Nigerian artist Malika Afegbua is using artificial intelligence to preserve Africa's oral histories, languages and traditions through his Legacy Link project. The initiative captures the voices and memories of elders to ensure their stories live on for future generations. It builds on his earlier Elders Series, which celebrated Africa's elderly through AI-generated art.
Monday, July 20, 2026
Video - Nigerian artist uses AI to preserve Africa's oral histories
Nigerian artist Malika Afegbua is using artificial intelligence to preserve Africa's oral histories, languages and traditions through his Legacy Link project. The initiative captures the voices and memories of elders to ensure their stories live on for future generations. It builds on his earlier Elders Series, which celebrated Africa's elderly through AI-generated art.
Children describe how Nigerian militants moving south are seizing more young captives
Aliyu Saheed feared he might not see his three young sons again. For nearly two months after al-Qaida-linked fighters carried out a mass abduction of schoolchildren in an area of Nigeria formerly free of such attacks, he could hardly sleep at night.
He wondered what the boys were doing in captivity and how his youngest, just 5 years old, would survive.
“The day they told us they had been rescued was the happiest day of my life,” the farmer told The Associated Press, as children returned to the community on Friday to feasting and prayers led by pastors and Islamic clerics.
His boys were among dozens of students abducted from their classrooms in Oriire area of southwestern Oyo state on May 15 before being rescued on July 10.
Children as young as 3 were seized in the attack that awakened many Nigerians to a threat that has been moving south through Africa’s most populous nation in the last year. Competition for territory and control of natural resources has intensified among jihadis and other armed groups as they expand beyond the conflict-battered north to areas largely spared until now.
Nigeria’s forests are used for militants’ expansion
The armed men stormed into the agrarian community and took 39 children from three schools. They were marched, along with teachers, into a vast forest reserve nearby. One teacher was killed in the abduction. Two others were killed in captivity, according to local media.
The forest reserve connects to neighboring Kwara state to the north, which borders northern Nigeria and its long history of mass abductions of students by armed groups, often for ransom. Analysts say children and schools are often seen as strategic targets to draw more attention and higher ransoms.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has said the attackers in Oyo state were Ansaru militants, a breakaway faction of the Boko Haram militant group that claims to defend the interests of Islam and has been more active in recent years.
Authorities said the rescue operation was carried out jointly by the military, intelligence agency and police, and that eight kidnappers were arrested while others were killed.
The abduction turned attention to Nigeria’s lightly policed forest reserves and their use as a corridor and hiding area for armed groups.
“The thing to learn is that the forested areas of the country must be much better surveilled because that is where those armed groups operate and keep their victims,” said Joachim MacEbong, a senior analyst at global risk consultancy firm Control Risks.
Children described being bound and beaten
In interviews with the AP, the children and their parents spoke of horrid conditions in captivity. They said their captors left them in the open without shelter, exposing them to sun and rain.
Saheed’s eldest son, 9-year-old Shuaib, said he and his brothers tried to distract themselves by thinking about the comfort of home and their mother’s cooking. They were fed a basic meal of boiled rice and palm oil, he recalled.
“I could not say anything for fear of getting beaten,” he said. “They flogged us with a cane all over the body, and they hit me in the back with the butt of their gun.”
The militants beat the youngest children the worst and muffled their mouths with cloth so that their cries would not attract attention, Alamu Folawe, the head of one of the schools, told journalists.
Families said some children now have physical scars, and many are still recuperating psychologically.
Aduke Balogun’s daughter, 8-year-old Kehinde Kaosarat, was one of the last to be discharged from the hospital. She has not left her mother’s side since she returned home on Friday.
While in captivity, the girl said, she could not eat or sleep because “I kept imagining the worst things.”
Abducted siblings Jacob and Mary told their parents after their release that they didn’t want to return to school, said their father, Gabriel Sunday.
It’s a common concern after such kidnappings in a country that already has one of the world’s highest numbers of children out of school.
“Sending them back to the school does not sound meaningful to me right now,” said Saheed, the father of the three boys.
The spread to the south increases pressure on leaders
Tinubu, elected in 2023 after promising to end the country’s security woes, has come under growing pressure. The U.S. military is supporting Nigerian forces, though much of that is restricted to logistics and intelligence-gathering at the heart of the violence in the north.
Although Tinubu said the Ansaru militants’ network of informants was dismantled during the rescue operation, analysts say the drivers of insecurity, such as corruption and poor governance, remain. And Nigeria’s overstretched security forces are mostly absent in remote communities.
James Barnett, a research fellow with U.S.-based Hudson Institute who specializes in security in Africa, said Ansaru has been building networks in Nigeria’s southwest for many years.
