Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed strong support for the newly-launched African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA), noting that it will provide fairer and more transparent credit assessments for African economies.The African Union announced the launch of AfCRA on Friday to address biases by global rating firms.President Tinubu commended the African Union (AU), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Finance for their visionary leadership in advancing an African framework for financing development among member states.“An independent African-led rating agency will help provide fairer assessments of African economies and reduce the bias often observed in…
Author: Oladi Samuel
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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the release of results for the 2024 Second-Series West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates with 67.55% of candidates obtaining credit and above in at least five subjectsThe examination took place in Nigeria between October 25 and December 20, 2024 conducted in two modes, Paper and Pen option and a computer-based hybrid model, allowing candidates to choose based on their preference during registration.According to a statement issued by Moyosola F. Adesina, the Acting Head of public Affairs, 68,342 candidates registered for the examination, marking a 20% decline compared to…
The Romanian Government has launched the Romania Government Scholarship 2025, offering fully funded opportunities for non-EU students to pursue undergraduate, master’s, and PhD studies at accredited universities in Romania.This scholarship program provides full financial support for students from countries outside the European Union who wish to study in Romania.The scholarship is intended to provide access to higher education for international students and promote academic collaboration between Romania and other nations, DAAD scholarship cites.Scholarship benefits Details inform that the Romania Government Scholarship covers certain benefits for successful applicants.Recipients will receive full tuition coverage for the duration of their selected program, ensuring that…
On Monday, February 9, 2025, Premium Times, one of Nigeria’s well-known online publications, published a piece which left me wondering whether it was really from the same platform I have always respected.Writing ostensibly in response to a piece on Cardoso’s first eleven, Premium Times published a piece that was, to put it mildly, heavy on conjecture.The “exclusive” focused on the appointment of consultants and advisers at the CBN, but while I read to see whether they were going to present evidence of incompetence or lack of qualification with regard to the profiles in the article they were responding to, the…
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup, xAI, is set to release the Grok 3 chatbot on Monday, with the billionaire claiming it will be the “smartest AI on Earth.”The product will debut with a live demonstration at 8 p.m. Pacific time, Musk announced in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.The launch of Grok 3 comes amid a global race to develop increasingly sophisticated and cost-effective AI chatbots.Musk teased the new model during a video conference at the World Government Summit in Dubai on Thursday, describing it as a breakthrough that will outperform all existing AI tools.Grok 3 was trained…
France has introduced tougher language proficiency standards for foreign residents and those applying for citizenship, prompting a wave of debate.The change comes as part of a broader immigration reform bill that also includes stricter border controls and tougher deportation policies.According to TravelBiz, the new rules will require foreign applicants to demonstrate language proficiency at a level comparable to an 11- to 15-year-old French student.Critics have raised concerns that the new requirements are so demanding that even native French speakers may struggle to meet the standards.New language standards for applicants Previously, as cited by reports, foreign nationals applying for French residence permits…
Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, has announced a $400 million plan to push a second production line at the Mugher cement plant in Ethiopia, a move expected to double the facility’s annual output to 5 million tons.The Mugher plant, which began operations in 2015 with an initial capacity of 2.5 million tons per year, has faced major challenges.Regional unrest led to repeated attacks on company property. In 2018, the country manager and two employees were killed in an attack.Despite these challenges, Dangote remains committed to Ethiopia, seeing it as a crucial market in his growing African cement empire.Despite these setbacks,…
The New Zealand government has announced changes to the Active Investor Plus (AIP) visa, which will come into effect on April 1st, 2025.The updated visa introduces two new investment categories (Growth and Balanced); structured to attract high-net-worth investors and enhance the country’s economic growth.The changes outlined by New Zealand are intended to boost foreign investment in the country’s economy. DAAD Scholarship cites that the government’s intention is to provide more flexibility for potential investor migrants.Economic Growth Minister Nicola Willis, noted the critical role that foreign investment can play in stimulating the economy and creating jobs for New Zealanders.“Foreign investment has…
Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State says his administration has attracted over N330 billion in foreign investment as part of its commitment to developing tourism and preserving cultural heritage in the state.Idris made this statement on Saturday at the 2025 Rigata Annual Cultural Festival in Yauri Local Government Area of the state.He emphasized the administration’s commitment to preserving cultural heritage, describing the Rigata festival as more than just a celebration but a testament to Kebbi’s rich history, vibrant culture, and the unity of its people.“This festival showcases the beauty of our traditions, the strength of our community, and the spirit…
The African Union has elected Mahamoud Ali Youssouf of Djibouti as the new Chairperson of the AU Commission, just 24 hours after launching its own credit rating agency, the African Credit Rating Agency (AfCRA).Youssouf defeated Odinga Odinga of Kenya in the fourth round of voting. He will succeed Moussa Faki Mahamat of Chad, who served two terms of four years each.Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, remarked that Youssouf’s victory surprised Odinga, who had been expected to win.Onanuga noted that Odinga spent three out of his five allotted minutes discussing the history of Pan-Africanism…