The Anambra State Government has earmarked N200 million for the procurement and distribution of endangered Igbo traditional fruit tree seedlings in the 2026 fiscal year. The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Foster Ifejiofor, disclosed this while briefing journalists after a bilateral meeting with the Finance and Appropriation Committee of the Anambra State House of Assembly on the 2026 budget proposal. Ifejiofor said the programme would include the procurement of 60,000 Ukwa (African breadfruit) seedlings at the cost of N1,500 per seedling, amounting to N90 million. He added that 40,000 Udala (African star apple) seedlings and 20,000 bitter kola seedlings would be…
Author: Newsdesk
Mr. Festus Akintoye, Chief Executive Officer of the Pa Philip Akintoye Development Foundation (PAPADEF), has called on governments, institutions, and citizens to promote inclusive development for persons with disabilities through innovation and accessibility. Akintoye made the call in a statement to mark the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), observed annually on December 3 to promote the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. According to Akintoye, the day reminds the world of its responsibility to build societies where everyone, regardless of physical or mental condition, can live with dignity, equal opportunity, and full inclusion. He stated that…
A UK-funded climate smart agriculture initiative, Propcom+, has introduced solar-powered cold chain systems to deepen livestock vaccine access in Nigeria’s rural communities. The programme, which also supports major agricultural value chains such as rice, maize and sorghum, aims to curb losses from livestock diseases by improving vaccine availability in hard-to-reach areas. Speaking at an event titled “Unlocking Cold Chain Innovation: Lessons from the Solar Refrigerator Pilot for Poultry and Livestock Vaccine Storage and Distribution,” Propcom+ Strategy Director, Mr Olumide Ojo, said the intervention addresses long-standing gaps in vaccine storage and distribution in off-grid locations. He said the solar-powered refrigerator pilot,…
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Monday appealed to the international community to contribute just one per cent of global arms spending annually. The committee said it was downsizing its annual aid appeal; seeking $23 billion for 2026 to achieve important goals. The appeal came after the aid and development budget took a major hit following the US’s decision to cut funds, despite constant attacks on its workers in conflicts. The amount of money will be enough to save 87 million lives, UN Humanitarian Chief Tom Fletcher said. “It’s us who are driving the…
The Kaduna State Government on Monday reiterated its commitment to strengthening disability-inclusive healthcare services as the Inclusive Family Planning (IFPLAN) project, implemented by Sightsavers, officially concluded in the state. Speaking at the close-out meeting held at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Murtala Muhammed Square, the Commissioner for Health, Umma Ahmed, said the project had reshaped approaches to equity, access, and dignity in the state’s healthcare delivery. She explained that the IFPLAN initiative aimed to ensure that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) could access family planning services without fear, barriers, or discrimination, adding that no society can claim progress while leaving any segment…
Prof. Olalekan Asikhia, the Vice Chancellor of Caleb University, says Africa needs a decisive shift from charity-based poverty reduction to enterprise-driven prosperity anchored on innovation, entrepreneurship and accountability. Asikhia spoke at the 57th Inaugural Lecture of Babcock University, titled, “It Is Time to Use Functional Businesses to Kill Poverty in Africa”. This was stated in a statement issued on Tuesday in Lagos by Mr Olawale Adekoya, the Information and Media Officer of Caleb University. “Africa does not lack potential, talent or resources. What we need are functional businesses, visionary thinking, integrity and institutions that work. “In 2022, 546 million Africans…
A leading healthcare solutions provider, JNC International Ltd (JNCI), has commended President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies, saying they have brought stability and progress to Nigeria’s healthcare sector. Mrs. Ronke Adiele, Head of Sales, Medical and Surgical Solutions, Nigeria and West Africa, JNCI, made the remarks in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the recently concluded Imo Economic Summit in Owerri. The summit was held under the theme, “Unlocking Imo’s Economic Potential: Partnership, Investment, and Innovation.” Adiele described the president’s policies as “progressive” and praised the Presidential Value Chain initiative, which focuses on improving the healthcare value chain and…
Dr. Zainab Muhammad-Idris, National President of the Medical Women’s Association of Nigeria (MWAN), has announced the launch of a nationwide health-sector initiative aimed at strengthening the response of health workers to Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Nigeria. Muhammad- Idris, disclosed this in a statement issued to newsmen on Tuesday in Kaduna. She said the initiative, supported by the French Embassy in Nigeria, was being implemented as part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against GBV, with the theme “Unite! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls.” Muhammad-Idris said the campaign focuses on enhancing the knowledge, capacity and responsiveness of…
The Kano State Government has proposed more than N40 billion for the health sector in the 2026 fiscal year, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran, has announced. Labaran disclosed this on Monday in Kano while defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget before the State House of Assembly Committee on Health. He said the allocation is designed to consolidate ongoing reforms and strengthen healthcare delivery across the state’s 44 local government areas. According to him, the ministry will begin the recruitment of over 2,600 new health workers next week to address manpower gaps in hospitals and primary healthcare centres. “The planned…
The UN and partners are seeking $23 billion to provide lifesaving support in 2026 to 87 million people worldwide affected by war, climate disasters, earthquakes, epidemics and crop failures. This is the immediate priority of the 33 billion Global Humanitarian Overview (GHO) 2026, launched on Monday, which aims to reach 135 million people overall in 50 countries. “This appeal sets out where we need to focus our collective energy first: life by life,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, said. The updated GHO follows a year marked by brutal cuts to humanitarian operations and a record number of deadly attacks against aid workers. It includes 29 detailed…