Author: Tech & Tools Desk

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has launched a new examination centre in London, United Kingdom, as part of efforts to expand its global reach and provide credible assessment opportunities for Nigerians living abroad. The centre was unveiled during the Education Matters Conference UK 2025 by NECO’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi. The initiative, developed in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd, aims to cater to Nigerian students and adult learners in the UK who have been unable to complete secondary education or obtain equivalent qualifications. “Our objective is to provide credible and accessible examination opportunities for Nigerians residing abroad, in line with the Federal Government’s policy on inclusivity and global engagement,” Wushishi said in a statement issued on Sunday by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani. Wushishi described the new Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) centre as a strategic step toward extending NECO’s international presence. According to him, the Council now conducts examinations in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso. He added that the London centre would empower Nigerians in the diaspora, promote national pride, and enhance global recognition of NECO certificates which are already accepted by several universities in the UK, United States, Canada, India, China, and Russia. In a goodwill message, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, commended NECO for the initiative, describing it as a key step toward ensuring that “no Nigerian child, at home or abroad, is left behind.” He said the move aligns with the Ministry’s goal of leveraging the Nigerian diaspora as a vital educational resource. Also speaking, the Director of BEP Education and NECO’s UK partner, Dr. John Ibanga, said the centre would serve as an alternative pathway for Nigerian students in the UK who face challenges within the British education system, particularly those unable to obtain the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE). “Many Nigerian children encounter barriers in the UK system that limit their academic progression. This new NECO SSCE Centre provides a recognised alternative for young learners and adults seeking academic or vocational advancement,” he said. During a courtesy visit to the Nigerian High Commission in London, Prof. Wushishi briefed the Mission on the establishment and accreditation of the new centre, noting that the UK remains a strategic hub for expanding educational access to Nigerians abroad. Responding, the Head of Political Affairs at the Mission, Ambassador Eche Abu-Obe, lauded the development as a “timely and commendable effort” in line with Nigeria’s policy on educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement. “The Mission will collaborate with NECO to advance Nigeria’s educational and developmental objectives in the United Kingdom,” Abu-Obe assured.

U.S. President Donald Trump departed for Asia on Saturday for a series of high-stakes meetings, including trade talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and hinted at a possible meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the trip. Trump is expected to meet Xi in South Korea at the end of his regional tour in an effort to end the prolonged trade war between the world’s two largest economies. He told reporters aboard Air Force One that he anticipated a “very good meeting” with Xi and expected China to strike a deal to avoid the new 100% tariffs set to take effect on November 1. As he left Washington, Trump also fueled speculation about a potential meeting with Kim their first since 2019 saying, “I’m open to it. I had a great relationship with him.” When asked if he recognized North Korea as a nuclear state, Trump said, “They are sort of a nuclear power… They’ve got a lot of nuclear weapons, I’ll say that.” Kim has indicated willingness to meet Trump again if the U.S. drops its demand for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear arsenal. According to Seoul’s reunification minister, there is a “considerable chance” the two leaders could meet while Trump is in South Korea for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Trump’s tour begins in Malaysia on Sunday for the ASEAN summit, where he will sign a bilateral trade deal and witness a peace accord between Thailand and Cambodia. He is also expected to meet Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the sidelines. In Tokyo, Trump will meet Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first woman leader, whom he praised as a protégé of late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The trip’s key focus, however, will be in South Korea, where Trump will meet President Lee Jae Myung, attend the APEC business luncheon, and host a dinner with U.S. tech executives in Gyeongju before his long-awaited meeting with Xi. Markets are closely watching the outcome, as both leaders face pressure to de-escalate trade tensions amid disputes over tariffs and Beijing’s rare-earth export restrictions. Trump said he also plans to discuss China’s role in curbing fentanyl trafficking and its links to Latin American drug networks.  AFP

The Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has announced standardised prices for housing units under its Renewed Hope Estate Programme across the country. In a statement issued in Abuja by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Badamasi Haiba, the initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to make homeownership more affordable and inclusive for Nigerians. The housing units—comprising one-, two-, and three-bedroom semi-detached bungalows—will be sold at uniform prices nationwide: One-bedroom: ₦8.5 million Two-bedroom: ₦11.5 million Three-bedroom: ₦12.5 million According to Haiba, adopting a unified pricing structure promotes fairness, transparency, and accessibility, ensuring equal opportunities for citizens in all regions to benefit from the Renewed Hope Housing Programme. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, stated that allocation priority will go to low- and middle-income earners, civil servants at all government levels, private sector employees with verifiable income, and Nigerians in the diaspora who wish to own homes locally. Providing additional details, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, said multiple payment options have been introduced to make ownership flexible and affordable. These include outright purchase, mortgage financing, rent-to-own arrangements, and instalment payment plans. He also disclosed that the sale of completed housing units across both northern and southern regions will commence soon. Interested applicants can apply through the Renewed Hope Housing online portal at www.renewedhopehomes.fmhud.gov.ng

