The Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University Sokoto (NWUS) has warned newly admitted students against engaging in examination malpractice, drug abuse, cultism and other social vices, declaring that offenders would face immediate expulsion and possible prosecution. The Vice-Chancellor gave the warning on Thursday during the institution’s 4th Matriculation Ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic session, held at the university’s main campus in Kalambaina, where a total of 517 students were formally admitted into various academic programmes. Addressing the matriculants, the Vice-Chancellor described their admission as a “passport to a new life of discipline, character building, discovery and distinction,” urging them to prioritise academic…
Author: John Asishana
Prof. Babatunde Rabiu, a space physicist, has urged Nigeria and other developing countries to draw inspiration from NASA’s Artemis II Moon mission by prioritising investment in science, research, and technology. Rabiu, Research Director at the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), made the remarks on Monday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He was assessing the significance of the Artemis II mission, launched on April 1 as part of NASA’s broader Artemis programme, which aims to return humans to the Moon for the first time in over 50 years and lay the groundwork…
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Sokoto State chapter, has embarked on a grassroots awareness drive targeting youths to embrace true democracy for national growth. The NDC gubernatorial aspirant in Sokoto State, Shamsudeen Aliyu, unveiled the party’s stance on Sunday in Sokoto. Aliyu said the initiative was aimed at educating Nigerians, particularly young people, on the availability of viable political platforms beyond the dominant political parties. “We are focusing on youths to become advocates of good governance, rallying support for NDC and encouraging citizens to break free from a long-standing two-party system. “We used to live in a system where people…
The Sokoto State chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has donated food, clothing, and other essentials to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to mark its 2026 Law Week. The items were presented on Friday to residents of the Guiwa Low-Cost IDPs camp in Sokoto metropolis. Items distributed included foodstuffs, detergents, footwear, mats, and clothing. The exercise was led by the state Chairperson, Mrs Rashidat Mohammed, and the Local Organising Committee Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim. Mohammed said the donation showed solidarity with the IDPs, noting that their plight resulted from persistent security challenges. “Our effort is to complement the government’s commitment…
Governor Ahmed Aliyu of Sokoto State says four new motor parks under construction by his administration will soon be completed and put into operation. Aliyu disclosed this on Thursday while visiting the scene of a fire outbreak at the Sokoto Central Motor Park, where he sympathised with affected traders and transporters. He explained that the projects are part of efforts to address congestion in existing motor parks, which he said has been worsened by population growth. According to the governor, the new facilities, sited in different parts of the metropolis, are at various stages of completion and will help decongest…
Sokoto State’s fight against tuberculosis is being shaped not only by medical interventions but by the lived experiences of survivors. In this report, John Asishana examined the journeys of survivors from illness to recovery highlighting both the persistent challenges and growing progress in Nigeria’s battle against the disease. Fatima Bello still remembers the fear in her children’s eyes when she could no longer hide how sick she was. The 32-year-old mother of three from a farming village in Sokoto North Local Government Area had dismissed her persistent cough as ordinary malaria. Night sweats soaked her wrapper, she lost weight rapidly,…
Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, says Nigerian banks have raised a combined N4.61 trillion in fresh capital ahead of the March 31, 2026, recapitalisation deadline. Cardoso disclosed this on Tuesday at the International Monetary Fund/Africa Regional Technical Assistance Centres (IMF/AFRITAC) West 2 high-level forum in Abuja. He noted that foreign investors accounted for about 27 per cent of the capital raised, reflecting renewed confidence in the sector amid ongoing reforms. “Nigerian banks, despite navigating subsidy removals and exchange rate reforms, attracted N4.61 trillion in new capital—nearly 27 per cent from foreign investors—while also expanding their…
The National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has debunked reports alleging that about 150 bandits drowned in a boat mishap at Sabon Gida in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State. The NIWA Area Manager in charge of the Sokoto Zonal Office, Mr. Bello Bala, dismissed the report as false in an interview with reporters on Monday in Sokoto. Bala said there was no such incident, adding that the river mentioned in the report is not navigable. He appealed to the media to be cautious about spreading misinformation and to always verify news from credible sources, assuring that the authority…
As the world commemorates International Women’s Day 2026, the Development Communications Network (DevComs) has called for stronger support and generosity toward women scientists across Africa, emphasizing that empowering women in science is critical to the continent’s development. Marking this year’s celebration under the theme “Give to Gain,” DevComs highlighted the contributions of African women researchers who are advancing breakthroughs in areas such as genomics, antimicrobial resistance, maternal health, and public health policy despite facing significant barriers. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), women make up less than 30 percent of researchers globally, with even lower…
As Nigeria grapples with persistent food inflation and the uncertainties of climate change, dry season agriculture has become a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to achieve food security. Federal programs like the National Agricultural Growth Scheme – Agro-Pocket (NAGS-AP), alongside state-level efforts, promise year-round farming, increased yields of staples such as wheat, rice, and vegetables, and economic relief for millions of rural households. The concept is straightforward: deliver subsidized seeds, fertilizers, irrigation equipment, and extension services to enable cultivation during the dry months (November to April). When executed well, it boosts production, stabilizes supply, reduces imports, and improves farmer incomes…