The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2024–2027), has partnered with the Lagos State Government to convene a technical session with the state’s Technical Working Group (TWG). The session, held at Semicolon Africa in Lagos, was themed “Policy Alignment, Innovation, and Digital Inclusion for Sub-National Development.” It brought together officials of NITDA’s Southwest Zonal Office, representatives of the Lagos State Government, TWG members, and private sector stakeholders to localise national IT frameworks and accelerate digital transformation policies at the state level. Highlights of…
Author: Editor
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated flood preparedness measures in communities along the River Niger following alerts of rising water levels from the Republic of Benin. In a directive issued on Friday, NEMA’s Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, instructed all operational offices covering the riverine areas to step up advocacy, sensitization, and mobilization efforts to reduce risks and protect lives. Mrs. Umar urged residents in flood-prone communities to remain vigilant and relocate to safer, higher grounds to avoid casualties. She particularly identified Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states — which share borders with Benin Republic — as high-risk areas…
Flooding has become one of the most pressing development and humanitarian challenges in Nigeria. Each year, thousands of lives are disrupted, properties lost, communities submerged, and farmlands destroyed. The cascading impacts go beyond physical destruction; flooding erodes food security, undermines rural livelihoods, and sets back progress in poverty reduction and national development. But flooding does not have to be an annual catastrophe. If addressed with foresight, coordination, and innovation, it can be managed as part of Nigeria’s broader climate resilience strategy. More importantly, floodwaters themselves can be turned into opportunities for agricultural transformation, provided all stakeholders – farmers, communities, government,…
A tragic accident happened early Saturday morning near the Ebonyi State University Permanent Site, along the busy Abakaliki–Enugu highway. The crash involved two vehicles and resulted in several deaths and many injuries. The accident was between a commercial bus carrying passengers from Benue State to Onitsha and a 911 truck filled with sachet water, traveling from Enugu to Abakaliki. Eyewitnesses said the crash happened near the Ishieke area, a spot known for frequent accidents. People living nearby and some of the survivors claimed that police officers had partially blocked the road at the Ishieke checkpoint the night before. This, they…
My children throw away Vaseline containers while there’s still enough jelly clinging to the sides to lubricate the body for a few more days. They discard soap bars when they get thin. And my ultimate heartbreak: they toss away chicken bones with flesh still winking seductively at the teeth. We never did that growing up in Nigeria. In fact, even as an adult here in the United States who can now afford to baptize himself daily in a whole tub of Vaseline, build a soap fortress in the bathroom, and roast a personal chicken for every meal, I still operate…
The Gombe State Government, working with the World Bank through its IMPACT project, has repaired, upgraded, and handed over 103 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) to local communities across the state. This project is meant to solve serious problems faced during childbirth and to improve poor healthcare, especially in rural areas. The upgraded centres are located in all 11 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Gombe State. They aim to reduce deaths of mothers and children by giving people better access to important healthcare services. Officials said each of the health centres now meets level 2 standards. They include labour rooms, living…
The Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, led by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, has donated wheelchairs to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) in Sokoto. This donation is part of Bishop Kukah’s ongoing efforts to support the poor, the sick, and those who are often overlooked in society. The hospital’s Chief Medical Director, Prof. Anas Ahmad Sabir, accepted the donation and warmly welcomed the bishop and his team. He thanked the diocese for the generous and timely support. Prof. Sabir mentioned that UDUTH has also received help in the past from other notable Nigerians, like Gen. TY Danjuma and Aliko Dangote. He…
At the 2025 International Youth Day Celebration in Boji-Boji Owa, Ika North-East Local Government Area of Delta State, speakers and stakeholders praised the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for preparing young people in the region for the future through its human capital development initiatives. They also stressed the importance of youths embracing technology, skills acquisition, and innovation as pathways to sustainable development and social progress. Welcoming participants, the Executive Director of Finance at NDDC, Mrs. Josephine Ejereye, explained that the Youth Day celebration was aimed at promoting cooperation through technology and partnerships. She encouraged young people to use the lessons…
The University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has appointed its first female Chief Medical Director (CMD), Professor Idia Ize-Iyamu. She promised to improve the hospital’s infrastructure and ensure better welfare for staff, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Professor Ize-Iyamu officially took over the position in a colorful ceremony attended by staff and students of UBTH in Benin City. She is not only the first female CMD of UBTH but also the first dentist and first orthodontist to hold the office. She said she is committed to excellence and to supporting Nigeria’s goal of providing affordable, reliable,…
Fresh concerns have followed the release of the 2025 Annual DNA Testing Report by a Lagos-based centre, which revealed that Nigeria’s paternity exclusion rate is now 25 per cent. This means one in every four men tested is not the biological father of the child in question. The report, published by Smart DNA during the week, also showed that firstborn children are most affected, with firstborn sons making up 64 per cent of negative results. The findings have sparked nationwide debate, with many men saying they would now test their children to confirm paternity and clear any doubts. A Lagos…