Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda is being redefined with the Federal Government entering into a landmark $158.15 million agreement with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the French Development Agency (AFD). The pact, signed at the State House in Abuja, sets the stage for an ambitious eight-year Value Chain Development Programme for Northern Nigeria (VCN), aimed at overhauling rural economies across nine states. By Abdallah el-Kurebe At the heart of this historic agreement lies a bold vision: to unlock the agricultural potential of Northern Nigeria — a region often portrayed through the lens of insecurity and poverty. But now,…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
President Ibrahim Traoré of Burkina Faso has announced that all childbirth services in the country will now be completely free. The decision, which takes effect immediately, is part of a larger national effort to make sure no mother or child is left behind when it comes to healthcare. For many women, especially those in rural areas, giving birth has long been a dangerous and expensive journey. According to the World Health Organization, Burkina Faso sees about 320 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births — far higher than the global average. For children, the statistics are just as concerning, with…
Africa, a continent abundant in natural resources and cultural diversity, continues to wrestle with a paradox: persistent conflicts amid aspirations for sustainable development. As peace initiatives struggle against the tide of political instability, insurgencies, and ethnic tensions, the question arises: How can Africa forge a path toward lasting peace and prosperity? Hotspots of conflict in Africa Across the continent, several regions remain embroiled in violent disputes: Sudan: Since April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by a devastating civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has led to widespread humanitarian crises, internal…
By Abdallah el-Kurebe If I have entitlement to my opinion, I can say, without an ioter of confusion that, You, Muhammadu Umar Bago, a man I have never met eyeball-to-eyeball, is the best thing that has ever happened to Niger State. This position has not shifted from me but I will not dwell on my reasons in this piece. Governor Bago, you drew my attention when you contested to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Your fight to win was fierce and with resilience. Without ‘Presidential Influence’, you would have beaten Femi Gbajabiamila, hands down. Since then, you…
In a country where rice and brinjal are everyday staples, a quiet revolution is underway — one that could change not just diets, but destinies. Thanks to strategic communication efforts by scientific leaders like Arif Hossain and Dr. Abdul Momin, Bangladesh is steadily turning the tide on public skepticism toward genetically modified (GM) crops. At ABNE Biotechnology and Biosafety Global Virtual Study Tour of Brazil, Argentina, India, and Bangladesh, which took place from March 24 to 27, 2025, while Jiban Krishana Biswas, Former Director General of BRRI spoke on “Golden Rice in Bangladesh: History, Present Status & Future”, the Director…
The Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN), an initiative coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO), marks its 25th anniversary on Monday. Since its inception in April 2000, the network has been at the forefront of the global fight against health emergencies. By leveraging the expertise of global partners – facilitating alerts, deploying rapid support capacities, and strengthening capacities – it has significantly enhanced country-level operations and strengthened regional development, playing a critical role in health preparedness and response. “GOARN is a vital part of the global health architecture,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Through the network, countries…
Once called the “white gold” of Indian agriculture, cotton has always been central to India’s economy and the lives of millions of small farmers. But by the 1990s, this prized crop was on the brink of collapse. Pests like the bollworm had outsmarted insecticides, farmers faced devastating losses, and cotton farming had become a desperate gamble. The ABNE Biotechnology and Biosafety Global Virtual Study Tour of Brazil, Argentina, India, and Bangladesh, organised by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, took place from March 24 to 27, 2025. From the presentations on India’s cotton revolution by…
Argentina isn’t just known for tango, football, and beef — it’s also a quiet giant in the world of agricultural biotechnology (AgricBiotech). With a regulatory system built firmly on science, innovation, and international collaboration, Argentina has shaped a model that many countries now look to as a gold standard for balancing progress with safety. In different paper presentations on Agricultural Biotechnology (AgricBiotech) in Argentina, Martin Lema, University of Buenos Aires’ Fernando Bravo, and the Head of Biotech Directorate, Facundo Simeone, gave details of the country’s strides in modern biotechnology during the ABNE Biotechnology and Biosafety Global Virtual Study Tour of…
In a ground-breaking experiment, scientists have discovered a brand-new colour, one they say has never been seen before by human eye. Dubbed ‘olo’, the colour is described as an intense blue-green that sits outside the usual range of what the human eye can see. A study, published in the journal ‘Science Advances,’ details how a team of researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, and the University of Washington pioneer a new technology called Oz. This innovation allows scientists to stimulate individual photoreceptor cells in the human retina using laser light. “The Oz system represents a new experimental platform in…
Burkina Faso’s transitional government has granted a mining license to Russian mining company Nordgold for a major gold project expected to yield approximately 20 metric tons of gold over the next eight years. The project, known as the Yeou Gold Project, is situated in the country’s northern region, an area rich in mineral resources but plagued by security challenges. According to officials, Nordgold plans to invest significantly in the development of the mine, which is projected to boost Burkina Faso’s gold output and strengthen its position as one of Africa’s leading gold producers. Under the terms of the license, Nordgold…