Foreign investment inflows to Nigeria's equities market dropped by 29.66% in February 2025, falling to ₦18.05 billion from ₦25.66 billion in January.

The reduction in foreign participation was significant, with total foreign portfolio transactions on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) declining by 40.36% from ₦71.51 billion to ₦42.65 billion. Foreign outflows also decreased substantially, down 46.33% to ₦24.60 billion from January's ₦45.85 billion.

Overall trading activity on the exchange fell by 16.07% month-on-month, with total transactions dropping from ₦607.05 billion (approximately $410.84 million) in January to ₦509.47 billion (about $341.36 million) in February. However, compared to February 2024, trading volumes were up 42.36% year-on-year.

Domestic investors continued to dominate the market, accounting for 91.63% (₦466.82 billion) of all equity transactions in February, while foreign investors contributed just 8.37% (₦42.65 billion). This represents an increase in domestic market share from 88.22% in January.

Among domestic participants, institutional investors remained more active than retail traders, though both segments saw declines. Institutional transactions decreased by 5.92% to ₦252.31 billion, while retail investor activity fell more sharply by 19.76% to ₦214.51 billion.

Despite monthly fluctuations, cumulative domestic transactions for 2025 reached ₦1.002 trillion by the end of February, surpassing the ₦890.48 billion recorded during the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, foreign portfolio activity totaled ₦114.16 billion, slightly below the ₦118.92 billion seen in early 2024.

The declining foreign participation may reflect ongoing concerns about macroeconomic uncertainties and volatility in Nigeria's foreign exchange market.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Muhammad Abubakar Sa’ad, the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has announced the sighting of the Shawwal crescent, marking the end of Ramadan.

In a nationwide broadcast on Saturday, the Sultan confirmed that today Sunday, March 30, 2025, will be celebrated as Eid-el-Fitr, the festival marking the conclusion of the holy month of fasting.

“Today, the 29th of Ramadan 1446 AH, the crescent moon has been sighted, signifying the end of fasting. Consequently, Sunday, 30th March 2025, will be the first day of Shawwal and the day of Eid-el-Fitr,” the Sultan declared.

He extended prayers to Muslims, asking Allah to accept their fasting and grant them the blessings of sincere worship. The Sultan also offered supplications for leaders at all levels of government, urging divine guidance in their service to the nation.

Muslims worldwide have observed Ramadan since March 1, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs from dawn to dusk. The fasting period, lasting 29 or 30 days, is a time of spiritual reflection and devotion.

Earlier, the Federal Government had declared Monday, March 31, and Tuesday, April 1, as public holidays to allow Nigerians to celebrate Eid-el-Fitr.

Muslim faithful are expected to gather for Eid prayers today, followed by festivities, charity, and communal celebrations.

Hamas agrees to Gaza ceasefire proposal, the group's chief says

Hamas has agreed to a Gaza ceasefire proposal it received two days ago from mediators Egypt and Qatar, the Palestinian militant group's chief said on Saturday.

"Two days ago, we received a proposal from the mediators in Egypt and Qatar. We dealt with it positively and accepted it," Khalil al-Hayya said in a televised speech.

"We hope that the (Israeli) occupation will not undermine (it)," said Hayya, who leads the Hamas negotiating team in indirect talks aimed at securing a ceasefire in the Hamas-Israel war in Gaza that erupted in October 2023.

Security sources told Reuters on Thursday that Egypt had received positive indications from Israel over a new ceasefire proposal that would include a transitional phase.

The proposal suggests Hamas release five of the Israeli hostages it is holding each week, the sources said.

The Israeli prime minister's office said it had held a series of consultations according to the proposal that was received from the mediators, and that Israel had conveyed to the mediators a counter-proposal in full coordination with the United States.

Reuters asked the prime minister's office if it had also agreed to the ceasefire proposal but it did not immediately respond.

PHASED CEASEFIRE

The first phase of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas went into force on Jan. 19 after 15 months of war and involved a halt to fighting, the release of some of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas, and the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners.

Phase two of the three-phase deal is intended to focus on agreements on the release of the remaining hostages and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. Hamas says any proposals must allow the launch of the second phase, while Israel has offered to expand the first 42-day phase.

In response to calls on Hamas to disarm by Israel and the United States, Hayya said the group's arsenal was a red line and that it would not disarm as long as the "Israeli" occupation exists.

