The Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), Lagos State chapter, says it will adopt the Federal Government-approved ‘MoorBeta’ breed only if it proves to have higher productivity and longevity. The Lagos State Chairman of PAN, Mojeed Iyiola, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Lagos. It was reported that the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development recently approved a new indigenous meat-type chicken breed, MoorBeta, for commercialization in Nigeria to strengthen poultry production and enhance food security. MoorBeta was formally approved for release and registration on March 26 by the National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds Registration and Release…
Author: Newsdesk
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has launched the National Community Food Bank (NCFB) Programme. The programme is a nationwide initiative aimed at improving access to nutritious food for Nigeria’s most vulnerable households. Muyi Aina, Executive Director of NPHCDA, made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the programme’s Trust Fund, which brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders across sectors. Aina said the initiative would reach families with children under six years of age, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of malnutrition. “The programme will be implemented across all 774…
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has raised alarm over the high rate of child malnutrition in Nigeria, revealing that one in three children under five is stunted. AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of the National Community Food Bank and Nutrition Programme, aimed at tackling food insecurity among vulnerable populations. He described child malnutrition as a major public health and development concern, warning that prolonged undernutrition could undermine human capital development and slow Nigeria’s long-term economic growth. “Nigeria continues to carry one of the highest burdens of child malnutrition…
A researcher, Ibitomi Olusegun, says Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bridge Nigeria’s digital divide by enabling inclusive access for millions facing literacy and language barriers. He made this known in an interview with reporters in Abuja on Thursday. Olusegun said AI-powered voice interfaces and local language models could simplify digital interactions for non-literate users in rural communities. He explained that speech-to-text and text-to-speech technologies allow users to access services in their native languages, thereby reducing dependence on formal education or English proficiency. According to him, AI chatbots configured in indigenous languages can support farmers, traders, and artisans with real-time information on…
A Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Joy Alejo, says autism is not a curse but a neurodevelopmental condition that is manageable with the right support. Alejo, of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, made this known in an interview with reporters in Ibadan to commemorate World Autism Awareness Day on Thursday. World Autism Awareness Day is observed annually on April 2. The 2026 theme is “Autism and Humanity – Every Life Has Value.” The consultant paediatric neurologist emphasized that autism is not a curse but a condition requiring medical attention and support, noting that no two children with autism present in the…
The Federal Government has inaugurated a community-based National Food Bank Programme to boost food security and expand access to nutritious food for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly households facing hunger and malnutrition. The initiative, championed by the Office of the First Lady under Oluremi Tinubu, aims to reach at-risk households—especially women and children—through coordinated nutrition support and inclusive, community-driven distribution systems. Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to transition from emergency food assistance to a sustainable, well-structured national distribution system. Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday in Abuja, Kyari said millions of…
The organized private sector has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, pledging over $30 billion and ₦500 million to the National Food Bank Programme. It was reported that the Food Bank Programme is an initiative of the Office of the Wife of the President. The official inauguration of the programme’s Trust Fund on Thursday in Abuja brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders across sectors. Speaking at the event, Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, lauded the Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, for her leadership and vision, noting that the initiative directly addresses the urgent…
The Federal Government has declared Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 6, as public holidays to mark this year’s Easter celebrations. The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. According to the statement, the minister congratulated Christians in Nigeria and the diaspora on the occasion and urged Nigerians to reflect on the virtues associated with the season. “The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated…
Prof. Peter Onwualu, President of the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), says African countries must transition from reliance on imported solutions to homegrown innovation driven by research commercialization. Onwualu, a former Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), said this at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja ahead of the Africa X Summit scheduled for April 27 to 29. He noted that many solutions currently used to address the continent’s challenges are largely imported technologies or semi-processed inputs, making development efforts unsustainable. Despite Nigeria’s youthful and highly educated population, abundant natural resources, and the…
Switzerland has pledged more than $23m in fresh aid to Burkina Faso, reinforcing its long-term commitment to development and humanitarian support in one of the Sahel’s most fragile and security-challenged states. The funding, announced during a diplomatic visit to Ouagadougou, forms part of Switzerland’s 2026–2029 cooperation programme and reflects a broader strategy to maintain engagement in fragile African economies despite escalating insecurity and shifting geopolitical dynamics. The pledge was confirmed during a visit by Ignazio Cassis to Ouagadougou, where discussions centred on strengthening bilateral cooperation. According to regional reporting by APA News, the package totals more than CFA14bn ($23m) and will…