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Simbarashe Mhuriro , Zimbabwean Founder, OurSun Energy (Private) Ltd 31-year-old Simbarashe Mhuriro founded Oxygen Africa in 2009 as an investment advisory company to help facilitate foreign investors in Zimbabwe. In 2013, Oxygen Africa partnered with Swiss-based Meeco Group, a renewable energy company, to establish Oursun Energy Zimbabwe – a joint venture Independent Power Producer that specializes in the development, building, owning, and operating of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) energy projects in Zimbabwe. OurSun Energy has raised $7 million and is currently developing two 5MW grid-connected solar plants in Zimbabwe. Olatorera Oniru,  Founder, Dress Me Outlet Olatorera Oniru, 28, is the founder of Dressmeoutlet.com – a Nigerian e-tailer of fashion products, health & beauty products and home-goods. Dressmeoutlet stocks more than 1,000 products from premium designers globally. Dressmeoutlet ships worldwide and currently has customers in different states across ...

From Left: Mr. Ejiro Eghagha, Managing Partner Mercury West Africa, Mr Onoriode Akpe,  Chief Executive Officer of Red Sappire Limited, Mr. Celestine Achi, the CEO of Cihan Group and the founder of KairoswebTV and Ms. Ruth Opakunle, Head Marketing of Cihan Group KairosWebTV, a next-generation premier online TV platform for emerging and aspiring entrepreneurs, start-ups, news and insights, technology trends, edutainment, skits, events & online digital training, is set to transform the Nigeria’s online television space.  The space is witnessing a big bang with the launch of  www.kairosweb.TV , an innovative premier WebTV owned and run by CIHAN and focuses on motivating and inspiring viewers to success, featuring seven (7) channels with content partners from all over the world such as Fate Foundation, Real Success (SA), Nigerian Olympic Committee, The Winlos amongst others.  Speaking at the media launch in Lagos on Tuesday, The Chief Executive Officer of CIHAN, Mr....

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has written to the Chinese government, seeking the stoppage of the $2 billion loan being sought by the federal government of Nigeria. He wrote that “the government of China should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians, irrespective of their political and religious affiliations are totally opposed to increment of the country’s debt burden, which is already being serviced with 25 per cent of the Federal Government annual budget.” In the letter dated April 12, 2016, with reference number EK/GOV/28/10, addressed to President Xi Jinping of China and delivered by Chief of Staff to the governor, Barrister Dipo Anisulowo in Abuja on Thursday, through the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, Fayose said some of the projects for which the loan was being sought were not captured in the controversial 2016 budget, which has been sent to the President by the National Assembly for his assent.

France and Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema won't participate in this summer's Euro 2016 tournament due to an ongoing investigation of a sex tape scandal involving teammate Mathieu Valbuena. Benzema is being investigated for his part in an alleged plot with his friend to blackmail France team-mate, Valbuena. He posted on Twitter yesterday “Unfortunately for me and for those who have always backed me and supported me, I will not be selected for our Euro in France...” Then later through their official website French soccer federation informed Benzema that he would not be called up for this summer’s European Championship.

As part of activities to mark the 2nd year anniversary of the abduction of the Chibok girls, members of the advocacy group, Bring Back Our Girls, are presently staging a march to Aso Villa to meet with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. See more photos after the cut...

Senators loyal to Senate President Bukola Saraki are using the 2016 Budget row to negotiate a soft-landing for the former Kwara State Governor, who is facing trial for false declarations of assets at the Code for Conduct Tribunal (CCB). Investigations by Ripples revealed that his loyalists under the aegis of Like Mind Senators met last night at his official residence to take serious positions on the controversy. President Muhammadu Buhari had refused assent to the Budget after Ministers identified the document had been returned “highly mutilated”. The President, who is on a week-long trip to China, it was learnt, was told by the Economic Team headed by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo not to sign the Budget presented by the National Assembly last Thursday. The Senators had removed the Lagos-Calabar rail project and tampered with major infrastructural thrusts of the administration. Sources at the meeting last night informed that the Senators reasoned Saraki must be stopped fr...

