Articles by Our Reporter,The Nation

Technology

WARDC, CRR unveil online hub to empower adolescent girls, women on SRHR

In an age where the internet often shapes how young people learn about their bodies, the Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) has taken a bold step to provide safer, accurate, and youth-friendly access to information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). In partnership with the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), WARDC has launched the National SRHR Hub for Adolescent Girls and Women (AGW), an online platform called SRHR Naija Hub, aimed at creating a digital safe space for young women and girls to access information, resources, and support services on sexual and reproductive health. The web-based platform, unveiled during a recent event in Lagos, also featured a live demonstration that drew excitement from participants, including persons with disabilities. Many described the hub as a timely intervention to address misinformation and the growing risks young people face online. Speaking at the launch, the Acting Executive Director of WARDC, Dr. Princess Olufemi-Kayode, described the hub as a collaborative initiative designed to empower adolescent girls and women with accurate, accessible, and inclusive SRHR information. “The SRHR Naija Hub is not just a website, it is a safe space and a movement toward dignity, autonomy, and informed choice. It offers peer-led education, digital resources, legal support, and referral pathways for SRHR services. For WARDC, this is a strategic investment in the next generation of feminist leaders.” She said. Dr. Olufemi-Kayode explained that the platform was developed in close collaboration with youth advocates, health professionals, and community stakeholders to ensure it meets the real needs of adolescents and young women across Nigeria. Participants at the launch hailed the initiative as a major step in addressing the challenges of misinformation about sexual and reproductive health. One of them, a Social Work student at the University of Lagos, Kehinde Oyagha, noted that many young girls often rely on the internet for answers but end up encountering misleading or harmful content. “Many girls, especially preteens, are naturally curious, but because of the internet, they often access wrong or harmful information about their bodies. This leads to digital abuse and miseducation about reproductive health.” Oyagha said. Oyagha called for a more interactive approach, where young girls can learn from one another through online mentorship and peer education. “We want a space where girls can learn from each other’s experiences, almost like a mini mentorship programme,” she said, adding that social media can play a powerful role in changing perceptions. “If influencers talk about these issues, consent, contraceptives, and health, it normalises the conversation,” she added. “We also need collaboration with government and health professionals to make youth-friendly centres visible and accessible.” With the launch of the SRHR Naija Hub, WARDC and CRR are leveraging technology to bridge the information gap, empowering adolescent girls and women to make informed choices and advocate for their rights in a digital age where misinformation often thrives.

