The committee is expected to consider memoranda submitted by stakeholders before presenting its report to the Senate for further legislative action.
Entertainment
Senate Pushes Bill For Facebook, TikTok Offices In Nigeria
The Senate on Thursday advanced legislative efforts to compel global social media companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country, as stakeholders overwhelmingly backed the proposal during a public hearing in Abuja.
The public hearing, organised by the Senate Committee on Information and Communications Technology and Cyber Security, also received broad support for a separate bill seeking to establish an ArtifiThe Senate on Thursday advanced legislative efforts to compel global social media companies operating in Nigeria to establish physical offices in the country, as stakeholders overwhelmingly backed the proposal during a public hearing in Abuja.cial Intelligence Academy in Omuo-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The proposed legislation on social media platforms, sponsored by Ned Nwoko (Delta North), seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to mandate social media companies operating in Nigeria to maintain physical offices within the country’s territorial boundaries.
The AI Academy bill is sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Yemi Adaramodu (Ekiti South).
Declaring the hearing open, Chairman of the Senate Committee on ICT and Cyber Security, Shuaib Salisu (Ogun Central), said the two bills were aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s digital economy and technological advancement.
According to him, while the social media bill seeks to improve the regulation and protection of Nigeria’s cyberspace, the proposed AI Academy is intended to serve as a centre of excellence for artificial intelligence education, research and innovation.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Deputy Senate Leader, Lola Ashiru (Kwara South), described both proposals as forward-looking and nationally significant.
Akpabio said the bill requiring social media companies to establish physical offices in Nigeria was not intended to stifle their operations but to promote greater accountability and engagement with the country.
Also defending the bill, Nwoko dismissed concerns that the legislation could discourage investment or target technology companies.
He said, “This Bill is neither punitive nor hostile to innovation. It is not designed to frustrate investment or discourage technology companies from operating in Nigeria.
“On the contrary, it seeks to deepen their engagement with Nigeria by encouraging them to become true corporate citizens of our country.”
The lawmaker argued that many countries with smaller populations and digital markets than Nigeria had successfully attracted global technology firms to establish local operations.
“Around the world, major technology companies have established headquarters, regional offices, engineering centres and operational hubs in countries such as the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, and Japan,” he said.
Nwoko dismissed concerns that the proposed legislation was aimed at targeting or discouraging global technology companies, insisting that it was intended to strengthen their presence and engagement in Nigeria.
He said many countries, including the United Kingdom, India, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa and Brazil, had attracted global technology firms to establish local offices that support engineering, artificial intelligence research, regulatory compliance, customer support and other operations.
“These offices perform diverse functions ranging from engineering and artificial intelligence research to legal and regulatory compliance, public policy, advertising, trust and safety, cloud services, sales, customer support and product development.
“These countries did not attract such investments by accident. They recognised early that the digital economy is now as important as the traditional economy.
“By encouraging global technology companies to establish local operations, they have created employment, expanded tax revenues, strengthened regulatory engagement, promoted innovation and encouraged technology transfer to their citizens,” he stated.
Citing Ireland as an example, Nwoko said the presence of companies such as Meta, Google, LinkedIn, TikTok and X had transformed the country into one of Europe’s leading technology hubs through job creation, innovation and increased foreign investment.
He argued that Nigeria, as Africa’s largest digital market, should enjoy similar economic and technological benefits.
“The question therefore is simple: if countries with significantly smaller populations and digital markets than Nigeria have secured these investments and benefits, why should Nigeria continue to stand on the sidelines? Why should Africa’s largest digital market not enjoy the same opportunities?”
Daily Voice reports that the Convener of the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA), Pelumi Olajengbesi, announced the singer’s death in a post via his Instagram page on Wednesday.
While praying for God’s mercy upon Toluwanisings, Olajengbesi expressed concern over the death of young Nigerians.
The family of the deceased also confirmed the demise in a statement via the singer’s Instagram page after confusion trailed the death.
In a post shared on his Instagram handle, Oloketuyi said Toluwanisings slumped on the stairs and was rushed from one hospital to another.
According to him, Toluwanisings was rejected in two hospitals before the third medical facility, which accepted him, confirmed the singer dead.
While describing the death as too painful, Oloketuyi wrote, “How Toluwasings died. DEATH SHAME ON YOU: You slumped on the stairs, and they began rushing you from one hospital to another. The first hospital rejected you, the second hospital rejected you, and by the time you got to the third hospital, they said you were gone.
“This is too painful to believe. A gospel musician whose voice once blessed souls, gone just like that?
“Death, why are you so cruel?
“Rest in peace, Toluwanisings. Your voice may be silent here on earth, but the songs you left behind will continue to speak.”
Afrobeats star Oyinkansola Sarah Aderibigbe, better known as Ayra Starr, has announced a 20-city world tour to support her third studio album, Starrgirl.
The Starrgirl World Tour is scheduled to begin in Europe in January 2027, with stops across Europe, the United Kingdom, and North America.
Ayra announced that the tour will open on January 20 at Live Music Hall in Cologne, Germany. It will then move through Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Zurich and Brussels before closing the European leg in London on February 2 at Shepherd’s Bush Empire.
The North American leg will commence on March 18 at House of Blues in Houston, Texas, with additional performances in Dallas, Atlanta, Silver Spring, Boston, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Toronto, Montreal, Chicago, Minneapolis and Denver.
The tour will round off on April 14 at The Fillmore in San Francisco, California.
Before the international dates, she is expected to perform in Africa in December 2026, though dates and venues for that leg are yet to be disclosed.
The announcement comes a day after her appearance at the National Football League International Game in London on Sunday, October 11, where she headlined the halftime show during the Philadelphia Eagles versus Jacksonville Jaguars match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The performance added to her growing list of international milestones, following the global success of her music and outings at major global events.
Starrgirl, released on August 14, 2026, through Mavin Records and Republic Records, features collaborations with British singer ZAYN, American singer Leon Thomas and Nigerian singer Wizkid. NigerianCulture Magazine
The album includes Heaven Baby with ZAYN, which reached number two on the Official Afrobeats Chart, according to the Official Charts Company.
Starr, known for breakout hits like Rush, Bloody Samaritan and Commas, has continued to expand her reach beyond Africa through streaming, international shows and cross-border collaborations.
According to her Instagram Story post, tickets for the European and UK dates will be available through artist and Mastercard presales starting October 14, with general sales opening October 16 at 10 am local time via Live Nation.
Sharon Ademefun (née Adeleke), the sister of popular Nigerian singer Davido, has said she no longer spends excessively on expensive clothes.
She said some things are worth the cost, but others are hard to justify.
Daily Voice reports that Ademefun shared her reservations during an interview on The Fashion Round Table podcast.
“I don’t really believe in buying expensive clothes, me personally. I believe that there are some things that are worth it. When I’m hearing that a wedding guest dress is $10,000, a wedding guest dress, they’re all the same price now,” she said.
Sharon also opened up about her wedding expenses, revealing that her husband paid $2,000 for her wedding dress, while she covered the cost of dresses for her 13 bridesmaids and an additional four or five hostesses.
“I remember for my wedding, my husband paid $2,000 for my dress, and I paid for all my bridesmaids’ dresses. I had 13 bridesmaids, and I paid for the hostesses’ dresses too. That was an additional four or five people. Altogether, I spent less than $10,000 on everything. But that comes back to where I went. I just feel like there are certain things that I’m not willing to pay for anymore. So I don’t believe in overly expensive clothes. I’m turning 40 next year, and I’ve made an executive decision- unfortunately, I’m sorry to say this- that I will not be participating with any Nigerian designer directly,” she said.
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