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Layi Wasabi, BNXN, Genovevah Umeh, Others Win Big at TFAA 2024 (Full List)

Nigerian entertainers, BNXN, Layi Wasabi, and Genovevah Umeh have all won big at the 2024 edition of The Future Awards Africa (TFAA).
Recall that the annual event held in Lagos on Sunday night.
The event celebrates young people between the ages of 18-31 who have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields.
Below is the list of this year’s winners:
Education
Odunayo Aliu — WINNER
Kudakwashe Foya
Obasanjo Fajemirokun
Jennifer Jonathan
Aramide Kayode
Journalism
Adesuwa Giwa Osagie
Zainab Bala — WINNER
Blessings Mosugu
Eniola Olatunji
Abubakar Ibrahim Olaye
Content Creation 
Isaac Olayiwola (Layi Wasabi) — WINNER
Winifred Nwania (Zeelicious)
Joseph Onaolapo (Jay On Air)
Nonye Udeogu (This Thing Called Fashion)
Folagade Banks (Mama Deola)
Creativity and Innovation
Shamsuddeen Jibril
Zonna (Zo Culture)
Anita Ashiru — WINNER
Salvation Uzoma (Ke0la)
Ibukunoluwa Ajagbe (IBQuake)
Health and Fitness
Olabintan Odunola
Yewande Benn
Kiki Diorgu
Olusina Ajidahun — WINNER
Amanda Ihemebiri
Community Action
Chioma Ukpabi
Damilola Uzoma-Udoma
Doreen Omosele
Stanley Anigbogu — WINNER
Ridwan AbdulRazaq
Arts and Literature
Mayowa Alabi (ShutaBug)
Samson Bakare
Sylvestre Nsengimana — WINNER
Ahmed Alsagheer
Damilare Kuku
Photography
Omoboyejo Oyewusi (ItsBoye)
Onuchukwu Timothy (MyDadsBoss)
Chika Onuu
Enoshowo Eworo (Captured by Adesuwa)
Ifeoluwa Babalola (SnappCode) — WINNER
Activism and Advocacy 
Fauzuddeen Mahmud
Amrah Aliyu
Jude McKelvin Oseh
Tolulope Theresa Gbenro
Mukthar Halilu Modibbo — WINNER
Fashion
Ikechukwu Urum (Founder Jabari Model Management)
Phupho Gumede K
Muftau Femi Ajose (Founder Cute Saint)
Amy Aghomi
Olayinka Ashogbon (Founder AshLuxe) — WINNER
Law
Rosemond Phil-Othihiwa
Anita Osarieme
Victoria Oloni
Ayooluwa Oderinde — WINNER
Bernice Asein
Film
Akinkunle Michael Akinrogunde (AMA Psalmist) — WINNER
Praise Onyeagwalam (Director Pink)
Tola Okodugha
Fadamana Okwong
Feyifunmi Oginni
Professional Service
Hammed Kayode Alabi
Mark-Anthony Ezeoha
Felix Ohaeri
Stanley Nweke-Eze
Aboyowa Ikpobe — WINNER
Entrepreneuship 
Promise Ovai Kenneth-Odum (CEO Rukkies Decor)
Oluwole Fapohunda (CEO Seven30 Real Estate Ltd)
Bayo Lawal (Co-Founder Dukiya Investment) — WINNER
Miracle Onuoha (CEO The Fluiide Company Ltd)
Williams Fatayo (CEO MovebytruQ)
Technology
Tobi Ololade (Founder Dojah)
Itunu Olufemi (Founder Brainary Technology Education)
Johnson Jaiyeola (CEO Helgg Scooters LTD)
Femi Aluko (CEO & Co-Founder Chowdeck Logistics) — WINNER
Kelvin Umechukwu (CEO & Co-Founder Bumpa)
Intrapreneurship 
Victor Okpala
Hakeem Akiode
Debbie Larry-Izamoje — WINNER
Mary Edoro
Salman Dantata
On Air Personality
Seyebomi Ogunsanya (Sheye Banks) — WINNER
Ope Keshinro (SwitOpe)
Ita Nsikan-Abasi Asuquo (Grandprince Ita)
Emmanuella Isioma Odiatu
Osato Edokpayi (Osato EDK)
Agriculture
Etimbuk Imuk
Esohe Ekunwe — WINNER
Azeez Salawu
Nyifamu Manzo
Governance
Muhammad Sani Kassim
Abdulhaleem Ringim
Damilola Yusuf Adelodun — WINNER
Naufal Ahmad
Ayisat Agbaje-Okunade
Music
Chimamanda Chukwuma Pearl (Qing Madi)
Ayobami Alli-Hakeem (AnEndlessOcean)
Daniel Etiese Benson (BNXN) — WINNER
Michael Adebayo Olayinka (Ruger)
John Saviours Udomboso (Young John)
Sport
Victor Boniface — WINNER
Ademola Lookman
Sukurat Aiyelagbegan
Amy Okonkwo
Elizabeth Oshoba
Acting
Genoveva Umeh — WINNER
Uche Montana
Mike Afolarin
Kayode Ojuolape
Jide Oyegbile (J-Blaze)
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Trump Makes Another Appointment, Names US Ambassador to UN