9 hours ago

Technology

Beyond Greylisting: Why Nigeria’s crypto gamble will shape its financial future

By Professor Wahab Elias and Oluwole Ololade Adeosun …Delisting is progress — but trust is the real reform Getting off the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List is a genuine reform success. It deserves recognition: greylisting raised the cost of doing business, discouraged investment and signalled governance weakness. FATF’s decision to remove Nigeria from enhanced monitoring restores credibility — but it is a fragile victory. The harder work lies ahead. Crypto and digital-asset oversight now sit at the heart of that challenge. Although FATF’s Recommendation 15 on virtual assets was not one of the reasons Nigeria was greylisted, it became central to the country’s exit commitments. Nigeria’s experiment with crypto regulation has been episodic, fragmented and dominated by a security lens. To consolidate reform momentum, digital finance must be treated not as a compliance afterthought but as a test of financial sovereignty. From tolerance to ‘shadow regulation’ Between 2017 and 2020, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) tolerated crypto informally while the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) studied its classification. Then in 2021, the CBN abruptly prohibited banks from servicing exchanges — launching what became known as “shadow regulation.” A year later, the SEC released its first digital-asset guidelines and promised a sandbox regime, but no firm has yet graduated from that experiment. By 2023 the banking ban was partially lifted, though without new licences. Today, three institutions dominate the field: the CBN, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The SEC retains the statutory title of regulator under the Investments and Securities Act 2025, but not the operational weight to make it meaningful. From a sociological standpoint, this regulatory oscillation reflects a familiar pattern — where authority is personalised and discretion replaces discipline when formal systems are weak. From a market-governance perspective, fragmentation erodes both compliance and confidence, deterring long-term capital. Trust deficit and policy reversals Since 2021, Nigeria has governed crypto through circulars, bans and quiet reversals. Banks were told to block exchanges, then told to unblock them. Telcos restricted unlicensed platforms; users countered with VPNs and offshore brokers. The approach bought time but undermined trust, pushing activity off-grid and out of reach. The result has been more volatility, capital flight and uncertainty about whether Nigeria is open for innovation or still improvising. The rise of unregulated P2P networks The most dangerous outcome is the explosion of peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. What began as a technical workaround has become the main rail for illicit finance. FATF classifies such unhosted transactions as the highest-risk corridor for money-laundering, terrorism funding and election-season slush funds. Thousands of brokers now operate through messaging apps, settling via informal bank transfers or gift-card swaps. The mix of anonymity, speed and zero oversight attracts both speculators and bad actors. Unless policy shifts before the 2027 elections, these networks could become the preferred channel for dark finance. Reducing their appeal is not censorship — it is financial hygiene. The solution is simple: make the regulated path cheaper, faster and safer than the unregulated one. ARRIP: The sandbox that stalled The Approval-in-Principle regime (ARRIP) was created to close that gap — a sandbox for innovation under supervision. In practice, it has become a holding pattern. The SEC manages it in name but lacks the resources to enforce timelines or graduate participants. Meanwhile, the CBN is preparing to launch a Digital Finance Supervision Unit next year, linking bank rails, tax reporting and prudential oversight. From an accounting-governance perspective, this could be the bridge between innovation and accountability. If successful, it could turn ARRIP from fiction into framework. If not, it will confirm that Nigeria can draft regulations faster than it can implement them. Lessons from the region South Africa’s formal registration of crypto service providers has built credibility. Kenya’s early permissiveness followed by crackdown created instability. Ghana’s cautious diplomacy built trust but slowed clarity. Nigeria risks combining the worst of all three: costs without credibility, restrictions without stability. What must change The path forward requires discipline, not invention. 1. Coordinate rather than compete: the CBN, FIRS and ONSA must work together. 2. Be transparent, not transactional: backroom directives undermine both compliance and confidence. 3. Focus on substance, not slogans: build rails for lawful digital finance while closing those that invite abuse. The public does not need another acronym. It needs a framework that works. The next frontier: Trust Nigeria’s fintech users are ingenious, but resilience is not the same as trust. Without credible oversight, innovation migrates offshore, capital flees and the naira suffers. FATF delisting has bought Nigeria time, but not immunity. The real test is whether the country can construct a regulatory architecture that is both innovative and enforceable — one that curbs illicit flows before politics weaponises them. As both sociologist and market professional, we see the next frontier not in drafting new rules but in strengthening the institutions and trust that make rules meaningful. Beyond greylisting lies a harder task: ensuring that digital finance serves Nigerians — not the shadows. Professor Wahab Elias is a Professor of Sociology at Lagos State University (LASU). His research focuses on institutions, governance and social change, particularly how regulatory systems adapt to technological and economic transitions. Mr. Oluwole Ololade Adeosun, FCS, FCA, is Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chartwell Securities Limited. He is the 12th President of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

