Malaysia is set to implement a nationwide restriction next year that will prevent individuals under the age of 16 from creating social media accounts. This is a growing global movement by governments to enhance online protections for children and address concerns over mental health and exposure to harmful content.Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil announced the planned restriction, stating that the government is currently developing compliance systems that major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X, will be required to adhere to.The initiative mirrors similar actions in other nations. Australia, for example, mandates social networks to deactivate accounts belonging to users under 16 starting in December. The US has seen 24 states enact age-verification laws.For Malaysia, the primary concerns driving this policy are the impact of social media use on young people’s mental health, safety, and exposure to harmful content and online manipulation.
States hail Jolly Phonics project for transformative impact on early literacy in Nigeria
State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) across Nigeria, including Kano, Lagos, Kaduna, Adamawa, Zamfara, Akwa Ibom, and Jigawa, among others, have commended the Jolly Phonics Project for its remarkable contribution to early grade literacy, describing it as one of the most successful education interventions in the country’s history.Their commendation follows the release of the 2025 Phonics Screening Exercise results by Universal Learning Solutions Initiative under the UBEC 2023/2024 TPD programme. The assessment, which covered 72,127 pupils across 33 states, represents the largest early-grade literacy assessment ever conducted in Nigeria.Findings reveal that pupils taught using the Jolly Phonics methodology consistently outperform their peers in reading and writing, with steady progress recorded in every assessment cycle since 2019. The 2025 screening marks the third major nationwide phonics assessment, following earlier exercises in 2019 and 2021, and the data shows a clear upward trajectory in literacy achievement.In Primary 1, the proportion of pupils meeting the English words reading benchmark rose from one in five in 2019 to one in three in 2025, a “remarkable 60% increase”. These results are truly inspiring. In a context where many education projects have failed to show measurable impact, Jolly Phonics has delivered consistent, evidence-based results. With greater investment and support, its reach and impact could be even stronger – Patrick Uzu, Country Director of Universal Learning Solutions (ULS) Major international studies, including the UK’s Rose Review (2006) and the US National Reading Panel, have long affirmed that systematic synthetic phonics provides the most reliable foundation for early reading.Across Nigeria, SUBEBs have echoed similar praise, citing the programme’s proven ability to strengthen early literacy outcomes. Alhaji Yusuf Kabir, Executive Chairman of Kano State SUBEB, noted the programme’s transformational effect; Among the various early grade literacy interventions in Kano State, Jolly Phonics stands out for its significant impact and achievements. We’ve witnessed remarkable improvements in pupils’ reading and writing skills, increased teacher motivation, and classrooms filled with enthusiasm and confidence. Jolly Phonics has laid a strong foundation for literacy in Kano State What began as a small pilot in a single school in Akwa Ibom State in 2006 has evolved into a nationwide success story, implemented today across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.Reflecting on this progress, Gary Foxcroft, CEO of Universal Learning Solutions, remarked; It’s incredible to think that Jolly Phonics started in a single school in Akwa Ibom State 19 years ago and is now active across every state in Nigeria. We are proud of the strong teams, from teachers to state coordinators, SUBEBs, and UBEC, delivering evidence-based literacy interventions that are changing children’s lives. Nigeria is now leading the way in showing how a consistent phonics-based approach can transform reading outcomes The success of Jolly Phonics in Nigeria has been driven by strong collaboration among UBEC, SUBEBs, Universal Learning Solutions, and the Federal Ministry of Education. Through this partnership, 241,227 primary school teachers from 120,738 schools, along with 7,182 education officials, have been trained. An estimated 30 million pupils have benefited from the programme, supported by data-driven monitoring to ensure accountability and sustainability.Uzu commended UBEC and state governments for their commitment: UBEC has been a key partner in ensuring this isn’t just another short-term project but a national literacy strategy. SUBEBs across the country have shown real ownership, ensuring teachers are supported and data is collected to sustain impact. Nigeria should be proud of what it has achieved through this collaboration Jolly Phonics is rooted in synthetic phonics, an internationally recognised, evidence-based approach that teaches reading by linking sounds to letters and blending them into words. Independent evaluations globally have found that children taught with Jolly Phonics not only learn to read faster but also perform better across other subjects, since literacy underpins learning in every area.The approach has been particularly effective in strengthening foundational skills in large, diverse classrooms, a common challenge across Nigerian schools.With the 2025 results confirming sustained progress, education experts are urging policymakers to deepen investment and broaden training. The data speaks for itself. If we can achieve this level of improvement with modest resources, imagine what could be done with stronger support. Every Nigerian child deserves the chance to learn to read early, and Jolly Phonics has shown it can make that happen – Foxcroft Alhaji Kabir reaffirmed Kano State’s commitment to expanding teacher training: Our goal is for every child in Kano State, and across Nigeria, to read confidently by the end of Primary 2. Jolly Phonics gives us the proven tools to make that goal a reality.