Israel and the U.S. say Hamas must not have a role in post-war Gaza arrangements.

Israeli military strikes on Gaza continued on Saturday, killing at least 20 Palestinians across the enclave, health authorities said.

The Israeli military said it had begun "ground activity" in the Jneina neighbourhood of the Rafah area to expand what it described as the security zone in southern Gaza.

On March 18, Israel resumed bombing and ground operations in Gaza, which it said were intended to increase pressure on Hamas to free hostages.

It has since issued evacuation orders to tens of thousands of residents in several areas in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, citing rocket firing into Israeli territories.

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli offensive in Gaza, Palestinian officials say.

Israel began its offensive after thousands of Hamas-led gunmen attacked communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251 as hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Reuters

Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air ~ Job 28:20-21.

Preamble:

Times come when we are faced with tough decisions that could eventually define some important details of our future in our family life, career, ministry, business, etcetera. If we get it right in such instances, we could be reaching forth to stardom, but if we get it wrong, the consequences might be catastrophic.

The bottom line is that real life isn't always straight-jacketed, and we must get used to that fact. However, if we diligently followGod’s wisdom, we cannot live like paupers in life, but make headway, come what may.

Wisdom teaches us what to do to get results. Wisdom distinguishes, and once you get it, you’ll begin to outsmart even the principalities and powers in the heavenly places (Ephesians 3:8-10).

More so, wisdom makes you truly tactical; pure wisdom enables you to make your points without duress. Albeit, true wisdom is quite hard to come by; hence, many people don’t have it.

Anyone who desires to obtain divine wisdom will have two elemental hurdles to cross and overcome, viz: divine wisdom is priceless, and it is characteristically hiddenfrom mortal men/women (Job 28:13-22).

How then can we obtain wisdom, especially the wisdom from above? Basically, the fact that wisdom is priceless isn’t bad news. It only suggests that the rich has no special advantage over the poor, and the poor shouldn’t admit any special disadvantage when it comes to getting divine wisdom.

Again, the fact that wisdom is not confined to any particular geographical location on earth also means that our education, acquired knowledge of exact science and profound research may not help us to obtain real wisdom. Hence, even egg-heads aren’t always wise, just like money and organizational positions don’t necessarily confer on anyone the wisdom from above.

How To Attract And Obtain The Wisdom of God

Fundamentally, it’s sheer foolishness to start seeking someone or something whose identity you don’t even know, and cannot recognize. It’s expedient, therefore, to first fully know and understand who or what divine wisdom is before seeking it.

In our previous article on this subject, we articulated the fact that God’s wisdom is a divine personality: Jesus Christ(1Corinthians 1:23-24). And, in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3).

Thence, the believers can draw from, explore and harness the treasures of divine wisdom in three primary ways: the Word of God, our affinity/sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and various other practical lifestreams of wisdom and inspiration.

The Word of God is the divine and perfect revelation of God’s mind, will, and counsel to mankind (Psalm 19:7-8). No one should expect to be wise and right in all dealings and judgments without prayerfully, diligently, and constantly imbibing, and applying God’s principles in His Word (Psalm 119:98-100).

We should regularly delve into the Word, and ask God for wisdom several times daily (James 1:5). Some decisions will comerightly once we pray for God's wisdom(Proverbs 2:6). Other difficult ones will require extended seasons of prayer and fasting.

We also can draw from the treasures of divine wisdom by listening to and obeying the Voice, the leading or prompting of the Holy Spirit. He’s the“Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). When we wholeheartedly abide and walk in God’s Word, and submit to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we’ll be enabled to operate in the fullness of divine wisdom.

Meanwhile, the place of character and personality traits shouldn’t be ignored in our course towards divine wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 9:10). Be aware that every idol in the heart is a stumbling-block to the will of God (Ezekiel 14:4).

In addition, you must qualify the people who have close access to your life-space, especially your inner, core group. This is very important because you will seldom rise above the quality of people who surround you. For instance, people who are stuck in the past can't embrace their future, and they won't want you to find yours either.

Take a careful look at your closest friends.How spiritual, experienced, mature, disciplined, diligent, focused or successful are they? Who are your counselors and advisers? Whose books are you reading? All these are vital to your streams of wisdom.

Yes indeed, your present experiences areimportant parts of your life’s journey. You may not always be able to change the direction of the wind, but you can always readjust your sails to reach your destinationthrough the various streams of experiences, both yours and from other people.

