The Abia Government has approved the employment of 50 outstanding TechRise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) graduates into the state civil service. Gov. Alex Otti made the announcement on Saturday during the TechRise Cohort 2 graduation ceremony in Umuahia. He directed the Head of Service to begin their documentation, noting that the recruitment would follow due process and require valid credentials. Otti said the employment embargo was temporarily lifted to accommodate the 50 graduates and would be reinstated after the exercise. He also announced that 849 graduates of the programme would receive laptops to support their professional development. Prize winners…
Author: Newsdesk
An agri-mechanisation firm, Origin Tech Group, on Saturday reiterated its commitment to increasing agricultural yields by empowering farmers with modern agro-mechanization tools. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Mr. Samuel Joseph Samuel, Executive Chairman of Origin Tech, said the company aims to enhance food security and sustainability across Nigeria. Origin Tech Group, a leading Agri-Tech and Food Systems company, provides agricultural infrastructure solutions, advanced mechanization technology, and farm equipment across industries in four continents. Its immediate focus in Nigeria is to revolutionize the agricultural sector by introducing robust mechanization to both urban and rural farming communities. Samuel explained that…
Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), says ongoing reforms under the authority are enhancing Nigeria’s health coverage and improving data quality across the health system. Ohiri made the disclosure to reporters on the sidelines of the 13th Ministerial Oversight Committee (MOC) meeting of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) in Abuja, where stakeholders reviewed progress and challenges in health financing and service delivery. According to him, the NHIA is being repositioned to function beyond a conventional insurance scheme, evolving into a people-centred system that increases inclusion and access to quality healthcare services. Drawing lessons…
The Cancer Consciousness Initiative (CCI) has inaugurated the TeleOncology Hub to improve access to specialist cancer care in Northeastern Nigeria. The programme provides telemedicine consultations, virtual Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings, and patient navigation services. Dr. Hannatu Ayuba, CEO of CCI and Programme Lead of the TeleOncology Hub, described the initiative as a health system-strengthening programme during an interview with reporters on Sunday in Abuja. Ayuba highlighted the rising number of cancer cases in the region and the urgent need to improve healthcare access. “Many patients in underserved communities face obstacles that delay diagnosis and treatment, affecting survival. In the Northeast,…
Avon Medical Practice has expanded its critical-care capacity with the launch of a fully enhanced Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The N200 million facility, located within its recently commissioned building extension, strengthens the hospital’s capability to manage high-acuity cases requiring advanced monitoring and specialised intervention. This facility directly tackles medical tourism by bringing world-class healthcare to Nigeria. The unit operates 24/7 with a dedicated team comprising three intensive-care physicians, three critical-care nurses in rotation, three nursing assistants and on-call specialists, led by a Consultant Intensivist. It is equipped to manage severe respiratory failure, post-operative complications, sepsis, cardiac emergencies, and multi-organ dysfunction. The upgraded ICU is equipped…
The United States has pledged $2 billion in grants to support Nigeria’s health sector over the five-year period from 2026 to 2030. The development was conveyed in a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation on Friday, December 19, 2025. This commitment is part of a broader Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) recently signed between the Governments of Nigeria and the United States. Nigeria has also committed to mobilising $3 billion in domestic funding for the health sector during the same period. What the FG is saying According to the statement, the US grant and Nigeria’s domestic funding are aimed at…
Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, on Saturday, said that the new drug test policy for schools, would discourage substance abuse. According to him, the move would also curb drug abuse by young people, especially those aspiring to gain admission into tertiary institutions. Marwa said this when he received the Vice Chancellor of the Taraba State University, Prof. Sunday Bako, who led a team of his management staff to seek partnership with the NDLEA. He said that the collaboration to fight substance abuse and drug trafficking, is necessary to address the menace among…
The Sokoto State Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), have charged response teams on addressing rising cases of Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, gave the charge during a GBV response teams review meeting on Saturday in Sokoto. The meeting was under a project, tagged “Strengthening Access to Reproductive and Adolescence Health (SARAH) in Nigeria” funded by the European Union (EU). It was a multi-sectoral programme focuses on reproductive, maternal, neonatal and child health, along with issues around adolescent health and wellness in the three Northern states of…
Wema Bank has disbursed N120 million in grants to youth-led startups, aimed at solving the nation’s development challenges through technology. The Managing Director of Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, who reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to youth-led innovation, said sustained investment in technology and talent is critical to Nigeria’s economic future. Oseni, who was represented by the Chief Information Officer, Wema Bank, Mr Adeoluwa Akomolafe, stated this at the Hackaholics 6.0 grand finale in Lagos on Friday, where the bank disbursed N120 million in grants to emerging startups. He said Hackaholics was created to go beyond innovation to deliberately empower innovators…
The World Bank has approved a $500 million financing package to improve access to credit for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria, as part of efforts to stimulate job creation, productivity and inclusive economic growth. The funding, announced on Saturday, is provided under the Fostering Inclusive Finance for MSMEs in Nigeria (FINCLUDE) project. It comprises a $400 million loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and a $100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA). Implementation of the project will be led by the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), with Impact Credit Guarantee Limited, its subsidiary,…