Experts say an attack regarded as successful could inspire more.
Some residents now hesitate to return
Friday’s celebration of the children’s return drew the community of Christians and Muslims together for dancing and a meal to express their gratitude.
“We have all come here to thank God for protecting the children and their teachers and helping the military men who rescued them,” said Tajudeen Abioye, the village chief.
Many residents left the area after the attack but have started trickling back. Although security forces deployed following the mass abduction are still in the area, locals remain anxious, especially farmers whose farms are close to the forest reserve.
“The rescue of the Oriire abductees is wonderful news and should inspire some confidence in Nigeria’s ability to better manage these threats. But it is not the end of insecurity in the southwest or Nigeria as a whole,” Barnett said.
By Pelumi Salako, AP
He wondered what the boys were doing in captivity and how his youngest, just 5 years old, would survive.
“The day they told us they had been rescued was the happiest day of my life,” the farmer told The Associated Press, as children returned to the community on Friday to feasting and prayers led by pastors and Islamic clerics.
His boys were among dozens of students abducted from their classrooms in Oriire area of southwestern Oyo state on May 15 before being rescued on July 10.
Children as young as 3 were seized in the attack that awakened many Nigerians to a threat that has been moving south through Africa’s most populous nation in the last year. Competition for territory and control of natural resources has intensified among jihadis and other armed groups as they expand beyond the conflict-battered north to areas largely spared until now.
Nigeria’s forests are used for militants’ expansion
The armed men stormed into the agrarian community and took 39 children from three schools. They were marched, along with teachers, into a vast forest reserve nearby. One teacher was killed in the abduction. Two others were killed in captivity, according to local media.
The forest reserve connects to neighboring Kwara state to the north, which borders northern Nigeria and its long history of mass abductions of students by armed groups, often for ransom. Analysts say children and schools are often seen as strategic targets to draw more attention and higher ransoms.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has said the attackers in Oyo state were Ansaru militants, a breakaway faction of the Boko Haram militant group that claims to defend the interests of Islam and has been more active in recent years.
Authorities said the rescue operation was carried out jointly by the military, intelligence agency and police, and that eight kidnappers were arrested while others were killed.
The abduction turned attention to Nigeria’s lightly policed forest reserves and their use as a corridor and hiding area for armed groups.
“The thing to learn is that the forested areas of the country must be much better surveilled because that is where those armed groups operate and keep their victims,” said Joachim MacEbong, a senior analyst at global risk consultancy firm Control Risks.
Children described being bound and beaten
In interviews with the AP, the children and their parents spoke of horrid conditions in captivity. They said their captors left them in the open without shelter, exposing them to sun and rain.
Saheed’s eldest son, 9-year-old Shuaib, said he and his brothers tried to distract themselves by thinking about the comfort of home and their mother’s cooking. They were fed a basic meal of boiled rice and palm oil, he recalled.
“I could not say anything for fear of getting beaten,” he said. “They flogged us with a cane all over the body, and they hit me in the back with the butt of their gun.”
The militants beat the youngest children the worst and muffled their mouths with cloth so that their cries would not attract attention, Alamu Folawe, the head of one of the schools, told journalists.
Families said some children now have physical scars, and many are still recuperating psychologically.
Aduke Balogun’s daughter, 8-year-old Kehinde Kaosarat, was one of the last to be discharged from the hospital. She has not left her mother’s side since she returned home on Friday.
While in captivity, the girl said, she could not eat or sleep because “I kept imagining the worst things.”
Abducted siblings Jacob and Mary told their parents after their release that they didn’t want to return to school, said their father, Gabriel Sunday.
It’s a common concern after such kidnappings in a country that already has one of the world’s highest numbers of children out of school.
“Sending them back to the school does not sound meaningful to me right now,” said Saheed, the father of the three boys.
The spread to the south increases pressure on leaders
Tinubu, elected in 2023 after promising to end the country’s security woes, has come under growing pressure. The U.S. military is supporting Nigerian forces, though much of that is restricted to logistics and intelligence-gathering at the heart of the violence in the north.
Although Tinubu said the Ansaru militants’ network of informants was dismantled during the rescue operation, analysts say the drivers of insecurity, such as corruption and poor governance, remain. And Nigeria’s overstretched security forces are mostly absent in remote communities.
James Barnett, a research fellow with U.S.-based Hudson Institute who specializes in security in Africa, said Ansaru has been building networks in Nigeria’s southwest for many years.
Experts say an attack regarded as successful could inspire more.