The more you learn, the more you earn! Nevertheless, you can’t know it all. That’s why we have consultants, engineers, physicians, parents, pastors, financial planners, lawyers, etcetera, to support us with their experiences which we don't have, but which we badly need.

Very importantly, there’s also a stream of wisdom that flows directly from pain. Every great success story has a hidden chapter, and every person faces battles no one else notices. Those unseen challenges and/or emotional exhaustion don’t get celebrated, but they are very crucial to our growth and development.

They’re sometimes the needed foundation of success, especially when they’re well padded with pure patience (Romans 5:3-5). Pain is a powerful teacher in wisdom, bothyour own pain and that of others. However,it's always better to learn from the pain of others.

For instance, when you see the troublesthat others are facing because they had poor boundaries, burned their candles at both ends, became uncharitable and unteachable, cut corners, chose to be wise-after-events, are incorrigible or became impervious to corrections, you’ll quickly avoid those paths at all costs.

Beloved friends, when these streams of wisdom flow into your lives, they form a mighty river of wisdom that can bless every aspect of your destinies, and indeed, the entire world around you (Psalm 46:4).

Happily, you’re probably just a step of faith away from divine wisdom. God, knowing that we can never deserve, or pay for His wisdom, offered Jesus Christ — the Wisdom of God — to us as a free gift (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).

It costs absolutely nothing in terms of monetary, intellectual, moral or spiritual capital to receive Christ; He’s freely available to all mankind (Ephesians 2:8). Nevertheless, God will not compel anyone to receive or embrace Him.

Anyone who desires to attract, obtain and retain God’s wisdom must be willing to repent of his/her sinful ways, and receive Jesus Christ by faith, confessing Him as his/her Lord and Saviour, and walking in His footsteps (Romans 10:7-13).

Thereafter, such a believer will now have hidden within him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ Jesus. You won’t miss this, in Jesus name. Amen. Happy Sunday!

____________________

Archbishop Taiwo Akinola,

Rhema Christian Church,

Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Connect with Bishop Akinola via these channels:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bishopakinola

SMS/WhatsApp: +234 802 318 4987

Ole Braatelien

What happens to our consciousness the moment we die?

Christians believe our souls end up in one of two places: Heaven or Hell, according to the Bible.

For atheists and non-Christians, beliefs about our immediate destination after death are as diverse as the various sects themselves.

Some people, however, don’t need to guess. That’s because they’ve reportedly been to the other side and lived to tell about their serene — or horrifying — experiences.

Christian journalist Lee Strobel documented many of these cases in his new book “Seeing the Supernatural: Investigating Angels, Demons, Mystical Dreams, Near-Death Encounters, and Other Mysteries of the Unseen World.”

Many of the near-death experiences Strobel included appear to defy medical explanation.

For instance, Strobel described the case of Mary, a single mother who died in her hospital bed, according to the U.K.’s Daily Mail.

“Suddenly a tunnel appeared, and she felt herself being pulled toward it,” Strobel wrote. “Her spirit passed through a ceiling fan and then through the ceiling.”

Mary said at the end of the tunnel she was shrouded with love and light, and that her life played out before her.

Do you believe in an actual heaven and actual hell?

“I felt every good or bad deed I had ever done and its consequences upon others,” she described. “It was a difficult time for me, but I was supported by unconditional love and weathered the painful parts. I was asked telepathically about whether I wanted to stay or return.”

What made Mary’s case peculiar, however, was not what she saw on “the other side,” but what she saw in her hospital room.

“When Mary’s spirit floated out of her body, she noticed a red label on the top side of a blade on the ceiling fan, hidden from view for people in the room. She later described the sticker in great detail,” Strobel wrote.

Another case centered on Maria, a heart attackpatient who also died in her hospital bed.

Maria rose from her body, ascending through the ceiling and above the hospital roof.

When she was revived, she told the staff she had seen a shoe on a window ledge of the hospital.

“A man’s shoe, left-footed, dark blue, with a wear mark over the little toe and a shoelace tucked under the heel,” she said.

The staff later found the shoe exactly where and how she had described it.

Such cases are not always so blissful or fascinating, however.

Some have recounted experiences that could only be described as hellish.

Atheist Howard Storm was a professor at Northern Kentucky University when he died of a stomach ulcer.

