AGP Executive Report

Education Materials Rollout: Lagos begins distribution of 15,675 UBEC learning materials to public primary schools, including HOPE EDU and IQTE kits, as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda push to boost enrolment and learning outcomes. Higher Education & Skills: UNILAG and the University of Dundee launch a joint LLM for Nigerian and UK legal training, aiming to prepare lawyers for global practice and cross-border challenges. Publishing & Public Life: Nigeria’s Sahara Reporters publisher Omoyele Sowore backtracks on plans to summon the DSS DG in his criminal defamation trial, keeping the case focused on testimony and documents. Literature & Memory: Zimbabwean historian and journalist Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu’s remains are exhumed ahead of reburial at the National Heroes’ Acre after he was named a National Hero. Arts & Culture: Betye Saar, the influential assemblage artist who tackled racism and slavery through found objects, dies at 99. Sports & Global Talent: Commonwealth Games coverage highlights historic medal moments involving African athletes and the wider diaspora pipeline.

Media & Publishing in Africa: Nation Media Group is back in Uganda after a month-long shutdown, with President Museveni clearing the way following Taifa Group’s push; NMG says it will restore platforms and rebuild ties with audiences, staff and partners. Copyright & Digital Rights: Uganda’s High Court ruled that social media posts can be protected by copyright, holding Monitor Publications/NTV Uganda liable for reproducing and misattributing an advocate’s X post. Book/Film Culture: The Booker Prize 2026 longlist was announced (13 novels), while film buzz continues around Tomi Adeyemi’s Nigerian-American YA fantasy Children of Blood and Bone as its trailer lands ahead of 2027. Publishing Industry Signals: South Africa’s Boxer Superstores’ retail media arm Bmedia joins the 2026 IAB South Africa Bookmarks Awards as headline partner, underlining the push to link digital marketing to in-store sales. Sports & Storytelling: Team Nigeria’s Commonwealth Games run delivered multiple weightlifting golds, adding fresh momentum to the region’s sports narratives.

Higher Education & Publishing Policy: South Africa’s DHET journal list problem is back in focus as researchers face career damage when journals are later removed from the accredited list, raising questions about who should be accountable when academics publish in good faith. Digital & Youth Culture: A new debate argues screens aren’t the issue—what’s on them is—linking “brainrot” to how platforms are designed to keep children engaged. Nigeria Economy & Tax: An opinion piece warns that IMF-style calls for more tax revenue could deepen hardship when households are already squeezed by inflation, subsidy reforms and weak purchasing power. Trade & Ports: Namibia’s Namport rejects a Ghanaian-led N$4bn port proposal for an oil and gas supply base at Lüderitz, citing failure to meet concession requirements. Freelance & Education Tech: Lyn Siawe launches “Your Work Buddy,” a talent marketplace aimed at helping African tech freelancers turn skills into income. Books & Culture: Scholastic previews fall YA titles, including new releases from Libba Bray and Jasmine Guillory.

Publishing & Media Industry: Curiosity Entertainment named former CBS exec Laurie Seidman as Head of Film & Television and unveiled a debut page-to-screen slate through its publishing arm, Storyteller Media, doubling down on adaptations from original stories. Creative Skills & Youth: Kenya’s Kelele Comics is using AI tools to train teenagers in scriptwriting and graphic design, aiming to grow the local comic publishing base beyond “content consumers.” Literary/Publishing Ecosystem: Nigeria’s printing industry faces declining patronage despite local capacity, according to LCCI, raising pressure on local production and demand. Copyright, IP & Business: A Botswana-focused piece highlights the gap between innovation inputs and creative outputs, arguing that weak trademark registration leaves creators short on long-term value. Policy & Regulation: South Africa’s Icasa published a roadmap to free up and auction more radio spectrum, targeting a major jump in high-demand broadband capacity by 2030. Education & Access: Kenya’s Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo raised Sh12m for a school bus and disbursed Sh46m in bursaries and school support. Global Health Ethics: Kenyan-born Patricia Kingori was appointed a full professor at Oxford, leading a Wellcome Discovery Award programme on how crises are declared “over.”

