Kunle Soname: The gentle billionaire-owner of ValueJet Airline, Bet9ja and a Portuguese football club Very calm, but focused, Kunle Soname, a Nigerian entrepreneur, sport enthusiast and chairman of Bet9ja, a betting website he founded in 2013, also owns ValueJet, one of Nigeria's most effective airlines which began operation in 2018. Soname is recorded as the first Nigerian to acquire a European club C.D. Feirense which he bought in 2015. A former local government chairman in Lagos, Soname studied Estate Management at Obafemi Awolowo University where he graduated in 1988. Remo Stars Football Club previously known as FC DENDER was founded by Soname in 2004. The club was then relocated from Lagos State to Remo area of Ogun State, and is now playing in the Nigerian Premier League's Top Division. In 2022, Kunle was inducted as a patron at the University of Lagos for his philanthropic activities. He is also the owner of Beyond Limits F.A. ValueJet airline commenced operations on October 10, 2022 with flights to Abuja, Port Harcourt, Asaba and Jos.

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South African Exports to Face 30% US Tariff as Trump Targets African Trade The United States has announced a significant increase in tariffs on imports from 20 African countries, with South African products facing the highest tarrifs of 30%. The new tariffs, which take effect on August 7, were revealed by President Donald Trump in a statement on Thursday. South Africa, the only country from sub-Saharan Africa to be singled out for the top-tier tariff rate, is expected to be severely impacted. The United States is South Africa’s second-largest trading partner, and the move threatens to disrupt key export sectors including automotive, agriculture, and mining. Neighboring countries Lesotho and Zimbabwe were also affected, though at a lower rate of 15%. Other African nations not included in the list will continue to face the 10% baseline tariff introduced in April. Side note: It's high time Africa starts to trade within, and stop waiting for western validation. It's time to have a single trade currency for the whole of Africa, just like the Euro which is used by European countries to trade. Africa should not wait for the West to dictate its future, Africa should decide its own future. Let's create a single African currency which we can use to trade within. It's time. #TheAfricanDream

⚡ Russian Embassy comment on the Business Day article (July 15, 2025) ✍️ We took note of the article How Russia wins friends and influences people by Nicholas Shubitz published in Business Day on July 11, 2025, and found it thought-provoking and partially reflective of the realities of getting education abroad – be it in Russia, USA, China, Europe or elsewhere. Yet, one important issue is missing. Education has traditionally been one of the most vibrant sectors in #RussiaAfrica relations. Since the early days of African independence, hundreds of thousands of professionals – doctors, engineers, teachers, technicians, and others – have received training in Russia. After completing these studies, most of the graduates return to their home countries, where they contribute to building a better future for their communities. ☝️ We firmly believe that Africa is not, and should not be, an arena for geopolitical rivalry. As President Vladimir Putin emphasized in his article “Russia and Africa: Joining Efforts for Peace, Progress and a Successful Future,” our country has consistently adhered to the principle of “AFRICAN SOLUTIONS TO AFRICAN PROBLEMS,” standing in solidarity with African nations in their pursuit of self-determination, justice, and sovereign rights. Unlike some external actors, we have never sought to impose our values, governance models, or development paths on our African partners. Our engagement with African countries is guided by the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan for 2023-2026, adopted at the highest level. This strategic document outlines broad cooperation in numerous areas, including security, trade, investment, agriculture, science, culture, and – critically – education. 💬 Shane Shauke, a graduate of a Russian University, current medical practitioner and representative of the Russian African Centre of University Studies (RACUS) in SA, shares his experience: “As a South African from the rural Limpopo province, I had the opportunity to study in Russia. Many of us who studied there were drawn not by political influence, but by the accessibility of quality education – especially in fields like medicine. Russia’s investment in international students, particularly from Africa, certainly fosters goodwill. It’s equally important to acknowledge that the relationship is not one-sided: African students often return home with valuable knowledge and skills. Russia may gain friends through education, but those friendships are rooted in complex human experiences, not just political strategy.” The Comment was partially published in Business Day on July 15, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/ykh59r24

Aliko Dangote to Build 1.6 Million Barrel Fuel Storage in Namibia to Supply Southern Africa Nigeria’s Dangote Petroleum Refinery plans to construct large-scale fuel storage tanks in Namibia’s Walvis Bay capable of holding at least 1.6 million barrels of gasoline and diesel, to supply refined fuel to Southern Africa. The planned storage facilities will support the export of fuel products from Dangote’s $20 billion refinery in Lagos, the largest in Africa, which began operations in 2023. The storage tanks will serve as a regional distribution hub for landlocked countries including Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, helping to reduce dependency on fuel imports from Europe and Asia. The Dangote Group has not publicly disclosed the project timeline or investment cost for the Namibian storage facility, but local authorities anticipate that the project will be operational within the next 18 to 24 months. #jaconna #jajiotheteacher #JTT #namabia #africa

