Mr Ejiroghene John, Founder of Teach Girls Tech Foundation, has called for collaborative action to empower girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as a means of driving economic development and innovation in the country. John made the appeal during an interview with reporters on Friday in Port Harcourt. She stressed the need for government, schools, families, and development partners to work together in providing inclusive policies, mentorship opportunities, scholarships, and better-equipped learning environments for girls in science and technology. The foundation executive, who is also a member of Tech Women, commended global leaders for setting aside February 11…
Author: Newsdesk
Dr Nkechi Obianozie, a Consultant Neurologist at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, says high medication costs and stigma are some of the factors hindering epilepsy care in Nigeria. Obianozie spoke with reporters in a telephone interview on Friday in commemoration of International Epilepsy Week. This year’s theme is “Turning Stories into Action.” The day is commemorated annually to raise awareness and promote inclusion for people affected by epilepsy globally. The expert described epilepsy as a brain disease characterized by unprovoked seizures in any part of the brain. She noted that increased awareness and unhindered access to medication and care…
The All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has called on the Federal Government to prioritize the welfare of internally displaced farmers to ensure food security in the country. AFAN Secretary General, Mr Femi Oke, made this known on the sidelines of a two-day conference organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lagos. The conference, themed “Securing Futures: Market-Based Solutions for Internal Displacement,” was held at the Lagos Continental Hotel and convened by the Office of the Vice President in collaboration with the United Nations, the United Kingdom’s International Development partners, and Tropical General Investment. Oke noted that…
Experts and some patient support organizations have called for increased funding for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), warning that the growing burden of chronic illnesses is placing severe financial strain on Nigerians. They made the call at the National Hypertension/NCDs media and patients advocacy orientation organized by the National NCD Patients Advocacy Group, supported by the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), on Friday in Abuja. A hematologist, Dr Chi-Kadibia Ukoma—Founder of Leukemia Care Plus Initiative and Vice President of the Nigerian Cancer Society—said NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, and sickle cell disease are rapidly overtaking infectious diseases and affecting nearly…
The Government of Zambia has pledged to supply up to 1 million 90 kg bags of maize to Kenya if drought conditions worsen and local stocks diminish, Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture and Livestock Development Sen. Mutahi Kagwe has announced. The assurance came as the Kenyan government continues to grapple with tightening maize supplies and rising food insecurity. According to recent government estimates, about 3.3 million Kenyans are facing acute food insecurity, a figure projected to rise to 3.6 million by June 2026 as drought persists in many parts of the country. Making the announcement on his X account, Sen. Kagwe…
As world leaders gather at the Munich Security Conference (13-15 February) amid rising geopolitical tensions, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is urging governments and investors to treat food security and rural investment as matters of global security. “Fragile food systems pose an underestimated risk to global stability,” said Alvaro Lario, President of IFAD. “Specifically, access to productive land and reliable freshwater must be prioritized. Land and water deserve as much attention as rare minerals, if not more, as they are key to global stability,” added Lario. Nearly 80 per cent of the world’s poorest people live in rural…
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has called for responsible sexual behaviour and increased condom use as Anambra records a 2.4 per cent HIV prevalence rate—the highest in the South-East zone. The State Coordinator of AHF in Anambra, Dr Vivian Sunday, disclosed this in Awka on Friday while marking the 2026 International Condom Day, observed annually on February 13. This year’s commemoration has the theme “Safer is Sexy, Wrap it Up.” Sunday said the prevalence figure underscored the need for sustained public education on responsible living and preventive measures. According to her, AHF—in collaboration with the Anambra State AIDS Control Agency,…
President Bola Tinubu will undertake a one-day official visit to Kebbi State on Saturday to commission key projects executed by Governor Nasir Idris. According to a State House press release issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, while in Kebbi, Tinubu will serve as the special guest of honour at the 61st edition of the 2026 Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival, one of Africa’s most vibrant cultural spectacles. Staged along the riverside of the historic Matan Fada – a site recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity – the…
The Cross River Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA) says it has achieved 99 per cent coverage in its ongoing Measles–Rubella (MR) vaccination campaign. Dr Vivien Mesembe-Otu, Director-General of CRSPHCDA, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Friday in Calabar. As of Day nine of the campaign, no fewer than 1,866,070 children had been vaccinated out of a target of 2,015,493, leaving a balance of 149,423 children yet to be reached. She explained that the campaign recorded a 99 per cent daily settlement reach, with 8,696 out of 8,791 planned settlements covered across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas…
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has inaugurated a five-year strategy aimed at strengthening global preparedness against epidemic and pandemic threats. The coalition also called for an additional $2.5 billion to reinforce the world’s disease defenses. This is contained in a statement by Ms Jodie Rogers, Senior Communications and Advocacy Manager at CEPI. The strategy, tagged CEPI 3.0, is due to begin in 2027 and requires a total of $3.6 billion for full implementation. With $1.1 billion already secured and committed, the organization is seeking further investments from governments, philanthropies, and development partners. According to Rogers, the new plan…