This wasn’t how I planned to start the year.

Our first edition of 234Digest was meant to land in your inbox last week—but a bout of malaria had other ideas. Those parasites will leave you weak and nearly useless. Very wicked and dangerous.

Thankfully, I began treatment early and I’m much better now.

So this first dispatch of 2026 comes on the back of an important victory, and a deep sense of gratitude.

So what’s happening with Nigeria?

A national carbon-market framework aims to unlock billions in climate finance. Lawmakers are racing to regulate AI. A homegrown drone startup just secured U.S. defence backing. Chimamanda Adichie’s tragic loss reignites scrutiny of private healthcare. And Funke Akindele, again, is rewriting box office history.

As always, we track these signals not just for what they say, but for what they mean. Let’s dive in.

Let’s dive in.

Samuel Okocha, Editor, 234Digest, here.

Nigeria’s efforts to monetize its emissions reductions gained momentum after it approved a national carbon-market framework. The framework aims to generate at least $3 billion annually by 2030, positioning Africa’s most populous economy to capitalize on global carbon markets.

President Bola Tinubu’s approval paves the way for large-scale trading of emission allowances and project-based credits in line with global markets, attracting climate finance and channeling private capital into key sectors such as gas-to-power, clean cooking, reforestation, and industrial efficiency.

The initiative is also expected to help diversify hard-currency earnings, reducing its reliance on oil revenue.

Lawmakers are preparing to pass the National Digital Economy and E-Governance Bill by March’s end, as Nigeria one of the first African countries with economy-wide AI regulation.

The law would empower regulators to oversee data, algorithms, and digital platforms, and subject “high-risk” AI systems in finance, public administration, surveillance, and automated decision-making to closer scrutiny.

Developers would be required to file annual impact assessments, while regulators could impose fines of up to 10million naira ($7,000) or 2% of Nigerian revenue.

Abuja-based defence tech startup Terrahaptix (also known as Terra Industries) has raised $11.8 million in a funding round led by 8VC, the venture firm founded by Palantir co-founder Joe Lonsdale.

Terra designs and manufactures long- and mid-range drones, autonomous sentry towers, and unmanned ground vehicles in Africa. It’s AI-powered Artemis OS, capable of detecting and classifying threats, including bandits, ammunition levels, and movement patterns is already in high demand across Africa.

The new capital will fund expanded manufacturing and cross-border deployments amid efforts to to address pressing jihadist threats in Nigeria and nighbouring countries.

With a 15,000-square-foot factory in Abuja and 75% of sales outside Nigeria, the latest raise bolsters Terrahaptix role as a growing key player in Africa’s defence landscape, serving clients across the continent.

Celebrated Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has accused a Lagos private hospital of negligence in the death of her 21-month-old son, Nkanu, reigniting debate over standards in Nigeria’s health system.

Adichie said her son died at Euracare Multi-Specialist Hospital on 7 January after being transferred for tests ahead of a planned U.S. evacuation. Her allegations have sparked calls for inquiry into high-end facilities and the quality gap driving wealthy Nigerians abroad for care.

Nigeria advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a 2–0 win over Algeria in Marrakech, setting up a clash with hosts Morocco.

Victor Osimhen opened the scoring two minutes into the second half, heading in Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross as Algeria’s Luca Zidane misjudged the flight. Akor Adams sealed the win ten minutes later. Coach Eric Chelle hailed a dominant display following Nigeria’s recent World Cup disappointment.

Nigerian filmmaker Funke Akindele is now Africa’s highest-grossing director after her film Behind The Scenes became the first Nollywood film to cross 2billion naira ( $1.41million) at the African box office.

The film tops charts across Africa, the UK, and Ireland, making Akindele the first filmmaker to rank number one at the African box office for three consecutive years.

Words of wisdom: "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."—Aristotle

And that concludes it for today’s roundup. Many thanks for joining me. Until next week, when the next dispatch arrives, have a fantastic week. And a happy 2026.

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