FAST Microfinance Bank (MFB) and the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) have launched FastWash, a financial product aimed at improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene across Nigeria. Announcing the initiative in Abuja on Monday, Mrs. Juliet Odigie, Acting Managing Director of FAST MFB, said FastWash was developed in partnership with global nonprofit Water.org to provide affordable financing for households, SMEs, and communities investing in water and sanitation projects. “The goal is to improve lives by enabling access to vital water and hygiene services,” Odigie said, adding that the initiative reflects FAST MFB’s belief that financial empowerment should…
Author: Editor
In exercise of his discretionary power and authority to grant clemency under the Prerogative of Mercy principle, His Excellency, Mr. President, recently granted Presidential pardons to a total of 175 convicted persons serving jail sentences for various criminal offences. Some of those on the list included individuals on death row, and others who were pardoned posthumously. One name that stood out for us as a family is that of Maryam Sanda, a lady convicted and sentenced to death by the FCT High Court on Monday, 27th January 2020, for the premeditated and cold-blooded murder of her husband and our beloved…
Childhood cancer remains one of the most heart-breaking yet under-discussed health challenges in Nigeria, especially in rural communities. In these rural communities, awareness is low, healthcare facilities are inadequate, and early diagnosis is rare. While childhood cancer is curable in many cases when detected early, countless children in rural areas continue to lose their lives unnecessarily due to ignorance, late presentation, and lack of access to proper medical care. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), childhood cancer accounts for less than five per cent of all cancers but have a far-reaching impact on families and communities. In high-income countries,…
Two persons have been feared dead after a heavy downpour on Friday afternoon triggered flooding in the Eligbolo area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. The victims — seventeen-year-old Emmanuel Peter, a shoe cobbler, and his sixteen-year-old nephew, Miracle Peter, a secondary school student — were reportedly swept away by the floodwaters. Both were residents of the Eligbolo community. Narrating the tragic incident, Mr. Peter Ekpo, father and grandfather of the victims, said the older boy, Emmanuel, drowned while attempting to rescue Miracle, who had been submerged by the surging waters. ALSO READ: Sanwo-Olu calls for partnerships to…
As mentioned in this column last week, no university in Nigeria has as many professors as ABU Zaria today. Certainly, ABU Zaria experienced significant intellectual growth as a hub of learning. Thanks to the tenurial progressiveness of Prof. Garba, who placed the university on autopilot, surmounting obstacles, to reach its goals. Have his legacies continued? What are its current challenges and prospects? What is the situation at ABU Zaria today? Is the university achieving the vision of its founding fathers? How can Abusites and their friends support ABU Zaria in its continued advancement? Prof. Kabiru Bala, a former DVC, former Dean of…
Lately, too many people have been quick to accuse Rufai Oseni of arrogance, of bias, of being untrained and of not being a “real journalist.” They say he lacks decorum, that he is too confrontational, too opinionated, too bold for the comfort of politicians. We can debate about Rufai’s journalism’s approach and how he grills power. But before we rush to crucifer and label Rufai a quack, perhaps we should first ask ourselves whether we, as journalists, have lived up to the very standards we preach. Because journalism is not about certificates; it is a conscience. It is not a…
The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) is recalibrating its strategies to power a new era in agricultural financing, reigniting hope among lenders and agribusinesses seeking easier access to sustainable credit. This renewal aligns with the Federal Government’s efforts to make agriculture a key driver of economic growth. For decades, Africa has struggled to allocate at least 10 percent of its annual budgets to agriculture, a target believed to be crucial for global competitiveness. In Nigeria, agricultural budgetary funding has remained below five percent for over ten years, with most of it consumed by overhead costs—leaving little…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has commended Germany’s commitment of one billion euros to the Global Fund, describing it as a powerful show of solidarity and global leadership in strengthening health systems and ending infectious diseases. Africa CDC Director-General, Dr. Jean Kaseya, made this known on Sunday at the ongoing World Health Summit in Berlin, Germany. Kaseya said the contribution would accelerate efforts to end HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, while also supporting pandemic preparedness and advancing universal health coverage across Africa. He noted that the investment came at a crucial time as the continent intensifies…
First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has fulfilled the first phase of her pledge to her alma mater, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, by donating 21 new shuttle buses to the institution. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday in Ile-Ife by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju. Olanrewaju said the donation was part of a total pledge of 50 buses earlier promised by the First Lady. He added that the delivery came exactly one year after she announced the donation during a commemorative event in 2024. He explained that the intervention marked a significant step toward…
President of Masters Energy Group, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah has called for pragmatic reforms and sustained policy consistency as essential ingredients to drive Nigeria’s energy transition and unlock long-term sustainable growth. Ogah, a former Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, made the call at the 2025 NAEC International Energy Conference held in Lagos. The three-day conference, themed “Nigeria’s Energy Future: Optimizing Opportunities and Addressing Risks for Sustainable Growth,” brought together energy executives, policymakers, and experts to discuss how Nigeria can secure its place in the global energy transition. Ogah said Nigeria’s energy journey must strike a balance between opportunities…