The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has emphasized that persons with disabilities (PwDs) are contributors to national development, not merely beneficiaries of charity. The Director-General of NITDA, Kashifu Inuwa, made the statement on Tuesday in Abuja during the closing ceremony of a two-day PwD digital skills training. The training was organised in collaboration with the Inclusive Friends Association (IFA) and SIMBED under NITDA’s Digital Literacy For All (DL4ALL) initiative, which aims to achieve 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030, with a focus on inclusive digital capacity nationwide. Represented at the event by…
Author: Newsdesk
The Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has begun creating a comprehensive national database of traditional medicine practitioners as part of efforts to standardize and strengthen the sector. The Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with reporters in Abuja. Emeje made the announcement following his appointment in December 2025 as Co-Chair of the World Health Organization’s Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (STAG-TM). Speaking on how he plans to leverage the position to advance traditional medicine in Nigeria and Africa, Emeje said the agency recognized the urgent need…
A Consultant Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Dr. Moyosore Makinde, has warned that sleep deprivation increases the risk of developing certain non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Makinde, who is also the President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), made the statement during an interview with reporters in Lagos on Tuesday. According to her, studies indicate that people who do not get enough quality sleep are more likely to fall ill when exposed to viruses, such as the common cold. “Lack of sleep can weaken the immune system and affects how quickly an individual recovers from sickness,” she said. Makinde…
The Federal Government on Tuesday validated an updated National Policy to tackle desertification, land degradation, and drought in Nigeria. Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, made this known at a workshop on the “Review of the National Policy on Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought.” He was represented at the event by Mr. Mahmud Kambari, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary. Lawal said the validated policy would effectively address desertification, land degradation, and drought while enhancing environmental sustainability across the country. “This occasion represents a vital milestone in our efforts to tackle desertification, land degradation, and drought in Nigeria. These are not abstract…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has said that opening additional 6GHz and 60GHz spectrum bands will boost high-speed connectivity for homes, schools, and hospitals across the country. The Head of the Spectrum Services Department at NCC, Atiku Lawal, made this statement at the conclusion of a two-day National Spectrum Roadmap Stakeholders Consultation Forum held on Tuesday in Abuja. Lawal explained that the commission’s plan to open new spectrum bands is not only aimed at improving quality of service but also at extending connectivity to underserved areas. “The commission is opening two spectrum bands, 6GHz and 60GHz, not just to enhance…
The Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA) has said that research on the production of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical-grade starch is 85 per cent complete. The Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with reporters in Abuja while providing an update on some of the agency’s ongoing projects. Emeje recalled that in 2024, the agency held a consultative stakeholders’ engagement to promote indigenous production of pharmaceutical-grade starch. The meeting focused on the theme: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Potential: Natural Medicine, Cassava Cultivation and Pharmaceutical-Grade Starch Production for Health, Wealth Creation, Student, Youth and Women Empowerment — The NNMDA…
A medical don, Dr Sani Giade, has urged paediatric healthcare workers to prioritize proper hand hygiene as a critical measure for preventing infections. Giade, a lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) College of Medical Sciences, Bauchi, made the call during a capacity-building programme for healthcare workers held on Tuesday in Bauchi. The programme was organized by the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Programme at the ATBU College of Medical Sciences. The training focused on the foundations of infection prevention and control, with special emphasis on hand hygiene as a key tool for reducing infections in health…
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has confirmed that a fire razed the upper floor of a one-storey commercial building housing computer dealers at Computer Village, Ikeja. The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed the incident in a statement made available to reporters on Tuesday. According to him, distress alerts were received at about 1:55 a.m. through the 767/112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting LASEMA to activate the state’s Emergency Response Plan from its Command and Control Centre in Alausa, Ikeja. “Upon arrival at the scene at about 2:15 a.m., the LASEMA response team encountered active flames and…
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) has reiterated its commitment to implementing measures aimed at boosting growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. The Nigeria Country Director of WAF, Mr Alexander Isong, disclosed this in an interview with reporters on Tuesday in Lagos. Isong said the Forum is working to create enabling environments that will allow agriculture to thrive across all its subsectors. “One of our key priorities is to institutionalize the ‘Hub-and-Spoke’ model across the 36 states of the federation. “We will translate our proven Nasarawa and Cross River frameworks into operational reality in three strategic states, with a focus on cassava…
The National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM) has said that sustained policy dialogue and stakeholder engagement—rather than premature regulation—are crucial to Nigeria’s responsible adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). The Director-General of NACETEM, Dr Olushola Odusanya, stated this on Tuesday during an interview with reporters. He said any future legislation on artificial intelligence should evolve from existing national policies and align with international best practices. According to Odusanya, Nigeria’s current AI policy has undergone several iterations and is expected to gradually transition into law and practical implementation. He noted that no country has fully mastered artificial intelligence due to its rapidly…