Christian Chijoke Nwanko, a Computer Science graduate of the University of Abuja and current National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member serving at the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has emerged winner of the agency’s Innovation Challenge 1.0. The competition, held over the weekend at NITDA headquarters in Abuja, was themed “Idea to Impact.” It was introduced to inspire creativity and problem-solving among the agency’s staff, interns, and corps members, while providing a platform to showcase technology-driven solutions to real-life challenges. Nwanko led Team X to develop COPA (Corpers Opportunity Placement App) — a smart digital platform designed to optimize…
Author: Editor
While the late murder victim Bilyaminu Bello’s family members were vigorously protesting the pardon granted to the wife who murdered him in cold blood, a man claiming to be his biological father was hauled before pressmen in Abuja by Maryam Sanda’s parents, and he eagerly supported the controversial pardon. He said he wants her to be able to bring up his grandchildren. Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, who sat beside Maryam Sanda’s father Alhaji Garba Sanda at the Abuja press conference, is a retired storekeeper in the old Sokoto State. He met and married Bilyaminu’s mother at Women Teachers College, Bodinga…
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to improving soil fertility, increasing crop yields, and promoting sustainable, climate-resilient, and regenerative agricultural practices across the country. Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the official unveiling of the Nigerian Farmers Soil Health Scheme (NFSHS). Abdullahi described the initiative as a pioneering effort by the ministry to enhance soil health and fertility through scientific assessments and data-driven fertilizer recommendations. He said the scheme aligns fully with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of achieving food sovereignty and transforming Nigeria’s agricultural sector to guarantee…
A nature-based solution is showing remarkable success in helping farmers in Kenya, Uganda, and South Sudan sustainably restore their papaya (pawpaw) production devastated by the papaya mealybug pest. The papaya mealybug, Paracoccus marginatus, is a highly destructive pest that has spread rapidly across East Africa, slashing yields, shortening orchard lifespans, and threatening food security and livelihoods. Dr. Selpha Miller, an Invasive Species Management expert, disclosed this in an interview with reporters during a visit to the Crop Protection Biological Control Laboratory in Kenya on Tuesday. She explained that the intervention involves a classical biological control strategy using a parasitic wasp,…
Sen. Ibrahim Bomai (APC–Yobe South) has sponsored 51 indigent students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in universities across India. He announced this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the scholarship scheme in Potiskum, Yobe State. The event marked the symbolic departure of the first batch of students under the Ibrahim Mohammed Bomai Education Trust. Prof. Muhammad Lawan commended the even distribution of beneficiaries across the four local government areas of Yobe South, describing the initiative as fair, inclusive, and a reflection of Bomai’s commitment to education and youth empowerment. The Secretary of the Scholarship Committee, Ibrahim Mohammed, said the…
The Federal Government says it is targeting a 47 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 as part of its commitment to global climate goals. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, stated this at the 2025 edition of the Africa Climate Forum (ACF) held in Abuja on Tuesday. The forum, themed “Bolder, Greener, and Better Steps: Closing Transition Gaps in Africa,” brought together policymakers, diplomats, and climate experts to discuss the continent’s green transition efforts. Keyamo, represented by his Special Adviser on Foreign Direct Investments, Dr. Obafemi Bajomo, said the theme underscored the urgency…
No fewer than 1,500 women have benefited from the Catalyzing Strengthened Policy for Healthy Diets and Resilience (CASCADE) Project’s training on Social Analysis and Action (SAA) in Jigawa State. The Gender Technical Officer of the project in the state, Ani Akpoko, disclosed this at the graduation ceremony of the participants held in Dutse. Akpoko said the beneficiaries, who are members of the Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), were drawn from the five CASCADE project implementation areas — Kiyawa, Jahun, Dutse, Ringim, and Kafin Hausa. She explained that the women graduated after participating in 10 SAA sessions between November 2024…
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has called for greater sustainability and local ownership in Nigeria’s HIV response to consolidate progress achieved in epidemic control. Chief Executive Officer of IHVN, Dr. Patrick Dakum, made the call on Tuesday in Abuja during an interview with journalists. Dakum urged people living with HIV to adhere strictly to their medications to maintain their health and prevent new infections. He noted that HIV services—including testing, treatment, laboratory diagnosis, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission—remain free across more than 380 IHVN-supported health facilities in the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa, Katsina, and Rivers States. According to…
Some psychologists in higher institutions have advised students to embrace self-care, prioritize rest, build healthy social ties, and seek professional help to tackle rising mental health challenges. They gave the advice on Tuesday during a Campus Mental Health Awareness Seminar held at the Caleb University Counselling and Development Clinic, in collaboration with the Department of Psychology, Lagos State. The seminar, themed “Demystifying Mental Health Issues Among University Students,” was organized in line with the 2025 World Mental Health Day observance. The event aimed to educate young people on recognizing, addressing, and managing mental health challenges common in stressful academic environments…
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Ibadan (UI) chapter, has vowed to continue its two-week nationwide warning strike, insisting that the action is justified by the Federal Government’s slow response to its demands. Chairman of the UI chapter, Dr. Adefemi Afolabi, stated this while briefing journalists in Ibadan on Tuesday, noting that members of the union had fully complied with the industrial action. “We have been constantly carried along in meetings at the national level, and members have expressed frustration over the slow pace at which the government is handling the matter,” Afolabi said. According to him,…