A coalition of human rights groups in Ebonyi has advocated the use of modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI), including Text-to-Speech (TTS) tools and virtual court hearings, to strengthen the justice delivery system. The coalition includes the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Centre (HRCRC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and others. The call was made during a press conference to commemorate the 2025 International Human Rights Day on Wednesday in Abakaliki. This year’s observance was themed “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials.” The Coordinator of the NHRC in Ebonyi, Mr Christopher Okorie, said the event underscored…
Author: Newsdesk
The Association of Resident Doctors at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital (COOUTH) has urged the hospital management to urgently address the shortage of doctors, warning that the situation is straining services and undermining patient care. The call was made during the association’s pre-2025 Annual General Meeting and election briefing in Awka, where members stressed the need to resolve staffing gaps ahead of the Dec. 11 meeting. President of ARD-COOUTH, Dr Joy Okwumuo, appealed to the management to fulfill its commitment to recruit and replace consultants, resident doctors, and house officers as a practical step to reduce workload and…
Community members of the Batlokoa Ba Mota cultural community of Tsheseng in Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State yesterday received vegetable production training from Saai and AfriForum which focused on regenerative agricultural methods that is tailored to communities that have access to limited resources. The training involved soil health improvement and preparation, mulching for better water retention, temperature stabilisation and weed control, planting, general care and management as well as life skills. This is the next step in the process of supporting the community to strengthen their self-sufficiency and self-reliance undertaken by the historic partnership that was forged under the leadership…
From AI-driven analytics to satellite imagery, advances in technology are transforming how the agriculture industry monitors and manages crop production. Where producers once relied exclusively on intuition and experience, important decisions are now increasingly guided by ongoing research and data. With access to accurate insights and smarter tools, farmers can ultimately produce higher yields while using fewer resources. Microbial product developments One of the most significant shifts in modern agriculture has been the rise of biological technology, which is already making a profound impact on crop production. Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and other microbes play a vital role in…
With producers under mounting pressure from climate change and soil degradation, biostimulants are fast emerging as a vital part of South Africa’s agricultural future. According to the South Africa Biostimulants Market report, the local biostimulants market is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 5% between 2023 and 2029, driven by increased investment in research and market expansion. Venessa Moodley, Biologicals Lead at Omnia Agriculture, says that the current biostimulant landscape consists primarily of seaweed extracts, amino acids, humic and fulvic acids. “These products have gained the most traction in high-value crops such as vineyards, orchards, and other…
The Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State has set a target to immunise about 268,000 children under five years old in December 2025. The Local Government Immunisation Officer (LIO), Mr Ashiru Muazu, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse. Muazu said the exercise had been successful so far and expressed confidence that the target would be achieved before the end of the exercise. He acknowledged an earlier challenge of vaccine shortages in some areas but noted that the issue had been resolved with additional supplies. Muazu added that the immunisation…
The Federal Government says Nigeria must prioritise industrialisation and dependable energy supply to stop exporting raw materials and strengthen local value chains. Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, stated this at the Industrial Revolution Work-Group Premier Ministerial Roundtable on Energy, Security and Industrial Infrastructure on Wednesday in Abuja. Speaking on the theme, “Beyond Power: Building the Backbone of the Industry – Energy, Infrastructure and Sovereignty in Action,” Enoh described industrialisation as an economic imperative. He also stressed the need to boost productivity through value addition and processing. Enoh said the programme aimed to ensure Nigeria became more productive by reducing…
Federal Government says African countries must shift from reactive, event-driven responses to predictive, risk-based and analytics-driven surveillance to meet global target of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) disease eradication by 2030 . The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that PPR is a viral disease caused by morbillvirus closely related to rinderpest virus which affects goats, sheep and wild relatives of domesticated small ruminants and camels. Dr Chinyere Akujobi, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, said this in Abuja on Wednesday at the Regional Training on Strengthening Animal Disease Surveillance, Building Capacities for PPR Eradication and Trans-boundary Animal Diseases.…
The Nigerian Academy of Sciences (NAS) has assured that its recommendations on the possible legalization of cannabis oil for medical use will be balanced, culturally appropriate, and strictly based on scientific evidence. Dr Oladoyin Odubanjo, Executive Secretary of NAS, gave the assurance in an interview with reporters on Wednesday in Abuja. Odubanjo said the academy is finalizing its advisory to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), which requested scientific guidance on the subject. NAS, in collaboration with NDLEA, held a workshop in October titled “Cannabis Oil Debate: The Path Forward for Nigeria,” which examined global regulatory models, therapeutic applications,…
Stakeholders have renewed calls for stronger policies, sustained funding and collective action to advance the rights of women and girls in Nigeria. The call was made at the Beijing +30 Women’s Summit on Tuesday in Abuja, marking the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Adopted in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action focuses on women’s empowerment, gender equality and sustainable development, urging global progress on these fronts. The summit was organized by the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement in collaboration with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN-Nigeria) and Womanifesto. Stakeholders noted that…