72,000-Pupil reading assessment records progress in early literacy across Nigeria
By Aliyu Baba Mohammed Nigeria has recorded improvements in early grade reading following a large-scale pupil assessment that tested over 72,000 children across 33 states, with results showing gains in phonics-based literacy instruction. Universal Learning Solutions (ULS), which manages the Jolly Phonics Project in Nigeria, announced the results of the 2025 National Phonics Screening Exercise on Saturday in Abuja. The assessment evaluated 72,127 pupils from Early Child Care and Development (ECCD) to Primary 3 across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Of the pupils tested, 64,576 had received instruction through Jolly Phonics, an early literacy programme supported by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs). The project now operates in all 36 states and the FCT. The assessment findings indicate that pupils showed gains in letter-sound knowledge and word reading ability compared to previous assessments. Mean scores in both English letter sounds and English word reading have risen since 2019, with Primary 3 pupils’ average word-reading ability showing significant improvement. The proportion of pupils reaching national reading benchmarks has also increased. Primary 1 pupils achieving the 20-word benchmark rose from 20.9 percent in 2021 to 35 percent in 2025. Among Primary 2 pupils, those meeting the 30-word benchmark climbed from 17.7 percent in 2019 to 26.6 percent in 2025. Results also showed that pupils taught using phonics-based methods performed better in both English and Hausa reading, suggesting that phonics skills may support bilingual literacy development. The Country Director of Universal Learning Solutions, Mr. Patrick Uzu, commented on the results; These results show that Jolly Phonics is having an impact in classrooms and helping to build teacher confidence while giving children foundational reading skills – Uzu The Chief Executive Officer of Universal Learning Solutions, Mr. Gary Foxcroft, described the scope of the exercise; This was the largest early-grade pupil assessment ever undertaken in Nigeria. It reflects the dedication of thousands of people – Foxcroft He acknowledged the monitors across 33 states who carried out the assessment and the teachers implementing the phonics programme in their classrooms. Gilbert Jolly, CEO of Jolly Learning, noted Nigeria’s adoption of systematic phonics instruction. Nigeria is following the path of other countries such as Singapore and Ireland, where Jolly Phonics has been used alongside strong literacy outcomes in international assessments like the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) – Jolly The Jolly Phonics programme uses a systematic approach to teaching reading and writing through phonics. Children learn the sounds that letters make rather than just letter names, which research indicates can help with word decoding when learning to read. The programme has been implemented in Nigerian schools with support from state education boards and the Universal Basic Education Commission. Teachers receive training in phonics instruction methods, and pupils are assessed regularly to monitor progress. The 2025 National Phonics Screening Exercise represents an effort to measure literacy outcomes across Nigeria’s education system. By testing more than 72,000 pupils in a single assessment cycle, education authorities have gathered data on teaching methods and their outcomes. The findings indicate that structured literacy programmes combined with teacher training can produce measurable improvements in large education systems. The improvement in word-reading ability among Primary 3 pupils since 2019 suggests that consistent implementation of teaching methods can yield results over time. However, challenges remain. While the proportion of pupils meeting reading benchmarks has increased, the majority of pupils in Primary 1 and Primary 2 are still below the national targets. Continued investment in teacher training, learning materials and assessment systems will be necessary to reach more children. Universal Learning Solutions is an education organization working in Nigeria and other countries to support literacy programmes, teacher training and assessment systems. The organization partners with government agencies and education boards to implement reading programmes in schools.
Paystack co-founder Ezra Olubi alleges wrongful firing during misconduct probe
Ezra Olubi, co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of African fintech giant Paystack, has alleged that his employment was terminated prematurely while an investigation into serious allegations of sexual misconduct and disturbing decade-old social media posts was still underway.In a statement released on Sunday, Olubi claims Paystack’s Board dismissed him on Saturday, November 22, 2025, without granting him a hearing or opportunity to respond, actions he argues violate both the terms of his suspension and the company’s internal policies.Olubi, who co-founded Paystack in 2015 before its acquisition by Stripe in 2020 for over $200 million, was placed on immediate suspension on November 13, 2025. This followed the resurfacing of explicit and highly controversial social media posts he made between 2009 and 2013, alongside recent allegations of inappropriate workplace behavior toward a subordinate.The decade-old posts contained sexually explicit comments about colleagues, minors, and other offensive references, prompting calls for a police investigation into potential criminal offenses.Olubi alleges his dismissal was determined before the “independent” third-party investigation was concluded, and that the company failed to follow due process.Olubi confirmed his legal team is now reviewing the process and will take the steps they consider appropriate, over the alleged wrongful dismissal.Paystack and its parent company, Stripe, have not publicly responded to Olubi’s claim regarding the termination process. The company’s previous statement confirmed the appointment of an independent third-party investigator to ensure a “fair and transparent review.”
