The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (FMAFS) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to improve soil health, fertilizer efficiency and farm productivity in Nigeria. Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, the Director-General of IITA, Dr Simeon Ehui, said the MoU supports the Nigeria Farmers’ Soil Health Scheme and the development of a national soil information system. Ehui explained that the agreement builds on ongoing initiatives that promote precise soil testing and crop-specific fertilizer recommendations, aimed at achieving sustainable intensification and climate-resilient farming across the country. According to him, the MoU…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Government has urged Nigerian farmers to drive an agricultural revolution through local processing and export-oriented production to accelerate economic diversification. The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu, made the call on Thursday in Abuja while delivering the opening address at the General Assembly of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN). The General Assembly of Farmers (GAF) serves as a national platform to strengthen collaboration among farmers, government, private sector actors and development partners, while reinforcing AFAN’s role as a unified national voice for farmers. Kalu said the Federal Government, under President Bola Tinubu’s…
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has reported that cholera remains Africa’s most pressing epidemic challenge, with 323,307 cases and 7,352 deaths recorded across 24 countries in 2025. Cholera is a severe diarrheal disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which spreads primarily through contaminated water or food. Infected individuals can suffer from severe dehydration and death if untreated. Prof. Yap Boum II, Deputy Incident Manager for Mpox at the Africa CDC Incident Management Support Team (IMST), disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a continental health webinar briefing, where he reviewed the status of major…
Experts in pharmacy have urged newly inducted pharmacists at Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, to serve as bridge builders in healthcare practice. The call was made during the 15th induction and oath-taking ceremony of the university, where 149 pharmacy graduates were officially licensed. Delivering the induction lecture, Mr Bankole Ezebuilo, Managing Director of Kayhelt Pharmaceuticals Ltd, urged the inductees to combine scientific expertise with compassion and professionalism. Ezebuilo, who is also the Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, stressed that modern pharmacy practice extends beyond drug dispensing to connecting research, manufacturing, regulation, and patient care. According to…
A laboratory scientist, Mr Adeleke Olaoluwa, has called for stronger legislation and regulatory reforms to curb quackery in medical practice, warning that it endangers patients and undermines the credibility of laboratory science services. Olaoluwa, the Publicity Secretary of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Lagos Chapter, made the call in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Lagos. He identified quackery as a major threat to the credibility of medical laboratory science services in the country. “It is heartbreaking that qualified laboratory scientists are not manning some laboratory diagnostic centres in the country,” Olaoluwa said. He urged…
Dr Abu Babatunde, a medical doctor abducted alongside his brother in Auchi, Edo State, on Jan. 1, has regained his freedom after spending two weeks in captivity. Babatunde, a house officer at Edo University Teaching Hospital, Iyamho, was kidnapped alongside his younger brother, Abu Tahir, a newly graduated medical doctor from Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma. The two brothers were abducted at the gate of their residence in Igbira Camp, Auchi, shortly after returning from work. The abductors initially demanded a ransom of N200 million for the duo. However, the incident took a tragic turn on Jan. 6 when Tahir was…
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced plans to commission a series of research studies aimed at expanding health insurance coverage in Nigeria. The authority said this is coming as millions of Nigerians continue to pay for healthcare services out-of-pocket. NHIA disclosed this on its official website on Thursday, noting that it has invited qualified consultants and firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOI). According to the authority, the invitation, issued through its Procurement Department, is for the conduct of various research projects targeted at scaling up health insurance coverage nationwide. It said the initiative, captured in its 2025…
The Bauchi State Ministry of Housing and Environment has renewed its warning to residents to desist from bush burning, describing the practice as a serious threat to the environment, public health and efforts to combat climate change. The Director of Climate Change in the ministry, Mr Nasiru Umar, gave the warning in an interview with journalists on Thursday in Bauchi. Umar expressed concern over the increasing incidence of bush burning across the state, noting that the practice—commonly associated with some farmers, hunters and individuals—has become a major environmental challenge requiring urgent attention. He explained that many farmers still rely on…
Moniepoint Inc., a digital financial services provider, has announced the opening of applications for the second cohort of its flagship DreamDevs initiative, aimed at strengthening Africa’s technology talent pipeline. The company disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its Chief Technology Officer, Mr Felix Ike. Ike said the programme, which is open to recent graduates across Nigeria, is designed to bridge the tech talent gap by equipping young professionals with industry-ready skills and real-world experience. According to him, DreamDevs is structured as a national talent search for high-potential software engineers, with only 20 candidates selected annually for an…
The Federal Government, in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme Additional Financing (VCDP-AF), has launched a three-week training programme for 20 youth farmers in Kogi State. The training, organized by the Kogi State VCDP in partnership with the Nigeria-Korean Institute of Vocational and Advanced Technology (NKFI), Lokoja, commenced on Wednesday. Launching the programme, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Timothy Ojomah, congratulated the participants on their selection and urged them to make the most of the opportunity. He said the initiative was designed to equip youths with practical skills in the…