Following his death, Storm was outside of his body.

“He began following some mysterious but friendly visitors who beckoned him down the hallway,” Strobel wrote. ‘This turned into a trek of miles, with conditions getting darker and darker.”

Suddenly, his guides turned on him.

“They began pushing, hitting, pulling, kicking, biting and tearing with their fingernails and hands as they laughed and swore at him. He fought back as best he could, but he was mauled — physically and emotionally — in the struggle,” Strobel wrote.

Storm further described the chilling experience.

“There has never been a horror movie or book that can begin to describe their cruelty. Eventually I was eviscerated. I definitely lost one of my eyes, my ears were gone,” Storm said.

Storm called out, “Jesus, save me!” and a bright light pierced the darkness, and a pair of hands reached for him.

“When they touched me, in that light, I could see me and all the gore. I was roadkill. and that gore began to just dissolve and I came back whole,” Storm said.

Western Journal

Hair loss can be an upsetting and worrisome experience. But with a slew of wellness brands and influencers promising the best treatment, how do you know where to turn?

You should be wary of people online advertising products that offer a quick, one-size-fits-all fix, Dr. Mansha Thacker, board-certified dermatologist at Pennsylvania's St. Luke’s University Health Network tells USA TODAY.

"The hair loss industry is a billion-dollar business that tries to sell anything and everything, often overpromising results," Thacker says. "There are social media ads, wellness influencers and trichologists all pushing different treatments, and it can get overwhelming. Treatment requires a multifactorial approach, and the ideal plan is always individualized ... no single treatment works for everyone, but the right combination can make a real difference."

Here's what medical experts want you to know about the causes of hair loss and how to treat them.

Does wearing a hat cause baldness?

Wearing a hat won't make you bald in and of itself, Thacker says.

"But if you’re wearing one that's too tight or wearing it all the time without giving your scalp some air, it could lead to friction or irritation," she adds. That irritation, which can also be caused by wearing tight braids, ponytails, hair extensions or weaves, sometimes weakens hair follicles through a condition called traction alopecia, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD).

That doesn't mean you need to toss out your favorite baseball cap, though.

"I’d recommend sticking to hats that fit comfortably and making sure you’re letting your scalp breathe now and then," she says. "And if you're wearing hats often, just make sure to keep them clean and wash your hair regularly since a greasy scalp can lead to yeast overgrowth and dandruff."

If wearing a hat doesn't cause hair loss, what does? A number of things, dermatologists say.

"Genetics often play a big role, especially in pattern baldness," Thacker says. "But hormones can also be a major factor — things like pregnancy, menopause or thyroid issues can really impact your hair. Anemia and vitamin D deficiency are two common causes of hair loss I see in my practice. Other common causes include medical conditions like alopecia areata, scalp psoriasis, lupus, traction alopecia among others. Stress and diet can also play a role."

Can hair loss be reversed?

The answer to whether your hair loss can be reversed depends on the reason you're losing hair in the first place, Thacker says.

For conditions such as hormonal imbalances or stress-related hair thinning, there's a good chance your hair will start to grow back once the issue is addressed (or after you give birth, in the case of pregnancy). If you're experiencing pattern baldness or another genetic-related hair issue, treatments such as minoxidil or hair transplant surgery may help to re-grow hair, but not always. When other causes of hair loss lead to scarring, such as certain types of alopecia, that's often irreversible.

Hair loss is extremely common. Are vitamins the solution?

The first step, if you're experiencing any kind of hair loss, should be booking an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist, Thacker says. A biopsy and bloodwork may help in figuring out what's wrong. Many dermatologists then take a holistic approach with patients, using a combination of prescription medications, red light therapy, diet, vitamins, oils, topical medications and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, a type of regenerative medicine that uses growth factors found in blood cells to heal damaged tissue.

Hair loss can be an emotional ordeal; Thacker has seen countless patients "break out in tears" when speaking about their experiences with hair loss. But the sooner you figure out why it's happening, the sooner you and your doctor can figure out a plan.

"Hair is a part of our identity. It affects confidence, self-esteem and self-worth," she says. "It’s so frustrating when people on the internet prey on their vulnerability and try to sell stuff that doesn’t work. This makes people feel more helpless because they feel that they’re trying everything and yet not getting results. If you’re dealing with hair loss, it’s important to see a dermatologist early to figure out the cause."

USA Today