Author: Faith Babatunde

Visa retrogression happens when the U.S. Department of State moves priority dates backward in the Visa Bulletin, delaying green card applications. This occurs when demand for visas exceeds the annual limit in certain categories or countries. Key Points: Example: If EB-3 India’s cutoff date retrogresses from January 1, 2013, to July 1, 2012, applicants with later priority dates must wait until their date becomes current again.

Chinese retail investors are rapidly adopting AI tools like DeepSeek to trade stocks, marking a sharp shift from last year’s crackdown on quant funds. Online courses and training rooms are filling up as small traders seek to leverage AI-driven strategies, hoping to gain an edge in the volatile market. This surge is reshaping China’s $700 billion hedge fund industry, influencing brokerages and wealth managers while introducing new risks, such as increased market volatility, algorithmic manipulation, and regulatory scrutiny. Despite past skepticism, investors now see AI as essential for the digital age, mirroring trends in global finance where major funds like…

Nigeria is facing a severe Lassa fever outbreak, with 535 confirmed cases and 98 deaths across 14 states since the start of the year. The disease has an 18.3% fatality rate, raising public health concerns. Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic illness transmitted through contact with rodent waste or infected bodily fluids. It spreads easily, making healthcare workers particularly vulnerable. A patient who traveled to the UK died after returning to Nigeria, prompting contact tracing efforts in both countries. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) urges heightened awareness, especially among healthcare workers and travelers. Key precautions include:

ECOWAS has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) as key drivers of economic growth and regional development. Speaking at the ECOWAS Small-Scale Business Coalition (ESBC) meeting in Praia, Cape Verde, Commissioner Massandjé Toure-Litse highlighted the coalition’s role in fostering business growth, job creation, and economic integration. The event, themed “Empowering Women for Sustainable Trade, Investment Opportunities, and Economic Growth,”coincided with International Women’s Day 2025, emphasizing the critical role of women entrepreneurs in shaping West Africa’s economic future. Toure-Litse called for stronger collaboration among member states, urging them to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)…

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has assured residents that despite ongoing political challenges, the state will emerge stronger. Speaking at the inauguration of the Palace of Nyeweali Akpor Kingdom and a new residential quarters for King Eze Levi Amos Oriebe in Obio/Akpor, Fubara urged citizens to remain peaceful and law-abiding. He criticized those trying to destabilize governance, reaffirming his commitment to delivering impactful development projects. The governor emphasized that his administration prioritizes the well-being of Rivers people and will not tolerate lawlessness. Fubara highlighted the palace’s historic significance, noting it is the first of its kind in over 200 years.…

Ayudantees Empowerment Initiatives (AYI), a civil society group, has criticized the Global Terrorism Index (GTI) report ranking Nigeria as the 6th most terrorism-affected country. AYI’s Executive Director, Amechi Oyema, questioned the report’s accuracy, methodology, and whether it accounted for ongoing military efforts against terrorists and bandits. Oyema emphasized that Nigeria’s security forces have made significant progress, with many terrorists surrendering and several neutralized through intensified military operations. He also raised concerns about whether the Nigerian government was consulted during the data collection process. According to AYI, reports like GTI’s could create unnecessary panic, misrepresent the security situation, and demoralize troops…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦50 billion from fraudsters in 2024, with the funds reinvested into the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This initiative, created under the Students Loans Act of 2024, aims to remove financial barriers in higher education. According to EFCC’s 2024 statistical report, this marks the agency’s largest single-year asset recovery since its founding in 2003. The recovered funds include various currencies, such as ₦364.6 billion, $214.51 million, €54,319, and several others. The EFCC emphasized that reinvesting these recoveries in education will help students complete their degrees and contribute to the workforce.…

The Association of Private Polytechnics in Nigeria (APPN) has urged the government to prioritize technical education, emphasizing its role in national development. Dr. Benjamin Achiatar, APPN President, highlighted that technical education drives industrialization attracts investment, and enhances Nigeria’s global market standing. He called for government support in addressing infrastructure deficits like power and water supply, as well as opening the National Research Fund to all innovators, not just government institutions. Olusola Alalade, APPN General Secretary, advocated for allowing polytechnics to award B.Tech degrees and access research grants from TETFund. He also urged the government to extend the Nigeria Education Loan…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other defendants to file their defense in a lawsuit filed by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central. Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the directive after confirming that all defendants had been properly served with legal documents. The lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025) challenges the Senate’s Ethics Committee’s investigation into Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan following events during a February 20 plenary session. Despite an earlier court order halting actions against her, the Senate, led by Akpabio, suspended Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months after reviewing the committee’s report. During a hearing, legal representatives for the Senate…

The Concerned Northern Youth Stakeholders have urged the Federal Government to appoint a Minister of State for Youth Development from Northern Nigeria to ensure balanced leadership and effective youth-focused policies. In a statement released in Abuja, the group’s Coordinator, Usman Doshiro, emphasized the need for regional balance in leadership. He stated that appointing a Minister of State from the North would support youth empowerment and national unity. “Nigeria’s youth are diverse, and equitable leadership across regions will foster national unity and inclusiveness in youth policies,” Doshiro said. With the increasing responsibilities of the Ministry of Youth Development, stakeholders believe an…