Nigeria has achieved a significant milestone in its economic diversification efforts, with non-oil exports reaching $1.791 billion in the first quarter of 2025, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC).

NEPC Executive Director Nonye Ayeni announced the figures on Monday in Abuja, highlighting a 24.75% increase compared to the $1.436 billion recorded in the same period of 2024. The export volume also saw a remarkable 243.44% growth, rising to 2.416 million metric tonnes from 1.937 million metric tonnes in Q1 2024.

"This year, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council reported the highest export value since its establishment 49 years ago, with a year-on-year increase of 20.77% from $4.517 billion in 2023 to $5.456 billion in 2024," Ayeni stated.

The range of exported products expanded to 197 distinct items, up from 162 in the previous year, spanning manufactured goods, semi-processed items, industrial extracts, and agricultural commodities. Cocoa and its derivatives dominated the export portfolio, accounting for 45.02% of total non-oil exports, followed by urea/fertilizer at 19.32% and cashew nuts at 5.81%.

Leading exporters included Indorama Eleme Fertiliser and Chemical Limited and Starlink Global & Ideal Limited, which contributed 12.07% and 10% of export value respectively, primarily through fertilizer and cocoa products.

Intra-African trade showed promising growth, with exports to ECOWAS member countries valued at $63.060 million—a substantial 223.10% increase from Q1 2024. Additionally, exports to other African nations amounted to $32.732 million.

Ayeni attributed these positive results to NEPC initiatives such as the 'Double Your Exports' campaign and emphasized the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to further boost regional trade.

"The council, working with our supervising ministry and other stakeholders, remains committed to continuing this trajectory by providing support to the exporting community in areas of capacity building, standardization, and enhancing market access," Ayeni concluded.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has directed the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to refund consumers who have spent their own money on transformers, poles, cables, and other electrical infrastructure.

This directive was issued during the FCCPC Electricity Consumer Forum held in Ota, Ogun State. The Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Commission, Tunji Bello, represented by FCCPC official Mrs. Bridget Etim, emphasized that it is not the responsibility of consumers to provide electricity infrastructure, and any such expenditures must be reimbursed by the distribution company.

During the forum, held in the Ilogbo, Oju-Ore area of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, various community leaders from local development committees expressed frustration over IBEDC’s alleged neglect of their complaints. The Zonal Chairman of the Ado-Odo/Ota CDC, Olatunji Onaolapo, criticized IBEDC’s perceived indifference, stating that despite numerous letters, the company had not responded to community concerns.

“In Itele Ota alone, residents have bought about 80 transformers without any contribution from IBEDC,” Onaolapo said. “Even after paying for energisation, we still have to beg IBEDC to come and install the transformers they should have provided in the first place.”

In response, Abdulrasaq Jimoh, IBEDC’s representative in Ogun State, claimed that the communities erred by purchasing equipment without formally notifying the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

However, FCCPC’s Etim countered this claim, stating that IBEDC has a duty to escalate such investment plans to the regulator on behalf of the communities. She cited Jos Electricity Distribution Company as an example, noting that it refunded consumers for similar investments without prior approval from either NERC or FCCPC.

“We are not going to accept that excuse,” Etim said. “For any future investments made by consumers, IBEDC must ensure refunds are provided. Prior cases may not have been well documented, but going forward, the process must be followed.”

She urged communities to inform the FCCPC of any planned investments in electricity infrastructure to ensure proper documentation and facilitate refunds through energy credits.

In her presentation of the EVC’s opening remarks, Etim highlighted that the three-day forum was organized under Sections 17, 127, 130, and 151 of the FCCPA 2018. The goal, she said, was to bridge the gap between electricity consumers and service providers.

“Electricity is more than a commodity — it’s a critical service that supports daily life, businesses, and economic progress,” she said. “The sector still faces major issues, including poor metering, billing errors, and inadequate infrastructure, which must be addressed through open dialogue and collaboration.”

