When a government rejects poverty data, it risks rejecting reality itself. The recent rejection of the World Bank’s poverty report by the Nigerian Presidency raises more questions than it answers. According to the Presidency, the World Bank’s figures are merely “analytical constructs” and not “real-time headcounts.” The government argues that the global poverty line of $2.15 per person per day, set in 2017 purchasing power parity (PPP) terms, should not be interpreted literally. When converted to roughly ₦127,000 per month at today’s exchange rate of ₦1,420 to the dollar, the figure exceeds Nigeria’s new minimum wage of ₦70,000. By this…
Author: Editor
Major stakeholders in Nigeria’s fintech subsector on Tuesday collectively underscored customer trust as the key currency driving the nation’s digital financial future. They made this assertion at the 8th Edition of the Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW) 2025 held in Lagos. The 2025 NFW, themed “The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future,” brought together regulators, innovators, and investors to discuss the next phase of the country’s digital transformation. The stakeholders emphasised that for customer trust to propel Nigeria’s digital financial future, it must be grounded in advanced security, artificial intelligence (AI), strict compliance, and collaboration. Delivering the keynote address, the…
Over the past few weeks, there has been a lot of narratives about the alleged genocide against Christians that is said to be on-going in Nigeria. The current wave of the narrative is essentially from the United States, generated recently by the comedian, Bill Maher and CNN’s Van Jones who have both accused Nigeria of indulging in “Christian genocide.” In addition, Senator Ted Cruz, amongst other American legislators has accused Nigeria of the same and said that he was introducing a Bill in the Senate to do “something about it” and “protect Christians in Nigeria.” The Canadian Parliament has also…
The Lagos State Government has ordered the immediate eviction of all squatters living under the Opebi–Mende Bridge in Ikeja. The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, issued the directive in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Public Affairs, Mr. Kunle Adeshina, on Thursday. Wahab said the squatters had turned the underside of the newly constructed but yet-to-be-inaugurated bridge into makeshift homes and shops. He directed security agencies to move in immediately to dislodge the occupants and clear all illegal structures. “The primary responsibility of every government is the protection of lives and property. The present…
Health experts have urged governments at all levels to prioritize prevention, embrace data-driven research, and establish a coordinated national response to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs) across Nigeria. They made the call on Thursday at the opening of the 7th Annual International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Foreign Trained Pharmacists (NAFTRAPH), held in Lagos. The three-day conference is themed “Non-Communicable Diseases in a Post-Pandemic World: Nigeria’s Perspective and How to Mitigate Disease Ramifications.” Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Nelson Aluya, Chief Executive Officer of Eralmed Medical Group and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, U.S., described…
The most powerful solutions to complex challenges are often those that are localized, sustainable, and empowering. Nowhere is this clearer than in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), which stand as a persistent battleground against hunger and malnutrition. Amidst this struggle, a quiet revolution is underway, marking a transformative chapter for farmers in counties like Kitui, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, and Makueni: the adoption of regenerative agriculture and its central feature, the kitchen garden. Kitchen gardens are proving to be more than just a farming practice; they are a lifeline, providing sustenance and concurrently restoring the health and fertility of the…
Months ago, I saw an interesting TikTok video. It featured the military leader of Burkina Faso in what was supposedly his presidential jet, being escorted by what was claimed to be Russian fighter jets on his way to meet President Putin.Fortunately for me, I know an F-35 when I see one—and the jet fighters in the video were clearly F-35s. Immediately, I knew I was dealing with fake news. The video had been shared by a connection on Facebook. Many of my Facebook friends, who are sympathetic to the regime in Burkina Faso and its ties to Russia, shared the…
A food systems consultant, Dr. Olapeju Phorbee, has urged Nigerians to prioritize safe, healthy, and diverse diets while warning against the dangers of consuming expired or unsafe food products. Phorbee gave the warning during a two-day workshop on Nutrition and Food Systems Reporting and Advocacy, organized by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) and Nigeria Health Watch in Abuja on Wednesday. The workshop, themed “Strengthening Capacity of Media Professionals for Nutrition and Food Systems Reporting and Advocacy,” aimed to equip journalists with essential skills to report effectively on nutrition and related food policy issues. Phorbee, who is also the…
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has raised concern over the alarming rate of HIV infections among young women, revealing that about 4,000 girls aged 15–24 contract the virus every week globally. This was contained in a statement by AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Mr. Steve Aborishade, on Wednesday in Lokoja, to mark the 2025 International Day of the Girl (IDG). “Globally, adolescent girls and young women face a disproportionate HIV burden. Despite progress, the numbers remain alarming, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa,” the statement read. According to AHF, more than 3,300 of the 4,000 weekly infections occur in…
The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has commenced a free eye screening campaign across the state as part of activities marking the 2025 World Sight Day, themed “Love Your Eyes.” Director of Public Health, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq, said on Wednesday that the initiative, organized in partnership with Sight savers and the National Eye Centre, aimed to improve access to quality eye care services for residents. He explained that screening centres had been established at the Ministry of Health premises, General Hospital Sabo, and selected locations in Afaka and Kafanchan to ensure wide community participation. Sadiq reaffirmed the state government’s commitment…