Some residents now hesitate to return
Friday’s celebration of the children’s return drew the community of Christians and Muslims together for dancing and a meal to express their gratitude.
“We have all come here to thank God for protecting the children and their teachers and helping the military men who rescued them,” said Tajudeen Abioye, the village chief.
Many residents left the area after the attack but have started trickling back. Although security forces deployed following the mass abduction are still in the area, locals remain anxious, especially farmers whose farms are close to the forest reserve.
“The rescue of the Oriire abductees is wonderful news and should inspire some confidence in Nigeria’s ability to better manage these threats. But it is not the end of insecurity in the southwest or Nigeria as a whole,” Barnett said.
Friday, July 17, 2026
Nigeria brings home 1,490 citizens from South Africa after xenophobic attacks
Nigeria has completed the voluntary evacuation of 1,490 citizens from South Africa following a series of xenophobic attacks, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, with the latest flight bringing 305 returnees home from Johannesburg.
The government said the evacuation followed talks with South African authorities over security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Nigeria has condemned violence against its citizens in South Africa, including the deaths of at least two nationals allegedly assaulted by security officials.
Despite strong bilateral ties with South Africa, Nigeria's position remains clear: xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against its citizens are unacceptable, Kimiebi said.
By Tife Owolabi, Reuters
Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said a fifth evacuation flight carrying 305 returnees and two government officials arrived in Lagos on July 15.
The government said the evacuation followed talks with South African authorities over security concerns linked to xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Nigeria has condemned violence against its citizens in South Africa, including the deaths of at least two nationals allegedly assaulted by security officials.
Despite strong bilateral ties with South Africa, Nigeria's position remains clear: xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against its citizens are unacceptable, Kimiebi said.
Nigerians want cheaper petrol, but renewed Hormuz battle won’t make that happen
Nigerians hoping for a significant reduction in petrol prices may have to wait longer as renewed tensions in the Middle East gradually reverse the recent decline in global crude oil prices.
Crude prices rose this week after the US reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and President Donald Trump threatened a 20 per cent cargo charge on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The US, he believes, deserved to be “reimbursed” for being a “guardian of the strait” — one of his many bullish rhetorics retracted hours later.
Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, jumped to $87 per barrel on Wednesday, the first time it has traded at that level since June. The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also rose to $80 per barrel, while the stock market dipped significantly.
The renewed tension between the US and Iran is disrupting the relief many hoped the gradual return to pre-war oil prices would bring.
This comes amid growing pressure for the adjustment of petrol retail cost to reflect the decline in crude oil prices that followed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June between the US and Iran. In Nigeria, where the global crisis had compounded existing high energy costs and inflation, demand for a petrol price cut was high.
The week before the breakdown of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Nigerians had been questioning why the 40 per cent crude oil price decline had yet to translate to lower pump prices. Many Nigerians criticised the Dangote refinery, which supplies over half of locally consumed petrol, and petrol importers. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, in an official statement, warned against exploitative pricing and other anti-competitive practices in the deregulated downstream market, while declaring that it would not hesitate to impose sanctions on violators.
Authorities had also announced engagements with sector operators to placate the public. Then came Mr Trump’s statement that “the ceasefire is over”, which shot up oil prices by 5.2 per cent from $78 to $80, and the renewed strikes that sustained mobility.
Crude prices rose this week after the US reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports and President Donald Trump threatened a 20 per cent cargo charge on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The US, he believes, deserved to be “reimbursed” for being a “guardian of the strait” — one of his many bullish rhetorics retracted hours later.
Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, jumped to $87 per barrel on Wednesday, the first time it has traded at that level since June. The US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) also rose to $80 per barrel, while the stock market dipped significantly.
The renewed tension between the US and Iran is disrupting the relief many hoped the gradual return to pre-war oil prices would bring.
This comes amid growing pressure for the adjustment of petrol retail cost to reflect the decline in crude oil prices that followed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in June between the US and Iran. In Nigeria, where the global crisis had compounded existing high energy costs and inflation, demand for a petrol price cut was high.
The week before the breakdown of the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran, Nigerians had been questioning why the 40 per cent crude oil price decline had yet to translate to lower pump prices. Many Nigerians criticised the Dangote refinery, which supplies over half of locally consumed petrol, and petrol importers. The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, in an official statement, warned against exploitative pricing and other anti-competitive practices in the deregulated downstream market, while declaring that it would not hesitate to impose sanctions on violators.
Authorities had also announced engagements with sector operators to placate the public. Then came Mr Trump’s statement that “the ceasefire is over”, which shot up oil prices by 5.2 per cent from $78 to $80, and the renewed strikes that sustained mobility.