She added that the forum offers a non-confrontational space for consumers to understand their rights and for IBEDC representatives to address complaints on the spot, in line with FCCPC’s mandate to ensure practical, accessible, and responsive consumer protection.

At least 26 people were killed on Monday when two vehicles detonated an improvised explosive device in Nigeria's northeastern Borno state, the heartland of an Islamist insurgency, residents said.

The International Safety Organization, which provides security to foreign non-governmental organisations in the northeast, said in an internal memo seen by Reuters that the vehicles moving between the towns of Rann and Gamboru Ngala hit an IED.

The blast led "to the death of 26 individuals and three injuries," it said.

Borno state police could not immediately comment.

Islamist insurgents Boko Haram and Islamist West Africa Province have been battling Nigerian security forces for over 15 years in the northeast and often use improvised explosive devices to target civilians and security forces.

Liman Tom, a traveller on the road, said the vehicles were badly damaged and survivors were rushed to hospital by soldiers and members of the civilian joint task force who arrived on the scene after the incident.

Abba Amma Muhammad, who saw the wreck of the car that was carrying his mother, blamed the incident on Boko Haram.

"I can not even recognize her remains," Muhammad told Reuters.

Reuters

Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo near 'significant breakthrough,' two security sources say

Negotiations held in Cairo to reach a ceasefire in Gaza were on the verge of a "significant breakthrough," two Egyptian security sources told Reuters on Monday.

There was no immediate comment from Israel and Hamas. Axios reporter Barak Ravid said in a brief post on X that an Israeli official denied the reported breakthrough, without giving further details.

The Egyptian sources said there was a consensus on a long-term ceasefire in the besieged enclave, yet some sticking points remain, including Hamas arms.

Hamas repeatedly said it was not willing to lay down its arms, a key demand by Israel.

Earlier, Egyptian state-affiliated Al Qahera News TV reported that Egyptian intelligence chief General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad was set to meet an Israeli delegation headed by strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer on Monday in Cairo.

The sources said the ongoing talks included Egyptian and Israeli delegations.

Mediators Egypt and Qatar did not report developments on the latest talks.

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on Sunday that a recent meeting in Doha on efforts to reach a ceasefire made some progress, but noted there was no agreement yet on how to end the war.

He said the militant group is willing to return all remaining Israeli hostages if Israel ends the war in Gaza. But Israel wants Hamas to release the remaining hostages without offering a clear vision on ending the war, he added.

The media adviser for the Hamas leadership, Taher Al-Nono, told Reuters on Saturday that the group was open to a years-long truce with Israel in Gaza, adding that the group hoped to build support among mediators for its offer.

Speaking at a conference in Jerusalem on Monday night, before Reuters reported that there had been progress in the talks, Dermer said the government remained committed to dismantling Hamas' military capability, ending its rule in Gaza, ensuring that the enclave never again poses a threat to Israel and returning the hostages.

Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18 after a January ceasefire collapsed, saying it would keep up pressure on Hamas until it frees the remaining hostages still held in the enclave. Up to 24 of them are believed to be still alive.

The Gaza war started after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israel's offensive on the enclave killed more than 52,000, according to local Palestinian health officials.

Reuters

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE

Putin announces three-day Russian ceasefire in Ukraine from 8 May

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire for the war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said the ceasefire would run from the morning of 8 May until 11 May - which coincides with victory celebrations to mark the end of World War Two.

In response, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called for an immediate ceasefire lasting "at least 30 days".

While US President Donald Trump, who has been attempting to broker a truce between the two sides, said he wants to see a permanent ceasefire, the White House said.

The Kremlin announced a similar, 30-hour truce over Easter, but while both sides reported a dip in fighting, they accused each other of hundreds of violations.

Ceasefires have been attempted more than 20 times in Ukraine – all of them failed eventually, and some within minutes of going into effect.

The most recent one, over Easter, was very limited in scope and only resulted in a slight reduction in fighting, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce.

In a statement on Monday, the Kremlin said Putin declared the ceasefire "based on humanitarian considerations".

