Pope celebrates 71st birthday, but Vatican employees get the gift

Ransom economy: How kidnappers turn northern families’ pain into profit (opens on the publisher’s site)

Kidnappers in Northern Nigeria are turning families’ pain into profit, creating a ransom economy where property, cash, and goods are exchanged for freedom. Read More: https://punchng.com/ransom-economy-how-kidnappers-turn-northern-families-pain-into-profit/

Uba Sani built, renovated 3,267 classrooms in three years – Education secretaries (opens on the publisher’s site)

Kaduna education secretaries say Governor Uba Sani’s administration built and renovated 3,267 classrooms and increased teachers’ salaries from 2023 to 2026 Read More: https://punchng.com/uba-sani-built-renovated-3267-classrooms-in-three-years-education-secretaries/

FG targets $100bn tourism, creative economy with ‘Ember To Remember 2026’ national season (opens on the publisher’s site)

By Benjamin Njoku The Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy has reaffirmed its commitment to partner with state governments, investors, creative entrepreneurs, technology platforms, hospitality businesses and other stakeholders to build an ecosystem that can unlock…

NITDA seeks more investment in data centres (opens on the publisher’s site)

NITDA is seeking increased investment in Nigeria’s data centre infrastructure to meet the demands of the country’s expanding digital economy. Read More: https://punchng.com/nitda-seeks-more-investment-in-data-centres/

Retail inflation surges to 8-month high of 4.8% in August (opens on the publisher’s site)

Lagos Can Become $1tn Economy Through Private-sector Partnership (opens on the publisher’s site)

Oluchi Chibuzor The Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Folashade Kaosarat Bada Ambrose-Medebem, has called for deeper and more strategic collaboration between government and the private sector