Read the press statement below... Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose has described the raging controversies between the Presidency and the National Assembly over the 2016 Budget as a confirmation of his position that President Buhari was clueless and incompetent, saying; “Nigerians should expect more blunders like this until they send Buhari back to Daura in 2019.” The governor, who said it was now obvious that the President and his All Progressives Congress (APC) only wanted power desperately without the wherewithal to govern, added that; “I warned Nigerians of the consequences of electing an octogenarian as president and with the international embarrassment that this budget crisis has become, I have been vindicated.” According to a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Pubic Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor said; “It is obvious that there is total disconnection between the President and his cabinet members as many of the ministers do...

In what appears like a rebuttal to the National Assembly submission, Tuesday, that the Calabar-Lagos railway project was not captured in the 2016 budget, the federal government has insisted that the project was duly submitted and accepted by the National Assembly for approval. It will be recalled that there had been a bout of brickbats between the Executive and and the Legislature over former’s claims that the National Assembly in the course of parliamentary debates and scrutiny of the Appropriation Bill expunged the project. But in a statement by the Media Adviser to the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Mr. James Akpandem on Tuesday, the federal government insisted that the relevant committees of the parliament received the document.

T he Federal Government of Nigeria has disclosed that its borrows internally over N600 billion on average each month to pay salaries of its workforce adding that with the way things are going many States may not be able to pay salaries in the next three to four months. The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal made the disclosure Tuesday in Jos where he represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the opening ceremony of the 63rd General Church Council meeting of the Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA. He urged all faith-based organizations and traditional institutions to sensitize the citizenry on the need to exercise patience in the hardship that is currently being experienced by all as stressing that though this administration inherited a country that was robbed to the last coffers, it will be revived within a short time. The SGF lamented that the present administration inherited an ailing economy that must be nurtured for sometime before it stabiliz...

 The excited singer today, April 12, 2016 penned a deal with the popular company and shared a photo on his Instagram page. He wrote, "NEW DEAL ALERT!!! MY NEW PEPSI DEAL SWEETER THAN !!! 2 YEARS WITH THE BEST !! THANK YOU LORD FOR YOUR CONTINUOUS BLESSINGS!!! @pepsi_naija !!!" The OBO crooner joins Tiwa Savage, Seyi Shay and Wizkid as brand ambassadors .

  Dangote Cement, Africa’s largest cement producer which is controlled by Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote , on Sunday began the construction of a new $1 billion cement factory in Okpella, Edo state, in Nigeria’s southern region. According to a report by Leadership newspapers , the new 6 million metric tonnes per annum (mmtpa) cement plant will be completed within 26 months and is expected to create 6,000 direct jobs and 45,000 indirect jobs for indigenes of Okpella. Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, Dangote said that local cement manufacturers such as his company and BUA Group (which is owned by fellow billionaire Abdulsamad Rabiu ), were saving Nigeria as much as $3 billion every year through cement import substitution. He also urged other investors to make additional investment in the sector as it would guarantee that local demands were met, while surpluses would be exported to earn Nigeria much needed foreign exchange. Apart from the 6-mmt...

The secretary to the then House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Fuel Subsidy, ‎Mr. Boniface Emenalo, ‎said on Tuesday, that he collected $100,000 from billionaire businessman, Mr. Femi Otedola, in order to expose the oil magnate’s attempt to bribe the committee and its chairman, Mr. Farouk Lawan. Emenalo was testifying before Justice Angela Otakula of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Lugbe, Abuja, as the first prosecution witness in Lawan’s ongoing trial for recieving bribe from Otedola in the discharge of the ad hoc committee’s duties in 2012. The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission is prosecuting Lawan for allegedly “corruptly” collecting $500,000 out of the $3m bribe he requested from Otedola.