Elise Stefanik has been appointed as US ambassador to the United Nations.
The appointment was announced by the United States, US, President-elect, Donald Trump.
Trump described Stefanik as tough, strong, and a smart fighter.
“I am honoured to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as US Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said.
Stefanik, a New York representative and House Republican Conference chair, has been a fierce Trump ally.
Trump was elected back to the White House after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democrats party by a wide margin.
The president-elect had named Susie Wiles, the manager of his victorious campaign, as his chief of staff.
Wiles becomes the first woman to hold the influential role.
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Bitcoin Price Tops $80,000 For First Time

Bitcoin has reached a new milestone after crossing above $80,000 over the weekend.
This is the first time Bitcoin will reach $80,000.
This followed Donald Trump’s victory in last week’s US election.
Recall that Bitcoin (BTCUSD) recently traded around $79,700, up about 4% over the past 24 hours and still in the neighborhood of record levels.
The expectation that a second Trump administration and a new Congress thought to be friendlier to the industry has lifted both bitcoin and other assets in the sector, with investors lately pouring money into instruments like spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds.
The rise has boosted the estimated market cap of crypto broadly, with the figure recently above $2.7 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap.
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Despite Leaving $70bn in Nigeria’s Coffers, We Owe More Debt Now – Obasanjo

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed disappointment with Nigeria’s current debt size.
Obasanjo recalled he left the nation with about $70 billion, including a $45 billion reserve and $25 billion in a designated “excess crude” account.
The former President spoke on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Kayode Akintemi of News Central Television.
Obasanjo, who lamented the poor quality of leadership in the country, said his government met a debt overhang of close to $36 billion but reduced it to about $3.5 to $3.6 billion before leaving office in 2007.
His words: “I came in 1999 and met $3.7 billion in the reserve. And I have told you, we were spending $3.5 billion to service the debts. That’s what we had.
 
“By the time we left eight years later, with debt relief, when I came in, we had a debt overhang of close to $36 billion. By the time I left, with the debt relief and clearing what we had to clear, the quantum of debt that I left was about $3.5 to $3.6 billion from over or around $36 billion.
 
“At the same time, the reserve that was $3.7 billion when I came in went to $45 billion. At the same time, we had what we called “Excess crude”, which is what is in excess of what we budget and what we actually sell the crude. Normally, we are conservative in budgeting, we call it “Excess crude”. So, we had in it about $25 billion. When you add that to the reserve, we are talking about $70 billion.
 
“Now, the point is that I left in 2007. Today between 2007 and 2024, all that amount of money has gone; all of it. Not only that, but all the money they made all that period had gone. And today, we owe more than we owe when we came to government in 1999.”
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I Did Not Want It – Obasanjo Reveals Sponsors Of Third Term Ambition

Ex-President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has spoken on the controversy surrounding his purported ambition for a third term in office.

There have been claims that Obasanjo was nursing a third term as president, and the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, also admitted to stopping the agenda.

However, in an interview with Kayode Akintemi on News Central Television on Thursday, Obasanjo said he would have gotten a third term if he had pushed for it but did not want it.

He attributed the report of nursing a third term to some governors who were secretly working towards extending their terms in office.

According to him, the governors believed that if he (Obasanjo) secured a third term, they would also benefit from an extended tenure.

Obasanjo noted that getting debt relief for the country was much more complicated than getting a third term, adding that his government could get debt relief for Nigeria when he was in office.

He said, “If I had wanted a third term, I would have gotten it. I didn’t want a third term. I know some governors working for this, believing that if I, as president, got a third, they would also get it.”

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Binance Executive Leaves Nigeria After Eight Months In Detention

Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan left Nigeria on Thursday, October 24, after he was detained for eight months in Kuje Prison.

The Bola Tinubu-led administration had abruptly withdrawn charges against Gambaryan on health grounds and after diplomatic pressures.

Initial charges were brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

While dropping the charges in court on Wednesday, EFCC prosecutor stated, “The government has reviewed the case and, taken into consideration that the second defendant (Mr Gambaryan) is an employee of the first defendant (Binance Holdings Limited), whose status in the matter has more impact than the second defendant’s, and also taking into consideration some critical international and diplomatic reasons, the state seeks to discontinue the case against the second defendant”.

