Sokoto has been named Nigeria’s best-governed city in 2025, according to the Open Evaluation of Government Cities Index (OEGCI) released by Statisense. The ranking, based on governance efficiency, public service delivery, infrastructure, innovation, and citizen satisfaction, places Sokoto ahead of some of Nigeria’s more traditionally celebrated urban centers. Here’s the full top 18 list of Nigeria’s best-governed cities: Sokoto (North West) Enugu (South East) Lagos (South West) Abeokuta (South West) Ilorin (North Central) Onitsha (South East) Ogbomosho (South West) Ibadan (South West) Owerri (South East) Maiduguri (North East) Abuja (North Central) Zaria (North West) Aba (South East) Port Harcourt (South…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
A new report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), released in June 2025, warns that the world is facing a global fertility crisis, not due to personal preferences, but because of systemic barriers like financial hardship, health challenges, and social inequality. The State of World Population 2025 report, based on a 14-country survey conducted with YouGov, reveals economic pressure, health barriers, and social inequality as key reasons millions are unable to fulfil their reproductive goals – thereby providing a growing gap between the number of children people want and what they have. “The real crisis is not overpopulation or…
The University of Bristol will offer fully funded master’s scholarships in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to both international and UK students beginning in October 2026. The initiative is part of the UK government’s new Spärck AI Scholarships, aimed at developing a world-class AI workforce through its £17.2 million AI Opportunity Action Plan. The scholarships will cover tuition fees and living expenses for students from low-income and underrepresented backgrounds. Bristol is one of nine top UK universities selected to deliver this prestigious programme, alongside Cambridge, Oxford, Imperial College London, and others. To support the scheme, Bristol is launching four new AI-focused MSc…
Elon Musk has introduced XChat, a new messaging platform that aims to reimagine private digital communication under the umbrella of his expanding X ecosystem (formerly Twitter). While full details are still unfolding, XChat is being positioned as a secure, privacy-driven alternative to mainstream messaging apps, blending familiar tools with a few notable innovations. At the heart of XChat is end-to-end encryption, which ensures that conversations remain confidential, accessible only to the sender and recipient. It’s a standard feature among secure messaging platforms, but one that XChat promises to implement with uncompromising rigour. One of its more dynamic features is vanishing…
A startling event happened early this morning, with several large sinkholes suddenly opened along a suburban street in California, tearing through the pavement and disrupting an otherwise quiet neighborhood. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m., with at least eight significant sinkholes forming—some reportedly over 30 feet wide and up to 50 feet deep. Local residents were jolted awake by loud rumbles and the sound of cracking ground. Several parked vehicles were damaged or swallowed, but fortunately, no injuries have been reported. Authorities swiftly evacuated several homes out of caution due to fears of further ground movement. Emergency responders and geotechnical…
Researchers at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, Australia, have discovered a breakthrough technique that may finally pave the way for a cure for HIV. This is in what could be a monumental turning point in the global fight against HIV/AIDS, The study, published in the reputable journal Nature Communications, reveals how mRNA technology — the same innovation behind COVID-19 vaccines — can now be used to expose and potentially eliminate hidden HIV within the human body. The hidden challenge in HIV treatment One of the greatest obstacles in curing HIV has been the virus’s uncanny…
The Niger State government has awarded a N7 billion contract for the construction of a 12-kilometre road linking Mokwa and Rabba communities, including four new bridges. Governor Mohammed Umar Bago announced this during an on-the-spot assessment and sympathy visit to Mokwa, following a recent devastating flood that claimed lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. He said the project will begin immediately and is aimed at reconnecting communities and restoring access that was lost due to the flood. ALSO READ Mokwa flood: Bago returns from Saudi Arabia, donates ₦1bn, orders swift action The governor also directed relevant ministries and…
Barely off the plane from Saudi Arabia, Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago headed straight to flood-ravaged Mokwa, where he described the devastation as a disaster “Niger State and Nigeria can’t afford again.” With scenes of submerged homes, stranded families, and missing children still fresh in the minds of residents, the Governor wasted no time in responding decisively to the crisis. Governor Bago immediately donated ₦1 billion in state emergency funds to aid victims, rebuild critical infrastructure, and begin long-term resettlement planning. “This is a human tragedy that we must not just mourn — we must act,” the governor said…
You might think testosterone issues only start showing up in middle age—or that they’re just something gym rats talk about when they’re not lifting. But here’s something most people don’t realize: even young, healthy men can see their testosterone levels drop significantly—just from not getting enough sleep. By Abdallah el-Kurebe And it doesn’t take months of sleepless nights. Just one week of sleeping five hours or less per night can lower your testosterone by up to 15%, according to a study from the University of Chicago. Let that sink in: your hormones can take a hit in less time than…
The military-led government in Niger has ordered the immediate closure of the Red Cross office in the capital, Niamey, accusing the humanitarian organisation of “interfering in internal affairs” and failing to maintain neutrality in the country’s fragile political climate. The announcement came through a statement issued late Saturday by authorities loyal to General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), which seized power in a coup in July 2023. “You cannot be pretending to save lives in Niger while interfering in our politics,” said General Tchiani, in a pointed rebuke to the…