A translation of the statement said: "Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example.

"In the event of violations of the ceasefire by the Ukrainian side, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will give an adequate and effective response.

"The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, and constructive interaction with international partners."

Following its release, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha said: "If Russia truly wants peace, it must cease fire immediately."

"Why wait until May 8th?" he wrote on X. "If the fire can be ceased now and since any date for 30 days—so it is real, not just for a parade."

He said Ukraine is ready to support a "lasting, durable, and full ceasefire. And this is what we are constantly proposing, for at least 30 days".

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump was growing "increasingly frustrated with leaders of both countries".

"He wants to see a permanent ceasefire.

"I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed."

The latest announcement comes during what the US has described as a "very critical" week for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

Washington has been trying to broker a deal between the two sides, but the Donald Trump administration has threatened to pull out if they do not see progress.

Putin is keen to create the impression that Russia is serious about seeking peace - and he is keen for Trump to hear that message given Ukraine has accepted Washington's proposal for a more lasting 30-day ceasefire.

It comes after the US president expressed annoyance with Russia's continued attacks on Ukraine.

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, and currently controls about 20% Ukraine's territory, including the southern Crimea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014.

It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of people - the vast majority of them soldiers - have been killed or injured on all sides since 2022.

RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE

Ukraine shows no sign it is ready to talk – Kremlin

Ukraine is failing to take the necessary steps to initiate direct negotiations with Russia, while Moscow remains ready to engage at any time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.

Vladimir Zelensky prohibited direct bilateral talks in October 2022 for as long as Russian President Vladimir Putin remans in office, asserting that the moratorium was necessary to “stop separatism” purportedly stemming from backchannel communications with Moscow not controlled by his administration.

”At the very least, Kiev needs to act, given its judicial ban” on talks, Peskov reminded journalists during a briefing on Monday.

Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is prepared to commence negotiations with Ukraine “without any preconditions, aiming to pave the way for peace,” the official added.

Indirect contacts between Kiev and Moscow have continued on some issues, such as prisoner exchanges and the repatriation of fallen soldiers.

US President Donald Trump has criticized Zelensky for undermining his mediation efforts by publicly opposing ideas, reportedly included in a Washington-proposed peace plan. The two leaders had a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican on Saturday.

“He told me that he needs more weapons, but he has been saying that for three years,” Trump said, recounting the engagement. “I want them to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal.”

While Moscow has questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy since the conclusion of his presidential term last year, it does not view his removal from power as a goal in the conflict.

However, Russia has concerns that “if an agreement were signed with Zelensky today, people could come forward later in Ukraine and legally challenge,” Peskov told the French media last week. Zelensky claims presidential powers, citing martial law that he first imposed in 2022.

BBC/RT

Abimbola Adelakun left Ibadan, the city of Brown Roofs, to study and live a new life in Austin, the Bat City. Her next abode is now the Windy City, where she has accepted a prestigious offer at the University of Chicago. Let me take the story from the middle, as the beginning is too long.

It is unusual in American universities to be retained for a job where you obtained your PhD. This is to avoid the inbreeding common in Nigerian universities where many faculty graduated from the same department, compromising integrity, reproducing tired ideas, and halting the transitions to new intellectual orientations. In such a system, the older person becomes the most brilliant, the Baba of the Department. Your fate depends on loyalty to Baba and not the academic discipline.

In Ms Adelakun’s case, the signs of possible unusual retention at the University of Texas at Austin, where she obtained her PhD, arrived when I was in faraway Pretoria during the intense competition for a vacant position. Professor Moyo Okediji, on the same campus, sent a crisp and exciting email: have you seen the video of her job performance? No, I was not in the country. Then he added, “The talk will give her a job at the best university in the world.” Okediji, a one-third scholar, one-third artist, and one-third Ifa practitioner, probably combined three powerful arsenals to predict a future for a first-rate scholar. Okejiji’s divination tray has validated an Odu on success: Ms Adelakun is now moving on to greater glory!

