Author: starconnect
By our man at the Hill Dickinson Stadium THE NEW era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium has officially hit its first major roadblock. Everton’s shiny new £750million home on the Mersey was supposed to be a fortress, but yesterday it looked more like a bouncy castle as Igor Thiago and his Brentford Bees swarmed all over David Moyes’ shell-shocked Toffees. Despite the 52,000-strong “Blue Army” turning the docks into a cauldron of noise, the atmosphere soured faster than a pint of milk in the sun as the visitors walked away with a chaotic 4-2 victory. It was the…
Admin I Monday, January 2026 LAGOS, Nigeria – In the spirit of the festive season, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive community support through a charitable outreach to Oluyole Cheshire Home, Ibadan. The visit, carried out through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), provided food items and essential supplies to children living with disabilities at the home. Speaking at the outreach, the Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Meksley Nwagboh, emphasized that the exercise was not just an act of seasonal giving but part of the…
Admin I Monday, January 04.26 LAGOS – InterswitchSPAK, the flagship national science competition powered by Interswitch, the leading African technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities prosper, has announced the 27 outstanding students advancing to the semi-finals of its 7th edition. In a resounding showcase of academic brilliance and nationwide talent, the competition continues to inspire young innovators across Nigeria, equipping them with the skills and confidence to tackle real-world challenges. More than a contest, InterswitchSPAK has become a launchpad for future innovators, fostering problem-solving, critical thinking, and the confidence needed to tackle real-world challenges in…
Admin I Monday, Jan.04.26 LAGOS — Nigeria’s private sector maintained its expansionary momentum through the end of 2025, buoyed by resilient consumer demand and a sharp uptick in business optimism, according to the latest Stanbic IBTC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data. The headline PMI registered 53.5 in December, a marginal dip from 53.6 in November but firmly above the 50.0 threshold that separates growth from contraction. The reading marks the thirteenth consecutive month of improving business conditions, capping a year of steady recovery for Africa’s largest economy. The expansion was underpinned by a “marked” increase in new orders, which…
By our man at Old Trafford THE THEATRE OF DREAMS was back to its spine-tingling best yesterday as Manchester United systematically dismantled a stubborn Crystal Palace to keep their top-four charge firmly on track. Under the iconic floodlights of Old Trafford, the Red Devils proved they are still the kings of their own castle, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory that left the visiting South Londoners gasping for air in the relentless Manchester rain. From the first whistle, the historic turf of M16 felt like a fortress, with the Stretford End providing a wall of noise that seemed to…
BY OUR MAN IN RABAT THE heat of the Moroccan sun was nothing compared to the white-hot atmosphere at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions clawed their way into the AFCON quarter-finals. On a night where the recently built 14,000-capacity gem in the heart of Morocco’s capital became a cauldron of noise, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana saw their continental dreams turn to dust in a 2-1 defeat. The venue, a state-of-the-art masterpiece constructed specifically for this tournament, was draped in the green, red, and yellow of Cameroon. The London-born Junior Tchamadeu—currently plyed his trade at…
By our man in Rabat RABAT, Morocco — THE Atlas Lions turned the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium into a shimmering sea of red and green as they marched into the AFCON quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tanzania. In the heart of Rabat, under the deafening roar of nearly 70,000 fanatical supporters, the hosts proved that their fortress is nearly impenetrable. The newly renovated stadium, just seven kilometres from the city centre, provided a world-class backdrop for a night that felt more like a coronation than a Round of 16 clash. Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz was the…
The NDDC Executive Director Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye (2nd left) Inspecting the land reclamation project in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Areas of Rivers State. With him are his SA Special Duties, Alabo Ibiso Iyama (2nd right); SA Youth to the NDDC MD and Mr.Matthew Dango, (3rd right) Admin I Sunday, January 04.26 OKRIKA, Rivers – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has stated its commitment to completing the sand-filling and reclamation project in Okochiri, Okrika Local Government Area, and the 4.5-kilometre Nonwa-Uedeme-Ogu Road linking Tai and Ogu-Bolo Local Government Areas of Rivers State. Speaking during…
By abiodun KOMOLAFE I Sunday, Jan. 04.26 “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth.” IJEBU-JESA, Osun – We start with the well-known first stanza of Robert Frost’s iconic poem, ‘The Road Not Taken.’ With 2026 already upon us, Nigeria itself stands at a crossroads, contemplating which path it must take in transitioning into full nationhood and its accompanying national ethos. Perhaps we should take the road…
BY OUR MAN AT THE VITALITY MIKEL ARTETA’S title-chasers survived a coastal cocktail of errors and screamers to escape the Vitality Stadium with their heads—and their lead—intact. On a freezing night where the North Sea wind whipped through the open corners of Bournemouth’s compact home, it was Declan Rice who provided the heat. The England talisman bagged a rare brace to ensure the Gunners didn’t slip up on the South Coast banana skin that has claimed so many big scalps. The Vitality is never a place for the faint-hearted, and the 11,000 packed into the league’s smallest…
