The Federal Government has introduced new incentives to attract investment in agriculture and strengthen food security under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The programme, which targets $3.14 billion in investments, is designed to expand access to credit and create about 21 million rural jobs within Nigeria’s agricultural value chain. Speaking at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) National and Sub-regional Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the measures will drive agricultural growth and help the nation achieve food security. “Nothing unites humanity like hunger. It shows our weakness and the shared fragility of life. Food…
Author: Editor
The 2025 World Trade Report says artificial intelligence (AI) could boost global trade in goods and services by nearly 40% by 2040 if the right policies are put in place. The growth would come from higher productivity and lower trade costs. However, the World Trade Organization (WTO) warned that to make AI-driven trade growth inclusive, governments must bridge the digital divide, invest in skills for workers, and keep global trade open and predictable. The report projects that by 2040, global trade could rise by 34-37% under different policy and technology scenarios. Global GDP could also grow by 12-13% in the…
The ongoing strike by the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, has left patients stranded, and in some cases, led to deaths. About 60 resident doctors in the hospital began an indefinite strike on July 29. The doctors said they were forced into action because the hospital management and the state government failed to address their long-standing demands. Their main demand is the implementation of the minimum wage for LAUTECH hospital staff. Other healthcare workers in Oyo State already enjoy this benefit, but LAUTECH staff have been excluded. This…
A medical doctor, Dr. Sylvester Ikhisemojie, has explained that earwax is normal, but when it builds up too much, it can cause health problems if not treated. He said earwax, also called cerumen, protects the ear. However, when it becomes too much or hardens, it can block hearing and cause discomfort. “This does not mean earwax is always a problem. But sometimes, when it builds up, it becomes a serious issue that must be treated properly,” Dr. Ikhisemojie noted. He explained that too much of it can block sound waves, causing temporary hearing loss or muffled hearing. The doctor added…
Following Mallam Dikko Radda’s invitation, I participated in a high-level security and governance stakeholders’ consultation focused on improving Katsina State. The event brought together a diverse group, including elders, political and religious leaders, traditional rulers, retired military generals, academics, youth representatives, civil society members, and prominent sons and daughters of Katsina, both within and outside the state. It was a gathering of notable indigenes of Katsina State, united by a shared goal and commitment to tackling the security issues facing Katsina State, and indeed, the North West region. As a public affairs analyst, weekly newspaper columnist, and university teacher, I…
Last week, I attended a seminar-like meeting that passionately debated the issue of the recent food import waiver — its meaning, implications, and ramifications. Food is everybody’s business, and we must analyse the waiver objectively. For more than a century, Nigeria’s agricultural value chain has been remarkably stable. Farmers in the North planted, harvested, sold part of their produce, and stored the rest. Middlemen bought, hoarded, and resold — sometimes making fortunes. This was narrated in the early 19th century by Hugh Clapperton, a British naval officer turned explorer, who undertook a journey deep into the heart of what is…
The Executive Vice President for Diagnostics in Africa at Roche Diagnostics, Dr. Allan Pamba, has urged the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to put African-led health solutions at the center of its commitments instead of depending heavily on foreign aid. In a statement released, Dr. Pamba called on world leaders at the ongoing UNGA 80 to ensure that Africa’s health priorities are not overlooked but firmly included in global health decisions. His call comes as African leaders and development experts increasingly push for health sovereignty—the ability of African countries to design, fund, and deliver health services based on their own needs and…
The Federal Government has warned the contractor handling the N56 billion Abuja–Lokoja highway project that the contract may be revoked if progress remains slow. Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the 53-kilometre section on Saturday, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). He said the government expects immediate acceleration in the pace of work, stressing that by November, failure to meet targets could lead to reassignment of the project. “We will agree on milestone completion. If you complete from here to there, you will get paid. For those who cannot meet up, we…
BRICON Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has called for better support to cancer survivors so they can live well and feel included in society. Co-founder of the foundation, Mrs. Abigail Simon-Hart, made the appeal on Saturday at the 2025 Cancer Survivor Conference in Lagos. The theme of the event was “Together we RISE.” She explained that survivors need the same level of care they received during treatment to help them overcome challenges and recover from the heavy financial costs of treatment. “Life after cancer deserves as much attention as treatment. Survival is not just about defeating cancer, but about rebuilding lives,”…
Some mothers have cautioned parents against giving children unrestricted access to smartphones and the internet, stressing the need to instill moral values and promote responsible behaviour. In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos, they warned that poor monitoring of children’s online activities could have serious consequences. Mrs. Olubukola Aladeusi, a teacher, said children under 16 should not own smartphones. “Phones can be used for assignments, research and educational purposes, but only under close supervision,” she said.“Parents should know all passwords, install monitoring software, block inappropriate apps and ensure only educational apps are allowed.”…