Witty Global blog

  BEFOCUS NEWS DESK Highlights — Sports Today (November 1, 2025) BEFOCUS News Desk • Sports Highlights — Top Trending Sports News (November 1, 2025) Curated for Nigeria, Africa & the world by BEFOCUS Children and Youth Foundation — Building Conscience, Character & Change. ⚽ Arsenal’s Big Ask: Stadium Expansion Meets City Hurdles Today’s lead story • Premier League • London Arsenal are exploring options to expand the Emirates Stadium — with reporting suggesting a potential capacity increase above the current ~60,700 seats. City leadership has cautioned that any expansion will face stringent planning and community-impact checks, including transport and neighbourhood considerations. Parallel to infrastructure plans, reports indicate ongoing strategic tweaks in sporting operations and youth dev...

  The Youngest Billionaires of the AI Revolution: Mercor’s 22-Year-Old Founders Hit $10B Valuation BEFOCUS News Desk | Abuja, Nigeria — October 31, 2025 Mercor’s pivot from recruiting to AI data labeling has propelled a rapid rise in value. Abuja, Nigeria — The newest billionaire faces of the AI revolution are just 22 years old. AI startup Mercor has raised $350 million at a $10 billion valuation, making its three cofounders — Brendan Foody (CEO) , Adarsh Hiremath (CTO) , and Surya Midha (Chairman) — the world’s youngest self-made billionaires , according to Forbes . From Recruiting Marketplace to AI Data Engine Mercor began by matching software engineers — especially from India — with U.S. companies seeking flexible talent. As demand for high-quality training data surged, the company shifted into data labeling and workforce orchestration for AI , supplying teams and tools that help train large language models (LLMs) and copilots at sc...

  BEFOCUS NEWS DESK – Entertainment Highlights Today 🎬 BEFOCUS NEWS DESK HIGHLIGHTS – ENTERTAINMENT WORLD TODAY Date: October 31, 2025 Compiled by: BEFOCUS Children & Youth Foundation | Building Conscience, Character & Change Through Media 1️⃣ “Live With Kelly & Mark” Halloween Spectacle Takes Over TV The U.S. daytime show Live With Kelly and Mark set social media ablaze with their 2025 Halloween special, showcasing over 60 creative costumes, viral memes, and pop-culture parodies including scenes from *Severance*. Producer Michael Gelman even joined the fun — appearing in a tiny Speedo for comic effect. Why it matters: The show’s viral success underscores how traditional TV is reinventing itself through social media moments and high-engagement visuals. Source: Entertainment Weekly 2️⃣ Nicole Kidman Shines on the Runway Amid Personal Changes Hollywood legend Nicole Kidman stunned audiences at Vogue World: Hollywood in Los Angeles, walking t...

  BEFOCUS NEWS DESK – Football Highlights Today ⚽ BEFOCUS NEWS DESK HIGHLIGHTS – TODAY’S TRENDING FOOTBALL STORIES Date: October 31, 2025 Compiled by: BEFOCUS Children & Youth Foundation Sports Desk | Building Conscience, Character & Change Through Sports 1️⃣ England Seal 2026 FIFA World Cup Spot England have officially booked their ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a dominant 5–0 victory over Latvia. Harry Kane scored twice, bringing his goal tally this season to 21 in 13 matches. The Three Lions’ qualification strengthens their tag as early favourites for the global tournament. Source: Fox Sports 2️⃣ Algeria Return to World Cup After a Decade The Algerian national team has returned to the world stage after ten years, defeating Somalia 3–0 to top their qualifying group. It marks Algeria’s first appearance at the World Cup since 2014, reigniting hope for African football dominance in 2026. Source: Business Standard 3️⃣ South Africa Hail ...

  PEBEC DG Zahrah Audu: Executive Order on Joint Inspection Nearing Approval as Nigeria Targets 2026 Port Reforms BEFOCUS News Desk | Abuja, Nigeria — October 31, 2025 Joint inspection and a National Single Window are central to Nigeria’s 2026 port efficiency target. Abuja, Nigeria — Director-General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah (Zarah) Audu , says an Executive Order (EO) on joint physical inspection at Nigerian ports is nearing approval —a key step in the Federal Government’s push to deliver comprehensive port reforms by 2026 . What the Executive Order Will Do The EO is expected to mandate unified, same-time inspections by key agencies—including the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), NAFDAC and others—replacing multiple, overlapping checks that slow down cargo clearance and raise costs for traders. 2026 Target: F...

  Just In: Ex-C’River Commissioner Offiong Emerges 12th UNICAL Vice-Chancellor BEFOCUS News Desk | Calabar, Nigeria — October 31, 2025 Prof. Offiong E. Offiong has been appointed the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar, succeeding Prof. Florence Obi. Calabar, Nigeria — Former Commissioner for Education in Cross River State, Prof. Offiong E. Offiong , has emerged as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) . The appointment was announced by the institution’s Governing Council chaired by retired DIG Udom Ekpoudom . According to reports by Vanguard News , the Council confirmed Prof. Offiong’s selection after a rigorous screening process involving several top academics. He succeeds outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Obi, whose tenure ends this year. Academic Background and Experience Prof. Offiong is an accomplished academic with years of experience in university administration and public service. As a fo...