The History and Legacy of Disrupting African Leadership. They lived and fought for us all, and for the people whom they've never known. Lions die, leaving behind their mane. Heroes leave this world leaving behind glory and valour to be remembered until the end of time. Throughout history, the African continent has faced numerous challenges to its stability and progress. One recurring theme is the disruption of visionary African leadership. Many African leaders who championed independence, self-determination, and pan-Africanism faced opposition, including assassination, imprisonment, or exile. Examples include: - Omar Al-Muktar (Libya 🟩) - Patrice Lumumba (Congo 🇨🇩) - Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana 🇬🇭) - Thomas Sankara (Burkina Faso 🇧🇫) - Steve Biko (South Africa 🇿🇦) - Samora Machel (Mozambique 🇲🇿) - Muammar Gaddafi (Libya 🟩) These leaders' visions for Africa's development and sovereignty often clashed with Europe and the USA's greedy interests. The legacies of these great African leaders continue to inspire Africans today. Patrice Lumumba: The first prime minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo 🇨🇩 was murdered by Belgium and USA. They tied him to a tree, shot him, buried him, excavated his remains, hacked his corpse into pieces and dissolved it in sulphuric acid. Since the brutal assassination of Patrice Lumumba by Europeans and European-Americans, the DRC 🇨🇩 has never been the same again. What was Lumumba's crime? He refused to hand over his country to the colonialists. Captain Thomas Sankara: The President of Burkina Faso 🇧🇫 was assassinated in a bloody coup orchestrated by France. Since then, Burkina Faso has never been the same again. Dr Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah: The first president of Ghana 🇬🇭 and the founding father of Pan-Africanism. His government was toppled by the USA terrorist group known as the CIA. Since then, there has been political instability in Ghana. Colonel Muammar Gaddafi: He was shot dead on the street of Libya 🟩 by the Western-backed Al-Qaeda terrorists. The combined forces of Europe and the USA invaded Libya and bombed our beautiful country back to the stone age, leaving behind sorrow, tears and blood. After perpetrating all manner of evil in Africa, they will tell Africans to forgive, forget and move on like nothing happened. How can you bomb my home, kill my loved ones, assassinate my leader and expect me to forgive, forget and move on❓

It is striking that when our leaders visit Russia or China, they receive a respectful welcome and are treated with considerable respect, as their value and the country they represent are duly acknowledged. In contrast, when they visit the USA or Europe, they are frequently treated with disrespect, akin to beggars. Although some may view the Russians as racist or rude, I maintain that their forthrightness is preferable to pretentiousness. This glaring disparity in treatment is an irrefutable fact, and it is essential that we reevaluate our relationships with nations that fail to show us the respect we warrant, instead treating us like minors or animals. As the world progresses at an unprecedented pace, it is imperative that countries like France and the USA desist from their haughty behavior, which is reminiscent of a bygone era.

Two years of Ibrahim Traoré's presidency 🇧🇫 1. Burkina Faso's GDP increased from approximately $18.8 billion to $22.1 billion. 2. He reduced the salaries of ministers and parliamentarians by 30% and increased those of civil servants by 50%. 3. He paid off Burkina Faso's local debts. 4. He created two tomato processing plants, the first in the country. 5. In 2023, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art gold mine to strengthen local processing capacity. 6. He ended the export of Burkinabe raw gold to Europe. 7. He built Burkina Faso's second cotton processing plant. The country previously had only one. 8. He opened the first-ever National Support Center for Small-Scale Cotton Processing to support local cotton producers. 9. He banned the wearing of British wigs and robes in local courts and introduced traditional Burkinabé dress. 10. He prioritized agriculture by distributing more than 400 tractors, 239 power tillers, 710 motor pumps, and 714 motorcycles to boost production and support rural stakeholders. 11. He facilitated access to improved seeds and other agricultural inputs to maximize agricultural production. 12. Tomato production in Burkina Faso increased from 315,000 tons in 2022 to 360,000 tons in 2024. 13. Millet production increased from 907,000 tons in 2022 to 1.1 million tons in 2024. 14. Rice production increased from 280,000 tons in 2022 to 326,000 tons in 2024. 15. He banned French military operations in Burkina Faso. 16. He banned French media in Burkina Faso. 17. He expelled French troops from Burkina Faso. 18. His government is building new roads, widening existing ones, and converting gravel roads to paved ones. 19. He is currently building a new airport, Ouagadougou-Donsin Airport, scheduled for completion in 2025 and capable of handling one million passengers per year. Many has attempted nearly 20 unsuccessful assassinations on his life and regime. what do you think Africa should do to protect him?

