The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has identified key challenges affecting Open Access publishing in Nigerian universities. Ribadu spoke at the 114th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (AULNU) on Tuesday in Abuja. He described university libraries as central to academic quality, noting that weak libraries undermine university standards. “Progress has been made through expanded electronic resources, but funding, infrastructure and utilization gaps persist,” he said. According to Ribadu, these gaps hinder Nigerian universities from keeping pace with global shifts in knowledge production and dissemination. “Digitization and…
Author: Newsdesk
Investors lost ₦904 billion on Tuesday as sell-offs in major stocks dragged the Nigerian equities market into negative territory. The decline ended a four-day rally on the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX). Heavy profit-taking in Guinness Nigeria, Union Dicon Salt, AIICO Insurance, Wema Bank, MTN Nigeria, and other stocks pressured market performance. At the close of trading, market capitalization fell from ₦156.056 trillion to ₦155.152 trillion, representing a loss of ₦904 billion or 0.58 per cent. The All-Share Index declined by 1,408.82 points, or 0.58 per cent, closing at 241,750.15, down from 243,158.97 recorded on Monday. Consequently, the market’s year-to-date return…
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-ready and globally competitive education system with the inauguration of the Katsina State Smart Model Secondary School in Radda, Katsina State. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, inaugurated the project on Tuesday alongside Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda. Alausa, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Ikharo Attah, in Abuja, described the project as a bold milestone. He noted that the smart school represents more than just physical infrastructure but a symbol of innovation, opportunity, and strategic investment in human capital. “This initiative…
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Anambra State Chapter, has appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to recruit more nurses and midwives to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state. Mrs. Edith Onwuka, State Chairperson of NANNM, made the appeal in an interview with journalists in Awka on Tuesday, to mark the 2026 International Day of the Midwife. The International Day of the Midwife is observed annually on May 5 to honor the lifesaving role of midwives as frontline guardians of maternal and newborn health and key responders during health emergencies. This year’s theme is “One Million More Midwives”.…
The Kwara State Government, in collaboration with the Global Fund, on Tuesday in Ilorin, flagged off the administration of Lenacapavir, a free long-acting injectable drug for HIV prevention. The initiative aims to strengthen prevention efforts and accelerate progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Speaking at the event, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina El-Imam, described the initiative as “not just the introduction of a new medical intervention, but a bold step forward in our collective fight against HIV.” El-Imam noted that Kwara, like many parts of Nigeria, still faces a significant HIV burden.…
The Federal Government, in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and development partners, has unveiled the 2025–2030 Revised National Gender Policy on Agrifood Systems Transformation and its Strategic Action Plan. The policy aims to promote equitable access to agricultural resources, opportunities, and decision-making across the agrifood value chain. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, described the initiative as a major step towards building an inclusive, productive, and sustainable agricultural sector. The minister was represented by the Minister of State, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi, at the unveiling on Tuesday in Abuja. Kyari noted that agriculture remains central to Nigeria’s priorities…
The CLEEN Foundation, a non-governmental organization, has taken steps to strengthen community resilience and promote adaptive responses to security threats in Plateau State. The Executive Director of the CLEEN Foundation, Mr. Peter Maduoma, said the engagement was aimed at fostering stronger collaboration among citizens, security institutions, and other stakeholders. Maduoma, who made the remark on Tuesday in Jos during a citizens’ engagement, stated that the initiative seeks to address emerging security challenges through inclusive and community-driven approaches. The Executive Director was represented by the Programme Manager of CLEEN Foundation, Mrs. Chigozirim Okoro. He said the engagement brought together representatives of…
The Small-scale Women Farmers Organisation in Bauchi State has warned that the high cost of fertilisers and farm inputs will prevent many of its members from participating in the 2026 cropping season. The group’s spokesperson, Mrs Marka Abbas, disclosed this in an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Bauchi. A market survey in Bauchi metropolis showed that a bag of Urea fertiliser is currently selling for between ₦50,000 and ₦53,000, while NPK ranges from ₦25,000 to ₦60,000, depending on quality. READ ALSO: Abandon hoes, cutlasses for modern farming – Tinubu’s Wife urges Nigerians Abbas said the sharp price increase has…
One adult female died, and four other passengers sustained serious injuries when two Toyota Sienna vehicles collided on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos, on Tuesday. The accident occurred near Iyana-Iworo. Mr. Olawale Afolabi, Head of Public Affairs at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), confirmed the incident to reporters in Lagos. Afolabi stated that the accident happened early Tuesday morning, noting that both vehicles were commercial and fully loaded. He explained that the injured victims were evacuated to a nearby trauma center for urgent medical care. “Preliminary investigations revealed that reckless driving by another Toyota Sienna caused the crash,…
Prof. Mohammad Haruna, former Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has pledged to prioritise education, agriculture, infrastructure, and health if elected Nasarawa State Governor. Haruna, an APC governorship aspirant for the 2027 elections, made the pledge on Monday during a meeting with his Nassarawa Eggon Local Government and Ward Coordinators in Nassarawa Eggon. He said his ambition was driven by his desire to leverage his experience in technology, public service, and development planning to fast-track the state’s growth. “I have done a lot for the state during my time in public…