Author: Olaoluwa Vincent Ajayi

In a major cultural shift, no fewer than 25 Nigerian languages are now enjoying growing global recognition—thanks to the meteoric rise of Afrobeats, Nollywood, digital media, and a widespread Nigerian diaspora. From classrooms in Harvard to dance floors in Havana, Nigerian languages are traveling the world and gaining new speakers, researchers, and relevance. Soft Power in Action Languages once considered local—like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa—are now at the heart of global pop culture, with Pidgin English slang like “Wahala”, “Omo”, and “Japa” has become a regular feature in music, comedy, and even advertising abroad. Most of these words are also…

Drug Dealer Exploits Human Rights Loophole to Remain in UK After Illegal Re-entry and Repeat Offences An Albanian drug dealer deported from the UK for serious drug offences has been allowed to remain in the country—despite re-entering illegally and committing further crimes—exposing what critics see as a judicial failure enabled by a lenient interpretation of human rights laws. Stiljano Ziu, previously jailed for cannabis production and deported in 2018, defied a deportation order and returned to the UK unlawfully. Yet instead of facing swift removal, he exploited EU treaty laws and the UK’s human rights framework to secure residency—by marrying…

In a fresh controversy casting doubt on Donald Trump’s approach to Russia, a top State Department official appointed by the president has come under scrutiny for dismantling a key U.S. counter-disinformation unit—while maintaining ties that lead uncomfortably close to the Kremlin. Darren Beattie, the acting Under-Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, oversaw the shutdown of the U.S. government’s Russian disinformation watchdog known as R/FIMI, despite his own past praise for President Vladimir Putin and apparent sympathies with authoritarian regimes. Beattie, who once called for Western institutions to be “infiltrated” by Putin, is married to a Russian woman whose uncle,…

A 12-year-old boy tragically ran over and killed his foster carer just six days after moving into her home, an inquest in Sheffield, England, has heard. Marcia Grant, 60, died from serious injuries after the child reversed her car over her outside her home on 5 April 2023. She had worked as a foster carer for seven years and was described by her family as “a soul like no other,” with “an unshakeable ethical compass.” The boy—referred to only as Child X—was placed with Marcia and her husband, Delroy, in an emergency arrangement after a call went out for urgent…

Nigerian military has arrested over 40 individuals, including 18 soldiers, 15 police officers, and eight civilians, in connection with a suspected arms trafficking ring involving the illegal sale of weapons to armed groups, a military spokesperson confirmed Friday. Captain Reuben Kovangiya, spokesperson for Nigeria’s joint anti-insurgency operation, described the arrests as part of a nationwide crackdown on arms racketeering within the country’s security forces. “This is part of the counter-arms and ammunition racketeering operation conducted in every theatre of operations,” Captain Kovangiya told Reuters. “If any personnel engage in any act that is inimical to the system, they are arrested…

In a significant vote of confidence, global credit ratings giant Moody’s has upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign credit rating from Caa1 to B3, citing substantial progress in fiscal discipline, external balance, and foreign exchange stability. The move marks a rare positive shift for one of Africa’s largest economies. The upgrade, announced on Friday, moves Nigeria from Moody’s “substantial risk” category to the less severe “highly speculative” band—still below investment grade, but a clear sign that global investors are recognizing President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms. Moody’s also revised the country’s outlook from “positive” to “stable,” reflecting expectations that recent improvements will hold, unless…

A majority of Conservative voters now want Boris Johnson to return as party leader, potentially replacing Kemi Badenoch, according to new polling that exposes deep dissatisfaction within Tory ranks. Exclusive data commissioned by The Telegraph and conducted by Survation shows that two-thirds of Conservative supporters believe Mr Johnson, who resigned in 2022 amid scandal, would make a better leader than Badenoch. The figures are sparking fresh speculation about a possible Johnson comeback, even as senior Tories insist there is “no appetite” in Parliament for another leadership shake-up. Among those who voted Conservative at the last general election, 60% prefer Johnson…

A Ghanaian woman who has lived in the United Kingdom illegally since 2000 has been granted the legal right to stay permanently, after a British immigration tribunal ruled that deporting her would violate her human rights and leave her destitute in a country she no longer recognizes. Joyce Baidoo, 57, was initially ordered to be deported in 2007 after serving a 10-month prison sentence for fraud, which included the use of false identity documents. But for nearly two decades, she remained in the UK, evading removal and ultimately challenging her deportation in a case that has now drawn scrutiny over…

Once hailed as one of Nigeria’s most influential economic technocrats, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), now finds himself at the centre of multiple corruption cases, with fresh charges filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Emefiele, who was born on August 4, 1961, in Lagos and hails from Agbor, Delta State, rose from humble beginnings through academic excellence and a stellar private-sector career before being appointed CBN Governor in 2014. However, his legacy is now at stake as prosecutors accuse him of stealing, money laundering, forgery, and criminal…

Abeokuta, Nigeria – In a ground breaking environmental investigation led by Professor O.O. Olujimi, one of Nigeria’s foremost environmental toxicologists, researchers have exposed the widespread contamination of groundwater by hazardous chemicals leaching from dumpsites across southwestern Nigeria. The former Staff of the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and who currently work as Cultural, Natural and Environmental Programme Manager at the United States of America Air Force, United Kingdom a scholar of over 20 years teaching and researching experience reported from his recent study. The study’s primary focus—Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)—reveals…