The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) has warned that misinformation, disinformation and hate speech pose serious threats to governance, public trust and democratic stability. The Director of CDD West Africa, Dr. Dauda Garuba, stated this on Monday in Abuja during a Project Impact Dissemination on Sustaining Information Literacy and Social Cohesion (StILASC) in Nigeria. Speaking at the end-of-project phase, Garuba said the growing spread of false information was no longer a peripheral issue but a core challenge undermining national stability. He called for sustained efforts to strengthen information literacy and adopt community-driven approaches to promote social cohesion…
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The Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Biotech, Dr. Simon Agwale, has called for urgent policy reforms to reposition Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector for sustainable growth and global competitiveness. Speaking in an interview in Abuja on Monday, Agwale urged the Federal Government to move beyond rhetoric by adopting demand guarantees to stimulate local production and support indigenous manufacturers. “The most important solutions include the use of demand guarantees, not just slogans,” he said. He stressed that Nigeria must advance beyond basic drug formulation and packaging to upstream production, particularly Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and excipients. “Building full value-chain capacity is critical to…
Health leaders across West Africa have called for a unified, multi-sectoral and data-driven approach to eliminate malaria, warning that fragmented interventions and inefficient resource use continue to hinder progress. The call was made on Monday at the 27th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Health Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where stakeholders described malaria as the region’s leading cause of death. Despite decades of interventions, participants said the disease persists due to disjointed strategies and weak cross-sector coordination. Sierra Leone’s Minister of Health and Sanitation, Austin Demby, stressed that eliminating malaria…
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has warned that long-term exposure to air pollution significantly increases both the risk of developing cancer and dying from it, underscoring the urgent need for stronger environmental and public health policies. The warning is contained in a new global report, “Clean Air in Cancer Control: An Overview of the Evidence,” released on Monday with support from the Clean Air Fund. According to the report, prolonged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) raises the overall risk of developing cancer by 11 per cent and increases cancer-related mortality by 12 per cent. The sharpest increases…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to strengthen consumer protection and curb fraud across the financial and telecommunications sectors. The Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, stated that the MoU would enhance coordination on regulatory approvals, standards, and innovation, including sandbox testing. Cardoso reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to building a safer, more resilient, and inclusive digital financial system. “Going forward, the Central Bank remains committed to working with the Commission to protect consumers and strengthen trust in the digital economy,” he said. The Vice Chairman of…
The US dollar climbed to a one-week high against major currencies on Monday, as renewed tensions between the United States and Iran dampened prospects for a Middle East peace deal and pushed investors toward safe-haven assets. According to Reuters, the uptick followed weekend developments in which the United States reportedly seized an Iranian cargo vessel, escalating geopolitical uncertainty and triggering cautious sentiment across global markets. The dollar strengthened against a basket of major currencies, with the US Dollar Index (DXY) rising to a one-week high of 98.47 before easing to around 98.34 in later trading. Despite the rebound, the index…
The President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Prof. Peter Onwualu, has emphasised that commercialising research outputs is critical to driving Nigeria’s economic growth. Onwualu made this known in an interview on Thursday in Abuja, noting that the need to bridge the gap between research and industry informed the university’s decision to convene Summit X, scheduled to hold from April 22 to 24 in Abuja. According to him, Nigeria has a vast research ecosystem, comprising over 300 universities, more than 200 research institutes, as well as polytechnics, Colleges of Education, and large-scale industries where research and development…
Disability rights advocates on Sunday renewed calls for greater societal acceptance and inclusion of children with developmental disabilities. The call came at the Fourth Inclusive African Children’s Runway (IACR) in Abuja, where children with disabilities and their neurotypical peers walked the runway together. Organised by The Engraced Ones Prayer Support and Advocacy Initiative, the event attracted caregivers, partners, and advocacy organisations. It celebrated inclusion while challenging stereotypes about appearance, ability, and the worth of every child. Convener Mrs. Biboara Yinkere said the initiative aims to raise future leaders who naturally embrace inclusion. “We are grooming a future generation of leaders…
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised a recent Code of Conduct advisory issued by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), calling it an attempt to stifle press freedom ahead of elections. In a statement shared on social media, Atiku said the directive raises serious concerns about shrinking space for free expression in Nigeria. He argued that the timing of the advisory, close to an election period, suggests regulatory actions aimed more at silencing dissent than promoting responsible journalism. The former presidential candidate noted that Nigeria’s media has gained global recognition for its resilience and professionalism, warning that such “heavy-handed…
The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it will review the exclusion of National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) graduates from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. The Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the move follows concerns raised by NOUN Chancellor, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, over the unequal treatment of NOUN graduates. The traditional ruler had called for policy changes to allow eligible graduates to serve, saying the current restrictions put them at a disadvantage. Addressing the concerns, Ribadu pledged that the NUC would engage NYSC leadership to re-evaluate the mobilisation framework. “I have heard…