
President Bola Tinubu praised the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Real Estate Investment Fund MREIF for providing N128bn in affordable mortgages to 1,859 families across 25 states. He highlighted this achievement as evidence that effective policy frameworks can enable home ownership for many Nigerians previously excluded from the market. The beneficiaries, from all six geopolitical zones, received mortgages for up to 20 years at a fixed interest rate of 9.75 percent annually, with a minimum 10 percent equity contribution, terms largely unavailable in Nigeria for nearly six decades. Tinubu noted that this progress by MREIF demonstrates that with appropriate policies, strong institutions, and partnerships, access to home ownership can be expanded, allowing more Nigerians to build wealth through asset ownership. Beyond the disbursed mortgages, MREIF has generated N221bn in total property value and supported the delivery of 475 housing units through off-take guarantee arrangements. The average mortgage beneficiary is 42 years old, reflecting demand among working-age Nigerians who have historically lacked long-term housing finance. MREIF is a N1tn housing finance platform, with a pilot phase of N250bn in concessionary and commercial funding, sponsored by the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and managed by ARM Investment Managers. Its Series 2 commercial issuance holds AAA and AA ratings from Agusto & Co. and GCR Ratings. Tinubu stated that MREIF complements the Renewed Hope Citie
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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.