By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate fell to 15.43 per cent in July 2026, down from 15.91 per cent recorded in June, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The July figure also represents a significant decline from the 24.

94 per cent recorded in July 2025, following the recent rebasing of the CPI to a 2024 base year and a 2023 weight reference period. The NBS said the CPI rose to 145.3 points in July, representing a 2.2-point increase from the preceding month.

On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation stood at 1.

57 per cent in July, 0.09 percentage points lower than the 1.66 per cent recorded in June.

Despite the moderation in headline inflation, food prices continued to exert significant pressure on households, with food inflation rising to 20.31 per cent year-on-year in July, although lower than the 26.20 per cent recorded in July 2025.

More concerning was the month-on-month movement in food prices. Food inflation rose to 5.56 per cent in July from 3.75 per cent in June, representing an increase of 1.82 percentage points.

The NBS attributed the increase to changes in the average prices of several food items, including crayfish, fresh pepper, onions, carrots, rice, water yam, tomatoes, garri, plantain, beef, eggs, guinea corn, ginger and plantain flour.

The NBS attributed the increase to changes in the average prices of several food items, including crayfish, fresh pepper, onions, carrots, rice, water yam, tomatoes, garri, plantain, beef, eggs, guinea corn, ginger and plantain flour.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the largest contributor to headline inflation at 6.18 per cent, followed by restaurants and accommodation services at 1.99 per cent and transport at 1.64 per cent.

By contrast, recreation, sport and culture contributed 0.05 per cent, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics 0.06 per cent, while insurance and financial services contributed 0.07 per cent.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural produce and energy prices, stood at 14.97 per cent year-on-year in July, while the month-on-month rate fell sharply to 0.15 per cent from 1.66 per cent in June.

Nigeria’s headline inflation rate fell to 15.43 per cent in July 2026, down from 15.91 per cent recorded in June, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

The July figure also represents a significant decline from the 24.94 per cent recorded in July 2025, following the recent rebasing of the CPI to a 2024 base year and a 2023 weight reference period. The NBS said the CPI rose to 145.3 points in July, representing a 2.2-point increase from the preceding month.

On a month-on-month basis, headline inflation stood at 1.57 per cent in July, 0.09 percentage points lower than the 1.66 per cent recorded in June.

Despite the moderation in headline inflation, food prices continued to exert significant pressure on households, with food inflation rising to 20.31 per cent year-on-year in July, although lower than the 26.20 per cent recorded in July 2025.

More concerning was the month-on-month movement in food prices. Food inflation rose to 5.56 per cent in July from 3.75 per cent in June, representing an increase of 1.82 percentage points.

The NBS attributed the increase to changes in the average prices of several food items, including crayfish, fresh pepper, onions, carrots, rice, water yam, tomatoes, garri, plantain, beef, eggs, guinea corn, ginger and plantain flour.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the largest contributor to headline inflation at 6.18 per cent, followed by restaurants and accommodation services at 1.99 per cent and transport at 1.64 per cent.

By contrast, recreation, sport and culture contributed 0.05 per cent, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics 0.06 per cent, while insurance and financial services contributed 0.07 per cent.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile agricultural produce and energy prices, stood at 14.97 per cent year-on-year in July, while the month-on-month rate fell sharply to 0.15 per cent from 1.66 per cent in June.

The newly introduced CPI sub-indices showed that farm produce recorded a monthly inflation rate of 4.66 per cent in July, while energy prices declined by 2.39 per cent. Services recorded 0.49 per cent, goods 1.70 per cent and imported food 1.19 per cent.

On a year-on-year basis, farm produce recorded 19.62 per cent inflation, energy 4.40 per cent, services 16 per cent, goods 15.33 per cent and imported food 13.24 per cent.

The data also showed significant disparities between urban and rural areas. Urban inflation stood at 16.12 per cent year-on-year in July, compared with 13.77 per cent in rural areas.

Month-on-month urban inflation declined to 1.90 per cent from 2.13 per cent in June, while rural inflation increased to 0.78 per cent from 0.52 per cent.

At the state level, Adamawa recorded the highest year-on-year all-items inflation at 33.03 per cent, followed by Yobe at 25.21 per cent and Anambra at 23.99 per cent. Nasarawa recorded the lowest year-on-year headline inflation at 7.86 per cent, followed by Kebbi and Borno, both at 9.12 per cent.

By Julius Tambaya, Abuja

Igbinedion University, Okada, one of Nigeria’s leading private universities, has entered into a strategic partnership with EduTech Global to accelerate its digital learning ambitions, expand access to its academic programmes to students in the country.

Through the partnership, EduTech will provide digital learning infrastructure and technology support for the University’s Distance Learning Centre (DLC), thereby enabling learners to access quality university education beyond the conventional campus environment.

