Author: Olu Anisere

Ghana Boycotts Africa Energies Summit over Discrimination Ghana has moved to boycott the upcoming Africa Energies Summit in London this May, a decision that reflects growing frustration across the African oil and gas industry over discrimination, exclusion and the marginalisation of African voices at events that claim to represent the continent’s energy future. Energy Chamber Ghana has released a statement calling on Ghanaian energy authorities to reconsider their participation in the summit, expressing deep concerns regarding discriminatory hiring practices and the continued exclusion of African professionals. The move sends a strong signal: Africa’s energy industry must be shaped with African…

CBN Places 19.91% Interest Rate on 138-Day OMO Bill At the spot rate of 19.91%, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised N1.4 trillion through open market operations, during which N600 OMO bills were floated for subscription. The Apex Bank conducted an OMO bill auction to step down excess liquidity in the financial system, with the overall aim of controlling inflationary pressures. The offer size, which included 75- and 138-day OMO bills maturities, attracted significant interest amidst elevated. Total subscriptions amounted to N1.5 trillion. Eventually, the CBN allotted a total of N1.4 trillion only on the 138-day paper at a…

XRP Price Sinks Below $1.30 on Market Downturn, ETF Outflow XRP tanks to $1.29 on Thursday amid retail and institutional sell-offs, as crypto bulls retreated and the token underperformed the broader market amid a sell-off driven by macro risk aversion and Bitcoin weakness. The move highlights ongoing pressure from institutional ETF outflows and weak on-chain demand. Broader crypto market decline, as Bitcoin fell 2.37% amid geopolitical tensions and spot ETF outflows, dragging altcoins like XRP lower. Persistent outflow from U.S. spot XRP ETFs, signalling cooling institutional demand, coupled with a significant drop in on-chain network activity. If XRP holds above…

Oil prices surged by about 7% in the global commodity market on Thursday as escalating tensions between the United States and Iran stoked concerns of potential supply disruptions in the Middle East.

Julius Berger Dividend Rises 150% on 2025 Earnings Beat Julius Berger Nigeria Plc boosted shareholders’ wealth with a 150% year-on-year increase in dividends following a strong earnings beat in the financial year 2025. The company’s gross earnings rose by 34.09% year-on-year to ₦759.9 billion from ₦566.7 billion, spurred by accelerated project execution and improved operational efficiency. The company’s share price remained flattish despite improved earnings performance in 2025, reflecting tightened sentiment even with sizeable proposed dividends. In 2025, Julius Berger’s revenue growth was supported by the resilience of its core operations, with gross profit rising significantly by 67.6% to ₦119…

Bitcoin (BTC) topped $68k as the crypto market reacted positively after JP Morgan signalled interest in prediction markets. BTC trading volume remained tight, down 15% to $36 billion over 24 hours, according to data from crypto exchanges.

Nigeria, Bangladesh Trade, Investment Ties Set to Expand The Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing trade and investment partnerships. This statement follows his meeting with the Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Mr. Miah MD Mainul Kabir. Bilateral trade between Nigeria and Bangladesh has more than doubled, reaching approximately $100 million. Nigeria aims to elevate this relationship to higher-value economic cooperation that will generate jobs, stimulate industrial growth, and attract increased foreign investment. The Minister emphasised key sectors, including garments, agriculture, and maritime. He highlighted Nigeria’s potential…

FG Moves to Bridge Education, Labour Market Gap The Federal Government (FG) has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the disconnect between formal education and labour market outcomes. Vice-President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance on Wednesday at a news conference held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Shettima was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Sen. Ibrahim Hadejia. He disclosed that the federal government would inaugurate Africa’s first University Innovation Pods (UNIPOD) at the University of Lagos on April 7. UNIPOD is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Federal Government of…

AI revenue from services is estimated to reach $1.4 trillion in 2030; a top global rating agency, Fitch, hinted at this in a commentary note on Wednesday.

PenCom Opens Pension Plan for Students, Infants The National Pension Commission (PenCom) says its Personal Pension Plan is now open to students and infants, encouraging Nigerians to begin retirement planning early. Director-General, Mrs Omolola Oloworaran, disclosed this after the second Pension Industry Leadership Council meeting in Lagos on Tuesday. Oloworaran said the move formed part of efforts to expand retirement savings and strengthen financial security across all segments of society. According to her, students and infants can contribute voluntarily, urging parents to enrol their children early to secure their financial future. “The Personal Pension Plan is available for everyone. Previous…