
Nigeria’s Maktown Flyers are set to make their Basketball Africa League debut today, April 25, against Ivory Coast’s Jeunesse Club d’Abidjan Kings in Rabat. This match, scheduled for 3:00 PM Nigerian time, is part of the Sahara Conference group phase, which runs from April 24 to May 3 in the Moroccan capital. The Flyers, who secured the 2025 national title, are one of three teams making their first appearance in the 2026 Sahara Conference, alongside Club Africain and JCA Kings. JCA Kings will be looking to bounce back from an opening defeat to hosts FUS Rabat. Head coach Abdulrahman Mohammed expressed confidence in the Flyers, emphasizing that determination can overcome their limited experience. The team has focused on building cohesion among players from diverse backgrounds. Key players include Jawad Adekoya for the Flyers, and Chris Crawford and Jonathan Cisse for JCA Kings. The top four teams from the conference will advance to the BAL playoffs in May.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

The Federal Government has issued a directive requiring civil servants in human resource roles across ministries, departments, and agencies to obtain approved professional certifications within a year. This initiative aims to professionalize HR management within the Federal Civil Service. A circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation grants a 12-month moratorium for officers to acquire recognized certifications. Failure to comply will result in ineligibility for key personnel management positions. The policy outlines certification requirements, transitional arrangements, and conditions for deploying administrative cadre officers to HR roles. Recognized certifications include those from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Human Resource Certification Institute, and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources. During the transition, officers can remain in their current positions or be deployed to HR-related duties if they provide verifiable evidence of enrollment and progress towards certification within six months. After the moratorium, an approved HR certification will be mandatory for deployment to HR roles in various federal institutions. This directive, effective immediately, is part of ongoing reforms to enhance professionalism and efficiency in public service personnel administration, aligning with global best practic
Must ReadThe Nigerian Federal Government has expressed strong displeasure with the South African government's response to renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian nationals, stating that retaliatory diplomatic measures, including a review of bilateral privileges, are under consideration. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, briefed State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, refuting claims by some South African authorities that the attacked Nigerians are illegal migrants. She highlighted that Nigerian passport holders are facing harassment, looting, and burning of their shops, and intimidation of their children in schools, while South African police reportedly fail to intervene. Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized Nigeria's historical support for South Africa's independence struggle, making the current treatment of Nigerians particularly painful. She noted that the attacks specifically target black migrants. When asked about retaliatory measures, the Minister confirmed that such actions are being considered at the highest level of government. The House of Representatives previously recommended a temporary suspension of business permits for South African companies in Nigeria, and the Senate plans to send a delegation to South Africa. President Tinubu has approved five Air Peace evacuation flights for Nigerians, with 1,092 individuals voluntarily registered for repatriation as of June 8. The first evacuation flight, initially scheduled for Jun

Payaza Africa Limited has received upgraded credit ratings from four agencies, indicating increased investor confidence in the fintech company's financial stability and operational performance. DataPro raised its rating from A to AA-, Intelligence Africa assigned an A- investment-grade rating, Agusto upgraded it from BBB to A-, and GCR, an affiliate of Moody’s, moved it from BBB to A-. These upgrades reflect a company's financial strength and its ability to meet debt obligations. Payaza Africa's Chief Executive Officer, Seyi Ebenezer, stated that these ratings validate the company's disciplined growth and operational resilience, positioning it as a future-ready brand within Africa and the global fintech space. He emphasized that the recognition highlights the company's strategic execution and strong risk management practices, reflecting a commitment to building a sustainable and globally competitive institution. Payaza Africa provides payment infrastructure solutions for collections, payouts, embedded finance, and digital commerce enablement for businesses across Africa, with products like Payaza Checkout, Chat and Pay by Payaza, Payaza Give, and Shopaza.