10 hours ago

Technology

Prophet Babatunde Ephrata warns of national, global shifts in 2026 prophecy

Nigerian preacher and founder of Bible Based Centre (BBC), Prophet Babatunde Ephrata, has released his annual prophetic declaration for 2026, issuing stern warnings to Nigeria and the world at large. Delivering the message during a live broadcast titled “Prophetic Insight 2026”, the UK-based cleric cautioned that Nigeria faces a critical year marked by both danger and opportunity. According to him, “Nigeria is coming up, but there are powers who are out to bring the country down. They intend to do that by taking out Tinubu. If this president is forced out of office, Nigeria will face serious disaster.” Ephrata, known for his calm yet precise prophetic style, described 2026 as a year of “spiritual warfare and political turbulence,” stressing that unseen global forces are working to destabilize nations. “It is no longer about tribalism—it’s about the destiny of the nation,” he said. Despite his warnings, the prophet also offered what he called a divine solution for Nigeria’s recovery — agriculture. “Tell the leaders, church leaders, and business owners—agriculture is the way to success in 2026,” he declared, adding that prosperity will come to those who invest in farming and empower rural communities. On global affairs, Prophet Ephrata predicted tensions between NATO and the European Union, describing 2026 as a year when “trust will be betrayed” among world powers. He also warned of renewed terrorist activity and urged prayers for several nations including Germany, Turkey, France, the U.S., and Nigeria. Turning to social and technological issues, the prophet raised concerns about the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), predicting that “AI will break a lot of homes, as spouses will be distracted by AI-induced emotions.” He also warned that cosmetic surgery mishaps and crises of faith will rise worldwide, as many struggle with identity and belief. Back home, Ephrata called attention to the risk of severe flooding in parts of Nigeria in 2026, urging both government and religious leaders to take proactive measures. He concluded his prophecy with a call for unity and prayer: “Pray for Nigeria, for the leaders, the Church, and the business owners. The hand of God is ready to lift the nation if the people will cry out to Him.” Followers across the UK and Nigeria have since shared clips of his declaration online, describing it as one of his most detailed and urgent prophecies to date.

11 hours ago

Technology

Tinubu’s aide applauds NELFUND, hails President’s support for tertiary students

The Personal Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on General Duties, Olawale Fadare, has commended the Federal Government’s education financing initiative through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a life-changing opportunity for indigent tertiary students across the country. Speaking in an interview with the press, Fadare praised President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying it is already delivering tangible benefits to key sectors, especially education. He noted that the interest-free loan scheme for tertiary students has been widely embraced by stakeholders, investors, and education advocates for its potential to ease financial burdens and enhance access to higher education. “I am particularly elated by the impact the educational loan is having on the lives of students. It aligns with the President’s commitment to leaving no stone unturned in national development,” Fadare said. Read Also: NELFUND’s student loan applications hit 1million mark Highlighting the broader vision of the administration, he added, “President Tinubu truly understands the yearnings of Nigerians, especially the impressionable but gifted youths. I make bold to state that there are better days ahead for this country because the ship is in capable hands.” Fadare also called on Nigerians, particularly the youth, to support the government’s reform programmes, which he described as transformative and responsive to the needs of the people. The NELFUND, launched under the Tinubu administration, aims to provide interest-free loans to eligible students in public tertiary institutions, enabling them to focus on their studies without financial distress.

11 hours ago

Technology

Nigeria’s future depends on hybrid intelligence in AI-driven world, says Aguene, AI Tech expert

