As the world marks International Migrants Day, a growing number of Africans are expressing the desire to leave their home countries in search of better opportunities. According to a recent Afrobarometer survey conducted across 24 African nations, nearly half of the respondents (47%) have considered emigrating—a sharp increase from figures recorded just a few years ago. For 24-year-old Joseph Mensah from Ghana, the dream of a brighter future lies beyond Africa’s shores. “I love my country, but finding stable work here is almost impossible,” he says. “I’ve thought a lot about moving to Europe, where I believe I’ll have better…
Author: Abdallah el-Kurebe
After decades of research and development, two new malaria vaccines entered routine administration this year. This is a huge win for science, and potentially for humanity. Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, projects that these vaccines will save 180,000 children’s lives by 2030. But over the same time period, even after all the global expenditure on bed nets and malaria drugs, roughly 2.5 million children will die of malaria unvaccinated. We now have a new technology that could save about a third of those kids – roughly 800,000 additional child deaths that could be averted with vaccines by 2030, but won’t be…
The African Academy of Sciences (AAS) 15th Bi-Annual General Assembly and Scientific Conference, held in Abuja, Nigeria, from December 9–12, 2024, called for a transformative shift in Africa’s approach to science and innovation. Themed “Empowering and Advancing Africa’s Scientific Enterprise,” the four-day event brought together leading voices in science, policy, and development to chart a new course for the continent’s scientific renaissance. In his keynote address, Professor Kevin Chika Urama, Chief Economist and Vice President of the African Development Bank Group, highlighted Africa’s historical contributions to global science and technology while underscoring the need for systemic reforms. “Africa has a…
Eye drops are used for many eye-related medical conditions. Some eye drops contain antibiotics to treat an infection, while others help regulate eye pressure or relieve dry eye. You can find certain products over the counter (OTC). Others require a prescription. But do eye drops expire? If you haven’t cleaned your medicine cabinet recently, you may wonder if they’re still OK to use. This article will review what you should know about expired eye drops. We’ll also discuss how to determine if they’re safe to use. Key takeaways: It’s never recommended to use expired eye drops. That’s because they can become less effective or…
The Dangote Refinery and Petrochemicals complex has been hailed as a groundbreaking symbol of Nigeria’s technological and industrial progress, earning international acclaim from a delegation of Japanese business leaders led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo. During a tour of the state-of-the-art facilities, which include the world’s largest single-train refinery and a petrochemical complex, the Japanese delegation praised the Dangote Refinery as a marvel of modern engineering that highlights Nigeria’s growing prominence as Africa’s industrial and economic hub. Suzuki Hideo noted that the refinery stands as a testament to Nigeria’s innovation and capacity to drive technological advancements. “This facility…
For people who tend to form certain types of kidney stones — ones that form from a combination of calcium and oxalate — eating a diet high in oxalate can increase the risk of more kidney stones. But what are oxalates? And why do they cause kidney stones in some people? We’ll dive into that — and what foods and beverages are high in oxalates. Key takeaways: Oxalate is a substance that’s in many different foods, and it’s harmless for most people. But if you’re trying to prevent certain types of kidney stones, it’s best to eat a low-oxalate diet. Foods that are…
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…
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…