The European Union (EU), in collaboration with Search for Common Ground (SFCG) and the Step-Up for Women in Journalism Initiative (SWIJ), has trained female journalists on career advancement strategies and digital skills to help them thrive in today’s rapidly evolving media landscape. The two-day workshop, themed “Career Advancement Amid Evolving Dynamics,” held in Port Harcourt on Friday. It was organised by SWIJ in partnership with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, with funding support from the EU, SFCG Nigeria, Media Career Development Network (MCDN), and the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). Mrs. Ann…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, CFR, has established the Iwere Trust Foundation (ITF) with a personal seed donation of ₦750 million, in a landmark initiative to advance the socio-economic development of the Itsekiri nation. The launch coincided with activities marking his fourth coronation anniversary. The announcement was made before thousands of subjects, dignitaries, and traditional leaders at the Aghofen Palace in Warri. Declaring that genuine development must come from within, the monarch urged the Itsekiri people at home and in the diaspora to rally behind the foundation. “It is only the Itsekiri people that can truly develop themselves…
The Lagos State House of Assembly is considering a bill to establish the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in the state. Speaker Mudashiru Obasa confirmed the development before the bill scaled second reading during plenary on Thursday. Obasa said the bill aims to strengthen the health sector by producing highly skilled professionals through specialised tertiary education. He added that the proposed law would expand access to courses in medicine, nursing, and other health sciences. The Speaker thereafter referred the bill to the Joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Health Services for further legislative and public scrutiny. According to him,…
The United Nations (UN) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Artificial Intelligence (AI) operations in Nigeria to drive inclusive and sustainable growth. UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr. Mohamed Fall, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the validation of the Nigeria AI Readiness Assessment Report (NAIRAR), organised by UNESCO Abuja office with support from the European Union. Fall explained that NAIRAR, a key outcome of UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), is designed to promote the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI adopted by 193 Member States in 2021, while also advancing Nigeria’s AI ecosystem.…
Ògíamè Atuwatse III, CFR, the Olu of Warri, on Wednesday led a majestic regatta to the ancestral heartland of the Iwere (Itsekiri) nation, Ode-Itsekiri, as part of activities marking his 4th Coronation Anniversary. The colourful procession, spearheaded by the royal red boat, featured a fleet of vibrantly decorated vessels sailing across the waterways. Each boat was adorned with unique colours and regalia, symbolising the diverse communities, families, and groups that make up the Itsekiri kingdom. The spectacle was both a cultural display and a unifying tribute to the shared heritage of the Itsekiri people. The voyage, steeped in tradition and…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained six senior officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) over alleged mismanagement of funds related to the 2024 Hajj exercise. Two of the officials have been released after making refunds and meeting bail conditions. According to investigations, the EFCC uncovered that the officials allegedly paid themselves inflated operational allowances from the ₦90 billion federal subsidy meant for the pilgrimage. Findings showed that: The NAHCON Chairman, who was entitled to SR15,929, allegedly collected SR50,000. Three commissioners each received SR40,000 instead of SR15,929. The Secretary reportedly collected SR30,000 instead of SR14,336.…
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has commended the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest of a major international cybercrime syndicate operating in Nigeria. In what has been described as a landmark operation, the EFCC apprehended no fewer than 792 foreign nationals in Lagos for their alleged involvement in large-scale online fraud. The suspects are accused of orchestrating schemes that targeted individuals and businesses across different continents, undermining Nigeria’s image and global digital security. The Executive Director, of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), in a statement, praised the EFCC for what he called “a bold and…
Kaduna State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through partnerships, as the Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmad, received a delegation from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), funders of the Lafiya Programme. Speaking during the engagement, Ahmad described the Lafiya Programme as pivotal in advancing the state’s health sector reforms. She listed key achievements supported by the programme, including the drive towards Universal Health Coverage, institutionalisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), establishment of the Family Health Department and the Kaduna State Centre for Disease Control, as well as the rollout of KADMAF, a…
The Coalition of Shiroro Associations (COSA) has faulted claims by Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, that the state is free from insecurity, hunger, and poverty. In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Abdulrahaman Babafada, on Wednesday, the group said it received the governor’s comments on ARISE TV “with profound dismay and utter disbelief,” describing them as “a grave misrepresentation of facts and a cruel dismissal of the agonizing realities faced daily by our people.” “While we respect the office of the Governor, we are compelled by a sense of duty to our suffering communities to set the record…
The Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) has urged the Federal Government to urgently address the growing shortage of academic pharmacists in the country. Prof. Catherine Stanley, National Chairperson of NAPA, made the appeal on Wednesday at the opening of the 23rd Annual National Scientific Conference of the association, held at the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT). The event had the theme: “Pharmacy Practice in the New Global Economy: Education, Technology and Collaborations.” Stanley attributed the shortage of pharmacists in academia to the increasing migration of young professionals to Europe and North America in search of better opportunities. She…