Otedola's 4 Billion Gift: A Fresh Look at Giving Back in Nigeria

Nigerian billionaire entrepreneur Femi Otedola has given 4 billion naira to Augustine University for a new Electrical and Electronics Engineering Block. Femi Otedola stated, "As Chancellor of Augustine University, I am honored to announce my donation of #4 billion for the new Electrical and Electronics Engineering block. This is the second phase of the Dame Doja Otedola Faculty of Engineering, honoring my dear mother and the transformative power of education. Nigeria's future relies on the talent of its youth, and we must keep investing in the institutions that nurture them," he said. Although Femi Otedola did not attend university himself, he is committed to enhancing higher education in Nigeria. He is a philanthropist, especially in the education sector.

A few years ago, he made significant donations to students at the same university. For any society to be free, a solid education system must be established. Education is crucial, and everyone should have access to quality education.

Otedola made his first billion in the oil and gas sector. He founded Zenon Petroleum. He later acquired and renamed African Petroleum to Forte Oil, creating a vast network of gas stations. Other investments: Banking: He holds significant shares in major banks like Zenith Bank and FBN Holdings, and he recently bought a large stake in FBN Holdings. Real estate: He owns properties in cities including Lagos, Abuja, Dubai, London, and Monaco. He recently released his first memoir, where he discussed his business journey and family life. His autobiography is a bestseller on Amazon.

“If you think education is costly, try ignorance." Photo credits to Femi Otedola's Instagram page.

First Individual to Reach $500 Billion: Elon Musk's Financial Journey

Elon Musk is the first person ever to reach a net worth of 500 billion dollars.

Musk has achieved an incredible milestone, with his wealth briefly hitting $500 billion, making him the first individual in history to reach the half-trillion dollar mark. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, who also owns the social media platform X and the AI startup xAI, saw his wealth increase as Tesla's stock rose about 14% this year, bringing his net worth to $499.1 billion after a short peak at $500 billion. The increase in Musk's wealth is mainly due to Tesla's strong market recovery. The company's shares started the year at $427.90 but fell to $220.67 during controversies surrounding Musk's short involvement in Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), before sharply rebounding. At the same time, the tech industry continues to progress around him.

A competing company, Science Corporation, recently revealed a breakthrough in neurotechnology, creating an eye chip that can restore vision through a brain-computer interface known as PRIMA. This technology, tested in a clinical trial with 38 participants at 17 locations worldwide, including London's Moorfields Eye Hospital, allowed 84% of patients to see a significant improvement in their vision after 12 months. As Musk's financial empire expands through Tesla...

He also started The Boring Company, which merges fast, cost-effective tunneling technology with an all-electric public transport system to reduce severe urban congestion and facilitate high-speed, long-distance travel. The Boring Company has constructed a 1.15-mile research and development tunnel in Hawthorne and is currently building the Vegas Loop, a public transport system at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Previously, Elon co-founded and sold PayPal, the leading internet payment system, and Zip2, one of the first online mapping and direction services.

Photos Credit: Elonofficial Instagram

The Story Behind Professor Wole Soyinka's US Visa Revocation

The US government has permanently revoked the visa of Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka. According to Leadership, Soyinka revealed this during a media event in Lagos on Tuesday, October 28. He mentioned that he received the visa revocation letter last Thursday, October 23, and felt as though he was being targeted due to his opposition to the policies of US President Donald Trump.

It is worth noting that in December 2016, the famous author, poet, and playwright destroyed his Green Card following Trump's election victory for his first term. At the media event held at Freedom Park, Lagos, themed ‘Unending Saga: Idi Amin In Whiteface!’, Soyinka, who currently lives in Nigeria, read the letter from the US Consulate in Lagos.

The letter states: "Dear Mr. Soyinka, this letter serves as official notification from the United States Consulate that the non-immigrant visa listed below has been revoked in accordance with the Department of State Regulations 22 CFR 41.122 and is no longer valid for entry into the United States. Additional information became available after the visa was issued. This revocation applies only to the visa listed below. Name of visa holder: SOYINKA, WOLE • Date and place of birth: 13-JUL-1934, NIGERIA • Visa classification(symbol): B1/B2 • Date and place of visa issuance: 02-APR-2024, Lagos," the letter partially read.

He expressed that he holds no resentment regarding this situation and will continue to welcome Americans to his home in Abeokuta, Ogun State, as he has no issues with the people or the country. He also stated that, as a global citizen, he will persist in speaking out against racism and what he perceives as wrong in government policies, including those of Donald Trump. photo Credit: Professor Wole Soyinka's Intagram page