The Federal Government/IFAD Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has empowered 3,256 women farmers in Kogi’s rice and cassava sectors through access to inputs, productive assets, and market linkages. Dr. Stella Adejoh, the State Project Coordinator, announced this in Lokoja during the commemoration of the 2026 International Year of the Woman Farmer. The event, themed “Celebrating Women Farmers: Driving Food Security, Inclusive Agri-food Systems, and Rural Prosperity,” brought together women producers, processors, and marketers of rice and cassava across five benefiting LGAs. Other stakeholders included government officials, lawmakers, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, CSOs, and representatives of financial institutions. Adejoh…
Author: Newsdesk
A gender advocate, Dr Adetoun Dally, has cautioned working mothers against unhealthy social competition, warning that the pursuit of lifestyles beyond their means is increasing financial pressure, stress and family instability. Dally, Immediate Past President of Women Community in Africa and Founder of Children Impact and Development Initiative, gave the advice in an interview with reporters on Friday in Abuja. She said many families were falling into financial difficulties by attempting to match the lifestyles, schools, housing standards and spending habits of friends, colleagues and other households around them. According to her, family decisions should be guided by available income…
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 430 medicine outlets across 10 Local Government Areas of Yobe following a four-day enforcement exercise aimed at curbing illegal pharmaceutical practices. The council’s Head of Department, Enforcement, Mr Suleiman Chiroma, made the disclosure while presenting the outcome of the exercise at a news conference in Damaturu on Friday. Chiroma said the enforcement team inspected 601 premises, comprising 34 pharmacies, 267 Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendor (PPMV) outlets and 300 unregistered or illegal medicine outlets. He said all the 300 illegal outlets identified during the exercise were sealed. He added that 20 pharmacies…
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has directed the immediate remediation of erosion and flooding sites reported across the state. Otti gave the directive on Thursday night during a monthly media chat with journalists in Umuahia. “A lot of incidents of erosion and flooding have been reported in different parts of the state; I think there are 15 reports in recent times. “We have already instructed the Commissioner for Environment to engage and ensure remediation as quickly as possible,” he said. On healthcare, Otti said Abia ranked first in healthcare affordability and third in healthcare quality among the 36 states in…
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Thailand have deepened bilateral cooperation with the signing of new agreements to drive the implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (RH-CRRP) 2030. The agreements focus on agriculture, cooperatives and innovation. Mr Ezeaja Ikemefuna, Head of Information Department, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS), said in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja that the pact was signed at a high-level engagement in Lagos. The meeting was themed “Building Sustainable Partnerships: Connecting Youth, Innovation and Business between Thailand and Nigeria.” He quoted Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, Minister…
The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) on Thursday launched its Sustainable Empowerment Programme (NSEP) in Abia. The ceremony, held at Uma Ukpai Memorial Primary School, Asaga, Ohafia, targeted about 250 beneficiaries. Empowerment items distributed included home solar systems comprising solar fans, solar panels and clean cooking stoves. Mr Khalil Halilu, Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, said science and technology must go beyond laboratories to impact livelihoods. He said NSEP was designed to take NASENI directly to Nigerians with skills, tools and technologies that boost productivity. He noted that Abia’s enterprise and manufacturing culture aligned with NASENI’s new…
The Enugu State Government has commended women beneficiaries of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) for their contributions to food production and processing. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, made the commendation at the celebration of the 2026 International Year of Women Farmers (IYWF) in Enugu. The United Nations declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer to highlight the essential roles women play in global agri-food systems. The initiative focuses on recognising women’s contributions to food security, nutrition and economic resilience. Speaking on behalf of the commissioner, the State…
The Coalition of APC Support Groups in Sokoto State has reaffirmed its loyalty to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and declared its readiness to mobilise support for the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. Addressing a news conference on Thursday in Sokoto, the leader of the coalition, Jamilu Suleiman, said the group remained committed to ensuring the continuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto. “We are indeed committed to the task of ensuring and actualising the continuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Governor of Sokoto State, Dr Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto,…
The Lagos State Government has trained rice millers and regulators on rice biofortification to boost food security. The training, organised by the state’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems, was held at Imota, Ikorodu, on Thursday. It aimed to improve the quality and nutritional value of rice produced in the state. In his welcome address, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Agriculture and Food Systems, Dr Oluwarotimi Fashola, reiterated the government’s commitment to increasing both the quantity and quality of rice production. “It is my pleasure, on behalf of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems…
The Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) has mobilised male community leaders as champions in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and the promotion of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). The initiative was organised in partnership with the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Project, funded by Global Affairs Canada and ActionAid Nigeria. It brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, media practitioners and other stakeholders in Abuja on Thursday. Mrs Patience Iyakwo, an ASWHAN representative, said the organisation had shifted its strategy to focus on men because they remained the majority of perpetrators of GBV.…