My wife calls her a “preeminent professional,” always full of praise for Ms Adelakun’s hard work, weekly writing in PUNCH, and prolific book publishing. She is also a competent organiser. Some years ago, when funds arrived to establish the first Center of Nigerian Studies in the United States, I asked her to create the Center without telling her about the money to run it. She declined. I aborted the project because I could not transfer such a considerable amount to the professional career wreckers that surround me.

Let me do what I like to do best: second-order thinking. Societies have long been known to survive on certain practices. Such practices have, in the past, paved the way for a new understanding of the key concepts that are central to the smooth functioning of society and, by extension, explain the values to which such a society commits. In the African setting, just like in any part of the world, our societies are known to respect and honor exceptionality through various means. For a long time, acknowledging these exceptions has been a way to portray the essence of standing out and to create an enabling environment that allows others, especially the youths, to pursue greatness. While this short analogy may not capture the essence of these thoughts, one can categorically say that the emergence of local chieftaincy titles, honorary titles as seen in our cities, did not spur out of mere desires. Rather, they are preconceived thoughts to honour and eulogise outstanding personalities while conveying to others that excellence pays.

Even though this piece is not targeted at a chieftaincy divestiture or ceremony, it holds the same credence and importance as the examples mentioned earlier. It is equally a celebration of an eminent personality and, simultaneously, a day to drive a message home for emerging young men and women. As a custodian of history, it will pass as an injustice to the community I represent if I fail to commit to the documentation of rare human history in a time when priorities have changed. Fame has yet to be redefined by social whims. It will be a shame to deprive the coming generation of opportunities to meet with legends, eminent personalities, and great contributors to our world because we fail to document them.

Hence, there is a commitment to the exaltation of great individuals like Ms Adelakun. Without mincing words, our world today has seen and eulogized superheroes of different shades. Some have always been in the limelight and have become household names, and some alternate between the two, coming into public view and retiring behind the curtains as the cases demand. Such is the lifestyle of Ms Adelakun, a public intellectual. She is a hero, an enigma that deserves all the mentions possible in the world.

Born in the brown-roofs city of Ibadan, Nigeria, Ms Adelakun had her basic education up to the tertiary level, attaining undergraduate and master’s degrees in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan. Not one to be deterred by boundaries and limitations, Ms Adelakun found her way from Ibadan to the four walls of the University of Texas at Austin in a relentless pursuit for knowledge, where she bagged another MA degree and then a doctoral degree in Theatre and Dance. These feats are a rare demonstration of her doggedness and drive for greatness, commitment to truth, and academic scholarship.

Ms Adelakun has an unmistakable aura for scholarship and impact. Her academic pursuits, as it appears, are diverse and profound. Despite the peculiar nature of these specialisations, she did not fail to explore the width and breadth of her interest while building authority and relevance with credible research works around the intersections of politics, African spirituality, religion, theatre, and dance. Her research work goes beyond the abstract. Her ability to intertwine research into contemporary human society resonates with the experiences of many who have seen, read, and digested her work.

A notable masterpiece by Ms Adelakun that fits the above description would be her seminal work, Performing Power in Nigeria: Identity, Politics, and Pentecostalism, published by Cambridge University Press in 2022. The book offers an introspective look into the world of Nigerian Pentecostals, discussing the complexities attached to asserting power and sustaining identities in a diverse socio-political society. Through this incisive examination, Ms Adelakun provided an unmatched analysis of the performative aspects of Pentecostalism and the intricate intersections between religion and performance in shaping societal norms and individual identities.

 It is not uncommon to find a high level of unpopularity for research works of this nature outside academics. However, with a keener look into the complexities attached, one cannot but salute Ms Adelakun for a job well done. For instance, one may not appreciate the beauty of Performing Power in Nigeria except with a prior understanding of how societies employ religious expressions in tandem with political ambitions. Just as she delved into how our Pentecostals used sermons, rituals, body language, and music to maintain relevance, Ms Adelakun’s work uncovers the profound, often uncomfortable truths about authority, identity, and collective imagination in Nigeria. She is a tough analyst!

