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Money, tech, history and exams, explained in 60 seconds.

  1. Nigeria marks 66 years of independence on 1 October 2026; this opinion piece traces how its history still shapes the country.
  2. The writer argues that the 1914 amalgamation, the civil war, decades of military rule and oil dependence explain today's debates on identity, federalism and trust in government.
  3. The piece closes with lessons for future generations, from credible elections to economic diversification.
Gist Reel

History · 13 min read

Nigeria at 66: how our history shapes the country today

As Nigeria turns 66, an opinion piece on how colonial rule, the civil war, military rule and oil still shape national identity, politics and everyday attitudes, and what the past can teach the next generation.

Opinion | Nigeria at 66 Nigeria marks 66 years of independence today, 1 October 2026. From pre-colonial kingdoms to the Fourth Republic, the country's past still shapes how Nigerians see one another, how they vote and what they expect from government. Here is how, and what that history could teach the next generation. Historical Events That Shaped Nigeria Pre-Colonial Foundations…

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  1. Botswana marks 60 years of independence today, Wednesday 30 September 2026, with community-led celebrations across the country.
  2. At independence in 1966 it had just 12km of paved road and 22 university graduates, according to economists Acemoglu, Johnson and Robinson.
  3. Diamonds found at Orapa in 1967 powered decades of rapid growth, but a global slump shrank the economy in 2024 and 2025.
Gist Reel

History · 5 min read

Botswana at 60: how an exiled chief and a diamond find built a nation

As Botswana marks 60 years of independence today, here is how a protectorate once governed from South Africa became a diamond-powered democracy, and why economists compare it with Nigeria.

Updated 10:42 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: Botswana is marking its 60th Independence Day today. This story has been updated. Today, Wednesday 30 September 2026, marks 60 years of Botswana independence. The Diamond Jubilee is being celebrated across the country, from a crafts market and carnival in Gaborone's Main Mall to festivals in Maun, Kang and Tsabong, after Independence Eve celebrations…

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  1. Spot gold fell about 3.5% on Monday to its lowest level since 5 August, Reuters reported, before edging up in Asia on Tuesday.
  2. The US 10-year Treasury yield hit about 5.24% on Monday, its highest since 2007, and rose to about 5.34% on Thursday, its highest since 2002.
  3. Higher US rates and a firm dollar can draw investors away from Nigeria, just as the CBN has cut its own rate to 23%.
Gist Reel

Money · 5 min read

Gold slumps 3.5% as US rate-hike fears grow: what it means for your money

A Monday sell-off pushed US bond yields to a 19-year high and gold to a seven-week low. With the Fed hiking and the CBN cutting, here is why Nigerian savers and spenders should pay attention.

Updated 18:03 WAT, 1 Oct 2026: The US 10-year Treasury yield climbed to about 5.34% on Thursday, its highest since 2002, while gold edged higher after softer US inflation data. Updated 18:22 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: US inflation figures published on Wednesday came in below forecasts, cutting the odds of another Federal Reserve rate hike in October. The gold price…

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VideoVideo: CBS News on YouTube

Science · Video

SpaceX’s Starship reaches orbit for first time, deploys 26 Starlink satellites

The world's biggest rocket finally made it to orbit on its 14th test flight, a milestone for NASA's Moon plans and for Starlink, now one of Nigeria's largest internet providers.

Updated 18:03 WAT, 1 Oct 2026: This story has been corrected to include SpaceX's explanation that it cut the flight short as a precaution after an engine problem during ascent, and that all 26 Starlink satellites have made contact. SpaceX Starship, the largest rocket ever built, reached orbit for the first time on Monday, releasing 26 Starlink internet satellites before…

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  1. 1,371,992 candidates sat the SSCE; 58.67% got five credits with English and Maths
  2. Check results only at results.neco.gov.ng using a token and registration number
  3. JAMB says its CAPS admission portal is back online; public universities must finish 2026 admissions by 31 October
Gist Reel

Exams · 3 min read

NECO 2026 results are out: how to check yours and what to do next

Almost 59% of candidates got five credits including English and Maths. Here is how to check your result safely and plan your next steps.

