The Kwara State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), warning that perpetrators will face prosecution under existing laws. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Opeyemi Afolashade, stated this at a community engagement town hall meeting held on Tuesday in Ilorin to commemorate the 2026 International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. Afolashade said the state would continue to collaborate with traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and development partners to promote positive cultural values. The meeting was themed: “Towards 2030: No End to Female Genital Mutilation Without Sustained Commitment and Investment.” She noted that…
Author: Newsdesk
Stakeholders in child rights protection have urged journalists to avoid reports that harm or stigmatise children while covering related issues. They made the call on Tuesday in Gombe during a two-day training on ethical reporting of children in the North-East. The training was organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund. Mr Nansel Nimyel, a facilitator, said the training aimed not only to amplify children’s issues but also to ensure responsible and ethical coverage. Nimyel said reporting on children must always prioritise their best interests and safeguard their dignity and…
An organisation committed to disability rights, the Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), has appealed to the government, security agencies, and other stakeholders to address challenges facing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nigeria. The centre made the appeal during an advocacy visit and presentation of a project on awareness of civic space rights of PWDs to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Oyo State Command, on Tuesday in Ibadan. CCD Senior Programme Officer, Ms Florence Attah, said that PWDs’ rights, as guaranteed under Sections 39 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution (as amended), are facing persistent threats. Attah…
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) says it has intensified nationwide efforts against tuberculosis (TB), aiming to strengthen the detection, treatment, and prevention of the disease across the country. The initiative has engaged more than 20,000 private healthcare providers across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), offering free TB testing and referral services to expand access for Nigerians. Dr Temitope Adetiba, Senior Programme Manager at IHVN, disclosed the scale-up at a press conference in Abuja to mark the 2026 World TB Day, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to expanding access to TB services nationwide. Adetiba explained that the…
The Committee of Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of Federal Tertiary Hospitals has called for strengthened security around health facilities following recent bomb attacks in Maiduguri, Borno State. The committee made the call while condemning coordinated explosions that rocked parts of Maiduguri, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, describing the incidents as deeply troubling and unacceptable. Chairman of the committee, Prof. Saad Ahmed, in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, described the attacks as barbaric, senseless, and unacceptable, and urged immediate measures to prevent future occurrences. The blasts also affected the Monday Market and the Post Office area…
Stakeholders in the health sector have lauded the reduction in child mortality, attributing the progress to healthcare services delivered under the Immunisation Plus Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project. The IMPACT project is sponsored by the World Bank in collaboration with the Ondo State Government to improve access to essential healthcare services across the state. Speaking at a community engagement in Isua Akoko, Akoko South East Local Government Area on Monday, stakeholders said the project had expanded access to basic healthcare for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children. Dr Francis Akanbiemu, Permanent Secretary of the Ondo…
Benue State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, on Tuesday said the number of suspected Lassa fever cases in the state has risen to 383, with 47 confirmed positive. Dr Ogwuche further explained that the overall mortality count has risen to 14 since the outbreak began in the state. The State Epidemiologist, Dr. Msuega Asema, had in February revealed that 10 people had died from Lassa fever in Benue, with 251 suspected cases and 45 confirmed positive. Giving an update on Tuesday, the commissioner said there have been no deaths recorded in the past 11 days. According…
The Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, has unveiled a portrait for his second term tenure, urging offices across the state to use the portrait. The portrait was officially unveiled by the governor on his Facebook page on Tuesday. He urged all offices, both public and private, including all government and non-governmental institutions, to discard the old portrait he used for his first term and download the new portrait and hoist it in their offices. Soludo said, “Ahead of my inauguration ceremony for a second term in office, my new official portrait, captured by my official photographer, Chinedu Eri, has been…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged increased domestic funding and stronger community engagement to sustain progress in the fight against tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria. Dr Mya Ngon, Cluster Lead for Disease Prevention and Control, WHO Nigeria, made the call on Tuesday during a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2026 World TB Day. Ngon said that while progress had been made, significant gaps remained, particularly in reaching underserved populations most vulnerable to TB infection and poor treatment outcomes. Highlighting 2025 theme, “Yes, we can end TB: led by the Federal Ministry of Health and powered by communities,” she…
The Federal Government has declared Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20, 2026, as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr celebration. The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who congratulated Muslim faithful across the country on the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan. In a statement issued on Tuesday by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Federal Government, the minister urged Muslims to uphold the core values of love, generosity, peace, tolerance, and sacrifice, which define the Ramadan period. He emphasized the need for Nigerians…