Her exemplary scholarship is characterised by boundless curiosity forged in a mind of inquiry. She is fully absorbed in challenging simplistic narratives on gender theories, African spirituality, performance arts, and race theories, amongst other seemingly contrasting yet connected topics, creating a vibrant fusion between these topics of noticeable disparities. In the classroom, she is the epitome of the noble profession she is so endeared to. She teaches her students with a vigour and passion that helps guide her students not only to learn alone but also to develop innate abilities to question, analyse, deconstruct, and create scenarios from an informed perspective.

Enviably, Ms Adelakun maintains a front row when standing tall to speak the truth. While many academics may prefer a retreat into the comfort zone of their profession, away from public space, she, on her part, chose the very opposite. She strides boldly into the public square through her weekly column, Thursdays with Abimbola Adelakun in The PUNCHnewspaper, where she pens down thought-provoking and awakening ideas as she confronts Nigeria’s deep-seated issues of corruption, religious exploitation, gender inequality, educational decay, and political malpractices for about two decades now.

Her approach as a columnist is straightforward. Her pen is unflinching. Where others sidestep and rebrand controversial topics, she displays bravery by meeting them head-on, shedding light on the moral failures of leadership, and bringing up societal norms that perpetuate injustice while advocating fiercely for the marginalised. Her critiques are informed and not driven by cynicism or shadowy intentions. Instead, they are birthed by an abiding hope that Nigeria and Africa can improve. Even in the face of backlash, especially on issues with core religious undertones, our hero remains undeterred and continues to forge ahead in creating impact. In her case, it is true that “true patriotism lies not in blind loyalty but in the courage to hold one’s country accountable.”

To call Ms Adelakun an enigma is not out of place because how do you explain the brilliance she displays in bridging worlds with art and thought? She is a master at what she does. Outside the scope of academics and journalism is a creative spirit with breathtaking delivery. To her credit are books offering reflections on everyday happenings in human society. Prominent amongst her creative work is Under the Brown Rusted Roofs, a novel that provides poignant views of a fictitious reflection of her Nigerian upbringing, throwing light into the lives of a polygamous family tied to the true nature of post-colonial legacies in a frantic battle for survival amidst fractured dreams. The book is not just literature; it passes more as an archaeological excavation of the actual realities of marginalised persons: women and children in a patriarchal society, an unconcerned elite class, and a desperate search for meaning where hope seems to be lost.

It would be an outright disservice to an outstanding personality like Ms Adelakun if I fail to mention her humane nature and selfless contribution to society. As part of her beliefs in giving back to society, she portrays her ideals through involvement in community initiatives like the Women’s Storybook Project of Texas, which seeks out incarcerated mothers and records them while reading to their children. Though simple, the act is yet profound as it bridges the gap between the mothers and their kids while preserving familial bonds at the barest minimum against the odds. In addition to these humanitarian acts are the countless hours spent mentoring students in the university, especially in owning their narratives and challenging systemic barriers that may impede their academic excellence.

Ms Adelakun’s celebration today is not just for her impressive resume; it is to testify to the greatness of a woman who dares while others dodge. It is a story of one who mentors, heals with words, and preserves culture while preaching progress. Adelakun’s career has shown that her life’s work revives the connection between the principles of education, art, and activism; they are but interconnected variables of societal development, healing, and transformation.

As we honour a living legend, we should be reminded that legends are not only those whose names are filled in the books. Some are amongst us, questioning, teaching, writing, creating, and loving. We reaffirm our commitment to truth, justice, and excellence in celebrating exceptional individuals. In an eloquent closing statement she might appreciate, I say that celebrating Ms Adelakun today is not just a tribute to her past or present but an investment in the future she tirelessly works to shape.

Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin

Now predominantly Muslim, North Africa was once a Christian heartland, producing Catholic popes who left their mark on the Church to this day.

Their papacies were in the era of the Roman Empire, which stretched across modern-day Tunisia, the north-east of Algeria and the coast of western Libya.