Fluctuation in prices
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the war had begun with Israel and the US launching an unprovoked attack on Tehran in the middle of negotiations.
The Trump administration initially justified the strikes by claiming Iran posed an imminent threat to US interests, but later shifted its public rationale to emphasise destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran, in response, targeted US military bases and closed down the Strait of Hormuz.
Dangote refinery petrol prices fluctuated significantly during the war. From a pre-war price of below N900 a litre, it moved from N1,075 per litre to 1,175 within the first week of March. By mid-March, it climbed to N1,245 per litre, and fell to N1,200 at the end of the month. The changes remained within this range throughout April before briefly peaking at N1350 in early May. After the MoU, the price fell to N1,175 per litre and then to N1,075 per litre in July.
Mirroring these changes, pump prices rose from about ₦ 870 pre-war to as high as ₦1500 in May. This paper reported that this increase made transportation less affordable in Nigeria, with many citizens abandoning their private cars for public buses and some others opting to walk to their destination.
When the tension eased and the MoU was signed, many Nigerians looked forward to a decline in petrol prices. However, prices remained above N1,000 in many parts of the country. This was despite the global crude oil price falling to about $73 per barrel, close to the pre-war price.
Analysts who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said retail prices did not reflect this change because petrol prices are determined not only by crude oil prices but also by exchange rates, shipping and insurance costs, refining margins, import costs, and local distribution expenses.
According to Razaq Fatai, a trade analyst and economist, businesses are typically quicker to increase prices when costs rise but slower to reduce them when prices fall because of the need for capital management.
Mr Fatai, who is head of Advisory and Research at Vestance, explained that many businesses in the oil and gas sector finance their inventory purchases through loans and other credit arrangements. So, when prices decline, they may be reluctant to immediately reduce selling prices because they still have existing stock purchased at higher costs and must meet repayment obligations.
“If businesses adjust prices too quickly, they may struggle with cash flow and may find it difficult to restock,” he said.
“Full adjustment in retail prices would occur gradually as businesses absorb previous costs and new, lower-priced supplies enter the market,” Demola Adigun, another energy expert, said.
But with the renewed strikes and the growing tensions around Hormuz worsening instability in the Gulf, Nigerians may have to wait even longer before they begin to see lower petrol prices to the pre-war level.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the war had begun with Israel and the US launching an unprovoked attack on Tehran in the middle of negotiations.
The Trump administration initially justified the strikes by claiming Iran posed an imminent threat to US interests, but later shifted its public rationale to emphasise destroying Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Iran, in response, targeted US military bases and closed down the Strait of Hormuz.
Dangote refinery petrol prices fluctuated significantly during the war. From a pre-war price of below N900 a litre, it moved from N1,075 per litre to 1,175 within the first week of March. By mid-March, it climbed to N1,245 per litre, and fell to N1,200 at the end of the month. The changes remained within this range throughout April before briefly peaking at N1350 in early May. After the MoU, the price fell to N1,175 per litre and then to N1,075 per litre in July.
Mirroring these changes, pump prices rose from about ₦ 870 pre-war to as high as ₦1500 in May. This paper reported that this increase made transportation less affordable in Nigeria, with many citizens abandoning their private cars for public buses and some others opting to walk to their destination.
When the tension eased and the MoU was signed, many Nigerians looked forward to a decline in petrol prices. However, prices remained above N1,000 in many parts of the country. This was despite the global crude oil price falling to about $73 per barrel, close to the pre-war price.
Analysts who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said retail prices did not reflect this change because petrol prices are determined not only by crude oil prices but also by exchange rates, shipping and insurance costs, refining margins, import costs, and local distribution expenses.
According to Razaq Fatai, a trade analyst and economist, businesses are typically quicker to increase prices when costs rise but slower to reduce them when prices fall because of the need for capital management.
Mr Fatai, who is head of Advisory and Research at Vestance, explained that many businesses in the oil and gas sector finance their inventory purchases through loans and other credit arrangements. So, when prices decline, they may be reluctant to immediately reduce selling prices because they still have existing stock purchased at higher costs and must meet repayment obligations.
“If businesses adjust prices too quickly, they may struggle with cash flow and may find it difficult to restock,” he said.
“Full adjustment in retail prices would occur gradually as businesses absorb previous costs and new, lower-priced supplies enter the market,” Demola Adigun, another energy expert, said.
But with the renewed strikes and the growing tensions around Hormuz worsening instability in the Gulf, Nigerians may have to wait even longer before they begin to see lower petrol prices to the pre-war level.
Oil prices are likely to remain high
Recently, Dangote refinery announced that it began pricing fuel products for the local market in US dollars.
