The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Tuesday inaugurated a “Yes! Girls Podcast Watch Session” in Kano as part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD). The session brought together adolescent girls, government representatives, Civil Society Organisations and the media to listen to girls’ perspectives and discuss ways of strengthening their rights, wellbeing and leadership. The UNICEF Adolescent Development Specialist (ADS), Ngozi Izuora-Songu, said the gathering marked the official launch of the “Yes! Girls Podcast,” a youth-driven digital platform created by adolescent girls for their peers across Nigeria. She said that the podcast provided a safe space for…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government on Tuesday reiterated its commitment to strengthening climate resilience, restoring degraded landscapes, and empowering communities to manage their resources sustainably. Prof. Joseph Terlumun, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, said this at a workshop for the presentation and final validation of nine Strategic Catchment Management Plans under the ACReSAL Project. “Our goal is clear: to strengthen climate resilience, restore degraded landscapes, and empower communities to manage their resources sustainably. The 20 Strategic Catchment Management Plans are at the heart of this effort. “As we meet here in Abuja, millions of our fellow citizens in the 19 northern…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) have urged doctors and healthcare professionals nationwide to heighten vigilance and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control measures amid ongoing transmission of Lassa fever. The advisory, published on Tuesday on the NCDC website and signed by the agency’s Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, warned that Lassa fever remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria, particularly during the dry season between November and April. According to the NCDC, recent surveillance data indicate continued transmission of the disease across several states, with a concerning number of…
The draw for the FA Cup quarter-final for the 2025-26 season has been made, as the remaining clubs in the competition head into the last eight. Taking place prior to the final fifth round tie between West Ham United and Brentford at the London Stadium, the draw was made by two former FA Cup winners and West Ham players Joe Cole and Joe Hart on Monday. League One team Port Vale are rewarded for their victory over Sunderland with a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea. There’s a big tie in the north-west as Manchester City host Liverpool, while…
The Nigerian stock market opened the week on a positive note on Monday, March 9, 2026, with investors gaining N147 billion as market capitalisation climbed to N126.583 trillion. The gain was driven by sustained demand for stocks such as Conoil, Legend Internet Omatek, NGX Group, Oando, and 22 other advancers. Market capitalisation, which opened at N126.436 trillion, rose by 0.12 per cent, or N147 billion, to close at N126.583 trillion. The All-Share Index gained 228.83 points, closing at 197,196.98 compared with 196,968.15 recorded at the previous session’s close. This led to an increase of the Year-To-Date (YTD) return which improved…
The ECOWAS Court of Justice has pledged its commitment to ensuring the protection of the rights of women and girls across the West African sub-region through effective justice delivery. President of the Court, Justice Ricardo Gonçalves, made the pledge at the 2026 International Women’s Day celebration organised by the ECOWAS Court’s Women’s Forum on Monday in Abuja. Ashewnews gathered through NAN reports that the event, which is celebrated on March 8 yearly, was sub-themed: “Break the Silence, End Gender-Based Violence Now.” “As we celebrate our women and their invaluable contributions to the achievements of the court, we also reaffirm our collective…
The Kano State Government has launched the Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy aimed at promoting inclusive governance and expanding economic opportunities for women and vulnerable groups across the state. This is contained in a statement issued by the Director, Public Enlightenment, Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Persons with Special Needs, Bintu Nuhu-Yakasai, on Monday in Kano. Speaking at the policy unveiling, Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf described the initiative as a defining moment in the state’s efforts to build a more inclusive and prosperous society. Kabir-Yusuf, represented by the Commissioner for Rural Development, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdussalam, said the policy…
Zedvance Finance Ltd. has disbursed more than N96 billion to support commercial businesses across Nigeria as it expands beyond retail lending. The company, in a statement on Monday, said the lending came through its Commercial Solutions business launched in 2025, which has driven rapid credit expansion within a year. It said the financing supported enterprises in sectors including oil and gas, automotive, logistics, renewable energy, fintech, e-commerce, trade distribution and agribusiness. Zedvance Finance, a subsidiary of Zedcrest Group, was established in 2014 to provide business and retail financing solutions to individuals and enterprises across Nigeria. Group Managing Director of Zedcrest…
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inaugurated the board of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission (LASERC), marking a step toward strengthening electricity sector governance and improving power supply in the state. The inauguration took place on Monday at Lagos House, Ikeja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The move forms part of Lagos State’s efforts to build a sustainable and investor-friendly electricity market following the enactment of the Lagos Electricity Law in alignment with the Electricity Act 2023. Governor Sanwo-Olu said the inauguration represents a significant milestone in Lagos State’s plan to create a reliable electricity market capable of supporting economic…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) recorded a sharp decline in revenue in January 2026, with earnings falling to N2.57 trillion from N4.82 trillion in December 2025. The figures were disclosed in the company’s Monthly Report Summary for January 2026, which highlighted a significant contraction in revenue despite a marginal improvement in profit after tax. The report also showed that NNPC Ltd made statutory payments of N726 billion to the Federation Account in January, down from N1.27 trillion remitted in December 2025. NNPC Ltd noted that its gas operations remained steady during the period, providing a degree of operational stability amid…