An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training organisation, New Horizons Nigeria, has inaugurated a ₦50 million Almajiri-to-Tech empowerment scheme aimed at training Almajiri children as computer and electronics technicians. The Managing Director of New Horizons Nigeria, Mr Tim Akano, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, noting that the initiative is designed to take Almajiri children off the streets through skills acquisition. The Hausa term Almajiri is derived from the Arabic word al-Muhājir, which refers to a person who migrates from his home in search of Islamic knowledge. Over time, the term has come to be used colloquially to…
Author: Newsdesk
Nestlé Nigeria Plc has reassured consumers that its infant formula products sold in the country were not affected by the recent voluntary and precautionary recall announced in some foreign markets. The company clarified that the recall involved specific batches distributed outside Nigeria and did not include products manufactured or sold by Nestlé Nigeria. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos by the company’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Ms Toju Egbebi. According to Egbebi, all Nestlé infant formula products available in Nigeria are duly registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and…
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Friday inaugurated a 10-member Steering Committee to implement the Framework for Responsible Investment in Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) programme. FRILIA is a $750 million World Bank–assisted programme designed to boost agricultural development in the state, subject to effective implementation and compliance with agreed benchmarks. The inauguration, held in Asaba, the state capital, was performed by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, who also serves as Chairman of the Steering Committee, on behalf of the governor. Oborevwori said the FRILIA programme was conceptualised to promote ease of doing business in Delta State, noting that agricultural development…
The Kaduna State Government on Friday sealed 20 illegal Colleges of Health Sciences and private hospitals operating across the state. The State Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Umma Kaltum-Ahmed, said the action was part of ongoing efforts to ensure that private health institutions comply with established rules and regulations. She explained that the exercise was aimed at guaranteeing effective training of healthcare workers and protecting public health in the state. According to the commissioner, the affected institutions are located in Chikun, Igabi, Kaduna North, and Kaduna South Local Government Areas. Kaltum-Ahmed said the enforcement was carried out in line with guidelines…
A general physician, Dr. Gerald Chinasa, has canvassed the strengthening of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) and the Primary Health Care (PHC) system to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria. Chinasa, who made the call in an interview on Friday in Lagos, said effective PPPs and a strong primary healthcare system were critical to improving quality of life, noting that PHC is a comprehensive strategy that involves the entire society in promoting health. The physician called on government agencies to actively engage in partnerships with private sector players to transform the healthcare system and achieve universal health coverage. Chinasa described PPPs…
A consultant cardiologist at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, Dr Abubakar Sani, has warned Nigerians against the excessive consumption of energy drinks, describing the trend as a serious threat to heart health. Sani said there has been a noticeable increase in the consumption of energy drinks among youths in Gombe metropolis and its suburbs. Some youths who spoke on the trend said they consume energy drinks to endure long working hours and enhance sexual performance, while others admitted to mixing the drinks with alcohol to “get maximum results.” In an interview on Friday, Sani described the excessive intake of stimulant-packed…
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the India-US trade deal to have fallen through last year, saying PM Modi did not call US President Donald Trump because “they [India] were uncomfortable doing that”. In an interview podcast on Thursday, Lutnick gave a detailed version of the events leading up to a stand-off between the two countries as negotiations for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) stalled and Trump imposed additional tariffs of 25 per cent on Indian exports as a punitive measure for buying Russian oil. “I’ll tell you a story about India. I…
The African Union High-Level Panel on Emerging Technologies (APET) notes that the quest for a promising and transformative frontier in African agriculture could be enhanced by the adoption and integration of robotics in agriculture through modern farming practices such as mechanization. Robotics-based mechanization holds significant promise, especially in the realm of harvesting, a critical component of Africa’s economy and its pursuit of food security. As a policy imperative, APET recommends that AU Member States expedite the adoption of modern agricultural practices and techniques. This should include the integration of robotics into weeding and harvesting processes, to advance the continent’s quest…
Bayer announces the launch of Baya Solara, the first commercial strawberry variety from Bayer’s De Ruiter brand. The launch is a vital part of the company’s strategic expansion into the strawberry market and follows Bayer’s acquisition of the strawberry assets from UK-based NIAB in 2023. The introduction of the new variety reinforces Bayer’s commitment to providing innovative solutions to protected culture growers and sets a new standard in soft fruit cultivation. Strawberries are among the fastest-growing fruit crops, with year-round demand exceeding supply. “Our new variety Baya Solara is an exciting June-bearing cultivar and delivers impressive productivity and strong resistance…
Sen. Wasiu Eshinlokun, in collaboration with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), has donated a new radiology X-ray machine to the General Hospital, Odan-Lagos, boosting the diagnostic capacity of one of Nigeria’s oldest public healthcare facilities. Speaking at the inauguration, Eshinlokun, who represents Lagos Central Senatorial District, said the donation was aimed at improving healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. He described the X-ray machine as “a gift of health and a tool to save lives,” and pledged an additional ₦1 billion for the upgrade of facilities at the hospital. According to him, the investment would enhance infrastructure,…