Renowned Nigerian virologist Prof. Oyewale Tomori has called on federal and state authorities to treat Lassa fever as a national emergency. Tomori made the call in an interview with reporters on Monday in Lagos. He urged governments to prioritize long-term solutions, including routine training for health workers, sustainable infection control systems, and timely funding for outbreak response. He noted that Nigeria has the technical expertise, but political ownership and sustained implementation are what will ultimately save lives. According to him, no fewer than 10 health workers have died from Lassa fever in Benue, highlighting persistent gaps in the response to…
Author: Newsdesk
The National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) says it is scaling up efforts to promote intellectual property (IP) awareness and protection through Nigeria’s education and research institutions. NOTAP Director-General/CEO, Dr. Obiageli Amadiobi, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during an interview with reporters. To that end, she said the agency is partnering with universities, technical colleges, polytechnics, and specialized research institutes to sensitize researchers and inventors on applying for official IP recognition. “We are working to extend our reach beyond public universities and engage more private institutions. “We are ensuring that no institution is left behind in understanding…
We the People, a civil society organization (CSO), has stressed the need for Cross River’s mangrove forests to be fully protected under the state’s forestry laws. Mr. Ken Henshaw, Executive Director of the organization, made the call in Calabar on Monday while reacting to the recommended review of the Cross River Forestry Law, 2010. It will be recalled that over the past eight months, 19 environmental protection CSOs, led by We the People, reviewed the 2010 law and recommended stronger provisions to protect the state’s forests. Henshaw noted that mangroves are forests—not rainforests—and should therefore enjoy equal legal status and…
The ongoing efforts to boost infrastructure and enhance teaching and learning at the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA breakthrough on Friday 27th February, 2026 with the handover of a set of purposely built laboratories for use by the School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Sciences. The University Management at the behest of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adenike Oladiji had last year handed the old health center of the University to WEKAN Construction Company to be upgraded into laboratories for the department of Medical Laboratory Sciences MLS and the department of Public Health. Professor Oladiji at the event…
The Federal Government says Nigeria has recorded significant progress toward the introduction and nationwide rollout of Lenacapavir (LEN) as a Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) option to strengthen HIV prevention efforts. This is contained in a statement signed by Mrs Toyin Aderibigbe, Head of Media and Publicity at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), on Monday in Abuja. According to the statement, Nigeria is advancing preparations for the introduction of Lenacapavir, an injectable HIV prevention option administered twice yearly, as part of efforts to accelerate progress toward HIV epidemic control. NACA disclosed that commodities for the Lenacapavir PrEP programme…
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has extended its Student Loan Application Portal following a surge in nationwide interest generated by its ongoing awareness campaign. The extension comes after a reminder last week that the portal was set to close on February 27, 2026. In response to strong feedback from students and stakeholders, NELFUND announced additional days to allow eligible students sufficient time to complete their applications. The extension was contained in a statement signed by the Director of Strategic Communications, NELFUND, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, on Monday. The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of…
Vodafone and Amazon Leo, Amazon’s low Earth orbit satellite broadband network, have signed an agreement to connect many more 4G and 5G mobile sites in remote areas to improve coverage for customers with limited connectivity across Europe and Africa. With Amazon Leo, Vodafone can deploy 4G and 5G base stations more easily and affordably in previously unserved areas, without the time and expense of installing long fibre-based or fixed wireless links back to the core network. This is especially relevant in rural hard-to-reach areas. Vodafone will also use the service to boost network resilience for emergency and critical online services if fibre links…
The Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation, Samuel Nartey George, has underscored the importance of Ghana’s National AI Strategy in positioning the country within the fast-evolving global digital economy. Speaking at the launch of the National AI Strategy Stakeholder Consultation Forum, the Minister emphasized that data has become a critical national resource and that applying artificial intelligence to data is key to unlocking economic and social value. He outlined AI’s transformative potential across sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, logistics, smart cities and financial inclusion, while stressing the need for strong ethical standards, data protection, governance and inclusion. The Minister…
Iran has appointed an acting Supreme Leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a result of a joint US and Israeli airstrike on Tehran, Iranian agency IRNA reports. Senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has been appointed as Iran’s acting Supreme Leader. Under the country’s constitution, he has joined the temporary leadership council, which will perform the duties of head of state until a successor is elected. The council also includes President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei. This body will jointly govern the country during the transfer of power. The large-scale strikes also led to the elimination…
US President Donald Trump signalled openness to ceasefire negotiations with Iran two days after assassinating Iran’s supreme leader on Saturday. According to sources, Trump has reached out to Iran through Italy and one other country, though the Iranian side has rejected the offer. Experts have slammed President Donald Trump’s miscalculations going into the war with Iran despite repeated warnings over the possibility of massive casualties. According to military experts, both Israel and United States forces stationed in the Gulf region will run out of ammunition within weeks’ time, raising serious concerns about Washington’s claim of sustaining prolonged conflict with Iran. Iran…