The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a landmark political declaration aimed at tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and promoting mental health, with 175 member states voting in favour. Only the United States and Argentina opposed the declaration, while Paraguay abstained. The declaration was originally scheduled for adoption by consensus at the UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs on September 25. However, last-minute objections by the United States forced the matter to be referred to the General Assembly for a formal vote. A first-ever joint global framework Welcoming the outcome, the World Health Organization (WHO) described the declaration as the…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko on Tuesday, added a strong human voice to the Senate’s debate on the growing hardship faced by Nigerian farmers, as lawmakers considered a motion on falling produce prices and the rising cost of farm inputs. During the plenary, Wamakko actively supported a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammed Danjuma Goje, which highlighted how millions of farmers are being squeezed by the high cost of fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, even as the prices of their harvested crops continue to drop. Speaking from experience, who is also a farmer, acknowledged the steps already taken by the Federal Government to…
Elon Musk has solidified his position as the world’s richest person, boasting a jaw-dropping net worth of $638 billion, according to the latest Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s wealth dwarfs the competition, outpacing second-place Larry Page’s $265 billion by more than double. The index, updated daily and tracking the fortunes of the planet’s wealthiest individuals, reveals a heavily U.S.-dominated landscape. Americans claim 30 of the top 50 spots, including tech titans like Google’s Sergey Brin and Larry Page (at $246 billion each, tied for third), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos ($246 billion), and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg ($229 billion).…
Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding a full investigation into alleged abuse of office and corrupt enrichment by Ahmed Farouk, Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). In the petition dated December 16 and received on Tuesday at the office of the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, in Abuja, Dangote urged the anti-corruption agency to act in the public interest by probing what he described as clear indicators of illicit wealth and regulatory misconduct within a critical national institution.…
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it will duly investigate a corruption petition filed by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote against the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, citing its statutory mandate to probe allegations of abuse of office and financial impropriety. Dangote, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), submitted the petition to the anti-graft agency on Tuesday, accusing the NMDPRA chief of corruption, abuse of office, and financial impropriety. Hours after the petition was filed, the ICPC formally acknowledged its receipt and assured the public…
A total sum of ₦1.928 trillion, being the Federation Account revenue for November, has been shared among the Federal Government, states and local government councils (LGCs). The allocation was approved at the December meeting of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) held in Abuja on Monday, according to a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and made available by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations, Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF). The communiqué stated that the ₦1.928 trillion distributable revenue comprised ₦1.403 trillion in statutory revenue, ₦485.838 billion from Value Added Tax (VAT), and…
A Professor of Surveying and Geoinformatics (Gravimetric Geodesy) at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Prof. Timothy Idowu, has called for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with conventional geophysical knowledge to achieve more reliable, accurate, and explainable outcomes in mineral exploration. Idowu made the call while delivering the 189th Inaugural Lecture of the university on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The lecture was titled “Unlocking Subterranean Secrets: Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Enhanced Gravimetric Geodesy for Detecting Underground Beneficial Graves.” He explained that while the growing integration of AI with geodesy and geophysical methods holds significant promise for breakthroughs in subsurface exploration,…
The recent inauguration of a new Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme Fund (ACGSF) Board by the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, signals a strategic shift in how Nigeria intends to support its farmers—especially the millions of smallholders who form the backbone of the country’s food system. At the ceremony, Cardoso emphasized that the renewed ACGSF will not simply act as a guarantor for agricultural loans, but as a catalyst for modernizing Nigeria’s agriculture, deepening financial inclusion, and unlocking new opportunities across the value chain. For a sector that continues to shoulder national food production under immense…
Mango farming offers significant economic potential, and its success begins with selecting appropriate varieties suited to local growing conditions and market requirements. Options such as Apple Mango are preferred for fresh consumption due to their sweetness and juiciness, while Kent and Tommy Atkins are ideal for export markets because of their long shelf life. High-yielding and disease-resistant varieties like Ngowe and Boribo further enhance productivity and reduce production risks. Proper land preparation and soil management play a critical role in establishing a strong mango orchard. Mango trees thrive in well-drained sandy loam soils with a pH range of 5.5–7.5, conditions…
Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and President of the Dangote Group, has announced a ₦1 trillion scholarship programme to expand access to education and promote academic excellence across Nigeria. Starting in 2026, the initiative will support over 1.3 million students from all 774 local government areas, with ₦100 billion committed annually for 10 years. The programme targets Nigeria’s most vulnerable learners and is structured into three categories: Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars – 30,000 undergraduates in public universities and polytechnics will receive tuition support of up to ₦600,000 per year; Aliko Dangote Technical Scholars – 5,000 TVET…