"North Africa was the Bible Belt of ancient Christianity," says Christopher Bellitto, a historian at Kean University in the US.

Many Catholics in Africa are hoping that that the papacy will return to the continent for the first time in more than 1,500 years, as a successor to Pope Francis is chosen.

Here, we look at the three previous African popes - and how they got Christians to celebrate Easter Sunday and St Valentine's Day.

All three have been recognised in the Church as saints.

Victor I (189-199)

Thought to be of Berber origin, Pope Victor I was in charge of the Catholic Church at a time when Christians were sometimes being persecuted by Roman officials for refusing to worship Roman gods.

He is perhaps best known for ensuring Christians celebrate Easter on a Sunday.

In the 2nd Century, some Christian groups from the Roman province of Asia (in modern-day Turkey) celebrated Easter on the same day that Jews celebrated Passover, which could fall on different days of the week.

However, Christians in the Western part of the Empire believed that Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday, so Easter should always be celebrated on that day.

The debate over when the resurrection took place made it an extremely contentious issue.

The "Easter controversy" was symbolic of larger conflicts between East and West, and whether or not Christians should follow Jewish practices.

Victor I called the very first Roman Synod - a gathering of Church leaders - to resolve the impasse.

He did this by threatening to excommunicate from the Church those bishops who refused to comply with his wishes.

"He was a rather forceful voice for getting everyone on literally the same page," Bellitto told the BBC.

This was an impressive feat, the historian said, because "he was the Bishop of Rome when Christianity was illegal in the Roman empire."

Another important part of Victor I's legacy was to introduce Latin as the common language of the Catholic Church. Previously Ancient Greek was the primary language of the Catholic Liturgy as well as official communication for the Church.

Victor I himself wrote in - and spoke - Latin, which was widely spoken in North Africa.

Miltiades (AD311-314)

Pope Miltiades is believed to have been born in Africa.

During his reign, Christianity gained increasing acceptance from successive Roman emperors, eventually becoming the Empire's official religion.

Before this, the persecution of Christians had been widespread at different points in the Empire's history.

However, Bellitto pointed out that Militiades was not responsible for this change, saying the Pope was the "recipient of the Roman benevolence" rather than being a great negotiator.

Miltiades was given a palace by the Roman Emperor Constantine, becoming the first pope to have an official residence.

He was also granted permission by Constantine to build the Lateran Basilica, now the oldest public church in Rome.

While modern popes live and work in the Vatican, the Lateran church is sometimes referred to in Catholicism as "the mother of all churches".

Gelasius I (AD492-496)

Gelasius I is the only one of the three African popes who historians believe was not born in Africa.

"There's a reference to him being... Roman-born. So we don't know if he [ever] lived in North Africa, but it seems clear that he was of North African descent," Bellitto explained.

He was the most important of the three African church leaders, according to Bellitto.

Gelasius I is widely recognised as the first pope to officially be called the "Vicar of Christ", a term that signifies the Pope's role as Christ's representative on Earth.

He also developed the Doctrine of the Two Swords, which emphasised the separate-but-equal powers of the Church and the state.

Gelasius I made the critical distinction that both powers were given to the Church by God, who then delegated earthly power to the state, making the Church ultimately superior.

"Later on, in the Middle Ages, popes sometimes tried to veto the selection of an emperor or a king, because they said God gave them that power," said Bellitto.

Gelasius I is remembered, too, for his response to the Acacian Schism - a split between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches from 484 to 519.

During this period, Gelasius I asserted the supremacy of Rome and the papacy over the entire Church, East and West, which experts believe went further than any of his predecessors.

Gelasius is also responsible for a popular celebration which is still marked every year - establishing St Valentine's Day on 14 February in 496 to commemorate the Christian martyr St Valentine.

Some accounts say Valentine was a priest who continued to perform weddings in secret when they were banned by Emperor Claudius II.

