A Federal High Court Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, has called for stronger collective action to end Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), describing it as a pervasive global and national problem. Egwuatu made the call on Thursday in Abuja during the official launch of the SGBV Investigator Aide-Memoire Card. The project, themed “Strengthening the Forensic Capacity of Nigeria to Support the Effective Investigation and Prosecution of SGBV Linked to Terrorism in Borno State,” is funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC). The judge described SGBV as any act committed against a person’s will based on gender norms and unequal power relations, including…
Author: Newsdesk
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) raised ₦1.92 trillion at its Open Market Operations (OMO) auction held on April 21, 2026, as stop rates climbed to as high as 21.90%, underscoring sustained monetary tightening and strong investor appetite for high-yield instruments. Auction results released by the apex bank show total subscriptions rose to ₦2.22 trillion—well above the ₦600 billion initially offered—highlighting robust demand amid elevated interest rate conditions. The 140-day tenor attracted the strongest interest, with subscriptions of ₦1.25 trillion, reflecting investor preference for longer-duration instruments at attractive yields. The 7-day bill followed with ₦884 billion in subscriptions, while the…
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) on Wednesday suspended its National President, Prof. Bala Audu, over alleged violations of the association’s constitution. The decision was made at an Emergency Delegates Meeting (EDM) in Abuja, attended by 63 members, including chairmen and secretaries from 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory. Some members expressed concern that the Audu-led administration disqualified six aspirants from contesting national offices at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting in Kano, scheduled for April 27 to May 3. Reports indicate the affected candidates were reportedly disqualified by the National Officers Committee (NOC) due to claims of incomplete documentation. Delegates…
An NGO, Sightsavers, has trained 46 health workers in basic sign language to promote inclusion in health facilities in Kaduna State. The organisation, in collaboration with the Nigeria National Association of the Deaf and the Association of Sign Language Interpreters in Nigeria, Kaduna State chapter, facilitated the one-week training. Speaking at the event, Sightsavers Country Advocacy Coordinator Esther Bature said the training will help health workers communicate effectively with hearing-impaired patients. She explained that participants were selected from 23 facilities across Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Chikun Local Government Areas, with the training focusing on sexual and reproductive health. “A…
Project Pink Blue (PPB), a leading cancer care non-governmental organization, on Wednesday held a specialized training for oncology nurses to enhance their knowledge of breast cancer care and management. The training in Abuja also focused on improving early detection and prevention of breast cancer. It was organized in collaboration with the Network of People Impacted by Cancer in Nigeria (NePICiN) and the Abuja Breast Cancer Support Group. The programme brought together over 50 nurses from various healthcare facilities for intensive sessions on breast cancer nutrition, lifestyle modification, patient education, and related topics. Mrs. Sarah Abagai, Head of Dietetics at the…
Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday inaugurated a multi-grain processing facility established by AFCOTT Grains Ltd., a subsidiary of the Kewalram Chanrai Group, in Kano. Speaking at the event, Shettima said the project underscores Nigeria’s commitment to boosting value addition, enhancing productivity, and strengthening the agricultural value chain. Represented by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Shettima described the facility as a milestone that will improve export competitiveness, increase farmers’ incomes, and create employment opportunities. “Today’s commissioning is not merely the inauguration of AFCOTT Grains Processing Facility, but a clear statement of our national resolve towards food…
The National Assembly has pledged to improve budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) to support effective post-harvest solutions and related interventions. Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Institutions and Colleges, Rep. Abiodun Akinlade, made the commitment at the 3rd Post-Harvest Connect and Root, Tuber and Banana Conference on Wednesday in Abuja. The conference, convened by NSPRI in collaboration with other stakeholders, was themed: “Scaling Post-Harvest Technologies for Enhanced Productivity and Competitiveness.” Represented by his deputy, Salman Idris, Akinlade said the committee recognizes that post-harvest losses remain one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s food security.…
The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), FCT Chapter, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Jabi, on Wednesday launched a free breast cancer screening for 200 female journalists in Abuja. The initiative, held to mark the 2026 World Cancer Day, aims to promote early detection and treatment of breast cancer among women in the media industry. NAWOJ FCT Chairperson, Bassey Ikpang, urged female journalists in the FCT to take advantage of the exercise, describing it as a lifesaving intervention. READ ALSO: Nigeria ramps up cancer prevention, education Ikpang explained that the screening is…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) significantly increased its Open Market Operations (OMO) sales to N18.79 trillion in the first quarter of 2026, representing a sharp 426 per cent rise from N3.57 trillion recorded in the same period of 2025. Latest financial data released by the apex bank show that despite the surge in gross sales, higher repayments moderated the overall liquidity impact, with net OMO sales declining to N1.81 trillion from N2.01 trillion year-on-year. The figures indicate a more active but measured liquidity management approach by the CBN, as it intensifies interventions in the money market while allowing more…
The Society for Family Health has transitioned into a quasi-group structure, repositioning itself as a fully integrated, African-led health systems platform to better address evolving healthcare needs across Nigeria and the continent. The Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, announced the transition in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, describing it as a strategic move aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness and long-term sustainability. According to Idogho, the transformation represents a shift from a traditional programme implementation model to a coordinated institutional architecture designed to respond more effectively to rapidly changing health system demands and priorities. He explained that…