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EuroMatch NPFL: From Imo Pride To NPFL Spotlight — Akuchie Obinna Turns Debut Into a Clean-Sheet Spectacle

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For Akuchie Obinna, this was more than just another football match.

It was a moment to step onto the biggest stage in Nigerian domestic football and show that the Pride of Imo had a goalkeeper capable of standing tall when the spotlight arrived.

READ ALSO: EuroMatch NPFL: Sporting Lagos Plead With Fans After Ikorodu City Derby Postponement | Sports247 Nigeria

Making his first-ever EuroMatch NPFL appearance for Kun Khalifat FC on Matchday One, Akuchie immediately gave supporters something to talk about, producing a confident performance in the goalless draw away to Abia Warriors.

And when the game demanded a hero, the young goalkeeper answered.

With Abia Warriors pushing for a late winner, Akuchie remained composed between the posts, making crucial saves to protect his side and complete a memorable NPFL debut with a clean sheet.

The biggest drama came late.

Israel Joseph found himself with an opportunity to break the deadlock, but Akuchie stood in the way, producing a crucial save that ensured Kun Khalifat returned home with a valuable point.

That is the kind of debut goalkeepers dream about.

No goal conceded.
Big saves when it mattered.
A point secured on the road.
And then came the recognition.

Akuchie’s impressive performance earned him a place in the Sport Hub Team of the Week, adding another layer of glamour to what had already been a standout introduction to the EuroMatch NPFL.

For a player beginning his top-flight journey, the script could hardly have been better.

First NPFL appearance. First clean sheet. First Team of the Week selection.

From the heart of Imo to the bright lights of the EuroMatch NPFL, Akuchie Obinna has given football fans a name to watch.

And if Matchday One was the trailer, Kun Khalifat’s goalkeeper may just be preparing for a very entertaining season.

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NAICOM Launches ISSP to Deepen Penetration, Boost Confidence

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Nigerian Insurance industry regulator, the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), on Thursday in Abuja launched the Insurance Sector Strengthening Programme (ISSP), a new initiative aimed at accelerating the transformation of the industry and Nigeria in general.

The Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, NAICOM, Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, disclosed this today in Abuja during the official unveiling, he said the programme responds to persistent challenges facing the sector, including low insurance penetration despite Nigeria’s large economy, widespread underinsurance, limited public awareness of insurance products, and untapped opportunities among women, youth, and small businesses.

According to him, the  ISSP is built around six pillars: Advocacy and Policy, Awareness and Education, Capacity Building, Gender Inclusion, Youth Engagement, and MSME and Value Chain Development.

He noted that the programme places strong emphasis on public education and financial literacy, arguing that insurance uptake is closely tied to consumer trust and understanding.

He further  highlighted plans for professional training to strengthen technical expertise across the industry, alongside targeted efforts to bring more women and young people into the insurance space through tailored products and career opportunities.

He said the initiative would extend risk protection to Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which he described as key drivers of employment and economic productivity but currently underserved by insurance.

The Commissioner linked the ISSP to the broader Nigeria Insurance Industry Reform Agenda (NIIRA 2025), stating that it supports goals such as deepening penetration, enhancing professionalism, strengthening consumer protection, and increasing the sector’s contribution to economic growth.

While pledging NAICOM’s continued support for innovation, Omosehin stressed that growth must be matched by strict adherence to prudential standards, transparency, and prompt claims settlement, adding that market expansion would not be permitted at the expense of solvency or public trust.

He described the launch as the beginning of a new chapter for insurance in Nigeria, one built on collaboration among regulators, operators, professional bodies, development partners, and the media to expand access and rebuild public confidence in the sector.

The post NAICOM Launches ISSP to Deepen Penetration, Boost Confidence appeared first on Business Today NG.

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Oura files to go public

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Oura, the smart ring maker, has filed to go public.

The filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday shows that Oura’s revenue has jumped substantially in the past year. The company went from $697 million in revenue during the nine-month period that ended June 30 last year to $1.2 billion during the corresponding period this year.

The company has said previously said publicly that it generated $500 million in revenue in 2024, roughly $1 billion in 2025, and that it expected to generate close to $2 billion in revenue this year.

The company says it has sold 3.6 million rings over the past year, and that it currently has approximately 5 million paid members — that is, users who subscribe to its service for broader health metrics. The filing also says that Oura has an approximately 85% weighted-average 12-month membership retention rate, meaning that roughly 85% of members who sign up in a given month are still subscribed a year later.

The company’s rings, which sell in the range of $350 to $400, are, at their most fundamental level, fitness trackers designed to measure a user’s biometrics — everything from metabolism and heart rate to stress levels and sleep patterns. Paired with an app, the ring and that software are marketed by Oura as an “always-on health intelligence platform.”

Late last month, it was reported that Oura was looking raise $3 billion during its expected public offering. The company, which was founded in Finland in 2013, confidentially filed for an IPO in May. Bloomberg previously reported that the company is expected to seek a $16 billion valuation. In October of last year, it had been valued at around $11 billion.

In its SEC filing, Oura outlines where it believes its audience can widen in the coming years. “We believe our opportunity extends beyond traditional wearable use cases centered on activity and fitness tracking,” it says. “We believe our platform can support significantly larger populations as we continue to expand access, build clinical evidence, and deepen integrations with health plans, employers, and care providers.”

Oura also notes how its trove of data is fueling new AI integrations. “We believe we have amassed one of the largest and highest-quality longitudinal biometric datasets in consumer health, tracking over 50 health and wellness metrics and representing nearly 42 billion hours of physiological data,” it states. “This dataset powers our AI and machine-learning models, which decode complex physiological patterns and improve in accuracy, personalization, and predictive capability as member histories deepen.”

TechCrunch has reached out to Oura for more information.

The company, which now has offices throughout the world, including San Francisco, was recently hit with a proposed class action lawsuit accusing it of misleading users about the accuracy of its sleep tracking capabilities. The suit alleges Oura’s rings can’t actually detect the physiological signals needed to determine sleep stages, and instead rely on AI-generated estimates that the complaint describes as little more reliable than a coin flip. The litigation follows years of online complaints from users who said that Oura consistently rated their sleep as optimal when, in fact, it was not.

The company has disputed the allegations and previously told TechCrunch it will “defend against” the claims in the “appropriate legal forum.”

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