Historians believe that Valentine's Day is rooted in the Roman love and fertility festival, Lupercalia, and was a move by Gelasius I to Christianise pagan traditions.

What did Africa's popes look like?

After Gelasius I, no other popes are believed to have come from the Roman province of Africa.

Bellitto says there is no way of knowing with any degree of accuracy what the three popes looked like.

"We have to remember that the Roman Empire, and indeed the Middle Ages, didn't think of race as we think of it nowadays. It had nothing to do with skin colour," he told the BBC.

"People in the Roman Empire didn't deal with race, they dealt with ethnicity."

Philomena Mwaura, an academic at Kenya's Kenyatta University, told the BBC that Roman Africa was very multicultural, with local Berber and Punic groups, freed slaves and people who had come from Rome found there.

"The North African community was quite mixed, and it was a trade route also for many people who were involved in trade in the earlier antiquity," she explained.

Rather than identifying with specific ethnic groups, "most people who belonged to areas within the Roman Empire regarded themselves as Roman", Mwaura added.

Why hasn't there been an African pope since?

None of of the 217 popes since Gelasius I are believed to have come from Africa.

"The church in North Africa was weakened by very many forces, including the fall of the Roman Empire and also the incursion of Muslims [into North Africa] in the 7th Century," Mwaura said.

However, some experts argue that the prevalence of Islam in North Africa does not explain the absence of a pope from the entire continent over more than 1,500 years.

Bellitto said the process of electing a new pontiff became an "Italian monopoly" for many years.

However, he said there was a strong chance of a pope from Asia or Africa in the near future because Catholics in the southern hemisphere outnumber those in the north.

In fact, Catholicism is expanding more rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa today than anywhere else.

The latest figures show there were 281 million Catholics in Africa in 2023. This accounts for 20% of the worldwide congregation.

Three Africans are in the race to succeed Pope Francis - the Democratic Republic of Congo's Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, Ghana's Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson and Guinea's Robert Sarah.

But Mwaura argued that "although Christianity is very strong in Africa, the power of the Church is still in the north, where the resources have been".

"Maybe, as it continues to be very strong within the continent and supporting itself, then a time will come when there could be an African pope," she said.

BBC

Nigerian manufacturers are struggling under the weight of escalating energy costs, which now consume approximately 40% of production expenses, according to industry leaders.

Total expenditure on alternative energy sources reached N1.11 trillion in 2024, marking a 42.3% increase from N781.68 billion in 2023, as revealed by Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Director General Segun Ajayi-Kadir in the association's economic review for the second half of 2024.

"Unreliable grid power and increasing diesel and PMS prices have forced manufacturers to significantly increase spending on alternative energy," Ajayi-Kadir explained. "Expenditure rose from N404.80 billion in H1 2024 to N708.07 billion in H2 2024, representing a 75.0% increase."

Sector-specific impacts were substantial, with the Food, Beverage & Tobacco sector's alternative energy spending rising to N229.41 billion from N182.76 billion in 2023. The Chemical & Pharmaceutical sector saw costs double to N208.68 billion, while the Non-Metallic Mineral Products sector experienced a 33.7% increase to N118.49 billion. Most dramatically, the Textile, Apparel & Footwear industry's energy costs quadrupled to N26.45 billion, up from N6.97 billion in 2023.

Despite electricity supply improving to an average of 13.3 hours daily in 2024 (up from 10.6 hours in 2023), manufacturers faced significant challenges as electricity tariffs for Band A consumers surged by over 200%. Supply increased from 11.4 hours per day in H1 2024 to 15.2 hours in H2 2024, but frequent outages remained problematic, with the country experiencing 12 national grid collapses during the period.

Compounding these challenges, manufacturers' finance costs totaled N1.3 trillion, severely limiting investment and expansion opportunities. Commercial bank lending rates to manufacturers jumped to 35.5% in 2024 from 28.06% in 2023, driven by continuous Central Bank of Nigeria rate hikes that pushed the Monetary Policy Rate to 27.50%.

