
OPay, a fintech company in Nigeria, has extended the application deadline for its National Innovation Challenge, part of the OPay Scholars Programme 2026, from June 14 to July 3, 2026. This extension was made due to significant interest and requests from students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The OPay Scholars Programme is an expanded platform for education and talent development, aiming to empower Nigerian innovators. It includes a N1.2 billion 10-year scholarship commitment, the National Innovation Challenge, and OPay Futures, a career development initiative. OPay has also partnered with the 3 Million Technical Talent 3MTT Programme, a digital skills initiative by the Federal Government under the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy. This collaboration aims to develop Nigeria's next generation of innovators and expand access to economic opportunities through skills development, innovation, mentorship, and employability pathways. 3MTT will work with Google to deliver training during the webinar and bootcamp phases of the National Innovation Challenge and help promote the program. Itoro Udo, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at OPay, stated that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to developing talent, supporting job creation, and ensuring more Nigerians can access opportunities in the digital economy. Francis Sani, Programme Director for 3MTT, noted that the collaboration combines government and private sector strengths
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Must ReadDr. Bolaji Olagunju, Founder and Group Chairman of Workforce Group, argues that many public sector boards in Nigeria operate as "clubs" rather than effective governing bodies. He explains that while a club brings people together based on shared connections, a board should be composed of individuals who collectively possess the competencies to govern an institution. Olagunju highlights that the selection process for these boards often prioritizes political affiliation, social networks, and personal relationships over the necessary skills, independence of judgment, and diversity of perspective required for effective governance. This leads to "friendly boards" where disagreement is avoided, and critical conversations are not held, resulting in institutions slowly becoming irrelevant. He proposes an alternative: "boards of builders," which are deliberately composed based on the specific competencies needed to govern an institution, citing the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority NSIA and the Federal Inland Revenue Service FIRS under Ifueko Omoigui Okauru as positive examples. Olagunju provides five tests to distinguish a club from a board, focusing on network diversity, competency-based selection, capacity for genuine disagreement, willingness to challenge the Chief Executive, and resilience to member changes. He concludes that changing how public sector board appointments are made, by prioritizing competence and independence over political and relational considerations, is cru
Must ReadFormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has voiced concerns regarding the ongoing detention of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, cautioning that overly strict bail conditions could undermine constitutional protections and public trust in the justice system. In a statement released by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku described the Federal High Court's refusal to review El-Rufai’s bail conditions as troubling, arguing that conditions impossible to meet amount to a “constructive denial of bail.” He maintained that while courts have discretion in setting bail, these powers must be exercised reasonably and align with justice principles, emphasizing that an accused person is innocent until proven guilty. Atiku questioned the rationale behind bail requirements that allegedly demand a defendant produce a serving Grade Level 17 federal civil servant with verifiable property in Abuja’s high-end Maitama or Asokoro districts. He warned that such judicial decisions could set precedents affecting the liberties of ordinary citizens, stressing that the judiciary must inspire confidence in the fairness and accessibility of justice. Atiku also expressed concern about a growing perception that opposition figures and government critics are increasingly embroiled in legal disputes, stating that no democracy thrives when legal processes appear to punish dissent. While not commenting on the allegations against El-Rufai, Atiku insisted that constitut
Must ReadAllen Onyema, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, has called on Nigerians to implement a non-violent economic boycott of South Africa. This appeal comes in response to ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants, including Nigerians, in South Africa. Onyema, speaking on Arise Television, advocated for Nigerians to cease investing in South Africa and instead encourage their businesses to invest within Nigeria under terms set by the Nigerian government. He criticized South African authorities for their perceived failure to protect foreign nationals during periods of unrest, questioning the absence of adequate security forces to prevent attacks. Onyema highlighted the positive contributions of many Nigerian migrants to the South African economy through business establishment and job creation. While supporting calls for stronger diplomatic action, he explicitly rejected violent retaliation against South Africans or South African-owned businesses in Nigeria, citing that many Nigerians hold shares in these companies and benefit from the employment they provide. His remarks follow renewed anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, which have led to demands for undocumented migrants to leave the country by June 30.