General News
AfDB Names 25 Finalists for $140,000 AgriPitch Competition

The African Development Bank, AfDB, has listed 25 youth-led agriculture sector companies from 14 African countries that have advanced to the finalist round of the bank’s 2022 AgriPitch Competition.
In a statement issued on the website of the AfDB on Tuesday, the bank announced the 25 finalists for the competition.
According to the statement, the finalists will be awarded 140,000 dollars in grants and business skills training.
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It made the announcement in collaboration with the implementing lead Private Equity Support and partner organisations Eldohub and the Private Finance Advisory Network.
The 25 finalists include 17 women-owned or led small and medium enterprises.
Thirteen of them are from francophone countries, while the other 12 are from anglophone countries.
The competition targets African youth aged between 18 to 35 years working in the agricultural value chain.
Edson Mpyisi, the Chief Financial Economist and ENABLE Youth Coordinator, AfDB said the youths showed potential and innovation that existed in Africa.
“These young agripreneurs show great potential and are a testament to the level of innovation that exists across Africa.
“The bank’s support, through the AgriPitch Competition, will boost the bankability of these projects and provide a tangible step toward enhancing agribusiness and food security on the continent,” Mr Mpyisi said.
Furthermore, Diana Gichaga, Managing Partner at Private Equity Support said it was to evaluate potential from across the region.
“Its reassuring to see and evaluate hundreds of great potential investment opportunities from across the region.
“It reaffirms the crucial role that the agricultural sector plays in the African economy and the continued efforts to bring these initiatives to the fore through platforms such as the AgriPitch Competition,” Gichaga said.
The competition received more than 1,000 applications from African “agripreneurs,” including about 250 entries from women-owned or led small and medium enterprises.
The 25 finalists would receive training to build business skills capacity with the requisite tools and knowledge to bolster their investor readiness, financial management, and help them pitch bankable business proposals.
The AgriPitch competition is a central and recurring activity of the AfDB’s ENABLE Youth Programme, sponsored by the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Trust Fund of the bank.
The 2022 edition is expected to award three start-up categories.
They are: Early start-ups (zero to three years of operation), and mature start-ups (three or more years in operation).
Also included are women-empowered businesses (firms with at least 51 per cent share of women ownership or founded by a woman).
The finalists are expected to pitch their business plans to potential investors in the AgriPitch deal room and be eligible for one-on-one mentorship, as well as access to post-competition digital expertise.
General News
Harmonised Tax Bills Ready, May Get NASS Approval Today

The National Assembly has hinted that it may consider passing the harmonised tax reform bills by Tuesday, following a successful review of the troubling clauses in the proposed legislation.
This was disclosed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, James Faleke, via his official X account on Sunday. Faleke is the leader of the House delegation for the bills harmonisation exercise.
He tweeted, “The conference committee set up by the House and the Senate on the Tax Reform Bills has successfully concluded its work. The joint committees thoroughly reviewed all sections and addressed the grey areas of the four bills, examining each clause strategically and resolving contentious issues.
“After an intensive deliberation that stretched through Thursday night, all day Friday, and into the early hours of Saturday, I am pleased to report that the bills are now ready for presentation to both the House and the Senate for final passage.
“I would like to especially appreciate the Senate conference committee, ably led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, the Distinguished Senator Sani Musa, as well as all members of the Senate Conference Committee.
“I also extend heartfelt gratitude to my colleagues on the House Conference Committee, which I had the honour to lead, for their unwavering commitment to the Nigerian people. We are truly grateful for your dedication and resilience in bringing this important task to a conclusion.”
It was reported that the four tax bills were sent two weeks ago to the joint harmonisation committee made up of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to reconcile the amendments of both Chambers before it is transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for his assent.
After announcing the passage of the bills following a majority voice vote, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, praised the lawmakers for their sacrifice in ensuring that the tax system in Nigeria meets an international standard.
He said, “These four executive bills seek to transform and modernise the tax system in Nigeria.”
The move came barely 24 hours after the Upper Chamber earlier cleared two of the bills before pushing the remaining legislation for consideration on Thursday.
Addressing journalists after the plenary, the Chairman of the ad hoc committee for the tax reform bills and the lawmaker representing Niger East Senatorial District, Senator Sani Musa, explained that they did their best to ensure the taxation system in Nigeria meets international standards.
Musa also disclosed that parts of the tax proceeds will be used to fight cybercrime, boost defence infrastructure, the TETfund, and aid soldiers in their efforts to restore peace and safety in the country.
Continuing, the Niger Senator explained that the senators recommended that the President needs to appoint a chairman and create an ombudsman to arbitrate and adjudicate on tax-related matters.
The legislator also harped on the need for the establishment of a tax tribunal, which he said cannot be overemphasised.
“It is not à court of record. We have looked at the issue of VAT, coĺlection of taxes, development levies, and inheritance tax, which had been expunged.
“I believe Nigerians wiĺl see something nice from this. We also commend the President for giving a level playing field to all,” he said.
General News
Google I/O 2025 Showcases Temu’s Innovations in Digital Shopping with Web UI Primitives