Real Estate & Justice: Nigeria’s EFCC case over Abuja’s disputed Guzape Plot 4022 deepens as Rychado Homes’ CEO denies selling/transferring the property to Rebecca Omokamo, contesting final forfeiture claims in Federal High Court. Governance & Transparency: East Africa Development Bank stakeholders back removing immunity and demand independent audits, pushing for parliamentary approval of disbursements under the EADB (Amendment) Bill. Security Dialogue: Nigeria’s First Daily National Dialogue on Security is set to open in Abuja with senior military and security figures, including Gen. Martin Luther Agwai and Gen. Lucky Irabor, alongside defence officials. Publishing & Access to Law: A legal publishing piece argues citizens can’t defend rights without readable, consolidated laws, warning that regulations are scattered and hard to track. Media & History: Daily Times marks 100 years as former MD Yemi Ogunbiyi urges preservation of Nigeria’s history and credible journalism in the digital era. Sports (Commonwealth Games): Weightlifting headlines continue as India’s Mirabai Chanu wins a third straight CWG gold, with Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong taking silver. Public Health Leadership: Dr. Muyi Aina is set to receive an Exemplary Public Service Leadership Award for primary healthcare delivery.

Marine Wonder (South Africa): A South African couple off Cape Town documented nearly 300 humpback whales gathered in one feeding “supergroup,” a rare sight that marine scientists say signals healthy conditions. Publishing & Community (UK): At Jalsa Salana UK 2026, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community reported major global growth, including new mosques, chapters, and a surge in publishing and translation output. Books & Research Access (Ghana): USTED urged researchers to move beyond paywalled journals, training academics to communicate findings in practical formats for the public and media. Books & Development (Zimbabwe): Knowledge Chatseka released a new book arguing that Zimbabwe’s transformation needs homegrown, cross-sector ideas—linking agriculture, education, innovation, governance, and citizen participation. Sports & Culture (Commonwealth Games): India’s Mirabai Chanu won a record third straight CWG gold in the 48kg weightlifting category, while Nigeria’s Ruth Asuquo Nyong took silver; India also added a historic silver via Rishikanta Singh. Policy & Accountability (Nigeria): Atiku Abubakar challenged Tinubu’s “unprecedented” domestic borrowing despite an oil windfall, demanding transparency on where the money is going. Public Safety (Nigeria): Police denied a viral claim that the IGP ordered officers to shoot people with illegal firearms, saying the remarks were distorted.

Constitutional Process: Lesotho’s acting prime minister Justice Nthomeng Majara rescheduled a consultative meeting on implementing the Tenth Amendment after opposition requested a delay, with a wider multi-stakeholder session planned next. Publishing & Public Debate: Nigeria’s police moved to quash viral claims that the IGP ordered “shoot-on-sight” for illegal firearm holders, stressing officers must follow Force Order 237 and lawful use-of-force rules. Memoirs & Media: The Abacha death narrative is back in the spotlight as Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha dismisses Dennis Amachree’s memoir claims, saying he has CCTV footage that contradicts the account. Books & Literacy: Financial literacy author Yemisi Lucy Adepoju is touring with her book Broke After Payday?, while Ghana’s schoolchildren urged stronger anti-corruption action to protect education funding. Creative Industry Funding: Ghana’s mid-year budget review reportedly omitted updates on promised Film and Creative Arts funds, raising fresh concerns for creatives. Sports Meets Culture: Commonwealth Games coverage continues to drive attention, including Nigeria’s medal push and South Africa’s Chad le Clos setting a Commonwealth record.

Public Safety Clarification: Nigeria’s police have pushed back hard on viral claims that IGP Olatunji Disu issued a “shoot-on-sight” order in Makurdi, saying his remarks were about legal firearm carriage under Force Order 237 and warning against illegal weapons used in kidnapping and armed crime. Diaspora & Health: President Tinubu urged Nigerian doctors and healthcare professionals abroad to return home to help rebuild a resilient healthcare system. Publishing & Libraries: In the US, Shepard-Pruden Library’s America250 programming includes colonial-themed events, local history displays, and talks tied to a book on the 1757 Cupola House. Media & Books: South Africa mourns SABC broadcaster and author Gillian van Houten, known for wildlife conservation writing including The Way of the Leopard. Radio Policy: EBU’s Vincent Sneed discusses the EU Digital Networks Act and why broadcast radio access matters for public service media. Books & Publishing in Africa: Propak West Africa returns in Lagos (Sept 8–10) to spotlight packaging, plastics, print and labeling solutions for the region.

