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Burna Boy Named On Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People Of 2024 List

By
Semilore  Fatai
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Burna Boy has landed a spot on Time Magazine’s list of 100 most influential people for 2024.

Time Magazine’s annual list acknowledges individuals who have made a substantial impact on the world through their work in various areas.

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Burna Boy Named On Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People Of 2024 List

The list groups these figures into six categories: Titans, Innovators, Pioneers, Artistes, Leaders, and Icons.

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Burna Boy was recognized as an ‘Icon’ on the list, with multi-Grammy winning singer Angelique Kidjo writing a tribute to him on Time’s website.

In her tribute, Kidjo described Burna  as a history-making artiste whom young people from Africa admire.

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Burna boy reacted to this success saying ‘I’m excited to witness the greater evolution of his artistry and the impact he continues to make on the world stage.”

His unique style and rhythm have gained him international recognition, including being the first African artist to sell out a U.S. stadium in 2023 and the first Afrobeats artist to perform at the Grammys in 2024.

With numerous awards and accolades, Burna Boy has established himself as one of Africa’s leading artistes.

In 2021, Burna made history in Nigeria when his fifth album, ‘Twice As Tall,’ won the ‘Best World Music Album’ category at the Grammy Awards.

Burna is the sole African musician on Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of 2024.

Some of the people in the list also appeared on the covers of the TIME100 issue worldwide.

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They include actor Taraji P. Henson, singer-songwriter Dua Lipa, football quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and Russian opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya.

See full list here.

People also read: Burna Boy To Perform At 2024 Grammys

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Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Will Fall To 23% By 2025 -IMF

By
Kayode Shopekan
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If President Bola Tinubu can put an end to Nigeria’s raging inflation, then, there is no way Nigerians will not love him.

You see, the hardship in Nigeria, became very obvious with the removal of petrol subsidy by Tinubu.

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Now, the man is trying to make things right again.

Nigeria's Inflation Rate Will Fall To 23% By 2025 -IMF
An image of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Indeed, President is making efforts to restore order, tranquility and living standards to what they should be or even better.

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These efforts make sense to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which has reviewed Nigeria’s inflation rate.

You see, there is nothing more comforting than knowing that people appreciate your efforts to improve things.

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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a recent review submitted that Nigeria’s inflation rate will drop to 23% by 2025.

Have You Read: Unprecedented! Inflation Rate Rises To 33.2% In Nigeria 

Division Chief of the IMF Research Dept, Daniel Leigh said: “We see Nigeria’s inflation declining to 23% next year and then 18% in 2026″.

According to him, Nigeria’s economic growth is expected to rise from 2.9% last year to 3.3% this year.

IMF Explains Why Nigeria’s Rate Hike Will Fall By 2025

Leigh attributed this growth to advancements in agriculture, better weather conditions and dry-season farming.

He also made mention of the recovery in the oil sector and improved security.

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This was part of the submission made at the Global Economic Outlook at World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C.

Furthermore, the IMF said the economic reforms and the currency policies were the reasons the inflation rate was pegged at 33.2%.

The development comes following the IMF’s 2023 prediction, that the country’s inflation rate for 2025 would slow to 15.5% by 2025.

As Nigeria’s inflation rate rose to 33.2% in March, the food prices hike rose to over 40% in the first quarter of 2024.

Leigh also noted a broad-based increase in Nigeria’s financial and IT sectors.

“Inflation has increased, reflecting the reforms, the exchange rate, and its pass-through into other goods from imports to other goods,” Leigh explained.

However, a Research official of the IMF, Pierre Olivier Gourinchas, said bringing inflation back to target should be the priority.

You May Also Like: See How Inflation Jacks Up Price Of Kerosene To 1,340 Per Litre

“Trade linkages are changing, and some economies could benefit from the reconfiguration of global supply chains.

“The overall impact may be a loss of efficiency, reducing global economic resilience,” Gourinchas said.

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Crude Oil: Nigeria’s Reserves Soar To 37.50 Billion Barrels

By
Kayode Shopekan
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There is hope that Nigeria’s economy will stabilise soon with the increase in crude oil reserves.

It is an open secret that Nigeria’s economy relies solely on proceeds from crude oil. So, when crude oil production dips the economy enters into panic mode.

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But with this revelation in crude reserves, Nigeria may very well be on its way to Uhuru.

Crude Oil: NUPRC Reveals Nigeria's Reserves Soared To 37.50 Billion Barrels
An image of barrels of crude oil

Crude oil reserves rose from 36.96 billion barrels on January 1, 2023, to 37.50 bb on January 1, 2024.

