The European Commission, on Monday (21 December), authorised the use of the Covid-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, paving the way for member states to start vaccination programmes within the next few days. “We have granted conditional market authorisation to the vaccine produced by BioNTech and Pfizer,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement, …

Since several agencies of government have made registration for the National Identification Number (NIN) mandatory, the issue has become a source of concern to Nigerians including those in the diaspora. Last week, the Nigerian Communication Commission ordered telecommunications companies to suspend mobile phone SIM cards that are not linked to NIN. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, the chairman of the Nigerians In Diaspora …

Nigeria’s federal government has imposed new nationwide restrictions amid rising cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) infections in various parts of the country. Mr Boss Mustapha, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, announced this on Monday at the briefing of the task force in Abuja, the nation’s capital. He explained that the directives were advisories issued to state …

Following the detection of a new coronavirus strain, found to have a higher transmission rate in England, at least 27 countries have banned flights and travellers from the United Kingdom. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had on Saturday broken the news that London and Southeast England would go into restrictions Sunday. “It is with a very heavy heart, I must …

A former Germany-based Nigerian academic, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi, has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lokoja, Nigeria. The chairman of the  university’s governing council, Senator Chris Iheanyichukwu Adighije, made the announcement on Friday in the Kogi State capital city. Akinwumi, one of Nigeria’s leading historians, was until his appointment Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi. Adighije explained …

The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned operators against paying recipients of diaspora remittances in local currency despite the existing directive requiring them to pay in foreign currency, especially in US dollars. The apex bank warned that violators of the order, which it issued on 3 December, could lose their operational licences if they failed to comply with its guidelines …

Netflix has announced it has appointed top Zimbabwean businessman and philanthropist Strive Masiyiwa to its board. Masiyiwa is the founder and executive chairman of Econet Global, a telco company that traverses 29 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Econet group offers mobile payment, broadband distribution and satellite services. His appointment is interpreted by analysts as a strategic move …

COVID-19 cases in the African region have risen steadily over the past two months, underscoring the need for reinforced public health measures to avert a surge in infections, particularly as people gather or travel for end-of-year celebrations. Since mid-October, an average of 46,000 cases per week have been recorded in the 47 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) African …

Following a directive to suspend the registration of new SIM cards nationwide, Nigerians with existing SIM cards have been directed to update their SIM registration details with their National Identification Number (NIN), sparking angry reactions. Our correspondent Abeeb Alawiye reports from Abuja —- Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), said in a statement on Tuesday that the country’s Minister of Communications and …

Our contributing editor Kester Kenn Klomegah reports from Moscow on a recent conference on how Russia seeks to increase its economic engagement with African countries as the country reels under US and EU sanctions   On 23 November, Russian Senators and experts gathered to discuss the export of non-oil Russian commodities to Africa at an interactive webinar organised by the …

  The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Programme recognizes South African female Scientists for their groundbreaking research JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 17th, 2020,-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- 2020 marks the second edition of the L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science South African National Young Talents Programme. The programme supports young female scientists and rewards scientific excellence. Created in 1998 and led by …

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, December 14, 2020 -/ African Media Agency (AMA)/- The SAP Young Professional Program, which forms part of the broader Skills for Africa initiative, has extended its footprint with a revised, fully virtual model that has enabled young candidates in several African countries to participate in the program, despite the pandemic. Since its launch in 2012, the program …

Osasere ‘Joy’ Igbineweka, popularly known as Mama Prosper, was laid to rest in a solemn ceremony in Frankfurt on Friday 11 December. She had died in the morning of 26 November in the German city. Despite the unfavourable weather condition and the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, friends and family members turned out in a large number to pay their last respects …

Despite allegations of malpractices by the opposition, our contributing editor, Kester Kenn Klomegah, explains why Ghana’s latest elections are a good sign for the country   Ghana has admirably shown its democratic credentials by holding another peaceful elections, both presidential and parliamentary, early December. In a tightly contested presidential election, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an experienced politician and highly successful …

An association of German companies and institutions active in Africa has hailed the re-election of Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo. In a press statement issued on Monday (14 December), Afrika-Verein der deutschen Wirtschaft e.V. said Akufo-Addo’s victory at the country’s recent elections signals political continuity and creates security for companies doing business in the country. “The re-election of incumbent Nana Akufo-Addo …

Dr RosaLyn Dressman, president of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Germany (NIDOG), has been appointed Ambassador for Investment of Bayelsa State by Governor Douye Diri. With a population of about 1.7 million, Bayelsa, one of Nigeria’s 36 federal states, is situated in the southern coastal region of the country and is rich in oil and gas deposits as well as …

In view of the persistently high coronavirus infection figures, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Premiers of the 16 federal states agreed on new tough lockdown measures at an emergency meeting on Sunday. The imposition of stricter restriction rules, which will apply from 16 December until 10 January, is Germany’s latest desperate move to prevent infection rates from spinning out of …

By retaining his IBF, WBA, and WBO titles, Anthony Joshua has given boxing lovers around the world, and particularly in Nigeria, something to cheer, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has said.  Femi Adesina, the President’s spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said Buhari made his feelings known while celebrating the decisive victory of the Nigerian-born boxer over Kubrat Pulev …

If a bank card with which contactless payment is possible is lost, the bank customer does not bear the risk of the card’s misuse if the customer had reported the loss of the card. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) made the decision in a case in which an Austrian consumer organisation (VKI) had sued for an injunction against the …

Two thirds of women in women’s shelters (Frauenhäusern) in Germany have a migration background, according to a recent survey. Some of the reasons why women seek protection in such homes, commonly called refuge for battered women, include domestic violence and lack of money to rent their own accommodation. According to the statistics of the Women’s Shelter Coordination (Frauenhauskoordinierung) presented in …