News

Pentagon inks deals with Nvidia, Microsoft and AWS to deploy AI on classified networks

Published

5 minutes ago

May 1, 2026

Preport

After landing agreements with Google, SpaceX, and OpenAI, the U.S. Defense Department said on Friday that it has signed deals with Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, and Reflection AI that allow it to deploy their AI tech and models on its classified networks for “lawful operational use.”

“These agreements accelerate the transformation toward establishing the United States military as an AI-first fighting force and will strengthen our warfighters’ ability to maintain decision superiority across all domains of warfare,” the statement reads.

The deals come as the U.S. Department of Defense has accelerated its diversification of AI vendors in the wake of its controversial dispute with Anthropic over usage terms of its AI models. The Pentagon wanted unrestricted use of Anthropic’s AI tools, but the AI lab insisted on guardrails to prevent Anthropic’s tech from being used for domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.

The two are fighting it out in court at the moment, though Anthropic in March won an injunction against the Pentagon’s move to brand the company a “supply chain risk.”

“The Department will continue to build an architecture that prevents AI vendor lock-in and ensures long-term flexibility for the Joint Force,” the statement reads. “Access to a diverse suite of AI capabilities from across the resilient American technology stack will give warfighters the tools they need to act with confidence and safeguard the nation against any threat.”

The DoD said the companies’ AI hardware and models will be deployed on Impact Level 6 (IL6) and Impact Level 7 (IL7) environments to “streamline data synthesis, elevate situational understanding, and augment warfighter decision-making.” IL6 and IL7 are high-level security classifications for data and information systems that are deemed critical to national security, and require that these systems be protected physically, through strict access controls and audits.

The Pentagon said more than 1.3 million DoD personnel have so far used its secure enterprise platform for generative AI, GenAI.mil, which provides access to large language models (LLMs) and other AI tools within government-approved cloud environments. It is designed to help primarily with non-classified tasks like research, document drafting, and data analysis.

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Business

Linkage Assurance delivers 748% profit surge in Q1 despite tough operating environment

Published

49 minutes ago

May 1, 2026

Preport

Daniel Braie MDCEO Linkage Assurance.jpeg

BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Underwriting firm, Linkage Assurance Plc has released its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026, posting a sharp surge in profitability despite a challenging operating environment.

The standout highlight is the company’s profit after tax (PAT), which soared by 748 percent to N6.25 billion, up from N736.3 million in the corresponding period of 2025. Similarly, profit before tax (PBT) jumped by 689 percent to N6.57 billion, compared to N833.2 million a year earlier.

This remarkable performance signals a decisive turnaround in bottom-line growth and positions Linkage Assurance among the standout performers in Nigeria’s insurance sector for the quarter under review.

A closer look at the results reveals a significant surge in investment and other income, which rose by 425 percent to N8.60 billion from N1.64 billion in the prior year. This underscores the company’s ability to navigate its operating environment and capitalise on market opportunities.

Insurance revenue for the period recorded a modest increase of 6 percent to N6.40 billion. However, insurance service expenses rose by 73 percent, reflecting the company’s readiness to meet claims obligations promptly and reinforce customer trust.

Linkage Assurance also strengthened its financial position during the period, with a more robust balance sheet as total assets grew by 13 percent to N87.27 billion from N76.9 billion, driven by increased investment holdings and business expansion.

Commenting on the results, Daniel Braie, Managing Director/CEO of Linkage Assurance Plc, said the company is strategically positioned to deepen customer confidence through quality service delivery and prompt claims settlement.

“What we have promised as an insurer is to be there for our customers when they need us. That is why we prioritise claims and ensure they are delivered promptly,” he said.

He expressed optimism about the company’s outlook for the coming quarters, noting that it remains well-positioned to sustain strong market performance and deliver value to stakeholders.

Management’s 2026 theme of “Consolidation” underscores a deliberate focus on balancing growth with operational efficiency. The company is prioritising expansion in profitable segments, operational and financial excellence, digital transformation, product innovation, and enhanced customer experience.

The post Linkage Assurance delivers 748% profit surge in Q1 despite tough operating environment appeared first on Business Today NG.

News

CODE Unveils 2025 Report, Reveals $177.7bn Annual Climate Finance Gap

Published

1 hour ago

May 1, 2026

Preport

By Perpetua Onuegbu/Grant Onyeke

Connected Development (CODE) has unveiled its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting 177.7 billion dollars annual financing gap for Nigeria to meet its climate obligations, while calling for reforms in global climate funding architecture.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of CODE, Ms Hyeladzira Mshelia, presented the report in Abuja.

She said that Nigeria received 4.928 billion dollars in climate finance over seven years, with 75 per cent of the funds coming as loans.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the report with the theme “Leading Communities to Action”, highlighted the projects the organisation had undertaken since inception such as ‘Follow the Money, Climate Action’ among others.

“CODE follows the money, and in 2025, we tracked funds across 12 African countries, covering 4,772 schools, oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta and federal allocation data largely inaccessible to ordinary Nigerians,” she said.

She noted that the organisation applied its Follow the Money methodology to Nigeria’s Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), stressing that lack of transparency in health security financing could have life-threatening consequences.

According to Mshelia, under the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), CODE monitored schools in Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi and Plateau States.

The acting CEO said there were improvements in scholarship delivery and digital learning access, but identified gaps in school safety and disability inclusion.

“We did not stop at documentation; we triggered corrective actions because accountability without reform is ineffective,” she said.

Mshelia, added that through the Power of Voices Partnership, 119 community members in four states were trained on their rights under the Petroleum Industry Act, strengthening accountability in Niger Delta communities.

Beyond its findings, Mshelia said CODE developed a Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning roadmap in Bauchi State and established a Civic Integrity Club in a special needs school in Cross River.

She added that the organisation expanded its footprint to 12 African countries with the launch of Follow the Money in Sierra Leone and trained more than 450 students through civic hackathons and advocacy initiatives.

Highlighting impact stories, Mshelia cited Dorathy Stephen, a participant in the Girl-Child Education Project, who was later appointed to a ministerial committee on sexual harassment in Bauchi State.

Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Mshelia stressed the need for strengthened civic engagement and transparency.

“Nigeria is a few months away from general elections. What happens now in terms of civic education and citizen participation will determine the quality of that election,” she said.

The event also featured a Panel Discussion Session with the theme “From Accountability to the Ballot” where panellists looked at critical issues that could deter credible and transparent elections.

Senior Adviser, Policy and Strategy, Office of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Chimdi Neliaku said government must look for innovative ways to communicate its policies to the citizens for better understanding.

She added that it would close up the trust gap between the government and the citizenry.

Neliaku also urged the government to prioritise competing issues and needs of the people in order to deliver good governance.

On his part, Ibrahim Faruk, Programme Coordinator (Africa Division), Yiaga Africa, noted that one of the critical risks to election integrity was the fear of INEC officials being partisan and the fear of bodily harm due to insecurity.

Faruk also listed fake news and the use of AI in manipulating events and issues.

He, therefore, called for adequate information management to citizens as 2027 election draws near, adding that a well-informed citizen is the most powerful citizen.

Other participants called on the media to focus on politicians and the political class to propel them into action to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

NAN further reports that the event was also used to launch the Digital Mobilisation Lab, Cohort 2 which the organisation said is a structure to support democratic accountability and continued community-based monitoring.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Francis Onyeukwu