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  • Dangote Named in TIME100 2026 as Elumelu Praises “Indefatigable” African Billionaire

    Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has been named among TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World for 2026, marking his second appearance on the global list and reinforcing his position as one of Africa’s most prominent business figures.

    What happened

    TIME released the 2026 TIME100 list on Wednesday, recognising individuals shaping global conversations across business, politics, technology, and culture.

    Dangote, the only Nigerian on the list, was featured in the “Titans” category alongside top global figures including Sundar Pichai, Neal Mohan, and Ralph Lauren.

    This marks his second appearance after his first recognition in 2014.

    Global names on the list

    The 2026 TIME100 list includes world leaders such as US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

    Others recognised include Pope Leo XIV and leading figures in business and technology.

    Elumelu reacts

    Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, who wrote Dangote’s profile for TIME, described him as “indefatigable, resilient, and foresighted.”

    According to Elumelu, Dangote’s investments across cement, sugar, and oil demonstrate Africa’s capacity for industrial growth using local resources.

    He pointed to the Dangote Refinery as a major milestone for Nigeria’s economy and Africa’s industrial future.

    “He has inspired a generation of entrepreneurs… and can always be counted on to return a phone call,” Elumelu said.

    “A great man, creating a great legacy,” he added.

    Background

    Dangote’s business empire spans multiple sectors across Africa, making him a central figure in conversations around industrialisation and economic development.

    His continued inclusion on the TIME100 list highlights his global influence and impact on African enterprise.

    How TIME selects its list

    TIME editor-in-chief Sam Jacobs said the selection is based on individuals shaping the world through their actions and ideas.

    “Our selections are led by the stories that are shaping the world each year and the people who write them,” he said.

    He added that the TIME100 continues to expand into key areas such as artificial intelligence, climate, health, and digital innovation.

    What it means

    Dangote’s recognition further places Nigeria on the global map of influential business leaders, while underlining Africa’s growing role in shaping the future of the global economy.

  • Peter Okoye, Paul Okoye, Mr Macaroni Lead Outrage Over Jos Palm Sunday killings

    Nigerian entertainers and public figures have taken to social media to condemn the Palm Sunday massacre in Angwan Rukuba, Jos North Local Government Area, where gunmen opened fire on residents on Sunday evening, killing at least 22 people and injuring several others, with many directing their anger at both the Plateau State government and President Bola Tinubu over what they described as a failure to protect Nigerian lives.

    The attack, which occurred around 7:30 p.m. on March 29 at a bar in the Gari Ya Waye community, has sent shockwaves through the country, particularly among entertainers with roots in Plateau State.

    Peter Okoye

    Singer Peter Okoye, who grew up in Plateau State, expressed raw emotion in his reaction on X. “My heart is heavy… My prayers are with my people in Jos,” he wrote, accompanied by a string of broken heart emojis.

    In a separate post that surfaced amid the outrage, Peter also directly questioned the Nigerian government’s response, expressing disbelief that a confirmed death toll of dozens had not prompted a formal presidential address to the nation. He called the administration’s response incompetent and said the recurring tragedies were “unbearably heart-wrenching.”

    Paul Okoye (Rudeboy)

    Paul Okoye, Peter’s twin brother and fellow P-Square alumnus, took a sharper tone. “We are not angry enough!!!” he wrote on X. “Maybe na until God come down to earth.” The singer, who was also born in Plateau State, used his platform to challenge what he described as widespread public passivity in the face of repeated security failures.

    Mr Macaroni

    Comedian and activist Mr Macaroni was the most direct in his criticism of the presidency, writing: “President @officialABAT is running the most useless government in the history of useless governments!!! How many more Nigerians have to die due to this abysmal level of incompetence? Nigerians wake up every day to lament one tragedy or the other. Unbearably heart-wrenching!!!

    In a follow-up post, Mr Macaroni said he could not understand how 40 confirmed deaths in Jos had not prompted the president to address the nation. “Zero accountability, zero responsibility!!!” he wrote.