The World Robot Olympiad (WRO), one of the largest global robotics competitions, has announced a significant expansion across Africa—growing from five participating countries in 2020 to 14 in 2025, with over 40,000 young participants expected this season. According to the organisers, more than 2,000 teachers across the continent have been trained, supported by global partners such as Google, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and WRO’s extensive network of educators and industry experts. The initiative focuses on equipping African youths with essential skills in coding, engineering, and artificial intelligence to prepare them for the future workforce. Each year, students participating in WRO design and build robots that tackle real-world challenges. The 2025 theme, “The Future of Robots,” has inspired a surge of bootcamps and workshops across several African countries, reaching learners in underserved areas and special needs communities. National champions from each country will advance to represent Africa at the WRO International Final in Singapore this November, joining teams from over 90 nations. In Zimbabwe, Team FutureSight, winners of the National Senior Category, created an AI-powered voice assistant to help visually impaired users navigate daily life — a solution now being adapted into local languages for greater accessibility. In South Africa, the journey of Karabo Rithuri highlights WRO’s long-term impact. She joined the competition at age 13, represented her country at the international finals in Malaysia, and later founded her own robotics club after her school’s programme ended. Now a graduate in Finance and IT, Rithuri serves as a WRO judge and mentors young innovators from township communities. “WRO gave me a voice, and now I want to help make things even better for the next generation,” she shared. WRO Secretary General, Claus Ditlev Christensen, described the growing presence of the competition in Africa as a key milestone in its global mission. “Expanding our footprint across Africa is an important step in inspiring young people through robotics and STEM. We’re proud to see African students developing both technical expertise and real-world solutions that benefit their communities,” he said. With Africa’s rapidly expanding youth population, the World Robot Olympiad continues to serve as a vital platform for building skills, driving innovation, and fostering global collaboration.

Nigeria imported about 15.01 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) between August 2024 and early October 2025, accounting for nearly 69 percent of the country’s total petrol supply within that 15-month period — despite the commencement of fuel production by the Dangote Refinery in September 2024. Data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) revealed that total petrol supply stood at 21.68 billion litres, with domestic refineries contributing 6.67 billion litres, or 31 percent. The report, titled “Import vs Domestic Supply Performance (PMS Daily Average Supply – August 2024 to October 2025), highlighted a steady decline in imports as local refining increased. According to the breakdown, imported fuel averaged 44.6 million litres daily in August 2024 and peaked at 54.3 million litres daily in September 2024, just as the Dangote Refinery began supplying to the local market. Import volumes then dropped progressively to 24.15 million litres daily in January 2025, 19.26 million litres in September, and 15.11 million litres in the first ten days of October 2025. During this period, domestic output grew from 6.43 million litres daily in September 2024 to 22.66 million litres in January 2025, stabilizing around 20 million litres daily in subsequent months. By October 2025, local refining surpassed imports, producing 18.93 million litres per day. The report also showed a downward trend in total national supply — from 60.73 million litres per day in September 2024 to 34.04 million litres in October 2025 — reflecting both reduced demand and changing supply patterns. This trend follows the Federal Government’s full deregulation of the petrol sector in September 2024, which ended fuel subsidies previously managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). While the Dangote Refinery continues to expand its domestic share, importers have accused the company of undercutting the market through aggressive price reductions. Despite this, Dangote officials insist the refinery has sufficient capacity to meet local demand and export surplus production. The refinery reportedly holds over 310 million litres of petrol in storage, with the Vice President of Dangote Industries, Devakumar Edwin, stating, “Any number of tankers brought for loading will be served. We have more than 310 million litres available, in addition to ongoing production.” In recent months, the refinery has also exported large volumes of petrol, aviation fuel, and diesel to other countries, including the Middle East and the United States. Between June and July 2025, Dangote confirmed the export of about one million tonnes of petrol, marking Nigeria’s emergence as a net exporter of refined products. NMDPRA Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, acknowledged the refinery’s impact, stating that the plant currently supplies an average of 20 million litres of petrol daily to the domestic market. The data underscores a transformative shift in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, with local refining capacity steadily reducing dependence on imports. However, experts note that market competition and pricing dynamics will continue to shape the pace of achieving full self-sufficiency in fuel production.

