NEWS

The World Bank on Tuesday called on developing countries to embrace artificial intelligence technology tools to deliver better governance outcomes, warning that they risked being left behind if they failed to do so.“AI has thrown developing economies a lifeline, and they should seize it,” the Chief Economist of the World Bank Group, Indermit Gill, said as the organisation launched its annual World Development Report.“They do not need large models or big data centres to reap its benefits,” he added, advocating for the adaptation of lower-cost AI tools to local conditions to deliver results in the health, education, justice and agricultural sectors.Advanced AI models — largely developed in the United States and China — offer the ability to quickly analyse data and automate many t...

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced plans to conduct its recruitment exercise annually, ending the previous practice where applicants had to wait several years before new vacancies were advertised.The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, disclosed this on Tuesday during a press briefing at the service headquarters in Abuja while unveiling the final list of successful candidates for the 2024/2025 recruitment exercise.According to Adeniyi, the decision is aimed at improving workforce planning and ensuring that vacancies created through retirement and other exits are filled promptly.He noted that the agency’s previous recruitment pattern was irregular, leaving many prospective applicants uncertain about when the next opportunity would arise.Under the ne...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not in a position to win the 2027 presidential election.Speaking during the August edition of his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike said the opposition party should focus on winning governorship and other sub-national elections while rebuilding its structure ahead of the 2031 general election.The former Rivers State governor attributed the PDP’s weak presidential prospects to the party’s lingering internal crisis, which he said has significantly undermined its electoral strength.“I have always said that the PDP can’t win the presidential election now,” Wike stated.“All we are doing is to win some sub-national seats and organise the party ag...

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asserted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the only presidential candidate capable of securing victory in Rivers State during the 2027 general election.Speaking during the August edition of his monthly media chat in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike said any political calculations for the 2027 presidential election should exclude Rivers State unless they are in favour of Tinubu.According to the former Rivers State governor, Tinubu enjoys unmatched political support in the state.“If anybody is counting Rivers, go now and cancel it. The only person that can count Rivers is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Wike said.“I’m not talking because I want to talk; I’m talking as a political realist because I know my people.”...

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, has claimed that President Bola Tinubu’s inability to provide his primary and secondary school certificates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disqualifies him from being Nigeria’s president. NigerianState PoliticsOkonkwo charged Tinubu to respect the Nigerian law governing qualifications into universities.INEC had published credentials and other details of all presidential candidates contesting in the 2027 elections. Tinubu had presented only his university certificate, while those of his primary and secondary schools were missing.Reacting, Okonkwo posted on X: “Nigeria has its laws that should be respected. No Nigerian is qualified to go to a University without 5 credi...

Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa has directed Vice Chancellors, Rectors and Provosts of tertiary institutions across Nigeria to dismiss any student found guilty, after due investigation, of involvement in kidnapping or related criminal activities. NigerianCurrent AffairsThe minister also instructed heads of tertiary institutions to strengthen intelligence gathering on campuses and work more closely with the Department of State Services (DSS) and other security agencies to improve student safety.Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Federal University of Lafia in Abuja, Alausa said recent incidents involving students outside campuses highlight the need for stronger security measures."We have a collective responsibility to protect every Nigerian...