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Tragedy as Ebola virus, wreaks havoc, kills 65

Published

1 week ago

May 15, 2026

Sixty five lives have been lost to the deadly Ebola virus.

African health authorities said a deadly outbreak of the virus has been confirmed in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC Africa) said in a statement on social media on Friday said some 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths have been reported and “four deaths have been reported among laboratory-confirmed cases.”

“Ebola Virus Disease outbreak confirmed in Ituri Province,” the pan-African health agency said.

“Africa CDC is closely monitoring the situation and convening an urgent high-level coordination meeting today with the DRC, Uganda, South Sudan and global partners to reinforce cross-border surveillance, preparedness and outbreak response efforts,” it said.

Family members react as they watch a victim of the Ebola virus being buried on May 16, 2019 in Butembo.

First identified in 1976 and thought to have crossed over from bats, Ebola is a deadly viral disease spread through direct contact with bodily fluids, causing severe bleeding and organ failure.

Health workers treat an unconfirmed Ebola patient, inside a MSF (Doctors Without Borders) supported Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC) on November 3, 2018 in Butembo, Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The highly contagious haemorrhagic fever has killed some 15,000 people in Africa over the past 50 years.

The deadliest Ebola outbreak in the DRC, between 2018 and 2020, killed nearly 2,300 people.

News

bridgeAFRIC unveils Showbiz101 2026 to bridge gap in Africa’s creative economy

Published

41 minutes ago

May 24, 2026

News Diggers

bridgeAFRIC has unveiled plans for Showbiz101 2026, a seven-day creative industry programme aimed at connecting African talents with global opportunities through education, collaboration, networking, and music production.

The event is scheduled to hold from Tuesday 23June to Tuesday30 June 2026, in Lagos, Nigeria, with workshop sessions at Alliance Française Lagos, Ikoyi, and an intensive music camp hosted in a private mansion equipped with five studios, a media lounge, gaming facilities, and collaborative workspaces.

Organisers said the initiative was designed to address critical gaps in the African creative sector, particularly in education, intellectual property awareness, and sustainable income structures.

Operating under the theme, “Connecting African Creatives Globally,” the programme will bring together artistes, producers, executives, investors, publishers, managers, policymakers, and creatives from across Africa and the diaspora.

According to the organisers, Showbiz101 2026 will focus on education, market access, networking, creation, branding, wellness, and investment pitching. Participants are expected to engage in masterclasses, collaborative music sessions, talent showcases, and industry networking activities aimed at positioning African creatives for international opportunities.

Organisers stated that the vision behind the initiative is to empower African creatives with “knowledge, access, and global opportunities while fostering cross-continental collaborations and producing global hits.”

They noted that despite the rapid growth of the global entertainment industry, many African creatives still face limited access to professional training, industry knowledge, and long-term financial structures needed to sustain successful careers.

The workshop sessions will be divided into five tracks covering music business, branding and media, alternative income and legal frameworks, wealth wellness & Creative Industry Collaborations

Discussions will centre on contracts, copyright, publishing, branding, distribution, investment strategies, mental health, networking, collaboration and stage performance.

Additionally, organisers disclosed that participants would receive complimentary mental wellness checks and access to psychological support as part of efforts to promote wellbeing within the entertainment industry.

Activities for the week-long programme will begin with arrivals and media engagements on Day One, followed by workshops and a welcome party on Day Two. Music camp sessions and masterclasses will run from Day Three to Day Five, while Day Six will feature a Lagos city tour and industry party ahead of departure on Day Seven.

Meanwhile, bridgeAFRIC projected massive global visibility for the programme, estimating over 50 million virtual viewers through social media engagement and live broadcasts.

The organisers also projected more than 10 million viewers for documentary and reality-style content tied to the event.

Founded virtually in 2020, Showbiz101 transitioned into physical editions in 2023 and has since been hosted in several African countries.

Organisers said the platform now attracts more than 500 participants annually and has facilitated multiple collaborations between African and diaspora creatives.

A major highlight of the 2026 edition is the female-focused “AMPLIFY Her ACS” initiative, organised in partnership with Institut Français, Paris.

The programme will support 10 female creatives across Africa through mentorship, financial literacy training, wellness support, and studio sessions during tours in Cameroon, Nigeria, and Ghana.

Furthermore, bridgeAFRIC called for partnerships from brands in hospitality, aviation, travel, automobile, fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and media sectors.

Organisers said partners would benefit from product placement, brand visibility, social media amplification, and on-ground exposure throughout the programme.

The event is being produced by bridgeAFRIC in collaboration with Qtaby Events, a production company with over two decades of industry experience.

Organisers maintained that Showbiz101 2026 would further strengthen Africa’s creative economy by empowering young talents, deepening global collaborations, and expanding international visibility for African creatives.