The partnership reflects Igbinedion University’s ambition to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving higher education landscape by combining its academic heritage with technology, innovation and new models of learning that contribute to national workforce development.

Speaking on the partnership, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, said the collaboration represented a significant step in the university’s ambition to produce graduates equipped for national and global impact.

He said: “At Igbinedion University, our mandate has always been to lead in producing graduates equipped for national and global impact. This partnership with EduTech Global represents a bold step into the future of higher education in Nigeria.

“By expanding our digital learning infrastructure, we are not just breaking down geographical barriers; we are actively contributing to national workforce development by ensuring that quality, industry-aligned education is accessible to every driven learner, regardless of location.”

In his remarks, Director, Igbinedion University Distance Learning Centre, Prof. Gideon Bawa, said the university was motivated by the opportunity to transform its existing processes, which hitherto were being handled manually, and build a more efficient and scalable distance learning model.

The Director clarified: “The growth recorded by institutions that have leveraged EduTech’s technology and expertise was a major factor in our decision to engage the company. We are confident that this partnership will position Igbinedion University to achieve significant growth in enrolment while strengthening the quality and efficiency of our Distance Learning Centre.”

“With this partnership, we expect to move most of our administrative and academic activities online through EduTech. This will improve efficiency, enhance the learner experience and allow our facilitators and students to engage more effectively through a connected digital learning environment”, Bawa added.

Commenting on the collaboration, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, EduTech Global, Femi Shonubi, pointed out that technology had been redefining the boundaries of what a university can offer, adding that EduTech’s role extends beyond putting courses online.

Shonubi expatiated: “Technology’s true value lies in its ability to drive tangible socio-economic impact through education. By dismantling physical boundaries, we are empowering institutions like Igbinedion University to democratise access to high-quality learning. This is about more than online courses; it is about developing a resilient, highly skilled workforce at scale to meet the demands of the modern economy.

“We are helping institutions build connected learning ecosystems that support the student journey from application and enrolment through learning, assessment and graduation. Igbinedion University’s ambition to lead in innovative education aligns strongly with what we are building at EduTech.”

General Manager, Edutech Global, Moyosore Asubiojo said the partnership arises as demand grows for flexible higher education among working professionals, entrepreneurs and learners seeking alternatives to traditional full-time campus education.

She asserted that by combining Igbinedion University’s academic competence with EduTech’s technology capabilities, the collaboration will create new pathways to quality education and workforce development while enabling the University to expand beyond its traditional geographical footprint.

Analysts believe that the partnership between the university and the tech company represents a shared commitment to making higher education more accessible, flexible and scalable, while positioning the university to compete and lead in the next generation of technology-enabled education in Nigeria and globally.

By David Torough, Abuja

The Federal Government has announced the arrival of another batch of 83 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, amid renewed concerns over Afrophobic attacks, xenophobia and anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Monday and signed by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the Nigerians will depart O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at 3:35pm local time aboard South African Airways and are expected to land in Lagos at about 8:45pm the same day.

The ministry said the latest evacuation was made possible through the intervention and sponsorship of air tickets by public-spirited private individuals.

It expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation to the sponsors, describing their intervention as a significant demonstration of patriotism and solidarity with Nigerians facing difficulties abroad.

The latest development comes after the conclusion of the government’s voluntary repatriation programme, through which nearly 1,490 Nigerians were repatriated from South Africa amid concerns over attacks, discrimination and hostility towards foreigners.

The ministry said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, remained committed to protecting the welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerians both at home and abroad.

It said the government’s Citizen Diplomacy agenda considers Nigerians in the diaspora “not as a burden, but as critical assets for national development,” stressing that their protection and well-being remained a priority.

The ministry also commended the private individuals and philanthropists who supported the latest evacuation, describing their intervention as an example of the “whole-of-society approach” being promoted by the government.

“The Ministry commends their patriotism and selflessness, which have significantly alleviated the plight of our compatriots in South Africa,” the statement said.

The Federal Government called on the organised private sector, corporate organisations, state governments and other well-meaning Nigerians at home and abroad to emulate the initiative and support efforts to respond to consular emergencies.

The ministry further disclosed that the government would continue to strengthen diplomatic engagement with South Africa to address the root causes of Afrophobia and prevent attacks and discrimination against Nigerians.

It said Nigeria would deepen strategic partnerships with host countries, including South Africa, to ensure that acts of violence and discrimination against Nigerians are prevented, condemned and, where they occur, met with appropriate accountability for perpetrators.

The ministry urged broader collaboration between government, the private sector and other stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to protect its citizens abroad and respond swiftly to emergencies affecting them.