The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) has urged Nigerians to celebrate Valentine’s Day responsibly by taking deliberate steps to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Dr Temitope Ilori, Director-General of NACA, made the call in a Valentine’s Day message issued on Wednesday in Abuja. She stressed the need for individuals to prioritize their own health and that of their partners. Ilori said that while the season is known for expressions of affection and connection, it is equally important to avoid behaviors that increase vulnerability to HIV. “Let love be guided by responsibility. Knowing your status…
Author: Newsdesk
The Kaduna State Fire Service and Public Safety recorded 57 fire incidents in January. Assistant Controller Mr Paul Aboi disclosed this in an interview with reporters in Kaduna on Wednesday. He said no injuries or deaths were recorded during the period. “We responded to 57 fire incidents across the state in January. There were no casualties and no rescue cases,” he said. READ ALSO: NAFDAC’s alcohol crackdown gets continental support According to him, property worth N3.3 billion was saved from the incidents. He added that property estimated at N150 million was lost to the fire outbreaks during the month. Aboi…
Ms Hauwa Adamu, Officer-in-Charge of Kofar Ran Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bauchi, says the facility provides free delivery kits to no fewer than 250 pregnant women every month. Adamu disclosed this on Wednesday during an interview with reporters in Bauchi. She explained that the kits are supplied under the IMPACT Project to promote safe childbirth. Each kit includes mama pads, nightgowns, bleach, umbilical cord clamps, hand gloves and other essential items designed to ensure clean and hygienic delivery for mothers and newborns. READ ALSO: Nigeria coordinates nationwide women’s health push “We ensure that every woman who comes to deliver…
Human rights activist and politician, Omoyele Sowore, has claimed that about 90 per cent of federal lawmakers and other elected officials would not win office if elections in Nigeria were conducted transparently. Sowore remarked while reacting to the controversy surrounding proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results. On Tuesday, the Senate amended the Electoral Act to permit electronic transmission of election results — a move many Nigerians had clamoured for. However, lawmakers retained a provision allowing manual collation of results in areas where internet connectivity fails, a clause critics have described…
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, together with the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health (OSSAP-WH), has begun coordinating nationwide interventions to tackle key challenges facing Nigerian women. Dr Adanna Steinacker, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Health, announced the initiative during a meeting with women leaders, women’s groups and NGOs in Abuja on Tuesday. The session was convened by the Ministry and facilitated by OSSAP-WH. Steinacker said her office is taking a nationwide approach to ensure women’s health is central to national development. She noted that OSSAP-WH was launched…
Farmers and herders in six rural communities across Bokkos and Riyom Local Government Areas of Plateau State have signed 25 peace agreements aimed at restoring stability after years of deadly clashes. Participants from communities including Sha, Bum and Sopp endorsed the accords following dialogue and reconciliation engagements facilitated by the Institute for Integrated Transitions (IFIT), targeting improved social cohesion and durable conflict resolution. A senior district head in Bokkos LGA, Lazaros David, described the process as timely, noting that sustained grassroots engagement helped communities identify shared challenges and pursue collective solutions. “They followed the programme consistently to ensure its success.…
A Nigerian computer scientist at the University of Ibadan (UI), Dr Ronke Sakpere, has developed a mobile application, KoEDE, to enhance Yoruba language learning among children through gamified digital tools. Speaking in Ibadan on Tuesday, Sakpere said the innovation was driven by concerns over declining fluency in indigenous languages among Nigerian children, particularly in urban centres where English dominates communication at home and in schools. Nigeria has more than 500 indigenous languages, but experts warn that intergenerational transmission is weakening, with many children struggling to speak their mother tongues fluently. Although the national education policy recommends mother-tongue instruction in the…
The First Lady of Imo State and Chairperson of First Ladies Against Cancer, Mrs Chioma Uzodinma, has called for an upward review of the cancer treatment support fund to reduce the financial strain on vulnerable patients. Uzodinma made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja at a symposium organized by Project Pink Blue (PPB) to mark the 2026 International Day Against Cancer. The event’s theme was: “Cancer, Conflicts and Insecurity in Nigeria: What Can We Do to Ensure Access to Cancer Care for Vulnerable Communities Amid Conflicts and Insecurity?” She advocated expanding the existing funding framework to cover more patients and…
A new survey by civic-tech group Techsocietal shows that 79 per cent of Nigerian children aged 11–16 feel unsafe online, with 97 per cent reporting unwanted sexual advances via chatrooms, social media and email. The findings emerged at Techsocietal’s 2026 Safer Internet Day workshop for educators in Lagos, themed “AI Aware: Safe, Smart and in Control.” Programmes Manager Gabreal Odunsi told participants that 93 per cent of children in the age group access the internet daily via phones or other devices. He added: “Eighty-nine per cent have received sexual images or content online. Children are constantly connected through smartphones and…
Gbenga Adegbiji, Chief Executive Officer of Geniserve, has urged the development of resilient, AI-ready data centres to bolster Nigeria’s digital economy and draw investment from global technology giants. Adegbiji made the call during a media capacity-building training session on Nigeria’s Digital Infrastructure Economy, held Tuesday in Lagos. The event was organized by The Media Training Room (TMTR) in collaboration with Africa Hyperscalers. He described data centres—backed by reliable connectivity—as the foundation of the country’s digital ecosystem. “Without these foundations, applications in payments, social media and e-commerce cannot function seamlessly,” Adegbiji said. He highlighted the growing demands from artificial intelligence workloads,…