The VysilHq Network, an African start-up, has released the BETA version of its Nollywood video streaming app “Video Moja.” According to the developers of the app it is expected to: “Change the way individuals stream Nollywood videos online.” The app, which is currently in BETA, offers users – according to the company – the following: – App is free – Supports mobile and desktop versions – Includes top African Nollywood categories in Action, Comedy, Drama, and Romance – Clean navigation and an easy to use design – Allows user to add movies to their favorite list – Each video has a synopsys and information – New movies are automaticall added every week – Comes with an option for Wi-Fi Only Connection The developers also revealed that the app will soon be adding more content from Ghana.   To test out the Beta, at your own risk, on  Android click here .

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to proffer solution to the lingering fuel scarcity and its attendant hardship on citizens. The call followed a motion raised by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Sanai Agunbiade and seconded by Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, under matter of public urgent importance. Agunbiade said a lot of workers were lamenting over gridlock caused by fuel queues. “In Lagos, every minute counts. Many workers now get queries for coming late to work. People now store petrol at homes. “Prices of goods and commodities are high, and fares have increased.

The Federal Government says it has not reversed its decision to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol. In a statement released by the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Sotonye Iyoyo, the agency stated that contrary to media reports, what still exists is Price Modulation Policy, through which it considers and reviews pump price of PMS quarterly.

Mr Dagogo Briggs, a 35-year-old teacher and father of four, said the election was a radical departure from the previous one held in 2015. Briggs made the observation shortly after casting his vote on Saturday at Unit 1 Ward 1 in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers. “ The Card Reader Machine is working and it recognised my PVC when it was my turn. “ We did accreditation and voted almost immediately and everything went on smoothly. “ The situation is better than what happened in 2015,” he said. Voting commenced in some units in the area at 9.00 a.m.

CHIEF Ayiri Emami, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has said his benefactor and former Delta state governor, Chief James Ibori who is serving a jail term in the United Kingdom, would return home to Nigeria, not later than July. Chief Emami, a confidant of Chief Ibori, Friday, in Warri said he plans to embark on a campaign to mobilise stakeholders and resources to bring lasting solution to the menace of vandalisation of oil facilities which he said was causing huge damage to the nation’s economy.

Arsenal Ladies have completed the signing of Nigeria international Asisat Oshoala.The 21 year-old striker spent the 2015 season with Liverpool, where she became the first player from Africa to feature in the Women’s Super League.

This massive, serpentine beast which is over 17ft doesn't only come from the family of the world's largest snakes. It is the largest ever captured. The capture of the Anaconda is part of a BBC documentary; Tribes, Predators and Me presented by Gordon Buchanan who lived alongside an indigenous Ecuadorian tribe, the Waorani, in the Amazon.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode addressing the Government House Correspondents shortly after his inspection of the site of the collapsed building in Lekki Gardens, at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. With him were Special Adviser, Urban Development,nde Onabolu; Commissioner for    Mrs. Yetu Physical Planning & Urban Development, Engr. Wasiu Anifowose; Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde and Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure , Engr. Ganiyu Johnson. More photos after the cut..

25 people were reportedly killed while 17 others were seriously injured after a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber attacked a Muslim praying ground in Umurari village on the outskirts of Maiduguri, Borno state this morning. The dead bodies have been evacuated from the scene while those injured have been taken to the government hospital for treatment. Security officers are working to restore calm to the area.

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday ordered the prison remand of a former Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Dr. Femi Thomas, for allegedly making cash transaction in the sum of $2.2m without going through any financial institution. Also remanded in connection with the alleged crime was a Bureau De Change operator, Kabiru Sidi. Thomas and Sidi were arraigned on four counts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Saliu Saidu.The EFCC alleged that Thomas, a two-term Commissioner for Health in Ekiti State, conspired with his wife, Femi, to make cash payment of $2.2m to one Mr. Ibitoye John Bamidele, at their residence 20, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos.