Author: News Room

FIFA has announced it will blend football with patriotism on Saturday as the United States marks its Independence Day and 250th anniversary, with elaborate pre-match celebrations planned ahead of both FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 fixtures in Houston and Philadelphia. The two host cities will stage specially curated ceremonies showcasing American history, culture and entertainment before the knockout matches, offering fans a unique Fourth of July experience on football’s biggest stage. Houston to light up with patriotic display Houston Stadium will host a red, white and blue-themed celebration designed to commemorate Independence Day while showcasing the city to…

Afrobeats star Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, has advised aspiring musicians to remain committed to God even after achieving success, warning that fame comes with many distractions. Speaking during an interview with Kiss Xtra which started trending on Friday, the singer encouraged upcoming artistes to believe in themselves, work consistently on their craft and avoid losing sight of the values that helped them succeed. According to him, passion, dedication and continuous self-improvement were key to his journey in the music industry. “My advice for up-and-coming artistes is first of all, believe in yourself. I worked on my craft…

Dolly Parton has a unique way of showing her gratitude for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s $2 million donation to her charity. Parton’s Imagination Library was one of the recipients to share in the $26 million that Swift and Kelce gave away to various charity organizations ahead of their wedding on Friday, July 3. To thank the couple for their generous gift, the “Jolene” singer, 80, shared an Instagram Reel message ahead of their nuptials on Friday. “Taylor and Travis, it’s Dolly, and I was just told that you two were making a donation of $2 million to my Imagination…

Nearly five years after the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) set timelines for establishing Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs), Sumedha Energy Limited a joint venture partner operating Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 in Akwa Ibom State, has unveiled a comprehensive needs assessment expected to guide development projects across host communities in Akwa Ibom State. According to a statement released by Sumedha’s spokesperson in Akwa Ibom State, the 624-page needs assessment report, presented on Monday in Uyo, identifies priority interventions in healthcare, education, infrastructure, water and sanitation, youth empowerment, livelihoods, human capital development and environmental sustainability across 11 oil-producing local government areas. Under Section…

The United Nations Development Programme  and the Lagos State Government on Friday called for stronger investment, financing and market access to help transform Africa’s creative industries into drivers of jobs, exports and industrial growth. They made the call at the Stitch, Sell, Scale: Fashion, Leather & Creative Enterprise Spotlight in Lagos, which brought together leaders from government, finance and business. Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, speaking at the event said that “despite the abundance of talent, many entrepreneurs continue to struggle with limited access to finance, markets and business networks.” Represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi…

Billionaire investor and longtime Bitcoin bull Tim Draper has denied moving his Bitcoin after blockchain analysts linked him to a large BTC transfer to Coinbase Prime.“Haven’t touched my BTC,” Draper told Cointelegraph on Friday, adding that he still expects Bitcoin to reach $250,000 within one year.The statement came after blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain reported Friday that a wallet “possibly linked” to Draper had transferred 1,000 Bitcoin worth about $62 million to Coinbase Prime, citing data from Arkham.The case highlights both the growing role of blockchain analytics in tracking large crypto transfers and the challenges of independently confirming wallet ownership.Draper bought…

Love Island USA‘s Parmida Keshani and Corbin Mims shut down the insinuation that they were in a shallow relationship. During the Friday, July 3, episode of the hit Peacock show, each couple had to nominate two pairs who were not compatible. Kenzie Annis and Dylan Wrona questioned Parmida and Corbin’s connection after only hearing him praise his partner in a physical sense. Kenzie specifically said Corbin and Parmida were in a “lustful relationship,” with Parmida saying, “I definitely disagree. From the outside, it might look that way to you because we are both very good looking and we both workout.”…

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has set a target of investing at least $1.5 billion in Nigeria over the next three years as it expands its operations in Sub-Saharan Africa. The projection was disclosed by the EBRD’s Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, Heike Harmgart, and the bank’s Country Director and Head of Nigerian operations, Hamza Al-Assad, during the official opening of the bank’s first office in Sub-Saharan Africa in Lagos on Friday. The investment target follows the bank’s entry into Nigeria in October 2025, which highlights the financial institution’s confidence in the country’s private sector and investment…

PZ Cussons Nigeria attributed its robust profit growth for the year ended 31 May 2026 to proceeds from asset disposal rather than to its regular sources of income that had shaped its financial performance in the past, according to its latest earnings report. Net profit for the consumer goods company advanced nearly fourfold to N49.1 billion, thanks to profit on the disposal of fixed assets, which delivered N38.7 billion, compared with N6.5 million a year earlier. The maker of home and personal care products, which also distributes consumer electronics, highlighted the sale of three properties and the facilities previously used…

A close friend recently returned to Nigeria for the first time after fifteen years in the United Kingdom. Like many Nigerians in the diaspora, he had spent those years toiling, saving, and painstakingly constructing his dream home back in the homeland. Having finally completed the project, he decided it was time to return and add the finishing touches to the life he had imagined from afar. One of his immediate priorities was furnishing the house. Naturally, he assumed he would patronise the same furniture stores that had dominated the city when he left. Those establishments were more than businesses. They…