The Head of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), Mr Pablo Hernández de Cos, has warned that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new financial stability risks. According to a BBC report, Hernández de Cos made the comments in London while speaking at a conference hosted by the Reserve Bank of India. The BIS is an international financial institution owned by its member central banks. Founded in 1930, it serves as a bank for central banks. Its members include Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, India, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. He said spending on AI-related infrastructure was…
Author: Newsdesk
The Kano State Health Trust Fund (KHETFUND) has handed over the construction of a health post in Bargi, Kiru Local Government Area, to a contractor to improve healthcare delivery. This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the KHETFUND Information Officer, Amina Lawan-Isah. The statement said the project was formally handed over to the contractor, Sumaila Bello, by the Executive Secretary, Dr Fatima Zahradeen, who was represented by the Director of Administration and General Services, Abubakar Bala. Zahradeen urged the contractor to execute the project professionally, adhere strictly to approved specifications and maintain quality throughout the construction process.…
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has advised the Imo State Government to increase its investment in maternal and child nutrition. UNICEF’s Chief of Enugu Field Office, Mrs Juliet Chiluwe, made the call on Thursday at a stakeholders’ meeting in Owerri. The meeting focused on resource mobilisation and Multiple Micronutrient Supplementation (MMS) for improved maternal and child nutrition. Chiluwe, represented by UNICEF Nutrition Officer for the Enugu Field Office, Mrs Ngozi Onuorah, urged the state government to take ownership of the shift to MMS. She said ownership should include policy formulation, implementation and adequate funding to ensure the programme achieves…
The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called on the Borno State Government to prioritise nutrition in its 2027 budget and explore Zakat and Waqf as complementary funding sources for vulnerable populations. Mr Yusuf Ibn-Tom, Borno State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, made the appeal in an interview with reporters on Friday in Maiduguri. Ibn-Tom described nutrition financing as an investment in children, human capital development and the future of the state. While acknowledging the importance of government funding, he stressed the need to mobilise additional resources to address the scale of nutrition challenges facing vulnerable communities. According to him,…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has inaugurated a pilot certificate programme to strengthen Africa’s clinical research workforce, equipping mid-career physicians, pharmacists and other professionals with practical skills. Africa CDC announced the initiative on Friday through its official X handle, stating that it would expand the continent’s pool of skilled researchers capable of leading clinical studies and advancing medical innovation. Led by Africa CDC’s Science and Innovation Division, the programme aims to strengthen Africa’s capacity to develop vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, while improving research and development capabilities for outbreak preparedness and response. The programme combines two…
The Federal Government has inaugurated an innovative financial and digital monitoring system for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones Programme (SAPZ) to develop critical agro-industrial infrastructure. The initiatives were inaugurated in Abuja on Thursday during the validation workshop on innovative financial products and the Digital Financial Flow Monitoring System (DFFMS) under SAPZ. SAPZ National Programme Coordinator, Dr Kabir Yusuf, explained that SAPZ was designed not only to develop critical industrial infrastructure but also to create a viable ecosystem. Yusuf said the ecosystem connects farmers, processors, traders, financial institutions and private investors to sustainable markets and investment opportunities. He said infrastructure and…
The National Agricultural Development Fund (NADF) has received a N3.4 million surplus from Jaiz Takaful Insurance Ltd under an agricultural and investment insurance policy. Ibrahim Shehu, Managing Director of Jaiz Takaful Insurance Ltd, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when he visited Mohammed Ibrahim, Executive Secretary of NADF, to formally present confirmation of the fund’s entitlement. Shehu said the surplus arose from the 2024 financial year and was paid in fulfilment of an agreement reached with NADF when it subscribed to the Takaful cover. He explained that Takaful arrangements allow eligible participants to receive a share of the surplus generated…
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to temporarily close the runway at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, from October 20 for essential repairs and resurfacing. This was contained in a statement by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mr Henry Agbebire, on Thursday evening in Lagos. According to Agbebire, the closure is tentatively scheduled to last about 25 days, subject to final confirmation. He said the planned intervention became necessary following the deterioration of sections of the runway, including potholes and extensive surface cracks worsened by recent heavy rainfall. Agbebire said the rehabilitation…
The Chairperson of Ojo Farmers Community, Lagos State, Mrs Mayriam Ali, has identified transportation as a major obstacle to farmers’ access to markets. Ali made this known in an interview with reporters in Lagos. She said many farmers had buyers for their produce but lacked affordable means of transporting vegetables from their farms to major markets. According to her, the situation sometimes forced farmers to depend on intermediaries or reduce the quantity of produce taken to markets. “Because of transportation, I have people buying from me at Mile 12 and Mushin, but the major challenge I have is the means…
A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF), has called for the abolition of early girl-child marriage in Nigeria. The TCF made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child through the Girls Rights, Education and Protection (G-REAP) project, funded by the Ford Foundation. The event had as its theme “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights”. Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of TCF, Mrs Adetayo Erinle, acknowledged the existing policies already in place by the government to curb child marriage in Nigeria and commended the government…