    Ice Prince

    Jos-born rapper Ice Prince reflected on the community’s long history of suffering. “Since 2001, Jos, Jos, Jos. My people have suffered too much tbh… Thoughts and prayers,” he wrote on X — a reference to the cycle of ethno-religious violence that has plagued the city for over two decades.

    Nathaniel Bassey and Jerry Eze

    Gospel singer Nathaniel Bassey offered prayers rather than political criticism, writing: “JOS! You shall not be broken. The forces of evil in our nation shall never prevail. We shall see their end. It is well with you, Jos. Let there be light!” Pastor Jerry Eze of Streams of Joy International also reacted, calling on divine protection for the community.

    Kunle Remi

    Nollywood actor Kunle Remi, who made headlines last week for speaking out about fuel prices, also added his voice to the chorus of condemnation, describing the attack as deeply painful and calling on the government to take decisive action to protect lives in Plateau State.

    The celebrity reactions came alongside physical protests on the ground. Hundreds of angry residents took to the streets on Monday morning, defying the 48-hour curfew imposed by the Plateau State government, to protest the killings and demand urgent action from authorities. Protesters gathered at the scene of the attack, expressing outrage over the continued loss of lives in the state.

    On social media, users echoed the same frustration. One commenter wrote: “The government in Nigeria has failed over and over again in protecting the lives and property of Nigerians. This government must go.” Another, @Frankline Obi, warned that prolonged insecurity could radicalise youth: “Plateau youths have endured enough pain. When peace is met with bullets, frustration turns to fire.”

    The Gari Ya Waye attack occurred on Palm Sunday, the opening of Holy Week in the Christian calendar, in a predominantly Christian community in Jos North. A 48-hour curfew remains in place across Jos North LGA until April 1, 2026. Governor Caleb Mutfwang described the attack as barbaric and unprovoked and said security agencies had been mobilised, but no arrests had been announced as of Tuesday morning.

  • Apostle Chibuzor’s Autistic Son Aboy Weds Three Days after Viral Controversy

    Aboy Chibuzor, the autistic adopted son of Omega Power Ministries founder Apostle Chibuzor Gift Chinyere, got married on Sunday, March 29, in a church ceremony described by the ministry as joyful and faith-filled, just three days after a viral social media post seeking a bride for the young man ignited fierce debate about disability, consent, and the ethics of incentivised marriage.

    The groom was abandoned as a child at the gate of OPM’s headquarters by unknown parents who reportedly discovered his condition and left him in the pastor’s care. He has been raised under Apostle Chinyere’s guardianship since then, requiring full-time support with daily activities, including feeding and bathing.

    The viral post that started it

    The controversy began when Apostle Chinyere published a post on Facebook seeking a wife for Aboy and offering a package of financial incentives to any willing woman. The offer included lifetime accommodation, a monthly salary for life, a house to be built in both names, free medical care, and overseas vacations. The woman could be a single mother or older, he said, but must not be autistic.

    Chinyere explained his motivation as compassion, saying he had observed what he described as uncontrollable urges in Aboy and felt a responsibility to find a lawful and dignified solution. He said he had considered and rejected the alternatives, abandoning the young man or allowing a situation outside marriage, and concluded that a paid marriage arrangement was the most ethical path available to him.

    The backlash

    The post drew immediate and widespread condemnation across Nigerian social media. Many critics argued that women are not rehabilitation centres and that the proposal reduced both Aboy and a potential bride to transactional figures. Others said the young man needed proper autism specialist care and psychological evaluation rather than marriage, and questioned why the pastor’s widely reported healing powers had not been applied to Aboy’s condition directly.

    Faced with the backlash, Apostle Chinyere issued a public apology, stating he had not intended to demean women. “I never knew it hurt you like this. If you Google the internet, you will find many autistic men marrying normal ladies; it’s not a crime. But I am sorry to our beautiful ladies who feel embarrassed by my proposal,” he wrote. He reiterated that he cares for over 500 children abandoned at his church gate and that Aboy’s case was one of compassion.

