The World Agriculture Forum Nigeria (WAF) has inaugurated its Country Council to drive transformative dialogue and action on agriculture, food systems, and rural development for enhanced food security. Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Executive Director of the World Agriculture Forum, Dr MJ Khan, described the establishment of the Nigeria Country Council as timely and strategic. Dr Khan, who was represented by Mr Lekan Ofem, Director of Strategy and Head of Country Councils and Stakeholder Engagement, said the event signals a renewed commitment to transforming agriculture into a powerful engine for economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. “The…
Author: Editor
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has called on the Bauchi State Government to prioritise full immunization coverage for every child, warning that thousands remain vulnerable to preventable diseases. The Chief of UNICEF Field Office in Bauchi, Nuzhat Rafique, made the call during the state-level commemoration of the 2026 World Immunization Week held in Bauchi. She described vaccines as the most effective protection against preventable diseases, noting that outbreaks still threaten communities despite decades of progress. “Completing the full immunisation schedule not only protects individual children but also safeguards entire communities,” she said. Rafique emphasised that vaccination remains one of…
In 1977, as a teenager in Form One at Government Secondary School Funtua, my form teacher asked me to indicate what I wanted to be. I said journalist and astronaut – two careers that are inordinately opposed, one art-based and the other science-based. Journalism, because I used to watch my uncle glued to his radio, listening to the BBC Hausa service and the famous Radio Nigeria Kaduna, and I was told journalists were champions at radio, television, and newspapers. Astronaut, because our science teacher taught us about the solar system, a gravitationally bound system comprising the Sun and its nine…
Nigeria’s military expenditure surged sharply in 2025, rising by 55% year-on-year to $2.1 billion, as worsening insecurity across the country forced increased defence spending. This is according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The report places Nigeria among the fastest-growing military spenders globally in 2025, highlighting how internal security pressures are reshaping fiscal priorities in sub-Saharan Africa. SIPRI data shows Nigeria’s military spending jumped from roughly $1.35 billion in 2024 to $2.1 billion in 2025, marking one of the steepest increases in Africa. The surge was largely driven by intensifying security challenges, including insurgency in the North-East, banditry in the North-West, and widespread…
Poultry farmers in Lagos State have called for increased financing to scale up production capacity and address persistent challenges in the sector. One of the farmers, Mrs Queeneth Kingsley, appealed in separate interviews conducted on Monday in the Shasha area of Lagos, noting that limited access to capital remains a major constraint. According to her, many farmers lack the funds needed to expand operations. “One of the major challenges poultry farmers face is scaling up production, but the problem is lack of finance. “Most times, I spend over N1 million to stock my pens with point-of-lay birds. This January alone,…
The Kano State House of Assembly has confirmed Murtala Garo as the new Deputy Governor of Kano State following a successful screening. The confirmation came after the presentation and adoption of a report by an ad hoc committee during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Jibril Falgore, on Monday. Presenting the report, Deputy Speaker Muhammad Bello said Garo’s nomination followed the resignation of former Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo. He noted that the screening was conducted in line with Section 191(3)(c) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the Assembly to approve a nominee in the event of a vacancy.…
The Bauchi State Government has taken delivery of 45 motorcycles from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Bauchi Field Office, to strengthen immunisation outreach and primary healthcare services across the state. The motorcycles, distributed across the 20 local government areas, are expected to improve access to routine immunisation and essential health services, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities. Speaking at the handover on Monday, the Chief of UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Office, Dr. Nuzhat Rafique, said the intervention targets persistent logistics gaps that hinder service delivery in remote areas. ALSO READ Malaria declines in Bauchi as…
In Gabari village, Kufena, Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State, young Halira Nuhu (not her real name) hawks “Fura da Nono,” a meal made from cow milk and millet, during school hours. Nuhu dreams of becoming a doctor, but her circumstances may not allow her to achieve that dream. In her village, boys’ education is prioritized, while girls are sent to hawk or married off early. At 12, Nuhu was given out in marriage to her cousin—reflecting the reality of many girls in her community. “I was married off at the age of 12. I’m now 15 and have…
Fans flooded cinemas across Lekki, Lagos, on Sunday as the new Michael Jackson biopic attracted massive crowds with its portrayal of the music icon’s life. Nearly all cinemas in the area were fully booked for the highly anticipated film. Viewers praised the biopic for blending music, emotion, and storytelling into an engaging experience that captivated audiences from start to finish. READ ALSO: CBN director backs Nigeria’s 2026 AACT bid, pledges institutional support The film traces Michael Jackson’s journey from his early days as a child star to becoming the “King of Pop,” highlighting defining moments in his career and personal…
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing pilgrims’ education and spiritual preparedness ahead of the 2026 Hajj. The Chairman of NAHCON, Amb. Ismail Abba, stated this in a release issued in Abuja on Sunday by Fatima Usara, Deputy Director, Information and Publications Division, NAHCON. Abba highlighted the commission’s commitment during a strategic engagement and inauguration in Abuja, which brought together 120 respected Islamic clerics from across the country. The attendees included Prof. Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, Sheikh Bala Lau, and Sheikh Abdulmuhyi Nasir representing Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir. Others were Sheikh Abdulrahman Olanrewaju Ahmed, Sheikh…