Belgium Moves to Digitise Congo-Era Geological Archives Amid Global Demand for Critical Minerals Belgium has begun efforts to open public access to a vast collection of geological records from the colonial era in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as global competition intensifies for critical minerals essential to modern technology and industry. The extensive archive, housed at the AfricaMuseum in Tervuren near Brussels, contains nearly 500 metres of documents, including geological surveys, maps, field reports, and mining records dating back decades. The museum has announced plans to digitise the collection and make it publicly accessible within the next five years. According to museum geologist François Kervyn, who is leading the project, the archive contains invaluable scientific information gathered through years of fieldwork conducted across largely unexplored regions of Congo during the colonial period. The records include geological studies carried out by Belgian ...

  11 Kidnap Victims Escape After Abductors Fall Asleep in Edo Forest Poet of Afrique Reporter Eleven persons abducted by suspected kidnappers in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have regained their freedom after reportedly escaping from captivity when their captors fell asleep in the forest. One of the victims, Braimah Destiny , who spoke on behalf of the group at the Edo State Police Command Headquarters in Benin City, narrated that he was returning from his farm when he encountered six armed men wielding guns and machetes. According to him, the kidnappers abducted him alongside 10 other victims and marched them deep into the forest. “I was coming from the farm when I met six armed men. They also captured other people, making us 11 victims in total. They moved us from one bush to another throughout the night. We heard gunshots from security operatives while they were taking us away,” he said. Braimah explained that after trekking for several hours, the kidnappe...

  West Africa Reels From Deadly Floods as Death Toll Rises By Poet of Afrique News Several West African countries are battling devastating floods following days of torrential rainfall that have claimed dozens of lives, displaced residents and caused widespread destruction of homes, roads and businesses. The affected countries include Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Benin, Togo and Nigeria, where authorities continue emergency response efforts amid fears of further rainfall. In Ghana, at least 13 people have been confirmed dead after heavy downpours submerged large sections of the capital, Accra. Rescue teams and residents worked tirelessly to save stranded victims as floodwaters swept through major roads and residential communities. According to meteorological reports, Ghana recorded more than 140 millimetres of rainfall within 24 hours, one of the highest daily rainfall volumes experienced by the country since 1995. Reacting to the disaster, President John Mahama ordered the demolitio...

  FUDECO Mobilizes Fulani Communities for PVC Registration in ilorin,Kwara State. Poet of Afrique Reporter The Fulbe Development and Cultural Organization (FUDECO), Kwara State Chapter, has intensified efforts to promote civic participation among Fulani communities through a grassroots mobilization campaign for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). According to the Chairman of FUDECO in Kwara State, Hon. Saliu Umar Sanda , the organization successfully mobilized Fulani men and women across various communities in Ilorin West Local Government Area between Wednesday and Thursday, facilitating their participation in the voter registration exercise. He explained that the initiative involved sensitizing community members on the importance of voter registration and guiding prospective registrants through the pre-registration process up to the successful completion of their Permanent Voter Card ...

  Brentford Reward Michael Kayode with Long-Term Contract Extension Poet of Afrique Reporter Premier League side Brentford FC have secured the future of highly rated defender Michael Kayode after agreeing a new long-term contract that will keep him at the club until 2032. The club confirmed the development on Friday, announcing that the Italy Under-21 international has signed a deal running until the summer of 2032, with an option for a further one-year extension. Kayode joined Brentford from Italian club Fiorentina on an initial loan deal in January 2025 before completing a permanent transfer following a series of impressive performances. Since arriving in England, the 21-year-old full-back has established himself as a key member of the squad, making 56 appearances across all competitions and contributing significantly to Brentford’s successful 2025/26 campaign, which ended with a ninth-place finish in the Premier League. His outstanding performances also earned him a nom...