Russian airstrikes overnight and into early Thursday killed a rescue worker, injured several others, and caused damage to a synagogue in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. Residents of Kyiv reported hearing air raid sirens and explosions as the Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 130 drones across multiple regions. Emergency services confirmed that one rescuer was killed and five others wounded while battling a fire during a second wave of attacks on the village of Zelenyi Gai in the Kharkiv region. “Another crime against rescuers,” the agency said in a statement posted on social media. In Kyiv, eight people were injured, and the foreign ministry reported that a synagogue was damaged during strikes on three city districts. “Russian terror spares no one, including religious communities,” the ministry stated, adding that 640 religious sites and 67 faith leaders have been killed or destroyed since the invasion began in February 2022. Reporters in Kyiv witnessed residential buildings with shattered windows and burnt vehicles as locals cleared debris from the blast sites. In the eastern Sumy region, officials said two railway workers were injured, while the state rail operator confirmed train disruptions in border areas. Russia’s defense ministry claimed it intercepted 139 Ukrainian drones overnight, mainly targeting its western territories. The governor of the Ryazan region, southeast of Moscow, reported a fire at an industrial facility after videos circulated online showing flames at an oil refinery. The latest exchange of strikes followed a day after Russian shelling killed seven people, including two children, and triggered widespread power outages across Ukraine.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has set December 2025 as the target date to attain full certification from the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO). This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the authority’s Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, in Lagos. During the unveiling of FAAN’s ISO Policy, the Managing Director, Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku—represented by the Director of Human Resources and Administration, Dr. Luqman Emiola—stated that the policy seeks to embed a culture of service quality, operational safety, and sustainability across all FAAN-managed airports. Kuku explained that the new policy combines two ISO standards—the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System (QMS) and the ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS)—into a unified operational framework. She revealed that FAAN had completed about 70% of the certification process, with external auditors expected in November to evaluate compliance and address any identified gaps. “Our goal is to achieve full ISO certification by December 2025,” Kuku said, adding that the policy emphasises the principle that “if it is not documented, it is considered not done.” According to her, the ISO policy will guide internal audits across departments and ensure all operations reflect FAAN’s commitment to quality service delivery, safety, environmental responsibility, and operational excellence. She reaffirmed the authority’s resolve to operate Nigeria’s airports in accordance with international best practices while maintaining safe, secure, efficient, and environmentally conscious standards. Also speaking, FAAN’s Director of Special Duties, Mrs. Obiageli Orah, underscored the significance of the ISO Policy, noting that the audit process would evaluate FAAN’s commitment to quality management, ethical conduct, customer satisfaction, and environmental sustainability.

Women for Women International has announced the appointment of Thelma Ekiyor as its new Global Chief Executive Officer. Ekiyor, a seasoned leader in international development and women’s empowerment, brings over 25 years of experience in philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and cross-sector collaboration. In a statement, WfWI Board Chair Nunu Ntshingila commended the appointment, noting, “Among a shortlist of outstanding candidates, Thelma Ekiyor’s expertise, passion, and leadership stood out. Her unwavering commitment to empowering women and helping them transform their lives and communities was evident.” Ekiyor succeeds Marie Clarke, who served as Acting CEO for nine months, steering the organisation through a period of transition. Her appointment comes amid significant global shifts in the development sector, with expectations that her extensive background working with governments, civil society, the private sector, and impact investors will strengthen WfWI’s mission and broaden its global impact. “Her leadership will be instrumental as Women for Women International embarks on its next phase,” Ntshingila added. Throughout her career, Ekiyor has held several pioneering positions. She has chaired the Nigeria Office for Philanthropy and Impact Investing, co-founded Afrigrants—Nigeria’s largest women-led accelerator for micro-businesses—and contributed to the TY Danjuma Foundation and the West African Civil Society Institute in Ghana. She has also served on the International Advisory Board of the Global Centre on Responsibility to Protect and co-founded Women in Philanthropy & Impact, a global network promoting African women in leadership. Expressing her excitement about the new role, Ekiyor said, “I am deeply passionate about investing in women and creating opportunities that advance social good. Women for Women International’s mission to empower women survivors of conflict and women-led enterprises aligns closely with my values. I look forward to contributing to a future where every woman realises her power and potential.”