  Nigeria’s Economy Is Rising on Paper — But Small Businesses Tell a Different Story BEFOCUS News Desk | Abuja, Nigeria — October 31, 2025 GDP is rising, but small business owners still struggle with rising costs, power shortages, and logistics challenges. Official data show that Nigeria’s economy is on the rise , recording a 4.23% GDP growth rate in Q2 2025 according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). Inflation has eased slightly to 18.02% as of September 2025 , sparking optimism among policymakers. Yet, many small and medium enterprises (SMEs) say they are still struggling under rising costs, poor infrastructure, and limited access to finance. Growth on Paper, Struggles on the Ground While government officials celebrate the positive outlook, entrepreneurs across Nigeria describe a harsher economic reality. They argue that the numbers look good on paper, but daily business life is dominated by survival tactics. “They say the e...

  Nigerians Were Exposed to Odium with Presidential Pardon List — Falana BEFOCUS News Desk | Abuja, Nigeria — October 31, 2025 Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) faults the latest presidential pardon exercise, calling it a national embarrassment. Renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has condemned the federal government over the recent presidential pardon list , describing it as a national embarrassment that exposed Nigerians to global odium and ridicule. Falana stated that this is not the first time the exercise has been mishandled, noting that individuals who do not deserve pardon have been recommended for it, while some convicted under state laws have found their way onto the list. “Individuals who do not deserve pardon have been recommended for it, and those convicted under state laws have found their way onto the list. The federal government owes it to the public to ensure that such a colossal embarrassment does not recur...

  BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Today’s Nigeria, Africa & World Highlights BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Today’s Nigeria, Africa & World Highlights Updated: October 31, 2025 • Africa/Lagos Nigeria to Impose Tougher Penalties on Wildlife Traffickers The Senate passes a law raising fines and prison terms for ivory, pangolin scale and endangered-species trafficking to combat organised environmental crime. Source: Reuters Nigeria Imposes 15% Import Duty on Petrol & Diesel to Support Local Refiners New 15% duty aims to protect domestic refining capacity and strengthen non-oil revenues following subsidy reforms. Source: Reuters New Chief of Air Staff Assumes Office in Nigeria AVM Sunday Kelvin Aneke takes charge as the 23rd Chief of the Air Staff, pledging integrity and renewed focus on national security. Source: TVC News ...

  Apple Joins the $4 Trillion Club After iPhone 17 Launch – A New Era for the Tech Giant Apple Joins the $4 Trillion Club After iPhone 17 Launch – A New Era for the Tech Giant Apple Inc. has officially entered the $4 trillion valuation club , becoming the third company in history to achieve this feat—joining Microsoft and Nvidia in the elite trillion-dollar tier. The milestone came as Apple’s stock rallied following the highly anticipated release of the iPhone 17 and other upgraded hardware models. According to Financial Times , Apple’s market capitalization briefly topped $4 trillion on Tuesday morning before closing just under that mark, ending the day “essentially flat.” The Surge Behind the $4 Trillion Valuation Apple’s stock has soared more than 15% since September 9 , the day it unveiled the new iPhone 17 series. Analysts credit the company’s impressive performance to strong demand for its latest smartphone lineup, signalin...

  BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Today’s Global & African Youth Empowerment Highlights BEFOCUS NEWS DESK — Today’s Global & African Youth Empowerment Highlights Updated: October 29, 2025 • Africa/Lagos Theme: Rising Minds, Bold Nations & Youth-Driven Futures Youth aren’t waiting for tomorrow — they’re shaping it. This edition spotlights leaders, innovators, creatives and advocates pushing humanity forward across Africa and the world. United Nations Appoints 17 New Young Leaders for the SDGs (2025–2027) Youth Leadership Global Development Education Seventeen outstanding young changemakers will champion education, climate action, equality and innovation across continents. Source: United Nations — Young Leaders for the SDGs UNESCO Warns of Major Global Gaps in Youth Media & Information Literacy Education Digital Skills Youth D...

A wave of conscience is coming! 🌍 The world is asking the same question: “WHAT’S THIS WORLD TURNING TO?” As we prepare for the official launch of #TheConscienceChallenge — a global moral and mindset reawakening by BEFOCUS Foundation and Club Excellence Africa — this story now marks the beginning of the countdown. Stay tuned here for updates, visuals, and the unveiling of the full program. 💚 Building Conscience, Character & Change. ```0   The Conscience Challenge — Coming Soon | Club Excellence Africa (BEFOCUS) The Conscience Challenge — Global Launch (Coming Soon) By Witty Global Media | Club Excellence Africa · BEFOCUS Children & Youth Foundation · Abuja, Nigeria A new movement is rising from Africa to the world — a campaign that challenges silence, resets the mind, and reawakens the human conscience. The C...

 “THE READING REVOLUTION AFRICA NEEDS: 8 BOOKS THAT WILL REWRITE YOUR MIND, YOUR TIME, AND YOUR DESTINY” By Itoro Sunday Uwah — Founder, BEFOCUS Children & Youth Foundation | CEO, Witty Global Industries Ltd  Why These Books Are a Must-Read for Every Visionary Soul Across Nigeria, Africa, and the world, millions are waking up to a new truth — change begins with the mind. From the classrooms of the poor to the boardrooms of the powerful, a quiet revolution is emerging through the pen of Itoro Sunday Uwah. His writings are not ordinary books — they are spiritual, mental, and moral blueprints engineered to rebuild a generation, restore human value, and reignite Africa’s dignity. Each title stands alone, but together they form a transformational curriculum for human excellence — a sequence every reader must follow to move from confusion to clarity, from comfort to courage, and from mediocrity to mastery.  THE RECOMMENDED READING SEQUENCE (THE PATH TO TRANSFORMATION) 1️⃣ C...