(Bishop David Oyedepo. Photo by The gaurdain news)

Bishop David Oyedepo, the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, has advised his followers to provide his phone number to anyone who kidnaps them.

He claimed to have the supernatural power to guarantee their liberation.

The development of digital banking and fintech in Nigeria has turned betting into one of the country’s notable economic drivers. At the same time, betting platforms have become a gateway to cashless services for millions of people who were previously cut off from the formal financial system. Three factors are fueling this growth: widespread mobile access, mass interest in football, and a functioning and reliable digital payments infrastructure.

Digital payments instead of bank branches

Financial inclusion in Nigeria is expanding not through new branches, but through smartphones and mobile apps. Traditional banking infrastructure could not keep up with demand, while digital channels turned out to be the route through which millions of Nigerians first gained access to cashless transactions.

For betting market operators, the country has become a magnet. A clear regulatory environment, a tech-savvy audience, and mass adoption of mobile services create conditions that allow the business to scale quickly and predictably.

Betting as a mainstream everyday habit

Betting is considered one of the most profitable segments of the gambling industry on the African continent, and Nigeria holds a special place in it. Football this is not just a sport, but a cultural phenomenon that generates steady demand for betting. Every Premier League or Champions League match triggers a surge in transactions, turning a bet into a routine digital action on par with paying for a ride-hailing trip or shopping online.

The scale of the industry is impressive: around 65 million active players, average spending of about $15 a day, traffic to the largest platforms measured in tens of millions of visits per month, and transaction volumes reaching millions of transactions per day.

Comparison platforms help users navigate such a crowded market. For example, the BettingTop10 platform publishes a Top 100 selection of Nigerian betting sites, ranking and filtering them by reliability, integration with payment systems, and interface usability. Such resources help users navigate the market, where the number of offers has long exceeded what an average user can navigate on their own.

Nigerians also actively place bets in online casinos. For this, international platforms are usually used, which are equally accessible both in African countries and in Canada or Mexico. When researching this issue using search engines, we found this information about online casinos that offer players no-deposit free cash. Most of the sites on the list are major operators that also target Nigeria. This indicates that the country is seen as a promising market for operators.

Why traditional banks gave way

Traditional financial institutions held back the expansion of access for decades. Legacy IT systems, conservative procedures, and requirements for in-person customer visits created barriers that were insurmountable for a significant part of the population.

Against this backdrop, bookmakers such as Bet9ja and SportyBet, which integrated digital wallets, offered a simple path: sign-up, opening or linking an e-wallet, topping up, placing a bet, and withdrawing funds. The entire flow is available even to people who have never had a bank account in their own name. Repeated deposits and withdrawals form a habit that is identical in structure to banking behavior, only without the old barriers.

An informal school of finance

Betting is often perceived as an impulsive expense. However, observations of real practices paint a different picture. Players regularly:

• track their balance and transaction history;
• manage risk by spreading amounts across multiple events;
• make calculated decisions based on statistics and odds;
• respond to changing conditions in real time.

All of these are elements of financial discipline learned in a digital environment, rather than in financial literacy courses.

The ecosystem around betting

Fintech companies OPay and PalmPay have become a core pillar of this ecosystem. Their partnerships with bookmakers ensure fast and secure transfers, completing the user–wallet–platform loop. At the same time, interest from venture capital funds is growing: firms such as Ventures Platform and EchoVC are increasingly investing in sports-adjacent startups, because betting infrastructure clearly demonstrates how Nigerians manage money digitally.

The impact of betting on the financial landscape is unfolding on two levels. On the one hand, it is a mass and convenient channel for entering cashless transactions. On the other, users transfer the expectations they have formed (speed, transparency, 24/7 availability, minimal downtime) to any other financial products, raising the bar for the entire industry.

Trust built on millions of transactions

With millions of daily transactions, the cost of every outage rises. Users demand stability, predictable withdrawal times, and reliable data protection. The industry responds by strengthening systems and refining processes, while comparison platforms help filter out dubious operators.

Nigeria’s financial inclusion is taking shape as a mosaic, in which unexpected participants operate alongside banks and government programs. Betting platforms, leveraging mobile access and fintech, have effectively become a gateway to digital money for a broad audience, reinforcing everyday money-management habits and carrying them well beyond the entertainment industry.

On Friday, the Oyo State Government verified five instances of Lassa fever, including one fatality, and assured people that emergency mechanisms have been launched to manage the outbreak.

Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the state Commissioner for Health, made the announcement during a news briefing in Ibadan.

(Governor, Sanwo-Olu, with the newly elected officials. Photo credit punch newspaper)
The chairman and members of the Lagos State Health Service Commission were also sworn in by Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who also appointed seven new Permanent Secretaries to the state government.