Italy is working with the European Union on a debt-relief plan for African countries, as part of its broader push to foster development on the continent and address the root causes of irregular migration. “The entire 10-year operation will allow us to convert some 235 million euros ($270.67 million) of debt into development projects to be implemented locally,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, said. In addition to the EU-led efforts, Italy is advancing its strategic framework, the Mattei Plan for Africa, which aims to accelerate growth in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure across African nations, according to Reuters. The European Union’s involvement complements these efforts through its Global Gateway strategy, launched in 2021 to foster sustainable, high-standard investment as an alternative to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. One of the flagship projects under this collaboration is funding for a new transport corridor connecting Angola’s Lobito port with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a crucial mineral export route. “Investing in infrastructure is not just building railways, bridges and dams. It is also investing in training for local workers because that builds capacity and that is how transfer of expertise happens. And this results in positive spillovers all across the local economies of Africa. There is no better example than our work on the Lobito corridor,” President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said. Debt concern Meloni also stressed the urgency of addressing Africa’s growing debt burden, warning it could “undermine all other efforts” toward inclusive and sustainable development if left unaddressed. She revealed that a new initiative is being developed to reduce the debt load of low- and middle-income African countries by up to 50%. While she did not provide specific details, she emphasized that addressing debt was central to Italy’s broader strategy for fostering long-term growth and stability in Africa. At the summit, Italy and the EU unveiled a total commitment of €1.2 billion to support development initiatives under both the EU’s Global Gateway strategy and Italy’s Mattei Plan for Africa.

🕯 22 June marks Day of Remembrance and Sorrow in Russia. 🗓 At early hours of June 22, 1941, enemy aviation delivered massive strikes on air fields, railway stations, Soviet naval bases, permanent troops deployment sites and many cities all along the western state border of the USSR, as well as to a depth of up to 250-300 km in the Soviet territory. Thus, one of the most tragic pages in the history of our country opened - the Great Patriotic War began. Hitler reckoned on the “lightning war” strategy. As contemplated by the "Barbarossa" plan, with the previously reliable blitzkrieg tactics Wehrmacht was to rout the Red Army and defeat the Soviet Union within a few months. Together with Nazi Germany, Romania and Italy formed a united front against the USSR, and a few days later they were joined by Slovakia, Finland and other countries. The industrial power of almost whole of continental Europe worked for the aggressors. Yet, due to the Red Army’s fierce resistance and the efforts of the entire Soviet people, the plans of the Third Reich were fated to fail. The Nazi attack and the beginning of the war were announced on the radio. At noon on June 22, 1941, People's Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vyacheslav Molotov addressed Soviet people, saying the iconic phrase that went down in history: "Our cause is just. The enemy will be defeated. Victory will be ours!" The Great Patriotic War lasted 1,418 days and nights and concluded with the victory of the Soviet Union and the complete defeat of the Nazi bloc. The Instrument of Surrender of Nazi Germany and its armed forces was signed on May 9, 1945. On the Soviet side, the surrender was accepted by Marshal Georgy Zhukov. The USSR's losses amounted to 40% of all human losses in World War II - 26.6 million people. Of these, more than 8.7 million were killed on the battlefield, 7.42 million people were deliberately exterminated by the Nazis in the occupied territories, and over 4.1 million died from the brutal conditions of the occupation regime. 5.27 million people were sent to forced labour in Germany and Nazi-occupied territories. #DayofRemembranceAndSorrow #WeRemember #WorldWar2 #jtt #jaconnaafrica #jajiotheteacher #Jagajagafrica

There's renewed debate on social media over the safekeeping of ancient Benin Bronzes that have been returned to Nigeria. It was triggered by Canadian-American political commentator David Frum who talked on X about predictions he had made that Benin artifacts returned to Nigeria would disappear. Nigerians X are among those now lashing out over his comments. It comes 24 hours after the Netherlands returned over 100 Benin Bronzes to Nigeria, more than a century after the culturally significant sculptures were looted. The handover took place at the National Museum in Lagos. The bronzes are part of numerous artefacts looted by colonialists who and held by museums in Europe. In recent years, Germany, the US, Ireland and Scotland have returned Benin Bronzes. #DWAfrica #nigeria join us on Jaconna for more on all social media and on our website