A study has linked Sexual Violence Against Children (SVAC) to 290,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, predominantly from suicide, HIV/AIDS, and type 2 diabetes. The study also linked Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) to 145,000 deaths, mostly from homicide, suicide, and HIV/AIDS in the same year. Published on Wednesday on the website of The Lancet, the study was titled “Disease Burden Attributable to IPV Against Females and SVAC, 1990 to 2023: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.” Funded by the Gates Foundation, the research was conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the…
Author: Newsdesk
The Project Manager of Whitegreen Development Services, Mr. Jaye Yekini, has said that women farmers in Nigeria face poor access to farmland despite their significant contributions to food production. Speaking to reporters in Ibadan, Yekini noted that this limited access continues to undermine their productivity. According to him, women farmers are particularly vulnerable to rural insecurity and restrictive land-tenure practices, making it increasingly difficult for them to sustain their farming activities. “Women are very vulnerable when it comes to insecurity. Many of them farm on less than two hectares of land and do not have the financial capacity to provide…
Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo, Senior Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Health, has commended Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for their significant contributions to reforms in Nigeria’s health sector. Anas-Kolo gave the commendation in Abuja at the fifth anniversary of the Centre for Well-being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (CWINS), an NGO. She said CSOs had been at the centre of ideas that helped drive the health sector agenda, adding that their efforts had “made the impossible possible.” According to her, some of the most remarkable progress in the health sector resulted from the voices and energy of civil society, noting that…
The global effort to strengthen country-led HIV and malaria responses took a significant step forward as the Global Fund, Society for Family Health (SFH), and national health authorities launched a new technical assistance initiative to advance an Alternative Delivery Model in Lagos aimed at shifting essential services into private-sector channels and preparing Nigeria for an anticipated decline in donor funding. Speaking at the launch, Managing Director of SFH, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, warned that Nigeria must urgently confront the realities of shrinking donor support across HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programmes. He noted that although Nigeria receives less than one per cent…
The Women Initiative for a Sustainable Environment (WISE) has partnered with the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture to organize a one-day advocacy and awareness walk in Kaduna to mark World Soil Day and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). The 16 Days of Activism Against GBV runs from November 25 to December 10, while World Soil Day is marked globally on December 5 each year. The themes for this year’s commemorations were: “Healthy Soils for Healthy Cities” and “Unite to End Digital Violence Against All Women and Girls”, respectively. The walk, held on Wednesday in Kaduna, drew…
The Forward Operating Base (FOB) of the Nigerian Navy in Badagry, Lagos, on Wednesday extended medical services to 769 residents of Iworo and Epeme communities. The exercise recorded an impressive turnout, with hundreds of community members receiving free medical consultations, medications, and essential health sensitization. A substantial volume of drugs and medical supplies was dispensed, reflecting the Navy’s commitment to enhancing community health and welfare. Speaking at the start of the programme, Navy Capt. Leye Omotayo, Commanding Officer of FOB Badagry, said the medical outreach was not only a gesture of goodwill but also a lifesaving intervention for residents of…
The African University of Science and Technology (AUST) and the Regional Scholarship and Innovation Fund (RSIF) have built the capacity of students and staff on sexual harassment prevention and safeguarding. Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu, President of AUST, made this known at the RSIF Refresher Workshop on “Preventing Sexual Harassment and Grievance Redress Mechanisms” on Wednesday in Abuja. Onwualu said the workshop aims to strengthen the culture of safety, awareness, accountability and support while reaffirming the university’s zero-tolerance policy and commitment to creating a safe academic environment for students and staff. He said: “The message we are giving is that in any…
The Lagos State Government, through the Micro-Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI) under the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), has empowered 18,963 residents, mostly women, since the inception of the programme. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this disclosure during a MESI event organized by WAPA on Wednesday in Ikeja. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin, the governor reaffirmed the state’s commitment to supporting small businesses through MESI. He said the government would continue to promote and engage small businesses through various empowerment initiatives aimed at tackling poverty. “This initiative is a practical demonstration of our…
YouTube has launched a new personalized recap feature to help users better understand and celebrate their viewing habits. The platform also released Nigeria’s 2025 top-searched creators, artists and trending content, led by the gospel hit “No Turning Back II.” The Head of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa at YouTube, Addy Awofisayo, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday. He noted that Nigeria’s creative scene continued to define digital culture in 2025 through fast-rising musicians and influential Nollywood storytellers. Awofisayo said the year was marked by “explosive musical talent and captivating storytellers” who further cemented Nollywood’s global influence. He added that the…
The Director of Mental Health at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Tolu Ajomale, has called for stronger strategies and deeper collaboration among stakeholders to improve access to mental healthcare in Nigeria. Ajomale, who was the guest speaker at the 2025 Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, made the call on Wednesday in Lagos. The conference had the theme: “Confronting the Surge of Mental Disorders: Enhancing Access to Psychiatric Services in Nigeria.” Ajomale said more efforts were needed to promote access to quality, equitable and affordable mental health…