Nigeria’s efforts to incorporate High-Quality Cassava Flour (HQCF) into breadmaking have gained momentum with the recent training of trainers in the South West region. This initiative aims to enhance cassava utilization and strengthen the cassava value chain by equipping processors with skills to produce bread and confectioneries using a 20:80 blend of HQCF and wheat flour. From 200 trained processors, 10 were selected for advanced training as lead trainers. These lead trainers are now poised to transfer their knowledge to others, promoting the widespread adoption of this innovative technology. The training, conducted at Quality Bakery in Abuja by the Association…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
The Nigeria’s Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria participated in a three-day face-to-face symposium on Research and Innovation Management (RIM) projects in Uganda, where the University synthesized and showcased its research results. The symposium, jointly organized by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the Uganda National Commission for Science and Technology (UNCST), was held at the Speke Resort, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda, from December 9th to 11th, 2024. The focus of the symposium was to synthesize and showcase research findings from RIM projects to facilitate peer learning and the exchange of best practices. Team ABU, christened the ‘Research for Impact…
Your kidney is part of a well-designed filtering system in your body. They remove toxins, waste, and extra fluids from your blood through urine. But if your kidneys get injured or damaged, they can’t filter out waste like they’re supposed to. Certain health conditions — such as diabetes and high blood pressure — and several medications can cause this type of damage. Key takeaways: Certain medications, called nephrotoxic medications, can damage your kidneys. This makes it harder for your kidneys to filter waste and other substances from your bloodstream. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have all been linked…
A recent report by Sophos highlights the significant impact of the global cybersecurity skills shortage on small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The survey, which gathered insights from over 5,000 IT and cybersecurity professionals in 14 countries, reveals that organizations with fewer than 500 employees are disproportionately affected, making them highly vulnerable to cyberattacks. The report finds critical skills shortage where the SMBs rank the lack of in-house cybersecurity expertise as their second-highest risk, following zero-day threats. In comparison, larger organizations list it as their seventh. It also identified limited capacity in which one-third of SMBs reported having no active monitoring…
South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol has been impeached at the second time of asking, as lawmakers voted in favour of the motion by 204 votes to 85 against, with three abstentions and eight invalid ballots. It was the second impeachment vote in the space of a week, with President Yoon surviving the first vote in the National Assembly last Saturday. The majority of People Party lawmakers, the country’s ruling party, had boycotted the motion which meant it could not reach the minimum 200 votes out of 300 in order to pass. Today, all lawmakers were present for the vote. His…
Tokyo is making a significant shift in its work culture by introducing a four-day workweek for government employees, starting in April 2025. This initiative aims to support young families and address Japan’s alarmingly low fertility rates, which have reached a historic low of 1.2 children per woman. To maintain population stability, a fertility rate of at least 2.1 is necessary. Governor Yuriko Koike announced this policy as part of a broader strategy to enhance work-life balance and encourage family planning. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of flexibility in work arrangements, stating, “We will review work styles to ensure…
Tanzania is making strides in tackling HIV among children and adolescents through an innovative Family-Centred Approach (FCA) led by UNICEF, the Ministry of Health, and the National Network of People Living with HIV. According to a recent report by the Fund, the model aims to break barriers preventing children from accessing HIV testing and treatment while addressing stigma and structural inequalities. The FCA leverages trained Treatment Advocates—community members living with HIV—to locate, link, test, and treat children who might otherwise go undiagnosed. In just one year, over 860 children in the Mbeya and Rungwe regions were tested, with 14% testing…
A global study conducted by the O’Neill Institute for National and International Health Law and the World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed significant gaps in legal protections for health workers, with mental health services and safeguards against discrimination being the most neglected. The study reviewed over 1,200 laws from 182 countries to assess their alignment with the Global Health and Care Worker Compact, adopted in 2021 by the World Health Assembly. The Compact was designed to provide countries with a roadmap to safeguard health workers’ rights, promote decent work, and ensure safe working environments. It was a response to the…
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a remarkable 38% drop in global drowning deaths since 2000—a testament to the effectiveness of prevention strategies. However, despite this progress, drowning remains a grave public health concern, with more than 30 lives lost to drowning every hour. In 2021 alone, over 300,000 people died from drowning. The report underscores the disproportionate impact of drowning on young people: nearly half of all drowning deaths occur among individuals under 29 years old, and a quarter involve children under the age of five. Children without adult supervision are particularly at risk. “The…
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill tagged “Budget of Hope for Sustainability and Food Security” to the State House of Assembly. The budget, valued at N1.558 trillion, prioritizes agriculture, which received the highest allocation of N399 billion. During the presentation on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at the Assembly Complex in Minna, Bago emphasized the need to strengthen the foundation for socio-economic development and food security under the New Niger Agenda. He noted that the 2025 budget represents a 48.32% increase from the 2024 appropriation. Revenue and expenditure breakdown The budget comprises N196.3 billion…