
The Federal Government has launched a Digital Standards Platform to enhance Nigeria’s quality infrastructure, improve access to industrial standards, and strengthen public procurement, aiming to boost the competitiveness of Made-in-Nigeria products. Developed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, the Bureau of Public Procurement, and Goringo Consult Limited, the platform digitizes access to Nigerian Industrial Standards, certification services, and compliance tools. This initiative also makes the Nigerian Industrial Standards Attestation Certificate a mandatory bid document for all Federal Government procurement involving goods, works, and services where these standards apply. Senator John Owan Enoh, the Minister of State for Industry, described the platform as a landmark reform that will deepen industrialization, improve the ease of doing business, and strengthen President Bola Tinubu’s Nigeria First Policy. He noted that the platform addresses the long-standing issue of poor access to standards, which particularly affected Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. The Director-General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, Ifeanyi Okeke, stated that the platform serves as a single digital gateway to Nigeria’s quality infrastructure, providing access to standards, certification services, certified manufacturers, and verified products. He added that it offers affordable access to internationally recognized standards and will help eliminate counterfeit products by allowing c
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadDidier Deschamps is set to conclude his 14-year tenure as France's coach after the World Cup third-place play-off against England. Deschamps, 57, aimed for a third World Cup triumph but France was defeated by Spain in the semi-finals, ending their bid for a third consecutive final. Reflecting on his time, Deschamps stated, "I had the privilege of experiencing moments that were magical, and others that were difficult. But life goes on. I’m a positive person, and I know things will be good, too. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me." He led France to victory in the 2018 World Cup and has guided the team to at least the semi-finals in five of his seven major competitions. His coaching career also saw disappointments, including losses in the Euro 2016 final and the 2022 World Cup final. Zinedine Zidane, Deschamps’ former teammate and a former Real Madrid star, is widely expected to be named the next head coach. Zidane, 54, has expressed his dream of managing France and has been preparing for the role since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. French Football Federation president Philippe Diallo noted the need for a leader who "ticks every box and who everyone in France can get behind."

Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, swore in two commissioners, 20 permanent secretaries, and members of the Governing Council of the Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology. A key highlight was the appointment of Melody Omosah as the state's first visually impaired permanent secretary. Governor Okpebholo stated on his official Facebook page that this appointment signifies a historic milestone, emphasizing that ability, competence, and character should define opportunity, not disability. The governor also appointed Martin Oli, a member of the Igbo community, as a commissioner, highlighting his administration's commitment to inclusiveness. Okpebholo reiterated his administration's dedication to building an inclusive government where merit, excellence, and equal opportunity are prioritized over ethnicity, background, or personal connections, and to creating opportunities for all qualified individuals.

Nana Otedola, mother of actress Temi Otedola, expressed surprise upon learning that her daughter and singer Oluwatosin Ajibade, known as Mr Eazi, were expecting their first child shortly after their wedding. Speaking on the couple's How Far podcast, Nana initially anticipated that the newlyweds would enjoy a few years of married life before starting a family. Temi reminded her mother that she and Mr Eazi had already dated for five years before marrying. Nana stated that she has since learned not to be presumptuous about the couple's decisions. She also believes that Temi and Mr Eazi complement each other well. Temi and Mr Eazi announced their pregnancy in May, approximately nine months after their private wedding in Reykjavík, Iceland. The couple, who got engaged in April 2022 after four years of dating, married in August 2025 at Hallgrímskirkja Church in Reykjavík. Temi cited Mr Eazi being her best friend as the reason for their marriage, while Mr Eazi noted that Temi helped him understand genuine love and valued his time and effort over material gifts.