  NMCN Urges Newly Inducted Nurses to Uphold Compassion, Professional Excellence Poet of Afrique Reporter The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has charged newly inducted nurses to remain committed to quality healthcare delivery, compassion, and the welfare of patients as they begin their professional careers. The Registrar of the Council, Ndagi Alhassan , gave the charge during the induction ceremony of 92 nursing graduates of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) . Represented by Aliu Adamu , the Registrar described the occasion as a significant milestone in the lives of the graduates and urged them to uphold the ethical standards of the nursing profession. He emphasized the importance of dedication, compassion, and professionalism in providing quality healthcare services, noting that nurses play a critical role in promoting the well-being of individuals and communities. Alhassan also commended the founder of ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) , for his contr...

  Okonkwo Backs Amaechi’s Emergence as ADC Running Mate, Clarifies Position on South-East Representation Poet of Afrique Reporter The spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar , Mr. Kenneth Okonkwo , has dismissed reports suggesting that he opposed the emergence of former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi , as the party’s vice-presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Okonkwo stated that he fully supports the party’s decision, stressing that Amaechi’s nomination reflects the collective choice of the party and its leadership. According to him, his earlier comments advocating a vice-presidential candidate from the South-East were based on considerations of geopolitical balance rather than opposition to any individual. He explained that the provisions of the Electoral Act influenced the pool of eligible candidates available for consideration, noting that some preferred South-East contenders were not qualifie...

  WHO Begins Trial of Experimental Ebola Treatments in DR Congo Poet of Afrique Reporter The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the commencement of a clinical trial for two potential treatments targeting the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus currently responsible for an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The trial, which began on Thursday, will evaluate the effectiveness of Remdesivir and MBP134 in treating patients infected with the virus. According to WHO officials, the study is expected to run for several months and may extend into next year before conclusive results are obtained. Health experts disclosed that sufficient quantities of both treatment options have already been secured to accommodate up to 1,200 participants in the trial. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that ensuring access to any treatment proven to be safe and effective remains a top priority for the organization. Although there are currently ...

  FG Evacuates 268 Nigerians from South Africa as Repatriation Exercise Continues Poet of Afrique Reporter The Federal Government has successfully evacuated another batch of Nigerians from South Africa following renewed anti-migrant violence and xenophobic attacks in parts of the country. A total of 268 Nigerian returnees arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Peace charter flight as part of the government's ongoing efforts to assist citizens affected by the unrest. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu , disclosed that the flight transported the returnees alongside two officials and crew members from Johannesburg to Lagos. According to the minister, the evacuation flight departed Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg in the early hours of Friday and was fully funded by the Federal Government. Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that the evacuation exercise sh...

  Asiwaju Moshood Shittu Completes INEC Nomination Process for Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun Reps Race Poet of Afrique Reporter The candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Offa/Oyun/Ifelodun Federal Constituency, Asiwaju Moshood Shittu (AMS) , has officially completed and submitted his nomination form to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), signaling his preparedness for the 2027 general elections. Shittu, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Kwankwaso National Network (KNN), described the submission as a significant milestone in his quest to represent the people of Offa, Oyun, and Ifelodun Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives. Speaking shortly after the completion of the nomination process, the NDC flag bearer expressed optimism about the journey ahead, declaring that his campaign had formally commenced. According to him, the successful submission of the nomination form marks the beginning of a renewed commitment to engag...

  Ekiti, Oke-Ero Monarchs Demand Fairness Over APC Reps Ticket Allocation, Seek Party Intervention Po et of Afrique Reporter Traditional rulers from Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas of Kwara State have expressed opposition to the reported nomination of Hon. Olawuyi Raheem Tunji as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Irepodun/Isin Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general election. Speaking at a press conference held on Thursday at the Ekiti Local Government Traditional Council Secretariat in Osi, the monarchs described the development as inconsistent with the principles of fairness, equity, and the outcome of the party’s primary election. The position of the royal fathers was presented by the Owalobo of Obbo-Ile, Oba Rufus Adebayo Olusegun, on behalf of the Joint Traditional Councils of Ekiti and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas. According to the monarchs, political representation within the federal constituency has, since the return ...