Gbenga Omotosho, Lagos State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, confirmed the appointment on X on Friday, stating that "the ceremony was held at the Banquet Hall of Lagos House, Ikeja, where the governor charged the new appointees to demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and commitment to efficient service delivery across the state's ministries and agencies."

The newly appointed Permanent Secretaries are Mr. Sorungbe Tiwalade Adeyinka (Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology), Mrs. Durodola Olusola Bukonla (Local Government Service Commission), Mrs. Oladeji Oluwatoyin Olubunmi (Cabinet Office), and Engineer Adeyemi Adetunji Adesanya (Ministry of Urban Development).

"Others include Dr. Martins Babajide Olumuyiwa (Bureau of Public Defender), Dr. Oluwo Adenike Oluwafunmilayo (Health District II), and Arc. Olukareh Bolanle Monica (Office of Works)."

The Lagos State Health Service Commission, chaired by Dr. Oguntimehin Olukayode Olumuyiwa, was established by the governor along with the Permanent Secretaries. Dr. Ogboye Olusegun Abayomi, Dr. Odunuga Omolaja Odushola, Pharm. Dr. Adejumo Moyosore Wuraola, and Dr. Mrs. Fadipe Ololade Omolayo are other members of the commission.

Sanwo-Olu stressed the need to improve service delivery and fortify governance institutions, especially in vital areas like public administration, infrastructure, and health, and urged the appointees to view their new positions as a call to greater responsibility.

In order to promote Lagos' development goal and satisfy the demands of its expanding population, he continued, the state government is still dedicated to creating a more effective and responsive public service.

(Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano State. photo by facebook)
Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano State and immediate past National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, expressed concern on Friday about the growing number of beggars in Northern Nigeria, linking the trend to the region's long-standing neglect of people with disabilities.

Ganduje spoke in Abuja at the 10th anniversary documentary screening of Let's Talk Humanity, an organization dedicated to meeting the educational needs of the Deaf and Blind.

The event gathered together disability education professionals, government leaders, staff, alumni, and scholars from Tudun Maliki Special School to commemorate a decade of advocacy and intervention in inclusive learning.

In his goodwill letter, Ganduje bemoaned the North's structural marginalization of people with disabilities, noting that the repercussions can be seen in the growing number of street beggars in major cities.

He stated, "In the north, people with disabilities are relegated to the background." Seeing is believing, without a doubt. That is why there are so many beggars in the northern portions of the country at all hours of the day. Some people sleep beneath bridges, others on the side of the road. This is an unfortunate sight.

"But looking at what we have here this afternoon, you can see that there is a silent revolution unfolding. If what we are seeing could be implemented by our respective governors and agencies, there is no doubt there will be a big positive change in our society.

“Yes, they are relegated because they are physically challenged. This has affected their psyche and motivation. They cannot even think of themselves as human beings like others. However, by unveiling these kinds of programmes, we are teaching them to be like any normal human being in our society.

"Finally, I urge government officials and development partners to work together to make significant progress, particularly among people with disabilities. Although many of these physically challenged people can't stop begging, they can be developed to the point where they become employers of labour."

Ganduje also commended the organization's creator, his daughter, Fatima Ganduje Abiola-Ajumobi, stating her passion to humanitarian work was clear from a young age.

Bernard Doro, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, also spoke and praised the project, emphasizing the need of intentionally including people with impairments in technological advancement.

"When developing assistive gadgets or technology in general, we must include people with disabilities. You don't wait until you've completed it before you start adapting it for others to utilize, which I believe is an essential point to make.

"We must move towards a future where accessibility is by design, moving away from retrofitting tools towards building universal platforms, digital must be the priority here, technology should empower individuals to navigate the world on their own terms," the Minister stated.

In her remarks, Abiola-Ajumobi revealed that the agency had empowered over 1,000 individuals over the previous decade, reflecting on its path and impact. 

She stated, "Seeing the faces of alumni, members of staff, and supporters of Tudun Maliki here today takes me back to the very beginning 10 years ago—when you trusted me with something so important: the future of your education, and the possibility of change through technology."

While advocating for deeper collaborations and continued activism, she voiced confidence in the organization's ability to expand its impact in the next years.

"Our projection for the next 10 years is to be able to have a national resource centre for those with sensory impairment to be able to tap into the international resources available in the developed world when it comes to special needs," she said. 

Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, characterized the documentary as touching and asked state governments to duplicate similar programs countrywide.

"I found the documentary to be really poignant. This is something I believe the Governors' Forum should address and promote.

"If we had this in every state, our society would be a better place to live." Thank you for your compassion, kindness, and humanity; it is what makes the world go round. "You can count on my support," she said.

(Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed. Photo credit; People gazzette)
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has received assurances from Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed that his administration will fulfill its legal responsibilities under the program.

During the swearing-in ceremony for the 2026 Batch "A" Stream II corps members assigned to the state for the required year of national service, the governor made the guarantee.

Mohammed stated that Bauchi State is still in favor of the NYSC's goals and that his administration will keep working with the program to make sure it runs well.

He advised corps members to take their service year seriously, describing the NYSC program as a crucial platform for national growth.

The governor urged them to seize the chance to make a significant contribution to the development of both their host communities and the nation as a whole.

Additionally, he counseled corps members to uphold the nation's trust in them and make the most of the orientation exercise.

The governor was praised earlier by Mr. Umoren Kufre, the NYSC State Coordinator, for his support of the plan, especially the construction of a multipurpose hall at the orientation camp and the restoration of the hostels for corps members.

Additionally, Kufre expressed gratitude to the state administration for fixing broken portions of the camp's perimeter fence, which he claimed had raised security issues.

He pointed out that the intervention had increased camp safety and showed the government's dedication to corps members' well-being.

About 1,700 corps members were assigned to Bauchi State for the service year, according to the coordinator, who expressed confidence that they would carry out community development initiatives that would help their host areas.

A humid, stifling afternoon, the set of a comedy sketch, and dozens of specialists bustling around. Lighting techs, a sound engineer, a makeup artist, a drone operator, and even a dedicated creator filming behind-the-scenes footage on camera. It feels like a small film production, not a social-media clip. Olufemi Oguntamu, CEO of the Lagos media agency Penzaarville Africa, emphasizes that producing this kind of content has become a full-fledged business: “They use drones, big cameras, buses to transport the crew. People don’t realize how hard it is to make something new every day.”

Production is getting expensive fast, and recouping the cost of daily output is becoming increasingly difficult. Viral success requires investments comparable to the budget of a short film, but the path to recouping that investment remains uncertain.

The market is growing at an almost explosive pace, but earnings aren’t keeping up

According to the Africa Creator Economy Report 2026, Africa’s creator economy is valued at $3.1 billion and is projected to grow almost sixfold, to $17.8 billion, by 2030. The numbers look impressive, but they mask a stark contrast.

More than half of creators on the continent earn less than $100 a month. Audiences are expanding, followers number in the millions, but the financial return remains disproportionately small.

Who is Broda Shaggi—and why his case is telling

Samuel Animashaun Perry, known to the public as Broda Shaggi, began his career by uploading comedy sketches while still studying at the University of Lagos. Today he is 32, has 11.9 million followers on Instagram, his own music releases, and roles in film and on television. Perry is considered one of the most prominent figures in Nigeria’s content-creator scene, which includes sketch creators, YouTubers, TikTok creators, podcasters, and streamers shaping audiences across Africa and in the diaspora.

Why monetization in Nigeria is stalling

The reasons for weak earnings form a chain in which each link reinforces the next:

• Platform ad revenue in the region is far lower than in North America or Europe, which means creator payouts are smaller too.
• Many creators are forced to rely on support from family and friends—and on brand partnerships—as their main source of income.
• Operational hurdles, including unstable power, expensive mobile data, and limited access to financing, make it hard to scale up production.
• More than a third of creators see their activity more as a hobby, because sustainable monetization systems for the region simply don’t exist.

Online-casino videos as a high-paying niche

The number of streamers offering viewers gambling-themed videos is growing rapidly, not only in Nigeria but also in developed countries - the UK, Australia, Germany. This is because virtual casinos are a high-profit business and they pay well for attracting new players.

Of course, on most platforms gambling-related content is banned or heavily restricted, but there are workarounds.  One of the most common ways to get around restrictions is to use casinos with no deposit free spins for filming. Technically, it isn’t real-money gambling, although everyone understands that bonuses are only an entry point for newcomers. After all, most of them top up their account with real money after using the bonuses.

In addition, streamers use brand mentions without explicit ads and referral codes. Platforms are gradually closing these loopholes, but streamers simply adapt.

A shortage of public capital for digital creators

David Adeleke, head of the Communique newsletter and co-author of the Africa Creator Economy Report, states: “In Nigeria, public capital for digital creators is effectively nonexistent. Public money goes to filmmakers and to those building physical infrastructure.” It is precisely this barrier that prevents audience growth from being turned into a real business.

What measures could turn things around

Proposals are being voiced at different levels. Adeleke cites the UAE as an example, where a renewable 10-year “Golden Visa” is in place, allowing creators to live and work without the burden of taxes. He believes it is necessary to attract international companies that will help Nigerian creators access global monetization options. In Kenya, industry activists are pushing for the state and startups to allocate at least 10% of digital advertising budgets directly to creators and their platforms.

