next African economic revolution may not be powered by oil, minerals or even traditional manufacturing—but by data, intelligence and the infrastructure that makes both valuable. For decades, Africa has been told that its greatest economic opportunity lies in its abundant natural resources, youthful population and rapidly expanding consumer markets. All of these remain important. But another resource is becoming increasingly decisive: intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is changing how economies produce, compete, govern and innovate. It is transforming industries from finance and healthcare to agriculture, manufacturing, education and public…

The European Union has proposed banning social media for children under 13, joining a growing list of countries moving to restrict minors’ access to online platforms.European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled the plan in the European Parliament on Wednesday, which would also limit access to supervised use only for children up to age 15. The move follows mounting global pressure over the impact of social media on children’s mental health and wellbeing. More than 20 countries have now taken steps to block or restrict children’s access to social platforms, according to AFP. Seven countries already have measures in…

Former Barcelona and Netherlands coach pays emotional tribute after decades-long marriageFormer Barcelona and Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman has announced the death of his wife, Bartina Koeman.In a heartfelt Instagram tribute posted on Wednesday, the 63-year-old described her as his “beautiful wife” and the family’s “dearest mother and grandmother.” “With intense sadness, but also with great pride and love, we say goodbye to my beautiful wife, our dearest mother and grandmother,” Koeman wrote.FC Barcelona quickly expressed its sympathy, saying: “FC Barcelona and its supporters send their deepest condolences and affection to Ronald Koeman and his family for the passing of his…

Turkish police detained dozens of protesters outside Istanbul’s main courthouse on Tuesday during a demonstration against the government’s ongoing crackdown on the LGBTQ+ community, AFP reported. The demonstrators had gathered to demand the release of LGBTQ+ activists arrested over the weekend in a wave of raids targeting gay bars and activists’ homes. Police moved in and made several arrests after protesters unfurled a banner reading “Being LGBTQ is not a crime,” while chants of “Long live the struggle for freedom!” rang out. The arrests form part of a wider government campaign known as “My Family is Safe,” which officials say…

There’s a trend shaping how people treat each other these days. We’re in an era of self-awareness, and Gen Zs has a phrase for almost every pattern of behaviour: “I return energy.” If you’re kind to me, I’ll be kind to you. If you’re rude, I’ll be ruder. Some put it as having “multiple personalities”; the version you get depends on how you treat them. And honestly, it’s okay. It’s human to respond to others in kind. Kindness invites kindness; hostility invites hostility. Cialdini’s principle of reciprocity captures this well: when someone does something for us, we feel an internal…

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON, has been named Grand Patron of the Global Entrepreneurship Festival (GEF), with organisers describing him as the continent’s foremost business leader and most influential figure in commerce. In accepting the role, Dangote pledged his backing for GEF’s mission to advance entrepreneurship, innovation, investment and economic transformation globally. Organisers said his involvement lends significant weight to the festival’s objectives, given his standing as one of the world’s most prominent industrialists. Further details on his responsibilities as Grand Patron are expected in due course. Separately, Dangote has confirmed he will sit down with Ayanda “Yaya of Africa” Ngwane…

US President Donald Trump on Monday dismissed fears that artificial intelligence could wipe out humanity, calling them a hoax and rejecting growing global calls to place guardrails around the fast-moving technology. His pushback comes amid mounting international alarm about AI, with even some tech executives saying development of computer super-intelligence needs to slow down. Trump said the United States could not afford to lose a technological race with China, insisting the only guardrails necessary were a “strong and smart” president, which he said America already had. The US leader also criticised Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei, who called on Saturday…

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Nigerians to carefully assess the promises made by politicians before deciding who to vote for in the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Monday when he received the All Progressives Congress (APC) 2027 Campaign Council, led by Director-General Senator Abdul-Aziz Yari Abubakar, at his palace in Sokoto, the Sultan also cautioned politicians against politicising insecurity and other national challenges in their campaigns.He urged parties and candidates to focus on issues that would promote peace, unity and development, and to conduct peaceful, issue-based campaigns that respect the choices of the electorate. The…

Dr. David James Egwu, PhD The Dangote IPO is more than a corporate transaction. It is a test of whether African savings, pension capital, diaspora wealth and domestic capital markets can increasingly finance African industrial ambition. The most interesting question about the Dangote Refinery IPO may not be whether investors should buy the shares. It may not even be whether the refinery is fairly valued. There is a much bigger question sitting underneath Africa’s largest-ever proposed initial public offering: Can Africa begin financing its own industrialization with a significantly greater share of its own capital?That question matters because Africa has…

A senior officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), holding the rank of Assistant Commander (ACE), has been accused of abuse of office, extortion, obstruction of justice, interference with investigations, and acquisition of unexplained wealth. The allegations are contained in a six-page petition submitted to EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede on July 9, 2026, by the Network for Justice Association of Nigeria (NJAN). A copy of the petition was obtained by PRNigeria. The petition arrives amid heightened scrutiny of alleged misconduct within the agency, including a separate probe into a sectional head over an alleged $400,000 corruption matter. Olukoyede…