The African Industrial and Development Conference and Awards (AIDCA) is set to host the Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition (EPC) finals in Abuja, Nigeria, in partnership with SeedsPad Qatar and Keystone Bank. This event will spotlight the top 100 startups from across Nigeria, offering them a chance to compete for a substantial prize pool of 100 million Naira, alongside valuable business to business meetings with angel investors. These finalists, selected from an anticipated pool of over 200 applicants through www.aidca.africa, have already proven their mettle in national competitions and undergone rigorous training at a global boot camp.  The EPC finals will be a central feature of the Global Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit, scheduled for July 21st-22nd, 2025, at the International Conference Centre in Abuja. The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Economic Potential: Harnessing Entrepreneurship and Investment Opportunities,” is designed to connect innovative entrepreneurs with private equity firms, venture capitalists, family offices, angel investors, and other key stakeholders from across Africa and beyond. This prestigious gathering will offer a unique platform for organizations, entrepreneurs, and startups to engage in Business-to-Business meetings, explore exhibitions, attend insightful keynotes and panel sessions, and participate in the AIDCA Awards.   Adedotun Olaoluwa, the president of Dotmount Communications and an organizer for this summit, emphasizes its potential to cultivate a robust investment ecosystem, building upon the success of the recent Middle East Investor Expo. “We are excited to host this prestigious event, which will bring together key players in the entrepreneurship and investment ecosystem. Our goal is to create a platform that fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth, ultimately unlocking Nigeria’s economic potential.”  Building on Previous Success Following the success of the last Middle East Investor Expo, we are confident that this event will exceed expectations and provide a valuable experience for all participants.Registration and More Information To register and learn more about the Global Entrepreneurship and Investment Summit and the Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition, please visit www.aidca.africa. For sponsorship and enquiries.Email: info@aidca.africaTel: +234 808 709 7176        View this post on Instagram           A post shared by aidca (@aidca.summit) The post N100M Up for Grabs! AIDCA Hosts Entrepreneurship Pitch Competition Finals appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.

Hamas said Saturday that “the ball is in Israel’s court” after offering to release an Israeli-US hostage and return the bodies of four others as part of Gaza truce talks.

Following the offer on Friday, Israel said the Palestinian militants had “not budged a millimetre” after a proposal from US President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy.

The first phase of the truce, which began in January, ended on March 1 without agreement on next steps. A Hamas official said negotiations began in Doha on Tuesday.

“The ball is in Israel’s court,” a Hamas spokesman said.

“We want to solidify the ceasefire agreement and force (Israel) to implement its terms,” Abdul Latif al-Qanou told AFP, accusing Israel of “delaying” its enforcement.

He pointed to the ongoing blockage of humanitarian aid entering Gaza since March 2.

A Hamas political bureau member, speaking anonymously, told AFP the proposal to release 21-year-old soldier Edan Alexander — abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack — and return the bodies of four other Israeli-American hostages was part of a “unique agreement”.

In exchange, Israel would free Palestinian prisoners, with the number still under negotiation, the official said.

The official said the proposed exchange was conditioned with simultaneously starting negotiations for the implementation of the truce’s second phase, with the talks ending within a 50-day period, he said.

The proposal also called for the immediate opening of all border crossings to allow the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and the withdrawal of the Israeli army from the Philadelphi corridor, he added.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday accused Hamas of resorting to “manipulation and psychological warfare”.

Netanyahu’s office said he would meet late Saturday with several ministers “to receive a detailed report from the negotiation team and decide next steps towards freeing the hostages”.

The White House on Friday accused Hamas of making “entirely impractical” demands and “making a very bad bet that time is on its side”.

During the truce’s initial six-week phase which came into effect on January 19, militants released 33 hostages, including eight who were deceased, in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.

There are still 58 hostages held in Gaza, 34 of whom the Israeli army has declared dead.

The post Hamas says ‘ball is in Israel’s court’ after hostage offer appeared first on Vanguard News.

The Nigerian government has firmly denied allegations that Christians are being deliberately targeted in the country.

Acting Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs called these claims part of a “misleading campaign” aimed at pressuring foreign governments to label Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” over religious violence.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to express strong concern over the recent wave of misinformation and misleading reports regarding the supposed targeted killings of Christians in Nigeria,” Ebienfa said.

He stressed that Nigeria’s security challenges stem from “criminality, insurgency, and banditry” rather than any form of religious persecution.

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“While the Federal Government acknowledges the security challenges confronting the nation, it is imperative to clarify that these negative activities are not driven by religious bias, nor targeted against any particular religious group.”

The government further argued that portraying the violence as religiously motivated distorts the reality of the country’s security situation. “Any narrative that seeks to give such incidents a colouration of religious persecution is erroneous and misleading,” Ebienfa added.

Nigeria has been under increased international scrutiny following reports from foreign organizations and governments suggesting that Christian communities face systematic attacks.

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa recently approved sanctions on Nigeria based on these claims.

However, Nigerian officials maintain that these reports fail to account for the broader security threats affecting all communities, regardless of religion.

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The government reiterated its commitment to addressing insecurity across the country.

It also urged international observers and foreign governments to rely on verified data rather than what it described as “sensationalised” reports that misrepresent the country’s complex security issues.