BrandArena : January 2026

Sunday, 25 January 2026

SERAP drags Power Minister Adelabu, NBET to court over alleged ₦128bn unaccounted funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), over what it describes as their failure to account for an alleged ₦128 billion in missing or diverted public funds linked to the power sector.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the termination of its credit rating relationship with Fitch Ratings, marking a strategic shift in how the pan-African multilateral lender engages with external rating agencies.

Following the December increase in spot rates, Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) is set to hold its monthly Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond auction on Monday, reopening three existing instruments.

Promasidor Reaffirms Commitment to Education and Child Nutrition on International Day of Education

Promasidor Nigeria has restated its long-standing commitment to advancing education and improving child nutrition in the country as it marked this year’s International Day of Education.

Khaby Lame Sells Controlling Stake in $975m Deal, Redefining the Global Creator Economy

Khaby Lame, the world’s most recognisable TikTok star, has sold a controlling stake in the company that manages his commercial interests, in what is one of the largest and most significant transactions involving a digital creator to date.

Andela has acquired Woven, an Indianapolis-based technical assessment platform, as it shifts its focus from hiring “generic software engineers” to identifying highly specialised, AI-native engineering talent.

Real Madrid have been named the highest-earning football club in the world after generating record revenues during the 2024/25 season, according to Deloitte’s latest Football Money League report.

TikTok has completed a major restructuring of its United States operations, with parent company ByteDance finalising the sale of a controlling stake to a consortium of non-Chinese investors, clearing the way for the platform to continue operating in the country.

The Nigerian stock market staged a modest recovery on Friday, with equity investors gaining N74 billion as renewed bargain-hunting followed losses recorded in the previous trading session.

For more than a decade, African merchants have battled a persistent obstacle to growth: the slow pace of international payments. The problem has not been competition or inflation, but time. Under the traditional “T+3” settlement system, cross-border transactions can take up to three days or longer to clear. For an importer in Nigeria paying a supplier in Shanghai, funds often crawl through multiple correspondent banks, compliance checks, and foreign exchange bottlenecks before arriving.

Emmanuel Adediran, Business Director at mediaReach OMD and a prominent voice in Nigeria’s marketing communications and social impact landscape, has been appointed as a jury member for the 2026 Purpose Awards, becoming the first professional based in West and Central Africa to join the panel.

Sony, TCL Agree on Strategic Partnership for Global Home Entertainment Venture

Sony Corporation and TCL Electronics Holdings Limited have agreed to advance discussions on a potential strategic partnership in the global home entertainment market, signalling a major realignment in the television and home audio sector.

Elon Musk has intensified his long-running feud with OpenAI by filing a lawsuit against the artificial intelligence firm and its strategic partner, Microsoft, seeking damages of up to $134 billion. The legal action is shaping up to be one of the most consequential court battles in the global AI industry, with potential implications for how artificial intelligence companies are funded, governed and commercialised.

French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed holding talks in Paris on Thursday involving the G7 nations, Russia, and Denmark amid mounting tensions over Greenland, U.S. President Donald Trump has said.

WhatsApp Web is poised to take a significant step forward as Meta prepares to introduce voice and video calling directly within the browser-based version of the platform. The long-awaited update brings WhatsApp Web closer in line with its mobile and desktop counterparts, removing a major limitation that has frustrated users for years.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a new spectrum roadmap aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s broadband capacity as mobile data consumption rises sharply across the country.

Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has unveiled an ambitious Vision 2030 strategy designed to accelerate Africa’s industrialisation, deepen economic self-sufficiency and empower the continent’s next generation.

The trial of former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, continued on Friday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, with a prosecution witness detailing how the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KIRS) allegedly paid more than ₦1.16 billion as “commission” into a Sterling Bank account belonging to one Philip Kumar within eight months in 2019.

More than 10 major power outages were recorded worldwide in 2025, disrupting electricity supplies for over 1.2 billion people and underscoring the growing pressure on global power systems. For utilities, maintaining grid stability remains a critical priority as demand rises and networks become more complex.

Turkish Airlines has signed a new three-year title sponsorship agreement for the Turkish Airlines Open, reaffirming its long-standing commitment to international golf and sports tourism. The prestigious DP World Tour event will take place from 30 April to 3 May 2026 at the National Golf Club in Antalya, located within the Regnum Hotels complex.

Abuja Electricity Distribution Transitions to Holding Company Structure

...Announces New Subsidiaries and Strategic Appointments

Abuja Electricity Distribution Plc (AEDC) has announced its transition into a Holding Company (HOLDCO) structure, marking a major strategic shift aimed at strengthening its operations within Nigeria’s evolving electricity market and decentralised regulatory framework.

Moniepoint Inc., a digital financial services provider, has opened applications for the second cohort of its flagship DreamDevs initiative, a programme designed to strengthen Africa’s technology talent pipeline and equip young graduates with industry-ready skills.

First Holdco Plc advanced by about 12.8 per cent on the Nigerian Exchange as investor sentiment strengthened ahead of the company’s fourth-quarter 2025 earnings release.

Metro Africa Xpress (MAX), the Lagos-based mobility financing and technology company, has secured $24 million in a combined equity and debt funding round to accelerate its electric vehicle (EV) financing platform and clean mobility infrastructure across West and Central Africa.

Nigeria’s equity market closed the week on a historic high, with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) market capitalisation hitting an all-time peak as investors recorded a combined gain of about N2.6 trillion amid sustained buying interest.

A new report by Africa Sports Unified (ASU), a boutique strategic consultancy and intelligence platform focused on the pan-African sports economy, has outlined how the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 is being transformed into a major global sports and commercial property.