E-commerce platform highlighted as a case study in applying Google’s latest Web UI primitives to enhance interactivity and performance in online shopping experiences.
Temu was featured at Google I/O 2025 as an early adopter of Google’s new Web UI primitives—a set of Web UI APIs designed to improve interactivity, performance, and responsiveness in web applications. The e-commerce platform was presented at the conference as a case study for implementing these technologies to deliver a more dynamic and engaging digital shopping experience.
Google I/O is Google’s premier annual developer conference, where the company unveils its latest products, showcases innovations across its portfolio, and shares its vision for the future of technology.
This year, the conference’s focus includes new Web UI primitives designed to simplify the development of common yet complex components—such as Carousels, Tooltips, and Drop-down menus—to create more seamless and responsive user experiences.
“Temu, the e-commerce company, has been setting the bar when it comes to applying these new primitives to their full potential,” said Paul Kinlan, Lead of Chrome Developer Relations at Google I/O 2025. “The web is becoming more stylish and responsive every single day.”
Since integrating the MPA View Transitions API, Temu has seen a 10% increase in user session duration and a 15% rise in page views, according to Paul Kinlan’s presentation. The platform has also been piloting several new APIs—including Carousels, Popover, Anchor Positioning, and Customizable Select—which have improved page performance and reduced CPU load by 10–15%, helping to lower device battery consumption and interactivity latencies. Google also highlighted its collaboration with Temu to enable next-generation capabilities for select features.
Temu has been actively adopting cutting-edge technologies to enhance customers’ digital shopping experiences. It was one of the first developers to optimize its app for the Google Pixel Fold and integrate Android’s “dialog full-screen dim” feature, earning recognition from Google. Temu is listed as an Editors’ Choice on the Google Play Store.
Since its debut in September 2022, Temu has rapidly expanded to over 90 markets worldwide, offering a diverse range of merchandise at highly competitive prices. Temu was named a top Apple-recommended app of 2024 and operates one of the most visited e-commerce websites in the world.
General News
HEDA Sues FG, Oil Giants over Alleged Unlawful Oil Licence Transfer

Incorporated Trustees of HEDA Resource Centre have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government, multinational oil companies, and Nigerian government agencies at the Federal High Court in Lagos, challenging the legality of a significant oil asset divestment deal.
In suit number FHC/L/CS/850/25, filed by Kunle Adegoke (SAN), HEDA is seeking a court determination on whether the transfer of interests in oil mining lease assets by Eni Societa Per Azioni, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited, and Oando PLC complied with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and other relevant regulatory frameworks.
The civil society group alleges that the transaction violated multiple statutory provisions, including the Guidelines for Obtaining Minister’s Consent to Assignment of Interest in Oil and Gas Assets (2021), the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Regulations (2022), the Gas Flaring, Venting and Methane Emissions Regulations (2023), and the Upstream Petroleum Environmental Remediation Regulations (2024).
The defendants in the suit include the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
HEDA is asking the court to declare the transaction unlawful, invalid, and of no legal effect, asserting that proper legal and environmental procedures were not observed.
The organisation also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining the government agencies from recognizing or approving the deal and an order nullifying any ministerial consent already granted.
Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, chairman, HEDA, stated that the legal action reflects the organisation’s enduring commitment to transparency, environmental justice, and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
“This suit is about more than a corporate deal; it’s about the integrity of our regulatory systems and the future of environmental governance in Nigeria. We cannot allow powerful interests to bypass laws meant to protect citizens, the environment, the economy, and the integrity of the country,” he said.
HEDA maintains that this case represents a crucial test of the Nigerian government’s willingness to enforce the PIA and uphold accountability within the oil and gas industry.
“With this legal step, HEDA aims to set a precedent that oil licence transfers and divestments must strictly adhere to Nigerian law, especially in an era where environmental sustainability and responsible governance are paramount,” the statement concluded.
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