The state, taxes, and the government’s rationale

Nigeria is counting on the creative sector as a tool to diversify an economy long dependent on oil. There is no special tax for content creators, but income above 50 million naira (about £27,360) a year is taxed at up to 25% under the general bracket system for freelancers and remote workers. The industry’s position is unequivocal: first, conditions for growth are needed, and only then can one talk about increasing the tax burden.

The Lagos summit as a rallying point for demands

In January, the third African Creators Summit brought together thousands of participants in Lagos, including creators from other countries. Participants’ key demands centered on supportive policy, reducing bureaucracy, and updating the regulatory framework at the federal level. Concerns were voiced that the state prefers taxation rather than incentives.

Some speakers expressed concern that, under the banner of combating misinformation, the authorities could tighten oversight and effectively introduce online-content censorship. The balance between protecting audiences and creative freedom remains one of the most contentious issues.

New threats for creators beyond the financial ones

In addition to monetization problems, creators face intellectual property theft and AI-driven cloning of their likeness. Experts insist on coordination between national regulators and global tech companies. Officials say they are ready for dialogue, but admit they’re at a loss: the many competing creator unions make it hard to identify a single counterpart to talk to.

The industry lacks a single voice and basic working conditions

Baba Agba, an adviser to the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, said bluntly at the summit: “The sector needs to unite and say what exactly it wants… and be ready to work with us, too.” Oguntamu shares this view: “I’ve seen many unions, but none of them carries weight… maybe that’s why the government still doesn’t take us seriously. We don’t have a single voice.”

In his words, negotiations with the state will become productive only when it comes to creating an “enabling environment,” in other words, a supportive environment. That includes lower data costs and safer conditions for filming outdoors. Right now, many popular creators are forced to limit themselves to indoor shoots, because every trip outside is associated with intrusive attention and real risk

Professor Tanko Ishaya, the vice-chancellor of the University of Jos, has acknowledged that two students have died and three other university community members have been injured as a result of the Angwan Rukuba incident on March 29 and the ensuing violence near Bauchi Road.

Speaking during a press briefing at the university yesterday, the VC described the incidents as “deeply saddening,” and extended condolences to the affected families and the Angwan Rukuba community, where over 25 people were killed by unidentified gunmen.

On March 29, the attacks started, prompted the Plateau State Government to impose a 48‑hour curfew in Jos North. The University of Jos, which had commenced first‑semester examinations on March 16, was forced to reschedule examinations slated for March 30 and 31, and later those of April 1 and 2, in line with security directives.

 Although the curfew was relaxed on April 1, renewed violence erupted that same morning in areas close to the university, heightening tension among students and residents.

Professor Ishaya added that management had recommended students who wanted to travel during the Easter vacation to use busses supplied in coordination with security services. However, the move triggered an uncoordinated influx of evacuation vehicles from state governments, local governments, and private organisations.

 “While we appreciate their intentions, the process became counterproductive and created the impression that the university was unsafe,” he said, stressing that the institution was never closed and that many students and staff remained on campus throughout the crisis.

The VC provided a breakdown of those affected, which include Abel Joro Gershon, 300‑level Building student, shot on March 29, died on April 5 at JUTH ICU.

Ishaya Patrick, a 300-level Geography and Planning student, has sustained leg injuries and is seeking treatment at JUTH. Duguryil Ufialas Daniel, a Directorate of Student Affairs staff member, was shot in the thigh and is in the hospital.

On April 1, Adeyomo Oluwafemi Temitope, a 500-level Quantity Surveying student, was slain after encountering violence on Bauchi Road while leaving university. After being stabilized at Ola Hospital, Longji Molshap Wurnnokol, a 300-level geology student, is presently undergoing treatment following an attack on Bauchi Road.

Two students lost their life, and a total of four pupils and one staff person were impacted.

Professor Ishaya disclosed that top security officials, including the Chief of Army Staff, the Commissioner of Police, the Director of DSS, and the GOC 3 Division visited the campus between April 1 and April 7 to assess the situation and strengthen security. He emphasised that no breach of peace occurred within any of the university’s campuses throughout the crisis

In order to give students who traveled further time to return, the VC reiterated that classes will resume on April 7 following the Easter vacation and that exams would commence on April 13. He assured parents and students that security has been significantly enhanced on campus, along access routes, and across the city.

Professor Ishaya thanked security services, JUTH, Ola Hospital, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Caleb Mutfwang, the Governor of Plateau State, and community leaders for their assistance during the crisis