Cooperatives: The Missing Link in Lagos’ Urban Development Agenda

By Nkanu Egbe Lagos, Nigeria’s economic nerve centre, continues to chase ambitious development targets—from housing and transport to job creation and food security. Yet, one of the most powerful tools for inclusive economic participation lies neglected: cooperatives. In a city where a significant majority of the economy operates informally, the Lagos State Government has rightly invested in structures like the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), the Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA), and various MSME support schemes under the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives. But curiously, the "cooperatives" part of the ministry’s portfolio has become little more than an administrative

Lagos claims the crown as world’s fastest-growing tech ecosystem

Move over, Silicon Valley—Lagos is making history! In a groundbreaking report by Nairametrics, Nigeria’s economic powerhouse has been officially recognised as the fastest-growing tech ecosystem in the world for 2025. What’s fueling this meteoric rise? The city’s relentless innovation, a thriving startup scene, and—most notably—five unicorn companies that have shattered expectations, each boasting a valuation of over $1 billion. Once seen as an emerging hub, Lagos has swiftly evolved into the beating heart of Africa’s digital revolution. Mr. Bosun TijaniMinister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy Experts say it’s no accident—Lagos is riding the wave of strategic investments, government-backed tech initiatives, and an

Elon Musk’s AI supercomputer sparks environmental concerns in US neighbourhood

A major environmental controversy has erupted in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, as Colossus, the world’s largest AI training supercomputer developed by Elon Musk’s company, xAI, faces backlash over its impact on local communities. While the facility is positioned as a technological breakthrough, residents of Boxtown, a historically Black and economically disadvantaged neighborhood, argue that Musk’s project threatens their health and environment. At the heart of the issue is xAI’s reliance on gas-powered turbines, which emit harmful pollutants like nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde, worsening air quality in the area. Boxtown residents report an increase in respiratory problems, and environmental groups accuse xAI of

The role 21st century booksellers play in realising SDG 4—quality, inclusive and equitable education

By Oreoluwa Lesi SDG4 focuses on education and aims to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” It includes seven targets, which cover eliminating disparities in accessing education at the early childhood and primary levels based on gender, ability, and other socio-economic factors and, as much as possible, encouraging all women and men to stay through to the tertiary level; ensuring that all youth and a large proportion of adults are literate and numerate; and ensuring that all learners can get the knowledge and skills needed to gain employment and contribute to sustainable development. When we

The Role of Worldreader in achieving SDG 4 – Inclusive, Equitable and Quality Education: The East African Perspective

By Joan Mwachi-Amolo (Kenya) Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) aims to “ensure inclusive, equitable and quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” Among its several core targets are universal youth literacy, early childhood development, universal pre-primary, primary and secondary education, and education for sustainable development and global citizenship. To reach SDG 4, unequal access to and quality of education must be fixed, and effective and inclusive learning environments must be created. It also requires supporting teachers, educators, and families as they facilitate learning. Tackling the Global Learning Crisis: The Transformational Power of Reading Reading is the foundation of all learning.

The Role of Libraries in realising SDG 4 – Inclusive, Equitable and Quality Education: The West African Perspective

By Nkem Osuigwe Libraries exist within the formal and informal sectors of the learning ecosystem. They are very important to learning in schools and in the different communities where they live all over Africa. They are critical for achieving an inclusive, equitable, and quality education where no one is left behind including those who are in employment and cannot attend school full-time and/or are taking online courses. They are also critical for those who have fallen through the cracks of the educational system as school dropouts at various stages of their educational journey or out-of-school children. Before School Age Public libraries introduce preschool

Managing the Kids This Holiday

Most schools have closed for the session and will be resuming in September, giving us approximately two months with the kids at home. I, for one, always look forward to the holidays because I get to stop waking up so early to prepare the kids for school. I have never been a morning person, so it hasn’t always been easy as a mom. But then, after a few days of sleeping in, you’re suddenly faced with a lot of free time with the kids and not really knowing how exactly to keep them preoccupied. I want to share some tips that have helped

Essentials to pack for a trip

I’ve been on trips where I forgot to carry basic items that turned out to be much needed. I’ve also had co-travelers who came to me requesting the same basics they had also forgotten. It all boils down to the intentionality we give to packing. One thing I can say for sure is this: I never experience such lapses whenever I pack early — at least one week before my trip. Even more important is having a travel list. This is a list of things you want to travel with, and it’s the real game changer. The items should ideally be

All About Gifting

I have been given gifts at various times in my life but some of them stand out the most, to this day. Interestingly, these gifts have no serious financial weight but turned out to be the most thoughtful. I remembered the first time I had shawarma. It was in a friend's car. He bought it and hurriedly drove to where I was staying at the time and handed it over to me. According to him, he wanted me to eat it while it was still hot. This made me realise some people have the ability to make seemingly meaningless things