Publishing & Creative Culture: Nigeria’s Eghosa Imasuen returns to the page with The Challengers, a narrative nonfiction launch spotlighting VFD Group’s origin story and resilience, with signings and business-literature buzz. Printmaking & Design: UAE studio Tashkeel hosts Khali Balak Men RISO, a risograph exhibition (to Aug 21) treating RISO as a publishing tool for experimentation, collaboration and community. Media & Democracy: Lagos’ Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture brings publishers, editors and academics together to push for credible 2027 elections, linking journalism, INEC and voter trust. Economy & Policy: South Africa’s SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago keeps rates at 7% and urges urgent domestic reforms as municipal dysfunction bites growth. Tech & Governance: Namibia faces public scrutiny over an AI-driven agricultural monitoring deal, with citizens demanding transparency and trust in procurement. Sports & Records: Team Nigeria starts Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games with multiple medals and record-breaking para powerlifting performances.

Port Harcourt Legal Tension: Nigeria’s NBA election in Port Harcourt is under strain as lawyers clash over claims the voters’ register wasn’t published, with police and DSS deployed to prevent violence. Monetary Policy Watch: South Africa’s SARB deputy governor Fundi Tshazibana says inflation risks remain elevated after the repo rate was unexpectedly held, citing oil volatility, exchange-rate uncertainty and inflation expectations. Literary Spotlight (Nigeria): The Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026 poetry longlist is out: 11 collections selected from 233 entries, with a $100,000 (about N140m) prize for the winner. Indigenous Knowledge in Focus (South Africa): Midwife Dr Mmatshilo Motsei launches “Ways of Being Born,” arguing colonialism and apartheid displaced African childbirth knowledge and calling for stronger links between tradition and modern care. Publishing/Creative Economy (Kenya): Sony Music, Universal and Warner Music are set to establish presence in Nairobi after meetings with President Ruto and IFPI leadership, signaling more investment in the region’s music industry. Sustainability & Industry (Nigeria): Rite Foods reports sustainability progress, including a 23% cut in carbon intensity and 15% lower water use, plus N581.92m invested in social programmes. Music Education (Nigeria): MTN Foundation opens applications for the 20th MUSON Music Scholars Programme, offering fully funded scholarships covering tuition and books.

Kenya Education & Inclusion: UNICEF-backed Lego Braille Bricks are being used in Kajiado to push children’s right to play for learners with disabilities and low-resource backgrounds, with education officials stressing play’s role in mental, physical and emotional development. Kenya Creative Economy: President Ruto says Sony Music, Universal Music Group and Warner Music will set up in Nairobi, aiming to turn the city into a recorded-music hub and expand publishing and global distribution for Kenyan artistes. Nigeria Literature & Publishing: Nigeria Prize for Literature announces its 2026 longlist for a $100,000 poetry prize, with 11 collections selected from 223 entries. Nigeria Education Materials: UBEC and Lagos’ education board distribute 15,675 teaching and learning materials to public primary schools, including early childhood and Qur’anic Tsangaya resources. Kenya Mining & Rare Earths: RareX and Iluka advance Kenya’s Mrima Hill project to the Request for Proposal stage, targeting rare earth oxides via Iluka’s Eneabba refinery. Nigeria Legal Profession: LPPC approves elevation of 68 lawyers to SAN rank, including one academic, with a mandatory induction programme ahead of conferment.