Tesla launches first African base in Morocco, aiming to build EV manufacturing hub
Tesla is launching its first official operation on the African continent in Morocco, thereby creating job openings in Casablanca. Tesla intends to leverage with the rapid growth in the automotive sector and favorable electric vehicle (EV) policies in Morocco over South Africa, which was historically the continent’s largest vehicle market.The new Country Leader will be responsible for sales, delivery, daily operations, and market expansion, placing Tesla for both sales and potentially future manufacturing in North Africa.While South Africa traditionally holds the largest vehicle sales market, Morocco has aggressively placed itself as the automotive manufacturing and EV production leader of the continent.Tesla’s establishment of a presence in Casablanca, its first official subsidiary in Africa, is expected to have far-reaching implications for the entire African automotive industry. Tesla’s presence will likely accelerate EV adoption across Morocco, supporting the country’s targets of 10,000 public charging stations by 2030 and 20% EV penetration in new vehicle sales.The move increases competition, particularly with Chinese EV manufacturers like BYD, which has been investing in South Africa. This competition is expected to drive greater overall investment and innovation in African electric mobility.Tesla’s decision will likely encourage other global automakers to invest in North Africa, capitalizing on Morocco’s favorable investment environment and EV incentives.Tesla’s entry into Morocco is seen not just as a sales strategy but as a strategic long-term play, potentially setting up the North African kingdom as the primary EV manufacturing and distribution hub for the entire continent. South Africa will need to quickly implement its announced EV incentives and ramp up local EV production to remain competitive in the face of this global shift towards sustainable mobility.
ABI and University of Namibia launch first-of-its-kind Master’s program in blockchain technology in Africa
The Africa Blockchain Institute (ABI), in partnership with the University of Namibia (UNAM), has announced the approval and rollout of a groundbreaking Master of Science in Blockchain Technology program, marking a significant milestone for blockchain education and innovation across the continent. The newly approved postgraduate program positions Namibia, and Africa more broadly, as an emerging hub for blockchain research, talent development, and industry-led innovation. Designed to combine academic rigor with practical application, the curriculum will expose students to blockchain architecture, decentralized systems, smart contract development, governance, cybersecurity, and the socio-economic implications of emerging technologies. According to ABI, the goal of the program is to bridge the knowledge gap that has long limited Africa’s participation in the global blockchain economy. By training specialists, researchers, and innovators locally, the institute aims to strengthen Africa’s capacity to build and scale decentralized solutions tailored to the region’s unique challenges and opportunities. This program represents more than a graduate degree. It reflects a strategic investment in Africa’s digital future. Our partnership with the University of Namibia signals our commitment to cultivating home-grown expertise that can lead Africa’s participation in the global blockchain revolution – Kayode Babarinde, Executive Director of ABI UNAM echoed this vision, emphasizing that the program aligns with its broader mission to drive technological advancement, research excellence, and economic transformation through education. With blockchain technology gaining traction in sectors such as finance, public governance, agriculture, energy, and supply chain logistics, experts say the introduction of a dedicated master’s program could accelerate adoption and innovation across Africa. By equipping students with both technical skills and policy-level understanding, the program aims to produce graduates who can navigate the complexities of a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Applications for the Master of Science in Blockchain Technology are now open.Interested candidates can apply online through the University of Namibia’s application portal: www.unam.edu.na/online-application The first cohort is expected to set a new precedent for advanced blockchain studies in Africa, potentially shaping the continent’s next wave of innovators, researchers, and technology leaders. About the Africa Blockchain Institute (ABI) The Africa Blockchain Institute (ABI) is a pan-African think-and-do tank advancing blockchain education, research, policy, and enterprise development. Through strategic programs,ecosystem partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives, ABI works to drive blockchain adoption and innovation that supports Africa’s sustainable digital transformation. For Media Inquiries:info@africablockchain.institutewww.africablockchain.institute