By Abdallah el-Kurebe The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) has pledged Togo on regulatory frameworks in the area of the advancement of science, technology and innovation in the country. A high-level advocacy team led by Prof. Aggrey Ambali, who represented the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEPAD Agency and the Michigan State University, expressed the availability of NEPAD Agency to support the work that is being done in Togo to advance science, technology and innovation. The team encouraged Togo authorities to work towards the adoption of the revised biosafety laws in order to allow Togolese scientists to properly carry…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
By Agbmadamyiloh Shekwoduza In considering the importance of agricultural value-chain, governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has assured that his administration would continue with providing fertiliser subsidy to farmers across the state. According to the governor, this was aimed at boosting food production, as well as increasing farmers’ purchasing power, thereby resulting in an ultimately improved farm yield in the state. Tambuwal who spoke at an informal meeting with members of commodity associations in Sokoto, said that the ultimate goal was to stimulate economic growth and ensure reduction in poverty level among rural populace. He said all over the world,…
Sokoto state government is to collaborate with the Peoples Republic of China to boost commerce and establish mining and agro-allied industries in the state. I In that regard, Sokoto government will provide land for the establishment of ‘China Town’ in the border-town of Illela to boost trade and investment in the West African region. Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal stated this Friday when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gu Xiaojie paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Sokoto. He said already, some Chinese companies have carried out feasibility studies on the projects, adding that the state government is awaiting…
Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal Friday signed the Primary Healthcare Development Agency (amendment) bill 2015 into law, with a vow to reposition the agency for better service delivery. A statement by Tambuwal’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said the new bill incooperates all dispensaries and health clinics hitherto under the local government councils but will now be under the state primary healthcare development agency. The amended bill, according to the statement, also promotes the participation of women in the planning, management and implementation of the provisions of the bill especially at the grassroots level. “With the signing of the bill, Sokoto State…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe with Agency reports European and African scientists in a new research, have warned of imminent risks posed by the increasing air pollution that could have negative impact on human health, meteorology and regional climate in West African cities. A report published by the Nature Climate Change states that the “rapidly expanding cities such as Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana and Abidjan in Ivory Coast were producing large amounts of harmful aerosols and gaseous pollutants.” According to the scientists led by Professor Peter Knippertz of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, in an EU-funded research project, “Human health,…
Smart Villages: New Thinking for Off-grid Communities Worldwide – A Synopsis By Abdallah el-Kurebe “Smart Villages: New Thinking for off-grid communities worldwide” is a collection of opinion pieces in renewable energy. It is a chronicle of ideas by experts aimed at tackling the issues of energy as a catalyst for sustainable development – health, food security, education gender equality, governance, security and employment. The 124-page book, which is comprised of 16 essays written by scientists and leading thinkers from around the world was compiled by Prof. Sir Brian Heap, Senior Adviser to Smart Villages and launched at the World Conference…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir, the Senator representing Sokoto East senatorial zone has called on Nigerian Federal government to optimise use of the existing mini dams across the country in order to heighten the electricity access of all Nigerians. The senator, who is also a chartered electrical engineer, told Newsdiaryonline in an exclusive interview that off-grid energy was an area that was worth looking into. According to him, “I believe that off-grid energy is an area we should be looking at with great zeal. For me, this is what Buhari administration should start with. Everywhere that we have these…
CSE endorses Act which says local communities should share benefit from RE Decentralised distributed generation is part of the Act A few areas need clarity and further definition NEW DELHI, July 16: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has welcomed the draft National Renewable Energy Act and has made a few suggestions which it will share with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). “The draft Act emphasizes that RE should be mainstreamed by offering financial incentives and infrastructural support to manufacturers and developers so as to bring RE on the same level playing field as fossil fuels,”…
The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has today released a new report titled, GM and seed industry eye Africa’s lucrative cowpea seed markets: The political economy of cowpea in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Malawi. The report shows a strong interest by the seed industry in commercialising cowpea seed production and distribution in West Africa, where a very lucrative regional cowpea seed market is emerging. Cowpea, one of the most ancient crops known to humankind, with its centre of origin in Southern Africa, provides the earliest food for millions of Africans during the ‘hungry season’ before cereals mature. The report…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe A new variety of Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Cotton, which underwent trial in northern Ghana has proved successive, Dr. Emmanuel Chamba, a scientist at the Yam and Cotton Breeding Programme of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), has confirmed. The trial of the Bt cotton, which was carried out in the three northern regions of the country was done by growing a non-Bt cotton along side the Bt cotton. “What we did was that we had a quarter hectare Bt cotton and a quarter hectare non-Bt cotton lying side by side. We did that in six…