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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) told Nigerians.

Have You Read: Rep Committee Seeks Collaboration To Fish Out Crude Oil Thieves

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Addressing journalists in Abuja, the NUPRC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Gbenga Komolafe, expressed joy over the rise in Nigeria’s crude oil reserves.

He said the country’s Natural Gas reserves also rose from 208.83 trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) on January 1, 2023, to 209.26TCF on January 1, 2024.

Komolafe declared the development as a positive one for Nigeria.

According to him, this shows that Nigeria is heavily endowed with hydrocarbon capacity.

Increase Gas Output

The NUPRC boss said this feat was achieved due to initiatives from several commissions.

Komolafe attributed the crude oil reserves increase to production from some of the marginal fields.

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He said: “Some of the brownfields and marginal fields have started producing and contributing to our national oil and gas reserves”.

Also, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is set to increase its gas output, targeting both local and international markets.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, made this known on Thursday, after a visit President Bola Tinubu in Lagos.

You May Also Like: Amid Fear Of Fall In Supply, Forex Reserves Rise To $33.2bn

He said the strategic move would help to restore economic prosperity and stabilise the national currency, the Naira.

Kyari’s announcement aligns with the government’s economic strategies, which include improving the energy sector to support economic recovery efforts.

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Tunde Onakoya Starts 58-Hour Chess Record Quest

By
Semilore  Fatai
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Once again, another Nigerian is stepping up to make history in the Guinness World Records. This time, it’s renowned chess player Tunde Onakoya.

He’s embarked on a remarkable journey to break the record for the longest chess marathon.

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Tunde Onakoya Starts 58-Hour Chess Record Quest

Tunde Onakoya kicked off the event with a simple declaration on his X (formerly Twitter) account: “Game time.”

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This extraordinary feat is taking place right in the heart of New York City’s Times Square.

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The marathon began at 10 am on Wednesday, April 17, 204 and is set to conclude at 8 p.m. on April 19.

Onakoya’s ambitious goal is to play non-stop for an incredible 58 hours without a single defeat.

But Onakoya’s mission goes beyond setting a world record. Alongside his marathon endeavor, he aims to raise $1 million to support chess education for children all around the globe.

Support From Fellow Nigerians

What’s even more inspiring is that Onakoya has received support from fellow Nigerians including Lagos state Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, Former Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo among others rallying behind him as he strives to make history and make a difference.

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Here’s another great read for you: Hilda Baci Gets Guinness World Record For Cook-a-thon

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How ‘Pregnant’ Korra Obidi Slept With Friend’s Fiancé In Nigeria – Ex-husband, Justin Dean Leaks Chat

By
Biggi Bassey
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Justin Dean, the estranged husband of popular American-based Nigerian dancer, Korra Obidi, has accused his ex-wife of having extramarital affairs while pregnant with their second child.

Dean’s marriage to Korra crashed in 2022 after he accused her of infidelity but the latter denied it.

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How ‘Pregnant’ Korra Obidi Slept With Friend’s Fiancé In Nigeria – Ex-husband, Justin Dean Leaks Chat
Justin Dean and Korra Obidi

Now, in a video making the rounds on social media, Dean said he got upset after discovering that Korra was sleeping around while pregnant with his child.

He further shared a series of conversations that Korra had with some of the people she had slept with.

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A Big Deal

He said, “Korra, my ex-wife went to Nigeria for her friend’s wedding and slept with this woman’s fiance, while she was 5 months pregnant with our daughter.

“I was so upset when I found out that she has been sleeping around. It was very risky.

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“She could have contracted SDTs while she was pregnant. That is a big deal.”

Many people are still waiting for her to debunk this claim.

Meanwhile, Korra Obidi was recently attacked in the UK.

Korra, in a post via her Instagram page revealed that she was attacked with a knife and acid.

According to her, the incident happened during a live stream.

The Hate

She said she has been experiencing a lot of hate in the past, but the physical assault was a wake-up call for her.

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Dean in reaction said she staged the attack to chase clout.

Korra’s ex-husband, in a post via his Instagram page, wrote: “A common tactic amongst celebrities to stay relevant is to stage robberies, assaults or anything else to drum up the views. This has gone too far”.

Also Read: Justin Dean To Sue Korra Obidi Over Her Newly Released Book

Dean’s reaction touched Korra who immediately took to her social media to explain.

According to her, she isn’t among celebrities that would engage in such clout-chasing, stressing that she escaped with the best possible scenario.