Ajayi-Kadir noted that the Nigerian manufacturing sector confronted numerous obstacles throughout 2024, including high inflation, foreign exchange volatility, increasing production costs, and weakening consumer demand. While some sectors showed resilience and increased local sourcing of raw materials, overall output remained subdued.

Suspended Kogi Central Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan on Sunday delivered a blistering, sarcastic "apology" to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, ridiculing his alleged sexual advances and the Senate’s punitive measures against her.

The letter, dripping with irony, was released to the press while Akpabio is abroad attending the late Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome. It marks the latest escalation in their feud, which began when Natasha accused Akpabio of victimizing her after she rejected his purported harassment.

Natasha was suspended on March 6 following clashes with Senate leadership over seating arrangements she claimed targeted her. The conflict intensified when she publicly accused Akpabio of retaliation, citing the withdrawal of her security, salary cuts, and a six-month suspension.

Despite a court order barring both parties from discussing the case, Natasha’s letter—framed as a faux apology—mocked Akpabio’s ego, entitlement, and the Senate’s alleged culture of transactional politics.

Her letter reads:

"Dear Distinguished Senate President Godswill Akpabio,

It is with the deepest sarcasm and utmost theatrical regret that I apologize for the grave offense of possessing dignity in your exalted presence. How foolish of me to assume my Senate seat was earned through votes, not through… other means.

I now see the error of my ways: I failed to grasp that legislative success here isn’t about merit, but compliance—of a very personal nature. My refusal to indulge your ‘requests’ was clearly a breach of the unwritten rules of male entitlement. For this, I prostrate in imaginary remorse.

Forgive my naïve belief that competence outweighs capitulation, or that my mandate mattered more than private dinners behind closed doors. My actions have caused great distress—delayed bills, wounded egos (so vast they need their own ZIP codes), and a tragic disruption of the sacred ‘quid pro quo’ order.

“May your magnanimous heart—buried somewhere beneath layers of entitlement—pardon this ‘stubborn woman’ who thought her place in the Senate came from democracy, not… other rising interests.

“Yours in eternal defiance,

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

“Unafraid. Unbought. Unbroken."

The letter underscores Natasha’s refusal to back down, turning her suspension into a platform for satire and defiance. Legal proceedings continue, but the war of words—and wit—rages on.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists have killed at least 14 people, including farmers and vigilantes, in a series of attacks near Pulka town in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Emir of Gwoza, Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the tragic incident, explaining that two members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (JTF) were ambushed and killed along the Kirawa road under Pulka District on Friday. The next day, 12 other civilians—mostly farmers and firewood collectors—were attacked and killed while clearing their farmlands in preparation for the upcoming rainy season.

According to Abba Shehu Timta, the political administrator of the district, the terrorists launched the deadly assault from their camp in nearby Vlei village. Search and rescue operations, supported by troops, were ongoing in the surrounding bush areas, with fears that the death toll could rise.

“We buried 10 victims and evacuated two others with life-threatening injuries to Maiduguri for medical treatment,” Emir Timta said. “It’s a sad day for our community, losing brave Civilian JTF members who dedicated their lives to protecting us.”

The Emir offered prayers for the deceased, asking God to grant them eternal rest and give their families strength to bear the loss. He also praised the efforts of the military and the state government in combating insurgency but appealed for greater use of technology such as drones to more effectively tackle the jihadist threat.

The attacks come at a critical time as farmers prepare their fields for the planting season. Fear has now gripped the community, with many too scared to return to their farmlands, raising concerns about food security.

Boko Haram and its splinter group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have increasingly targeted farmers, fishermen, and firewood collectors in Borno, accusing them of collaborating with the military and local militias. Since the insurgency began in 2009, over 40,000 people have been killed and around two million displaced across northeastern Nigeria. The violence has also spilled into neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon, prompting a regional military response.

Despite military gains, including the recapture of Gwoza town in 2015, Boko Haram militants continue to operate from hideouts in the Mandara Mountains and other remote areas, sustaining a cycle of deadly raids, abductions, and destruction.