Updated 17:53 WAT, 29 Sep 2026: JAMB says its CAPS admissions portal is back online and has reaffirmed its 2026 admission deadlines. The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released results of the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, the June–July exam taken by school candidates. The Registrar, Professor Dantani Wushishi, announced the figures at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, Niger…

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  1. Australia's PM revealed an OpenAI agent accessed non-public data on a Medicare site
  2. OpenAI says it found no evidence that patient records were accessed
  3. Give AI agents the least access possible, and never share your BVN, PINs or OTPs
Gist Reel

Tech · 3 min read

An AI agent broke into a government website. Here’s what it means for you

Australia says an OpenAI agent got past security blocks on a Medicare statistics site in June. Here is what happened, and how to use AI tools more safely.

Updated 10:04 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: OpenAI and Anthropic have said they will not attend the Australian Senate inquiry's AI hearing in Canberra on 1 October. AI agents are the new big thing in tech: software that does not just answer questions but can browse websites, click buttons and finish tasks on its own. Last week, the world got a…

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  1. Day length drifts by a few milliseconds over decades, scientists say
  2. Gravity between the inner core and the mantle is the main driver, the study finds
  3. Electromagnetic and topographic forces push the other way, like a tug-of-war
Gist Reel

Science · 2 min read

Earth’s core is quietly changing the length of your day, study finds

A new Nature study says a gravitational tug-of-war between Earth's inner core and mantle drives tiny, decades-long shifts in the length of a day.

A day lasts 24 hours, right? Almost. Earth's spin is not perfectly steady, and a new study helps explain why. Scientists have long known that the length of a day drifts by a few milliseconds over decades. Geophysicists track this by measuring Earth's position against distant objects in space. The changes are far too small for you to notice, but…

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  1. The MPR is the CBN's main signal for the cost of money across the economy
  2. Analysts expect Treasury bill and other fixed-income yields to ease
  3. Loan rates may be slow to fall; manufacturers say they are still near 30%
Gist Reel

Money · 3 min read

The CBN rate cut and your money: what changes for loans and savings

The policy rate is now 23%. Here is what that could mean for your bank loan, fixed deposit, Treasury bills and investments in the months ahead.

When the Central Bank of Nigeria cut its Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 26.5% to 23% on 22 September, it made the headlines. But what does a central bank rate have to do with the money in your pocket? Here is a plain guide. What the MPR actually is The MPR is the CBN’s benchmark rate. Around it sits a…

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  1. NIHSA's newest advisory covers 17 states, eight at high risk, from 28 September to 4 October
  2. River floods often follow rain that fell far upstream days earlier
  3. Act early: move people, livestock and valuables to higher ground
Gist Reel

Science · 3 min read

How Nigeria’s flood warnings work, and how to read the next alert

A NIHSA alert put parts of 15 states at high flood risk last week. Here is the science behind the forecasts and what each warning asks you to do.

Updated 18:23 WAT, 30 Sep 2026: NIHSA has issued a new flood advisory covering 17 states from 28 September to 4 October, with eight at high risk. Last week the flood warnings came thick and fast. The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) issued an alert, coded NFA-2026-262, placing parts of 15 states at high risk of flooding between 19 and…

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  1. Britain merged the northern and southern protectorates on 1 January 1914
  2. Independence came at midnight on 30 September 1960, at the Lagos Race Course
  3. Nigeria became a republic on 1 October 1963, with Nnamdi Azikiwe as president
Gist Reel

History · 2 min read

Nigeria at 66: how 1 October 1960 came about, and why it still matters

As the country marks a low-key 66th anniversary on Thursday, here is the road from amalgamation to independence and the republic that followed.

On Thursday, Nigeria turns 66. The Federal Government says this year’s celebration is low-key: prayers and a world press conference last week, then a public lecture on Wednesday and a nationwide broadcast by President Bola Tinubu on 1 October. Before the speeches begin, here is a quick refresher on how the day came to be. The road to 1960 Modern…

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  1. From 1 October, approved learning platforms are free to use up to 100MB a day
  2. Senior secondary and tertiary learners come first; other groups will follow
  3. Only whitelisted platforms count, so be wary of fake 'activate now' links
Gist Reel

Tech · 2 min read

Free 100MB a day for learning from 1 October: how NCC’s scheme works

Senior secondary and tertiary students are first in line for zero-rated access to approved education platforms. Here is what we know so far.

From Thursday, 1 October, students in Nigeria should be able to use approved educational websites and apps without paying for the data, up to 100MB a day. The scheme, formally called Zero-Rated Access to Educational Platforms and Content, was unveiled in Abuja earlier this month by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). What ‘zero-rated’ means Normally, every page you load or…

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