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Wahala! Bobrisky Allegedly Moves From Ikoyi Prison To Another Facility

By
Biggi Bassey
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The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) has secretly transferred embattled cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, from the Ikoyi Correctional Center to the Kirikiri Prison.

Bobrisky, a controversial figure, was handed a six month jail term last week for abusing the Naira.

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Wahala! NCS Secretly Moves Bobrisky From Ikoyi Prison To Another Facility
Bobrisky

Indeed, Nigerians had expressed concern over her safety and which cell Bobrisky would be held.

It grew up to the point where the NCS had to speak out.

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They told the public that Bobrisky would be held in a male cell.

They also assured the public that Bobrisky would be well protected from abuse and other dangers.

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Secret Transfer

However, a reliable source, an official of the NCS, has revealed that the popular cross-dresser is presently held at the Kirikiri Prison.

The official said that Bob was discreetly transferred last weekend to Kirikiri.

To him: “It is procedural that he is moved to Kirikiri since it is an expansive prison compared to what we have here,” adding that due to security reasons, Okuneye was quietly moved to the facility where he will serve his term.

The source confirmed that the convict had been taken to the male cell with other inmates “and so he will be treated as a normal inmate,” he said.

The Verdict

While sentencing Bobrisky on Friday, April 12, 2024, Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos State said the verdict would serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.

He had asked the crossdresser if he was a man or woman and he said: “I am a man, my lord”.

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You May Like: Bobrisky – “I Am A Man”: 3 Hard Things He Will Face After Jail

Bobrisky is being identified as a male based on this admission at the court last week.

Meanwhile, according to reports, there is no realignment of gender or genital organs.

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Owanbe Celebrations: Why EFCC Is In Pursuit Of ‘Naira Sprayers’

By
Oluwabukunola Adesanwo
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The most interesting and enjoyable aspect of Owanbe, Naira spraying, appears to be dwindling with time, as the EFCC is determined to arrest anyone found spraying money. It is now fully unlawful to do so.

Spraying-money-in-Nigeria
Spraying-money-in-Nigeria

Naira spraying

Spraying money is a common occurrence in the day-to-day lives of any African country. It’s not just the highlight of any occasion, but rather, it’s like the shadow of any party slayer.

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Nigerians, we can say, are on the top list of those catching fun for spraying money at various occasions, either in the diaspora or as they call it, tinwa tinwa.

While others do it out of genuine love, some others show off with it.

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Indeed, it is done particularly when the music strikes the correct note. Others do it when the bandleader praises you and gives you goosebumps all over your body.

Press Release

On February 2, 2023, a press release was issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. It was signed by the Director, Corporate Communication, Osita Nwanisobi.

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It read: “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (as amended) stipulates that “spraying of, dancing, or matching on the Naira or any note issued by the Bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under the law by fines, imprisonment, or both”.

This points in the direction of the arrest of Cubana Chief Priest. He was granted bail of ₦10 million, as opposed to Bobrisky, who was handed a 6-month jail term.

Also Read: Why Cubana ChiefPriest Is Trending

The Proud Moment

Before now, it was almost like a cultural thing to spray money on people at parties.

As a matter of fact, a lot of us have gone to the diaspora and described it as part of our culture.

Other than the traditions, dance, and music, another aspect Americans or a British person find attractive is the spraying of naira notes, and you hear things like “Africans are always happy people”.

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But unfortunately, it’s now against the Nigerian law to spray naira. And the EFCC is taking up the responsibility of enforcing the law.

However, some are of the school of thought that it is a witch hunt.

they say only specific people are targeted amongst many other individuals in the society who party every weekend and spray money.

The Law Should Be For Everybody

In conclusion, it is said that justice must not only be done but also shown to be done.

Different strokes for different folks shouldn’t apply.

Additionally, it shouldn’t be made for a specific group of people in society.

Are we going to witness certain individuals being arrested and imprisoned regardless of their status if Naira mutilation and Naira spraying are discovered to be illegal?

Don’t let it be assumed that only a small number of Nigerians are being victimised.

Personal Finance: Taking Care Of Your Financial Health
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Bobrisky In Jail: Positive Impact On Nigerian Youths

By
Oluwakemi Salau
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Controversial Nigerian crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky is currently serving a jail term.

Bobrisky
Bobrisky

He will spend six months in prison for Naira abuse after pleading guilty to Naira abuse charges.

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The cross dresser, known for his luxurious lifestyle, always poses as a woman on social media.