Nigeria’s leading hygiene brand, Dettol, has reaffirmed its dedication to advancing hand hygiene and public health as it joined forces with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa, and Kiddies ‘n’ Brands, a Reckitt Catalyst beneficiary, to commemorate the 2025 Global Handwashing Day. The event, held on October 15 in Abuja with the theme “Be a Hero, One Handwash at a Time,” emphasized the power of individual responsibility in driving collective change through handwashing—one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases and promote healthy living. The gathering brought together key government representatives, development partners, and media professionals to raise nationwide awareness on hand hygiene. It featured practical demonstrations and renewed commitments from stakeholders to strengthen hygiene education across communities. Cassandra Uzo-Ogbugh, Head of External Communications and Partnerships, Reckitt Sub-Saharan Africa, noted that Dettol’s long-standing advocacy for hand hygiene stems from the belief that “clean hands save lives.” She added that through consistent collaboration with federal and state agencies, the brand continues to champion hygiene education that empowers communities and enhances public health. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, commended Dettol and its partners for their unwavering contribution to Nigeria’s hygiene and sanitation goals. He stressed the importance of sustained advocacy and public-private partnerships to make handwashing a daily habit among Nigerians. Beyond Abuja, Dettol’s partners extended the Global Handwashing Day celebrations to Lagos and Kwara States. In Lagos, The Wellbeing Foundation Africa and Kiddies ‘n’ Brands led school and community sensitization programmes in Ijora and Alimosho, where pupils and caregivers participated in engaging demonstrations highlighting the importance of regular handwashing in achieving Sustainable Development Goals 3 and 6. In Kwara, the Wellbeing Foundation Africa continued its Hygiene Quest programme, focusing on educating schoolchildren and families about proper hand hygiene practices. As part of its broader commitment to public health, Dettol continues to drive impactful initiatives such as Clean Naija and the Reckitt Catalyst Initiatives, which have empowered millions of Nigerians through hygiene education and supported innovative social enterprises in the WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) sector. Through these initiatives, Dettol reinforces the message that small, consistent actions—like washing hands—can have a life-saving impact. Together with government and development partners, Reckitt remains committed to building a healthier Nigeria where everyone can truly be a “hygiene hero.”

As children grow, proper nutrition plays a vital role in supporting brain development and cognitive function. A diet rich in essential nutrients provides the energy and building blocks needed for a healthy brain. Foods fortified with Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) — an omega-3 fatty acid — have been shown to significantly enhance early brain development, particularly in children between the ages of two and six, helping them reach their full potential. Health experts explain that DHA is a key structural component of brain, eye, and nerve cells, making it essential for optimal growth and function during early childhood, a period when the brain and nervous system are rapidly developing. According to specialists, DHA accounts for about 97% of the omega-3 fatty acids in the brain and supports the formation of brain cells, improving cognitive skills such as learning, memory, and concentration. Studies show that by age one, a child’s brain has reached about 72% of its adult size, and by age five, about 90%, highlighting how critical these early years are for brain growth. Research also suggests that children who consume more DHA tend to perform better in mental skill tests and exhibit sharper cognitive abilities. A Consultant Paediatric Haematologist and Oncologist at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Edamisan Temiye, emphasized that DHA-rich foods are essential for brain development and overall intelligence. “DHA is crucial for the brain’s development and maturation. The nerves are surrounded by fats rich in DHA, which help transmit information faster. This nutrient makes growing children sharper and more intelligent,” he explained. Beyond brain function, DHA also supports eye health, as it is found in high concentrations in the retina. Experts note that it promotes healthy vision and proper eye development in children, and may even reduce the frequency of vision-related issues. Major dietary sources of DHA include fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines, as well as algae-based supplements and fortified foods like milk, yogurt, and baby formulas. Breast milk naturally contains DHA, making it an excellent source for infants. “The DHA in breast milk is sufficient for infants, which is why exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months is strongly recommended,” Prof. Temiye added. To ensure an adequate supply of DHA, nursing mothers are encouraged to include DHA-rich foods in their diet, and in some cases, doctors may recommend supplements. Many manufacturers of infant formulas now fortify their products with DHA to match the natural levels found in breast milk. Parents are, however, advised to consult their paediatricians before choosing a formula to ensure it meets their child’s nutritional needs. In some instances, paediatricians may recommend DHA supplements, especially for children with dietary restrictions or low intake of DHA-rich foods. Experts advise parents to regularly include DHA-rich foods in their children’s diets and follow professional guidance to support brain growth, improve cognitive performance, and give their children the best start in life.