Legal & Publishing Policy: Nigeria’s Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (LPPC) has elevated 69 lawyers to Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) rank, with the committee also warning against promotional messages around the conferment. Media & Elections: Lagos State University political scientist Sylvester Akhaine and the Nigerian Guild of Editors urged responsible media, transparent INEC and informed voters ahead of credible 2027 polls at the Lateef Jakande Memorial Lecture. Copyright & Royalties: AllTrack signed a multi-territory digital licensing deal with SACEM, expanding streaming and download royalty collections across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Publishing & Culture Events: Porto Book Fair returns Aug 21–Sep 6 with 200+ events and 140 stands, spotlighting poet Inês Lourenço. Social Impact: South Africa’s UNISA cum laude graduate reportedly begged for food after 18 months joblessness, while KZN education launched an investigation into alleged sale of teacher posts. Economy & Reading Habits: SARB held the repo rate at 7% as inflation hit 5% in June; CBC Radio hosts shared summer reads.

Publishing Policy: Nigeria’s NERDC has cut textbook assessment and ranking fees ahead of the National Textbook Ranking System, dropping assessment from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page and ranking from ₦1m to ₦750,000 per title, with refunds promised for publishers who already paid the old rates. Legal & Society: AWLA warns that bigamy is a serious criminal offence in Nigeria but is becoming “a crime only on paper” due to weak enforcement and patriarchal norms. Media Business: South Africa’s Independent Media faces an uncertain future after Sekunjalo Group pulls funding, putting major titles’ operations in doubt as licences near expiry. Sports & Culture: Zimbabwe’s Harare Sports Club is profiled as India and Zimbabwe set for a T20I series opener, with pitch and scoring trends highlighted. Book Culture: MoCADA’s New Eyes Collective will honour Greg Tate with a panel event tied to the re-release of Flyboy in the Buttermilk via AUWA Books. Economy & Reading Demand: South Africa’s inflation hit 5% in June, shifting public focus to cost of living—an angle that matters for household spending on books and education.

Education & Literacy: Atwima Mponua’s DCE in Ghana urged more investment in children’s reading, backing a district reading festival that brought pupils from 32 basic schools together with education partners. Publishing & Print Tech: A new report forecasts rapid growth for thermal binding hard covers, pointing to rising demand for durable, professional document presentation across education and business. Courtroom & Media: Nigeria’s Federal High Court rejected Omoyele Sowore’s bid to tender uncertified documents in his defamation trial over posts against President Tinubu, tightening procedural rules around evidence. Money & Cash Use: Nigeria’s CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso said N100 and N200 notes are scarce mainly because digital payments are replacing small-cash transactions, while the notes remain legal tender. Security & Extremism: Nigeria’s military said it killed an ISWAP propaganda chief and mobile media operatives in Borno, aiming to disrupt the group’s recruitment and media operations. Religion & Books: Pope Leo XIV’s new foreword for a nuclear-disarmament book quotes an unpublished Bob Dylan song and highlights peace through disarmament.

Ghanaian author’s cancer memoir goes global: Stanford University Libraries has added Benjamin Akyena Brantuo’s Dying Many Times: The Struggles of a Cancer Patient to its African acquisitions programme, with the U.S. Library of Congress assigning a formal classification and indexing it in WorldCat—boosting access for researchers and readers worldwide. Nigeria power finance push: Nigeria’s federal government is wooing investors for a fresh N729bn power bond after a successful N501bn issuance, pitching it as a tested model to deepen liquidity in the electricity sector. South Africa “red tape” debate: A South African commentary argues the country doesn’t lack plans for small businesses—what’s missing is implementation, warning that launches and campaigns won’t replace systems that actually process permits and pay suppliers. Publishing + institutions in Nigeria: A book launch in Lagos for The Challengers (with a foreword by former President Olusegun Obasanjo) spotlights how faster courts and stronger institutions can attract investment by resolving commercial disputes quickly. Sports governance + misinformation: Nigeria Golf Federation leaders deny reports of suspension from continental golf, calling the claims false and threatening legal action against publishers. Housing access campaign: Milwaukee’s HACM urges applicants to confirm details on its portal under the “Save Your Spot” campaign to avoid removal from waiting lists. Kenya travel advisory hits tourism: Canada warns citizens to exercise high caution in Kenya, citing terrorism, violent crime, kidnappings and unrest, with some counties bordering Somalia under “avoid all travel.”