Stakeholders are being urged to step up their efforts and secure additional funding to eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria by 2030.
Author: Editor
This week, under the leadership of the Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, civil society groups and some development partners convened a conference attended by leading politicians, pro-democracy activists and academics to address rising threats to the democratic order and the role we should play in trying to sustain it. Also, this week, three ECOWAS countries – Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso left ECOWAS because of its opposition to the coup they had implemented to overthrow the democratic regimes in their countries replacing it with an authoritarian military rule that has been attacking and subverting the utility of democracy in…
ASHENEWS reports that one month after its report on the forgotten health center in Damba community in Zamfara state, the health center is currently under renovation. The Damba Primary Health Center, located in Damba community of Gusau local government area of Zamfara State, is now undergoing total renovation, following a report by ASHENEWS and Ripple Newspaper that highlighted how the health center had been abandoned and left to decay for many years. A health worker at the PHC, Dr Rabi’u Damɓa confirmed the development to our reporter in a telephone conversation on Monday, January 27, 2025. According to the health…
ASHENEWS reports that the Niger State government has invested N1.68 billion in salaries for 1,696 health workers across primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities in a bold move to strengthen healthcare delivery. The announcement was made during the GAVI-supported PHC System Strengthening MOU close-out ceremony held in Minna. The investment include the absorption of 396 ad-hoc health workers into the state payroll and the recruitment of 1,300 additional healthcare professionals. The Niger state Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, Dr. Ibrahim Dangana, emphasized the government’s commitment to sustaining healthcare improvements, particularly through workforce development and training. “We have recruited over 1,300 healthcare…
My perception of China has been a mixture of admiration, envy, and respect. Admiration—here are people constituting 17.2 percent of the world’s population, living in peace and tranquillity and assiduously working to conquer the world’s economy and friendship. Envy – a high level of discipline, orderliness, hard work, and societal regimentation have made China an envious society for progressive minds. Respect – a big country like China has the potential power to alter the earth’s gyration along its orbit with dire consequences to the world’s habitats. Assuming the disciplinarian population of China, which stands at about 1.4 billion and is asked to…
Throughout history, men have been under immense societal pressure to produce male heirs to carry on their names and legacies. This expectation has often led to strife, stress, and sometimes untoward actions. The preference for male heirs is deeply rooted in many societies, possibly stemming from the belief in male superiority. Historically, patriarchal families believed that women were economically dependent on men and thus became their subjects as daughters married, lived in their husbands’ homes, and did not carry the responsibility of caring for their parents. Despite these societal norms, women have shown remarkable resilience, often challenging these beliefs and…
A petty trader, Mrs. Mary Okunrinnla, in September 2024, downloaded one of the fintech apps for the first time to enhance her business transactions. Before being financially included in the banking system, Aunty Mary, as she’s fondly called in her shop, directed customers to use Point-of-Sale (PoS) agents or bring cash whenever they patronized her. “The stress of getting my money from other people whom my customers paid to have gone. Sometimes, some people I use their accounts to collect my money wouldn’t even give me [the money] on time. But now I have my income safely kept in my…
Onion farming is a cornerstone of the economy in Sokoto State, located in the northwest region of Nigeria. It employs thousands of young people and contributes significantly to the socioeconomic development of both the state and the country as a whole. Local government areas (LGAs) such as Wamakko, Dange-Shuni, Gada, Goronyo, and others cultivate and produce large quantities of onions during both the dry and wet farming seasons. These onions are sold locally, and a significant portion is transported to markets across Nigeria and even internationally. As a result, Sokoto State is recognized as the largest onion producer in the…
Paul Okunola, who recently lost his mother, needed a death certificate to process her government benefits as a former civil servant. Despite obtaining a paper copy of the death registration from the hospital where she was treated, he was disappointed to find that the details were not digitized or easily accessible. “It would be more beneficial if the process can be digitized and secure so that it’s without compromise, and one can access it with evidence of being the next of kin,” Okunola said. The bigger problem: Low awareness of vital registration Nigeria faces a broader challenge: limited public awareness…
Chinua Achebe’s chilling phrase, “Things Fall Apart,” resonates profoundly with the history of North(ern) Nigeria following the assassination of Sir Ahmadu Bello in 1966. His death marked a catastrophic turning point, unleashing a cascade of events that plunged the region into a cycle of instability, underdevelopment, and social fragmentation. This essay will explore the consequences of Sardauna’s assassination, examining its impact on the political, economic, and social spheres of Northern Nigeria, and relating these to the efforts of groups like the Rebuild Nigeria Initiative for Development (RBID) to instigate positive change. By Abdul-Azeez Suleiman The Sardauna’s influence transcended his role as…