Bobrisky, who claims to have done several surgeries and implants to convert him into a female, calls himself other names like, “Mummy Of Lagos”, “Oshey Baddest” amongst others.

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The self-acclaimed female who at a point had over 5 million followers on Instagram always advised ladies to date rich men and never “settle for less”.

While many are angry with the Nigerian government for sentencing Bobrisky for an offense many Nigerians partake in, others are happy that the jail term will help tame the “excesses” of the cross-dresser.

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What are these excesses? One may wonder.

Taking Over Women’s Space

Bobrisky has become so expressive in his crossdressing game over the years.

The last straw that broke the camel’s back was when he won the award for the Best Dressed Female at a movie premiere recently.

This sparked a lot of reactions and anger not only from women but men.

While some saw nothing wrong with it, as it was “just” an award, others frowned at the situation in its entirety.

Many including celebrities like Portable and VeryDarkMan voiced out their concerns, as it was a misrepresentation of the female gender.

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To them, this single act of Bobrisky, if not checked, could influence other men with similar interests to override women in their spaces; shows, pageantry, toilets and so on.

Bobrisky Models The Crossdressing Industry As Lucrative

With the glitz, glamour, excessive luxurious lifestyle, constant endorsement deals and many more showcased by Bobrisky online, many young men are beginning to look his direction and follow his lifestyle as a means to also get rich and famous like him.

However, this may be misleading because things are not always as “easy” as they are made to look online.

Use Of Social Media To Influence Wrongly

Self-acclaimed Nigerian Activist, VeryDarkMan (VDM) who has been at loggerheads with Bobrisky, seems to be one of the happiest people since his conviction.

According to VDM, he isn’t against Bobrisky’s life choices but, what he is against is him being so loud about it on social media.

VDM claims Bobrisky should tread with caution because of the many lives that could be wrongly influenced by his lifestyle.

Why Bobrisky’s Jail Term Could Be A Good Thing

With the recent development of Bobrisky’s jail term, many of those looking to be like him will have to think twice.

Also Read: Naira Abuse: Commotion As Court Grants Cubana Chief Priest Bail After Jailing Bobrisky

This is so, as they will come to terms with the fact that there are two sides to a coin.

If someone as famous as Bobrisky could get on the wrong side of the law with no pardon, what hope do they have?

Three Things To Do On First Visit To Your Parents-in-Law House

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Understanding Electricity in Nigeria: Challenges And Solutions

By
Harmony Olebu
-

Electricity plays a crucial role in everyday life. However, in Nigeria, many people have faced challenges with it. 

We will explain the current situation in Nigeria, covering what functions well, what doesn’t, and what can enhance it.

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Understanding Electricity in Nigeria: Challenges And Solutions

The Current Electricity Situation

In Nigeria, reliable electricity is not accessible to many people. This results in frequent blackouts or power outages, making it difficult for individuals to study, work, or conduct business.

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Even in areas where power is available, the quality is often poor, characterised by frequent voltage fluctuations and damage to electrical appliances.

Why It Is A Problem

The lack of reliable electricity in Nigeria hinders development and creates difficulties for many people.

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Businesses struggle to operate efficiently, students find it hard to study at night, and hospitals may have difficulty providing essential medical care.

These are just a few of the major issues that we see in the immediate.

Electricity Challenges Faced

Several factors contribute to Nigeria’s electricity problems.

These include outdated infrastructure, insufficient investment in power plants and equipment, and issues with transmission and distribution.

Additionally, light theft is widespread, resulting in financial losses for power companies and further straining the system.

The current adoption of prepaid meters has helped reduce theft.

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What Could Be Done

Improving Nigeria’s electricity situation will require efforts from both the government and the private sector.

1. We need investments to upgrade the infrastructure of Power Holding Company Of Nigeria (PHCN), construct new power plants, and enhance transmission and distribution networks.

2. Every household across the nation should have access to prepaid meters.

People Also Read: How New Electricity Tariff Will Affect Your House Rent

3. Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, also hold promise for Nigeria. These sources are abundant and can provide sustainable light to areas that could not access light.

4. Encouraging the adoption of renewable energy technologies through incentives and policies can help diversify Nigeria’s energy mix and reduce reliance on non-renewable energy such as fuel.

Electricity in Nigeria poses a significant challenge that affects various aspects of life.

By addressing issues such as infrastructure and theft, Nigeria can progress towards a future where reliable and affordable electricity is accessible to all.

Power Sector: Organised Private Sector Takes Power Tariff Hike Protest To Tinubu

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