Bangladesh and Nigeria have pledged to explore new frontiers in agriculture and trade as both countries seek to deepen bilateral cooperation and unlock economic opportunities. The two countries stated this at the 55th Independence Anniversary and National Day of Bangladesh on Thursday in Abuja. Speaking at the event, Bangladeshi High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mainul Kabir, said there was need to unlock untapped economic opportunities and stronger collaboration in agriculture, particularly contract farming that would ensure mutual benefits. He noted that Bangladesh’s experience in high-yield, climate-resilient farming, combined with Nigeria’s large agricultural base, offer a pathway to enhanced food security and…
Author: Newsdesk
Deep Science Ventures (DSV), a UK-based deeptech venture creator, and Renaissance Philanthropy, a nonprofit fueling a 21st century renaissance by increasing the ambition of philanthropists, scientists, and innovators, today announce a venture creation project designed for systemic intervention in crop resilience. The project, part of DSV and Renaissance Philanthropy’s existing partnership to form the Climate Emergencies Resilience Lab (CERL), marks a significant step in driving a new category of agricultural technology: priming resilience in crops. Moving beyond traditional genetic modification, the initiative establishes a high-ambition roadmap for tackling the economic threat of climate-induced crop failures through the creation of commercially viable,…
Lesotho has banned mobile operators from offering airtime and data advances to minors, tightening rules around how young people access telecom services in the country. The move effectively stops under-18 users from borrowing airtime or data, a popular “use now, pay later” feature, amid growing concerns about consumer protection. This implies that minors can no longer take on what is essentially micro-debt through their phones. Airtime advances work like small loans — users get credit upfront and repay on their next recharge. By restricting this for children, regulators are trying to curb early exposure to debt and prevent potential exploitation. Across Africa,…
The Delta State Government has opened applications for the recruitment of medical and non-medical personnel into the state’s health sector as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Joseph Onojaeme, during a press conference in Asaba on Tuesday. This comes as Governor Sheriff Oborevwori approved the recruitment of over 700 medical and non-medical personnel in a major initiative to improve healthcare services across the state. Interested candidates are required to submit applications addressed to the Chairman, Health Sector Recruitment. Applications must include a Curriculum Vitae, copies of relevant credentials, a…
The Federal Government on Thursday graduated the first cohort of youth health fellows in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), under an initiative introduced by President Bola Tinubu to revitalise the health sector. Ashenews gathered through NAN reports that the event also featured the onboarding of the second cohort (2.0), with the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, and other dignitaries in attendance. Speaking at the ceremony, Pate said the initiative was a strategic effort to groom young and vibrant leaders who would drive the administration’s health sector transformation agenda across the country’s Local Government Areas (LGAs). He explained that…
The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has further strengthened its reputation as a leading African hub for global agricultural innovation as it advanced high-level discussions with Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (‘Sterling HoldCo’) and Egypt-based Tulima Farms and Agri-Processing LLC on the establishment of an AI-enabled hydroponic farming ecosystem on campus. The initiative, spearheaded by Sterling HoldCo’s subsidiary, The Alternative Bank (‘AltBank’), is conceived as a commercially viable, technology-driven agricultural venture integrating Artificial Intelligence with precision hydroponic systems to cultivate select exotic vegetables and staple crops under climate-controlled conditions. Designed to operate at scale, the project reflects a new…
Health workers in Niger State are still unable to reach every child with polio vaccination despite repeated campaigns, as rugged terrain, bad roads, insecurity and inaccurate population data continue to leave some settlements behind. A frontline health worker involved in the immunisation exercise captured the frustration during a recent health review meeting in Minna. “We try our best when going round communities, but sometimes there are settlements we cannot get to on time because of bad road networks and insecurity, among others”, the health worker said. The meeting, which brought together state health authorities, the World Health Organization and UNICEF,…
Dr Juliet Obaro, an Internet of Things (IoT) engineer, says Edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bridge connectivity gaps and empower smallholder farmers with real-time agricultural insights. She said this in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Abuja. Obaro explained that Edge AI is an emerging technology that allows data processing to occur directly on devices without reliance on continuous internet connectivity and can therefore revolutionise farming practices in underserved communities. She said the biggest barrier to digital agriculture is not a lack of innovation but the dependence of most solutions on internet access, which remains unreliable in rural farming…
The Federal Government has taken delivery of the Nigeria Government Enterprise Architecture (NGEA) Portal, marking a major step towards strengthening digital governance and improving coordination across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). The portal was developed by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), which also received the portal documents on Thursday in Abuja. The handover ceremony was themed “Strengthening Digital Governance and Whole-of-Government ICT Integration in Nigeria.” Malam Kashifu Inuwa, Director-General of NITDA, said the initiative was a critical component of the Nigeria E-Government Master Plan 2.0. Represented by Dr Warowei…
Patients in Sauka Kahuta community in Chachanga local government area of Niger state have raised concerns over the unavailability of essential drugs and the rising cost of treatment at the community’s primary health centre. The PHC which is popularly called Asibitin gindin Mangoro is no longer seen as friendly to the pockets of the residents. Recent findings by ASHENEWS indicates that while the centre has a number of health workers on duty, access to medications remain a major challenge, forcing patients to seek alternatives or pay more to receive treatment. A nurse at the facility, who spoke on condition of…