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King Dokubo Asari graces Benin Republic president’s inauguration

Published

57 minutes ago

May 24, 2026

News Diggers

Thousands of dignitaries from across the world gathered in the Republic of Benin on Sunday, March 24, 2026, to witness the inauguration of President Ramona Wadagni, with prominent Niger Delta monarch, Alhaji Mujahid Abubakar Dokubo-Asari, among the notable guests at the historic ceremony.

Dokubo-Asari, who holds the traditional titles of Da Amakiri Tubo, Dabaye Amakiri I, Amakiri Ekpeke and Amanyanabo of the Source, Elem Kalabari, joined over 6,000 world leaders, diplomats, business executives, royals and traditional rulers at the Palais des Congrès de Cotonou where outgoing President Patrice Talon formally handed over power to Wadagni.

The colourful inauguration ceremony marked a significant political transition in the West African nation and attracted dignitaries from different parts of the globe.

For Dokubo-Asari, however, the visit was said to be more than a diplomatic engagement, as President Wadagni is regarded as a longtime friend of the Kalabari monarch. His attendance was described as a reflection of years of friendship and loyalty between both men.

The monarch is widely known to have maintained strong ties with the Republic of Benin for more than two decades through educational and business investments. He is the proprietor of King Amachree International Children’s School and the defunct King Amachree University. The international school has hosted students from countries including Congo, Togo, Ghana and Nigeria.

Over the years, Dokubo-Asari has also invested in real estate, hospitality and other business ventures in the Republic of Benin, which associates say has become a second home to him.

In line with Kalabari royal tradition, the monarch attended the event alongside a distinguished delegation of chiefs and associates. Among them were Se-Alabo EMI Membere-Otaji, Managing Director of Elscon Group and Deputy National President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture; Se-Opu Alabo Dr. David T. Briggs, Deuin-Ala XII of Kalabari and Paramount Chief of the Ancient Deuin-Ala Chieftaincy House; and Prince Tonye T. J. T. Princewill, Da OGO VI, Head of the Queen Elababene/Da OGO Group of Houses of the Kalabari Kingdom.

Speaking with journalists shortly after the inauguration, Dokubo-Asari described the Republic of Benin as a welcoming nation that has shown him friendship and hospitality over the years.

“The Republic of Benin has been a second home to me. I have always enjoyed the hospitality of the great people of this country, and I am here on the invitation of the President to honour him and this great nation,” he said.

The Kalabari monarch is also known for maintaining longstanding relationships with political and business leaders across Africa, including a close friendship spanning over three decades with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ahead of the inauguration, Dokubo-Asari reportedly travelled into the Republic of Benin through the Seme Border where he briefly stopped to exchange pleasantries with the newly appointed Deputy Controller General of Immigration, who later posed for photographs with the monarch and members of his entourage.

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Minister urges entrepreneurs to take advantage of emerging opportunities under AfCTA

Published

2 hours ago

May 24, 2026

News Diggers

Nigeria’s Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, has urged Nigerian entrepreneurs and startups to take advantage of emerging opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as discussions continue at the 2026 Biashara Africa summit.

Biashara Africa 2026, regarded as one of the continent’s leading trade and investment platforms, brought together policymakers, business leaders, financial institutions and trade facilitators to accelerate the implementation of the AfCFTA agreement and deepen intra-African trade.

Speaking in her capacity as the Incoming Chair of the AfCFTA Council of Ministers, Dr. Oduwole challenged African leaders and policymakers to move beyond policy commitments and address the practical barriers hindering trade and investment across the continent.

She also commended Togolese President, Faure Gnassingbé, and the Government of Togo for what she described as decisive actions advancing the vision of the AfCFTA and strengthening Africa’s ambition of building an integrated market of more than 1.4 billion people.

As part of efforts to drive implementation of the continental trade pact, the minister announced the launch of the AfCFTA Startup Acceleration Programme 2026, a flagship initiative under the AfCFTA–Korea Africa Foundation partnership.

According to her, the programme is designed to support 30 high-potential African startups seeking to expand beyond the continent and access international markets, particularly South Korea.

Dr. Oduwole explained that the initiative presents significant opportunities for Nigerian startups operating in sectors such as fintech, e-commerce, logistics, agritech, manufacturing and digital platforms to strengthen their operations, scale internationally and position themselves for cross-border growth.

“The future of the AfCFTA will not be built by policy alone. It will be driven by enterprises, innovators, manufacturers, digital platforms and entrepreneurs who are ready to trade,” she said.

The minister, who also serves as Co-Champion of Digital Trade under the AfCFTA, encouraged eligible Nigerian startups to apply for the programme through SME.Support@au-afcfta.org before the application deadline of May 24, 2026.

She further noted that Africa’s economic integration drive had recorded another major milestone with the announcement by the Government of Togo removing visa requirements for African passport holders and investors travelling to the country for short stays.

According to her, the policy signals that Africa is gradually transitioning from regional aspirations to concrete action aimed at promoting trade, investment and movement across borders.