    The wedding

    Despite the controversy, the wedding proceeded on Sunday, March 29, at OPM headquarters. Aboy married a woman described by the church as a single woman of God, with church members and well-wishers in attendance.

    The financial package announced for the couple included a ₦10 million wedding gift, a free house, an overseas vacation, and a pledge of ₦20 million after 10 years, subject to Aboy being alive at that time. Church members also made additional contributions, with one member donating ₦1 million and another ₦200,000 at the ceremony.

    A moment that moved Apostle Chibuzor

    Apostle Chinyere shared what he described as a remarkable development at the reception. For the first time since reaching adulthood, Aboy fed himself at the dining table without any assistance, something the pastor said had never happened before. “Surprisingly, for the first time since Aboy attained adulthood, he fed himself without assistance at the wedding. Already, miracles have started to happen,” he wrote on social media after the ceremony.

    While this story has generated significant public celebration, disability rights advocates have raised legitimate questions that are worth noting for readers. Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a spiritual one, and individuals on the autism spectrum have varying levels of capacity and independence. Organisations that work with autistic individuals generally emphasise person-centred support, specialist therapy, and informed consent in all major life decisions, including marriage, as the global standard of care.

  • Rev. Dachomo Reveals He Robbed a Bank in Jos in 1980, Credits Jesus Saves

    Reverend Ezekiel Dachomo, the Plateau State cleric known for his vocal activism on the killing of Christians in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, has revealed that he was a member of an armed robbery gang that raided a bank in Jos, Plateau State, in 1980.

    The disclosure, made in an interview with a foreign media outlet and shared online on Wednesday, has since gone viral, generating widespread reactions across Nigerian social media.

    What Dachomo said

    Dachomo confirmed that his gang successfully carried out the bank robbery in Jos, making away with a substantial sum of money, and that the operation was led by a close associate at the time.

    He described a spiritual encounter that he said marked the turning point in his life, recounting that Jesus appeared in his room while he was asleep, accompanied by seven angels, and engaged in a supernatural battle with what he described as 14 demons operating in his life. According to Dachomo, he pretended to be dead among fallen figures but was eventually discovered. “When they were coming, booting other corpses, then I had to stand up and begin to beg,” he said.

    He said he turned away from crime following that encounter, crediting the saving power of Jesus for his transformation.

    Rival account disputes the story

    The account has not gone unchallenged. A cleric identified as Baban Chinedu alleged that Dachomo’s version of events was fabricated, claiming that during the robbery, Dachomo hid among corpses and was rescued by a gang member named Emmanuel, not by divine intervention. The critic alleged that Dachomo was shot and still bears the scar from that wound, and accused him of transitioning from a “street-level bandit” to a “spiritual bandit” while inciting religious conflict.  Dachomo has not publicly responded to this counter-claim.

    Public reaction

    Nigerians on social media responded with a mix of amusement, scepticism, and support. One user suggested the story was typical of young men who grew up without older male role models to keep them in check. Others praised the cleric for his candour.

    Who is Dachomo

    Reverend Dachomo is a senior cleric in the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), serving as the regional chairman for the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area in Plateau State. He gained national and international attention after videos of him conducting mass burials for Christians killed in communal attacks went viral, drawing reactions from public figures, including US President Donald Trump, who placed Nigeria on a list of Countries of Particular Concern.

    In an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan in November 2025, Dachomo said he had presided over more than 70 mass burials, sometimes burying over 500 people in a single night, and accused the Nigerian government of downplaying the scale of the violence.

    The Nigerian Army has previously condemned one of his viral videos, accusing him of spreading false and inflammatory claims about a planned terrorist attack in Plateau State and warning that his statements risked igniting ethnic and religious violence.  Dachomo denied the characterisation and said he was speaking the truth about threats facing Christian communities.

    The viral video continues to trend on Nigerian social media. RNN.NG will update this story if Dachomo or any relevant authorities respond to the competing accounts surrounding his past.