Tech expert and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bildup AI, Mr. Chibuike Aguene has said that Nigeria must take proactive steps to equip its young people with the skills needed to thrive in the new era of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that is revolutionizing industries and redefining the workforce. He said that the future of work will be powered by hybrid intelligence, where human intelligence is augmented with AI. Speaking on AriseTV Newsnight on Saturday, Aguene said that top CEOs worldwide are already investing heavily in AI with tangible results, adding that they are recognizing it is no longer a long-term bet, but a current necessity. He said: “We ‘re not just experiencing a tech shift like we’ve seen over the past decades. We’re living through workforce revolution, the like of which we’ve never seen before, where intelligence is going to be hybrid, partly human and partly machine. “Let me just give you a context of the talks about intelligence being hybrid. Everything that we see that exist today, like television, aircraft, talk about mobile phone was done by human intelligence, maybe with technology, but we are now transitioning into a super human employees era where intelligence will be hybrid. So, the workforce of the future will be powered by young people that will augment their intelligence with AI. “All the top CEOs across the world are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, and most of them are seeing results. This is no longer a long term bet. It is something that they are seeing result. It’s an interesting time to be alive. “But it’s also poses a challenge for us in Africa, where we have not even been able to equip young people to have developed human intelligence to meet up with what is happening in the world, and now we are talking about hybrid intelligence, where you have superhuman employees. Read Also: Final Trumpet Call: Nigeria bids farewell to titan of integrity, Christopher Kolade “Anybody that is going to be productive few years from now, will have to be equipped to have AI as your co-workers. So, we are supposed to start preparing. That is the direction that every business owner, that’s the conversation they should be having now: how to integrate artificial intelligence, how to prepare your staff and re-train them. You are hiring new people, AI must be at the center of it. “AI is no longer an experimental thing. It is now operational. And any business that says this AI thing doesn’t concern us is not going to be in business for too long. So, I’m excited. It’s also a challenge, like I mentioned earlier, for us as a nation, to start thinking of, how do we prepare the next generation. Otherwise, we’re going to lose the next generation in terms of creativity and productivity. “We are living in super human era. Super human intelligence is going to be augmented with AI. Let me just tell you something, anybody that is maybe five years old or three years old today will laugh when they hear that we once operated with only human intelligence. Their generation is going to experience something completely different. They’re going to live in an era where intelligence is hybrid. The way we are living now would just be part of history that humans once live in an era where they operated with only their intelligence. So, this is not something that we are going to just ignore. Nigerians should not be left behind”. Aguene however said that to stay ahead, Nigeria must start preparing now by investing in education and training programmes that focus on developing hybrid intelligence, encouraging businesses to adopt AI, and promoting a culture of innovation and adaptability. “AI is no longer a distant concept. It’s right here with us. We are going to reorganize or rethink entire workflows in every organization. There are three dimension to this. One is in terms of education, how we’re educating the people that will fill the workforce of tomorrow right now, I don’t think there is any school that you go and hear superhuman or you hear hybrid intelligence, but that’s what the reality they are going to face. “So for a business owner, imagine, for example, you have a customer support personnel there, and they work nine to five. There’s a limit to what they can accomplish that within that timeframe. But if you augment the intelligence with artificial intelligence, they will be able to accomplish what would have taken maybe five months. “We are entering an era of solving things that were termed impossible, so that on the business side. So if you do not apply that, you are not going to be in business. So that means that for business to work, you need talents that have AI as part of their skill set, that on that side. Then, the other part, which I think is very, very important, is all stakeholders coming together. This is not something that will happen in silos. There has to be cooperation across board. Like for those of us in the technology space, we have a platform that is already equipping people, preparing them to become superhuman. “The term superhuman will become common. Hybrid intelligence will become common in the next few months or years. It’s something that all of us should start getting used to, because that’s the reality of what is going to happen, and it’s something we’re excited about. So there will be industry collaboration,” he said.

2 days ago

Technology

UN approves resolution backing Morocco’s plan for Western Sahara

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has adopted a resolution supporting Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The UNSC, in a United States-drafted text, on Friday called for the parties to engage in negotiations based on an autonomy plan first presented by Morocco to the UN in 2007. According to the resolution, a genuine autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty could be the most feasible solution to Rabat’s 50-year conflict with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. The US, which sponsored the resolution, led 11 countries in voting in favour, while three countries – Russia, China and Pakistan – abstained. Algeria, Polisario’s primary benefactor, opposed the measure. Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, said the vote had been “historic” and would “build on the momentum for a long, long overdue peace in Western Sahara”. “We urge all parties to use the coming weeks to come to the table and engage in serious discussions.We believe regional peace is possible this year, and we will make every effort to facilitate progress,” Waltz said. Amar Bendjama, the Algerian ambassador to the UN, said that while the resolution was an improvement on previous iterations, it “still has a number of shortcomings”. “It is below, below, I say, of the expectations and the legitimate aspirations of the people of Western Sahara, represented by the Polisario Front,” he said. Although Friday’s vote was divided, the resolution offers the strongest endorsement yet for Morocco’s plan to keep sovereignty over the territory, which also has backing from most European Union members and a growing number of African allies. The resolution refers to Morocco’s plan as a basis for negotiation as with similar resolutions in previous years, the text makes no mention of a referendum on self-determination that includes independence as an option. The 11 council members vote in favour of the resolution also renewed for one year the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force in Western Sahara, known as the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Western Sahara, a tract of desert the size of Britain, has been the scene of Africa’s longest-running territorial dispute since colonial power Spain left in 1975 and Morocco annexed the territory. Morocco considers the territory its own while the Polisario Front seeks to establish an independent state called the Sahrawi Republic. Morocco’s autonomy proposal would establish a local legislative, executive and judicial authority for Western Sahara elected by its residents, while Rabat would retain jurisdiction over defence, foreign affairs and religious matters.

2 days ago