Residents of Minna, the Niger State capital have expressed gratitude to the Federal Government as they continue to benefit from the ongoing distribution of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) by the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP). By Anna Moses The aim of the distribution of insecticide-treated nets, launched in partnership with Global Fund and other health partners, is to reduce child mortality and high cases of malaria in Nigeria. Speaking with our reporter on Mandela Road, Victoria Kumaorun Adugu, expressed joy over the free nets, describing them as life-saving gifts for families battling constant mosquito bites. She explained that before now, all her…
Author: Editor
The unsung heroes working tirelessly to serve Nigeria with all their strength are present in every part of the country. Their contribution to nation-building depends on their capacity and resources. Still, the common thread among them is serving the nation and humanity without expecting dividends for their toil, deriving joy from putting smiles on the faces of those uplifted, and their readiness and zeal to do more. In my last article, I discussed two remarkable personalities—Coach OBJ and Hajia Dr. Salamatu Garba of WOFAN—and promised to highlight more unsung heroes deserving national recognition. One such distinguished individual is Dr. Hassan Ahmed…
Conversations around Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) continues to stir mixed emotions in Nigeria as scientists, farmers, and public health experts struggle to find balance between innovation and human safety. By Anna Moses While the promise of GMOs lies in their potential to end hunger and improve crop yield, concerns over their long-term impact on human health and the environment remain unresolved. At a recent training in Zaria on food biotechnology and biosafety, experts emphasized that GMOs are not inherently dangerous when properly tested and regulated. They explained that the process involves modifying the genes of plants to make them more…
In Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria, commercial driving is widely regarded as a man’s job. It is almost unthinkable or unbelievable to see a woman controlling a commercial tricycle, locally known as Keke Napep, in the Caliphate City of Sokoto metropolis. But in 2024, Madam Godiya, a 50-year-old mother, defied the odds. Once a trained nurse, she dropped her hospital uniform for a tricycle key, entering a world few women in her community dared to explore. From nursing to the road For years, Madam Godiya worked as a nurse in a hospital within a military barracks in Sokoto. But after losing…
Donald Trump, the 47th President of the United States of America, released a video on Truth Social threatening military action against Nigeria by stating, “I will do things to Nigeria that Nigeria is not going to be happy about” and threatening to “go into that now-disgraced country guns-a-blazing.” Trump then claimed there is a genocide against Christians in Nigeria, instructing the Department of War to prepare for possible action, drawing a parallel to what he described as attacks on Christians. This narrative about Nigeria did not begin with Trump. In recent months, campaigners and Washington politicians have alleged that Islamist…
Nigeria’s online and offline discursive arenas have been suffused with frenetic, impassioned, and intensely heightened dialogic exchanges in the aftermath of President Donald Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” and this threat to militarily invade the country to stop what he called a “Christian genocide.” Nigerians are predictably divided largely along the country’s familiar primordial fissures. But beyond the surface disagreements, there’s actually a deeper congruence of opinions we miss in moments of hyper-aroused emotions. And this revolves around the recognition that Nigeria faces an inexcusable existential threat from the intractable murderous fury of terrorists and…
Last Sunday, I participated in the Toyin Falola Interview Series, the topic of which was: “Dangote, Oil and Power in Nigeria.” It is a widely followed intellectual debate forum streamed on zoom, Facebook, YouTube, X and a number of radio stations. The Panel had Professors Victor Oguejiofor Okafor, Mobolaji Ebenezer Aluko, Ehiedu Goodluck Iweriebor, Jibrin Ibrahim as well as governance scholar John Onyeukwu, and labour veteran Comrade Owei Lakemfa. The chief host, Professor Toyin Falola had convened the forum in recognition of Dangote Refinery well-deserved praise for this historic intervention that completely changed Nigeria’s industrial destiny. It is for this…
I was looking today at the New York Times’ report on the memo drawn up by US military’s Africa Command based in Stuttgart, Germany, which has [imperialist] responsibility for Africa. The plan that it sent to the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington, DC was in compliance with President Donald Trump’s demand, via social media, for a military plan to attack Nigeria, ostensibly to end “massacre of our cherished Christians” by Islamist insurgent groups. The plan’s three options, — light, medium and heavy — reminded me of what I read many years ago about the bureaucratic trick of sending memos…
A recent investigation by the BBC Global Disinformation Unit has cast serious doubt on claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, revealing how the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) and allied Igbo ethnic advocacy groups propagated inflated figures and unverified narratives that have reverberated across international political and religious circles. The report, titled “Are Christians Being Persecuted in Nigeria as Trump Claims?”, was authored by Olaronke Alo and Chiamaka Enendu of the BBC Global Disinformation Unit, alongside Lagos-based journalist Ijeoma Ndukwe. It scrutinizes the origins and credibility of claims that over 125,000 Christians have been…
As Nigeria pushes forward in diversifying its agricultural economy, sesame (Sesamum indicum) has quietly emerged as one of the country’s most promising non-oil exports. With strong global demand, ideal growing conditions in northern Nigeria, and high potential for inclusive and climate-smart growth, sesame represents a compelling opportunity for investors, policymakers, development partners, and farmer groups alike. A Rising Star in Nigeria’s Agricultural Export Landscape Known locally as Beniseed, sesame is valued for its high oil content, natural oxidation resistance, and wide industrial applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals (AFEX, 2022). According to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC, 2018), Nigeria exports…