More from Nigeria
馃嚦馃嚞Punch Nigeria路32 mins ago
D'Tigers secure perfect record in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, advance to second round
Nigeria's senior men's basketball team, D'Tigers, defeated Rwanda 106-62, completing a flawless qualifying window and advancing to the second round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup African Qualifiers. This victory ensured Nigeria finished the three-game window with a perfect record, having also beaten Tunisia and Guinea. Point guard Uche Iroegbu led the offense with 17 points and seven assists, while Caleb Agada, Ikechukwu Mekowulu, and Stan Okoye each contributed 13 points. Nigeria dominated the game, leading 25-14 after the first quarter and 49-29 at halftime, eventually securing an 80-44 lead by the end of the third quarter. The team had previously secured an 84-81 win over Tunisia and an 80-79 comeback victory against Guinea. Nigeria finished with 10 points, level with Tunisia and Guinea, as the top three teams from each of the four groups progressed to the second round, scheduled between August 2026 and February 2027. The remaining 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six, carrying over their first-round results, with the top two from each group and the best third-placed team qualifying for the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
1 min read
馃嚦馃嚞Punch Nigeria路36 mins ago
Nigeria leads Africa with 89 EU Erasmus scholarships for 2026 academic cycle
Nigeria has secured 89 fully funded Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's scholarships for the 2026 academic cycle, making it Africa's top beneficiary of the program. This announcement was made by Gautier Mignot, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, during the 2026 Erasmus Mundus Pre-Departure Orientation in Abuja. A total of 163 Nigerian students were admitted into Erasmus Mundus master's programs this year, with 89 receiving full scholarships. This places Nigeria as the top country in Africa and among the top five globally, alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and the United States. The 2026 awards represent an increase from 81 Nigerian recipients in 2025, and the program is nearing 1,000 Nigerian scholarship beneficiaries since 2014. The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's program allows students to study at a minimum of two universities in two European countries, earning joint, double, or multiple master's degrees. The EU aims to further collaborate with Nigeria to enhance its global ranking in the program. Dr. Chinelo Nwosu, Director of the Directorate of Students, representing Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, and Mrs. Liman K.A.A., Director of the Department of Scholarship Awards in the Federal Ministry of Education, both commended the EU's investment and encouraged scholars to uphold Nigeria's image and contribute to national development. Oluchi Yulis Myron, a scholarship recipient, highlighted the opportunity for
馃嚦馃嚞Punch Nigeria路42 mins ago
Nigerian banks UBA, GTCO, and Access Holdings spend N118 billion on advertising and marketing
Three major Nigerian banks, United Bank for Africa Group UBA, Guaranty Trust Holding Company GTCO, and Access Holdings, collectively spent N118.55 billion on advertising and marketing over a 15-month period, encompassing the full year 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. This expenditure reflects intensified brand promotion amidst increasing competition in Nigeria's financial services sector. In 2025, their combined spending was N95.71 billion, a 25.1 percent decrease from N127.75 billion in 2024, largely due to UBA reducing its expenses. However, GTCO increased its marketing spend, while Access Holdings saw a slight reduction. Spending rose in Q1 2026 to N22.84 billion, a 62.4 percent increase from the corresponding period in 2025, with UBA accounting for the majority. Over the 15 months, UBA spent N72.81 billion, approximately 61.4 percent of the total, while GTCO and Access Holdings each spent around 19 percent. Analysts suggest this mixed spending pattern indicates a recalibration of marketing budgets due to evolving macroeconomic conditions and digital competition from fintech operators. Anietie Udoh, Divisional Director, Marketing, Marketing Edge Publications, noted that financial institutions are increasingly using digital platforms, sponsorships, and lifestyle campaigns, with communication strategies focused on audience segmentation. He also highlighted the impact of fintech firms like OPay and Moniepoint, which are expanding their advertising through digital channels