It was gathered that Tigran was allowed to leave Kuje prison last night.

In a statement to journalists on behalf of the Binance executive’s family, it was disclosed that Tigran, a US citizen, left Nigeria to return to his family.

Tigran’s wife Yuki Gambaryan stated: “It is a huge relief that this day has finally come. The past eight months have been a living nightmare. I wish it hadn’t taken this long for his release, or that his health had not declined so much, but we can now focus on healing as a family.

“I want to express my deepest gratitude to the US government for their efforts in securing his release. I also want to thank everyone who helped us throughout this ordeal. There were moments I feared this day would never come, but Tigran’s supporters gave me hope and strength.

“The road ahead for Tigran’s recovery is going to be difficult and I appreciate us being given the time and space to focus on that. Our children cannot wait to see their dad again.”

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President Tinubu Sacks Five Ministers

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the sack of five of his ministers.
According to Channels Television, the President also re-assigned 10 ministers to new ministerial portfolios and appointed seven new ministers for Senate confirmation.
The President sacked Uju-Ken Ohanenye as Minister of Women Affairs; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; Tahir Mamman as Minister of Education; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development; and Jamila Ibrahim as Minister of Youth Development.
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Nigeria Lost Over $500m to Cybercrime in 2022 – EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has opened up that Nigeria lost $500 million to the criminal activity in 2022.
The revelation was made by the Chairman of the anti-graft agency, Ola Olukoyede during a National Cybercrime Summit in Abuja on Tuesday.
“As a matter of fact, the research I did earlier this year confirmed that cybercrime has become the third largest GDP in the world with approximately 2,328 cases occurring daily.
 
“The implication of all this is that if left unchecked, cybercrimes portend grave dangers to the entire world.
 
“Bringing it to Nigeria, in 2022 alone, Nigeria lost over $500 million to cybercrime,” he said.
The chairman of the EFCC noted that cybercrime constitutes a significant percentage of the convictions recorded by the agency since he took office a year ago.
However, Olukoyede revealed that the agency has made plans to rechannel the energies of young people who are mostly perpetrators of cybercrime.
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JAMB Permits Nigerian Universities And Tertiary Institutions To Accept Admission Seekers Who Turn 16 By August 31, 2025

On Thursday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced that universities and other tertiary institutions in the country may now admit candidates who will be 16 years old by August 31, 2025.

The board announced that the affected candidates can be admitted for the 2024/2025 academic session if they meet the institution’s standards.

Recall that the minimum age for admission in tertiary institutions was earlier this year deliberated at the 2024 Policy Meeting and decided to be 16 years old for the 2024/25 academic session.

The cut-off date was subsequently put on December 31, 2024.

The development triggered reactions from parents and other concerned citizens, who expressed divergent views on the matter.

However, JAMB, in a statement issued on Thursday by its Public Relations Officer, Fabian Benjamin, said because some institutions extended admission periods until July 2025, it will allow institutions to admit candidates who will turn 16 by August 31, 2025.

“This effort is to ensure equity because those whose 2024 admission would last till August 2025 would not be unduly favoured. Any institution that insists on its 16 years being within the year 2024 is completely free to do so,” the statement added.

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Naira Among Worst Performing Currencies In Africa – World Bank

As of the end of August 2024, the Nigerian Naira is one of the poorest-performing currencies in sub-Saharan Africa.

The World Bank disclosed this in its latest edition of Africa’s Pulse report.

Report showed that the Naira is at par with the Ethiopian Birr, and South Sudanese Pound in terms of decline in the region.

The report blamed the continued increase in the demand for dollars and limited dollar inflow for Naira depreciation in the last months.

According to the report, the Naira lost about 43 percent as of August.

“By August 2024, the Ethiopian birr, Nigerian naira, and South Sudanese pound were among the worst performers in the region.

“The Nigerian naira continued losing value, with a year-to-date depreciation of about 43 percent as of end-August.

“Surges in demand for US dollars in the parallel market, driven by financial institutions, money managers, and non-financial end-users, combined with limited dollar inflows and slow foreign exchange disbursements to currency exchange bureaus by the central bank explain the weakening of the naira,” it said.

Recall that the Naira weakened significantly on Tuesday to N1658.97 per dollar from N1552.92 exchanged on Monday.

In the past months, the Naira has continued to fluctuate against the dollar in the foreign exchange market despite interventions by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Nigeria’s inflation rose to 32.70 percent in September from 32.15 percent recorded in August 2024.

Despite this, the World Bank’s Economic growth in Nigeria is projected at 3.3 percent in 2024 and 3.6 percent in 2025–26.

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