The Federal Ministry of Youth Development has reaffirmed its commitment to policies and programmes that promote youth inclusion, civic responsibility, and social cohesion as key tools to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The declaration came during an advocacy workshop in Abuja themed “Redefining Masculinity: Boys as Champions of Change to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria.” Minister Ayodele Olawande, represented by Mr. Emmanuel Essien, Director of the Youth Health, Mental, and Psychosocial Affairs Department, stressed that ending GBV demands a collective societal effort. This includes active roles from families, schools, religious and traditional leaders, and government through robust policies and enforcement.…
Author: Newsdesk
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has called on young innovators to seize opportunities in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies to tackle critical challenges in health, education, and agriculture. Mbah delivered the charge on Tuesday during the opening ceremony of the second edition of the Enugu Tech Festival at the International Conference Centre, Enugu. Describing the event as more than a conventional technology conference, the governor framed it as “a reinforcement of intent” for Enugu’s digital future. He urged the state’s youth to master fields such as AI, cybersecurity, and semiconductor design, while leveraging technology to modernize traditional sectors.…
Dr. Jide Idris, Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has expressed serious concerns about the slow pace of progress in public health funding. Idris made the remarks on Tuesday during a roundtable meeting in Abuja with health security-focused civil society organizations (CSOs) and NCDC officials. He pointed out that recent budget adjustments remain inadequate to address the urgent needs of communities nationwide. While acknowledging some positive recognition in recent budget proposals, he stressed that significant funding gaps persist. Idris also emphasized the need for modern communication strategies to complement budget allocations. These strategies, he said,…
The Lagos Aviators Lions Club has donated medical supplies and financial assistance to children battling cancer at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), club President Theresa Emordi announced on Tuesday. The gesture was revealed during the club’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Campaign at LASUTH, themed “Childhood Cancer is Real: Early Detection Is the Key.” The initiative aimed to support affected children and their families at the hospital’s Cancer Centre. Emordi explained that the club consulted unit heads beforehand to identify children in urgent need of surgical intervention. As a result, the club funded treatment for three children and provided essential…
The Founder and President of ImeyrReach Foundation, an NGO, Mr. Oluwayemi Odubote, has decried the devastating effects of drug abuse on Nigerian youths and called for urgent collective action to reverse the trend. Odubote, who is also a mental health advocate, made the call during an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos. He warned that drug abuse has ruined the futures of many young people, describing its impacts as profoundly destructive. Prolonged use, he said, leads to severe health risks including brain damage, organ failure, mental illness, and often death. Beyond physical tolls, Odubote explained that drug abuse impairs…
Patients at the General Hospital, Minna, breathed a sigh of relief as the Niger State Government stepped in to clear their outstanding medical bills. The free medical care intervention, launched to mark Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago’s birthday, immediately eased the financial burden on vulnerable families awaiting discharge. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Murtala Muhammad Bagana, led the outreach and was joined by the Executive Director of the Niger State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Junaidu Inuwa, and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Abdullahi Imam. The team toured multiple sections of the hospital, including the Paediatric Clinic, the Male…
The Abia State Government says it achieved 96 per cent coverage in the just-concluded Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign, surpassing the 95 per cent benchmark required to attain herd immunity against infectious diseases statewide. The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia. Kanu said the campaign, which commenced on February 3, targeted children aged nine months to 14 years in schools, health facilities, and other public institutions across the state. He noted that the exercise surpassed the 95 per cent herd immunity threshold, recording 96 per…
Nigeria and the European Union (EU) have signed a historic science and technology pact, ending a 20-year hiatus to drive measurable innovation and scale startups across Africa through proactive implementation. Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of EU delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS and his team, signed on behalf of the EU in Abuja on Monday while Dr Kingsley Udeh, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology signed for Nigeria. Udeh said the agreement marked a milestone by positioning Nigeria as a central hub for scientific advancement in Africa. Speaking on the historic nature of the deal, the minister said it was the…
Bayer has announced the launch of newgold seed, its first multi-crop seed brand developed specifically for low-carbon intensity crops, as the company positions agriculture as a key enabler of the fast-growing biofuels market. The new brand is designed to help farmers participate directly in the expanding demand for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel, while also enhancing on-farm profitability. Bayer said the move responds to a growing challenge in the global energy transition: scaling low-carbon fuels without competing with food production or adding complexity to existing farming systems. “As demand for sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel accelerates, the energy transition…
The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project in Kaduna State has activated the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for erosion control works in Rigasa, Kawo, and Zaria. Abubakar Buba, the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, said on Tuesday in Kaduna that the exercise marked the state’s transition from consultations to full safeguards implementation ahead of civil works. Represented by the Director of Environment and Pollution Control, Yusuf Mu’azu, the commissioner said the three sites were selected from over 242 identified ecological challenge locations based on priority and impact. He said ongoing reforms in waste evacuation—including strengthened local council…