NBA Africa (NBA) and Senyorita For Food Industries, one of Egypt’s leading snack manufacturers, have announced a landmark partnership to deliver the National Basketball Association’s first-ever university basketball tournament on the African continent, alongside the largest Jr. NBA/Jr. Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) tournament ever staged in Egypt.

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has reiterated that all employers of labour in Lagos State must file their annual tax returns for the 2025 financial year no later than 31st of January 2026.

Salesforce Upgrades Slackbot into Fully Functional AI Agent

Slackbot, the familiar assistant within Slack workspaces, has been upgraded into a fully functional AI agent. Salesforce, Slack’s parent company, says the enhancement transforms Slackbot from a simple automated helper into a digital coworker capable of understanding context, taking action, and supporting teams across daily workflows.

Meta has begun laying off more than 1,000 staff from its Reality Labs division, the unit behind the company’s virtual reality (VR) and metaverse products, Bloomberg reports. The restructuring signals a major strategic shift, with Meta now prioritising wearable technology, including its AI-powered Ray-Ban smart glasses, according to an internal memo from CTO Andrew Bosworth.

Paramount is ramping up its efforts to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), following multiple rejected bids, including a recent hostile offer that WBD’s board urged shareholders to dismiss. The media giant has now taken the fight to court and launched a proxy campaign aimed at reshaping WBD’s board.

Trading on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) began the week firmly in positive territory on Monday, as sustained buying interest lifted market capitalisation by N745 billion to N104.52 trillion.

Eko Electricity Distribution Company (Eko Disco) has appointed Wola Joseph-Condotti as its new Chief Executive Officer, following the resignation of Rekhia Momoh, who led the company for nearly two years.

The Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal Two (MMA2), operated by Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Ltd., has announced plans to introduce a structured slot system in 2026 as part of efforts to balance growing passenger demand with terminal capacity and improve overall operational efficiency.

MultiChoice Nigeria has announced a major leadership transition with Chief Executive Officer John Ugbe set to retire after nearly 15 years at the helm, and Kemi Omotosho named as his successor, effective January 2026. The company said the change follows a structured succession process aimed at ensuring leadership continuity as Nigeria’s pay-TV and digital entertainment market continues to evolve.

FIFA has appointed sports AI and data company Stats Perform as its first official worldwide data and streaming rights distributor, marking a significant shift in how official match information and live content from FIFA competitions are collected, managed and distributed globally.

Amazon’s satellite broadband venture, Project Kuiper, now rebranded as Amazon Leo, has received regulatory approval to enter Nigeria’s internet market, marking a significant development in the country’s connectivity landscape. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has granted Amazon Leo a seven-year landing permit, paving the way for commercial operations to begin this year.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) has opened the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) Savings Bond for subscription, offering investors returns of up to 15.39 per cent per annum under its January 2026 issuance.

Meta has appointed Dina Powell McCormick, a veteran banking executive and former senior US government official, as its new President and Vice-Chairman, strengthening its top leadership as the company enters its next phase of growth.

Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital Extends Condolences to Chimamanda Adichie and Family, Clarifies Medical Care

Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital has expressed deep sympathy to acclaimed author Chimamanda Adichie and her family following the death of their son, describing the loss as profound and unimaginable.

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has provided a $64 million acquisition finance facility to Levene Energy Development Limited, enabling the company to take a strategic equity position in Nigeria’s gas and power sector.

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) sustained its bullish run on Friday, closing the week firmly in positive territory as renewed buying interest lifted market capitalisation and boosted investor wealth.

All eyes will be on the red carpet as the 9th All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) delivers one of its most glamorous highlights, with leading media and fashion personalities set to headline the show in Lagos.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched a public consultation on its Draft Spectrum Roadmap 2025–2030 alongside a proposed regulatory framework for the 60GHz band, signalling a major push to modernise Nigeria’s digital infrastructure and widen access to high-speed internet.

KPMG Advisory Services has identified a series of significant weaknesses in Nigeria’s newly implemented tax framework, warning that errors and inconsistencies could undermine economic growth and frustrate the objectives of the reforms.

LG Electronics Alerts Consumers to Rising Sales of Counterfeit LG TVs in Nigeria

...Offers Tips on How to Spot a Real LG TV

LG Electronics Nigeria has issued an urgent consumer alert warning Nigerians about the growing circulation of counterfeit LG televisions across the market.

Adidas Launches Predator and F50 2026 Campaign with Bellingham and Yamal

Adidas has launched its Spring/Summer 2026 football boot campaign, inviting players to make a choice: chaos with the F50, led by Lamine Yamal, or control with the Predator, championed by Jude Bellingham. Both the Predator and F50 Elite models receive bold new colourways and are available now in select stores and online at adidas.com.

The Global Art Directors Club (ADC), part of The One Club for Creativity, has announced a diverse jury of more than 220 leading creative professionals from 44 countries for the ADC 105th Annual Awards. The long-running global competition recognises outstanding craft and innovation across advertising, design and creative technology.

Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Aliko Dangote, has filed a formal petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging corruption and abuse of office against the former Managing Director of the Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed.

Samsung Electronics has set out its vision for the future of digital appliances, positioning artificial intelligence at the centre of connected living as the global home appliance market increasingly shifts towards smarter, more intuitive technologies.

Sunday, 25 January 2026

Saturday, 24 January 2026

Friday, 23 January 2026

Tuesday, 20 January 2026

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Saturday, 10 January 2026

Friday, 9 January 2026