The refinery attributed this to difficulties securing sufficient crude under the government’s naira-for-crude programme and rising global oil prices. Independent petroleum marketers are kicking against this due to its potential implications on the downstream sector.
This development, analysts tell PREMIUM TIMES, will increase the volatility in the downstream petroleum market, as fuel prices may become more exposed to movements in the foreign exchange market.
It could increase demand for dollars among petroleum marketers and further add pressure to the naira, making domestic fuel prices more sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations.
“Nigerians need to brace up for a long ride,” Mr Fatai said. “It is only temporary, but it might also take a while. We find ourselves in an unpredictable situation.”
He further noted that the impact of the renewed US-Iran strikes on fuel prices is likely to be minimal, unlike the first 70 days of the war.
Dan Kunle, an energy analyst, pointed out that Nigeria’s limited crude oil production capacity has made it vulnerable to sudden changes in the global market.
He said that Nigeria, despite being an oil-producing country, cannot meet domestic demand or take advantage of export opportunities, leaving its oil sector import-dependent.
“Nigeria is a developing country that lacks adequate infrastructure and does not possess a comparative or competitive advantage in the hydrocarbon sector.
“This is why Nigerians will struggle to get a stable oil price,” he said.
To address this, he noted, Nigerians must invest in technical capacity, financial strength, and the robust infrastructure required to compete.
Recently, Dangote refinery announced that it began pricing fuel products for the local market in US dollars.
The refinery attributed this to difficulties securing sufficient crude under the government’s naira-for-crude programme and rising global oil prices. Independent petroleum marketers are kicking against this due to its potential implications on the downstream sector.
This development, analysts tell PREMIUM TIMES, will increase the volatility in the downstream petroleum market, as fuel prices may become more exposed to movements in the foreign exchange market.
It could increase demand for dollars among petroleum marketers and further add pressure to the naira, making domestic fuel prices more sensitive to exchange rate fluctuations.
“Nigerians need to brace up for a long ride,” Mr Fatai said. “It is only temporary, but it might also take a while. We find ourselves in an unpredictable situation.”
He further noted that the impact of the renewed US-Iran strikes on fuel prices is likely to be minimal, unlike the first 70 days of the war.
Dan Kunle, an energy analyst, pointed out that Nigeria’s limited crude oil production capacity has made it vulnerable to sudden changes in the global market.
He said that Nigeria, despite being an oil-producing country, cannot meet domestic demand or take advantage of export opportunities, leaving its oil sector import-dependent.
“Nigeria is a developing country that lacks adequate infrastructure and does not possess a comparative or competitive advantage in the hydrocarbon sector.
“This is why Nigerians will struggle to get a stable oil price,” he said.
To address this, he noted, Nigerians must invest in technical capacity, financial strength, and the robust infrastructure required to compete.
By Beloved John, Premium Times
Nigeria launches $552 million education drive backed by World Bank
Nigeria has launched a $552 million basic education programme co-financed by the World Bank and the Global Partnership for Education, President Bola Tinubu said on Thursday, to improve learning outcomes, widen access to schooling and strengthen the education system.
The HOPE-EDU programme will directly benefit about 29 million children, more than 500,000 teachers, 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres nationwide, Tinubu said at the launch in Abuja.
The programme is one of five initiatives in place to speed up poverty reduction, human capital development, community growth, and strengthen healthcare.
"These programmes are not separate efforts; they are one coordinated national strategy for poverty reduction, human capital development and community resilience," Tinubu said.
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in January, has pursued Nigeria's biggest economic reforms in decades since taking office in 2023, scrapping costly fuel and electricity subsidies, devaluing the naira and overhauling the tax system to bolster public finances.
He said the initiatives would translate recent economic reforms into tangible gains in livelihoods, education, healthcare and social protection.
By Camillus Eboh, Reuters
The HOPE-EDU programme will directly benefit about 29 million children, more than 500,000 teachers, 65,000 public schools and 10,000 non-formal learning centres nationwide, Tinubu said at the launch in Abuja.
The programme is one of five initiatives in place to speed up poverty reduction, human capital development, community growth, and strengthen healthcare.
"These programmes are not separate efforts; they are one coordinated national strategy for poverty reduction, human capital development and community resilience," Tinubu said.
Tinubu, who is seeking re-election in January, has pursued Nigeria's biggest economic reforms in decades since taking office in 2023, scrapping costly fuel and electricity subsidies, devaluing the naira and overhauling the tax system to bolster public finances.
He said the initiatives would translate recent economic reforms into tangible gains in livelihoods, education, healthcare and social protection.
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