The Federal Government has charged 464 newly inducted foreign-trained medical laboratory science graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity and precision, while resisting malpractice and quackery in Nigeria’s healthcare system. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja at the 12th Induction and Oath-Taking Ceremony of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). Salako said the ceremony demonstrated a collective commitment to strengthening institutions, empowering professionals and advancing a people-centred health system anchored on quality, trust and accountability. He noted that medical laboratory scientists play a crucial role in diagnosis, treatment…
Author: Newsdesk
Society for Family Health (SFH), a leading public health organization, says it will support the enrollment of 1.9 million people living with HIV into the national health insurance system. The Managing Director, Dr. Omokhudu Idogho, made this known in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja. He reaffirmed SFH’s commitment to supporting the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) in the next implementation phase, which integrates comprehensive HIV, Tuberculosis (TB) and Family Planning (FP) services into the national insurance package. According to him, the new phase includes convening stakeholder sessions to map NHIA-accredited facilities offering HIV, TB and FP services, as…
An agriculture expert, Mr. Sunday Obasi, has urged Nigerians and small-scale farmers to adopt all-year-round farming techniques, particularly organic and climate-resilient agriculture, to boost national food security. Obasi, a staff member of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, gave the advice during an All-Year-Round Farming Training held on Thursday in Abuja. The training was organized by the Allied Products Initiative (FFAPI). Obasi stressed the need for Nigerian households and smallholder farmers to embrace improved dry-season farming techniques to increase food supply, reduce high market prices and economically empower women. According to him, proper planning, water management, land preparation…
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), in partnership with the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), has launched a major multinational initiative aimed at accelerating coordinated blue economy actions across the Horn of Africa. The new programme, titled Building Blue Economy Resilience and Prosperity in IGAD & the Horn of Africa (BE-Prosper), was formally approved during a three-day event held at the IGAD headquarters in Djibouti from 17–19 November. The launch brought together senior government officials, development partners, technical experts and representatives from regional institutions. Speaking on behalf of IGAD Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu, Mohy Tohami, Director of Economic Cooperation and Regional Integration…
Eswatini has unveiled a powerful new HIV-prevention injection, marking Africa’s first public rollout of the twice-yearly drug and signalling a major shift in the kingdom’s long-running battle against the virus. The Ministry of Health confirmed the development, which was first reported by both the Associated Press and AFP. Officials described lenacapavir as a ‘transformative tool’ that could redefine prevention in one of the highest-burden nations on earth. A heavy burden on a small nation Eswatini, a country of roughly 1.2 million people, has about 220,000 residents living with HIV. The national prevalence rate has long been the highest in the world,…
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, has inaugurated new irrigation systems and research farm equipment to accelerate the development and delivery of improved crop varieties at a larger scale. The project, funded by the Crops to End Hunger (CtEH) initiative, was launched at the institute’s headquarters in Ibadan on Thursday. IITA Director-General (DG), Dr. Simeon Ehui, said the project would strengthen the institute’s capacity to better serve farmers in Nigeria and across Africa. “The new infrastructure enhances IITA’s farm research, allowing us to conduct more efficient breeding trials, sustain year-round research, and respond better to climate variability. In…
Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has urged the government and agricultural stakeholders to prioritize climate-smart, digital, and gender-responsive innovations in agricultural extension to address food insecurity in Nigeria. Prof. Adamu Ahmed, ABU Vice-Chancellor, made the call on Thursday during the 2025 National Agricultural Extension Review and Planning Meeting, organized by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) in Zaria. He stressed that the annual extension meeting should not be treated as a ceremonial event but as a strategic platform to identify challenges and adopt practical solutions that directly improve farmers’ productivity. The vice-chancellor warned that climate change is…
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, has called for improvements in Nigeria’s medical referral system to ensure better outcomes for emergency health cases. Wasiu made the remarks in an interview with reporters on Thursday in Lagos, expressing concern over lapses in the referral process among hospitals. He noted that many secondary and primary healthcare facilities, including private hospitals, often fail to follow proper referral procedures, resulting in poor outcomes for patients in emergency situations. “Some hospitals refer patients without first contacting tertiary health institutions to confirm their readiness to handle the emergency.…
Prof. Femi Ayoade of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun, says funding gaps, weak infrastructure, policy limitations, skill shortages, and evolving regulations are preventing Nigeria from fully benefiting from biotechnology advancements. Ayoade, a professor of Food and Environmental Biotechnology, made the remarks while delivering the university’s 20th Inaugural Lecture on Thursday in Ede. The lecture, themed “Biotechnology as Divine Providence: A New Paradigm for Sustainable Development and Poverty Alleviation,” focused on how biotechnology could be harnessed for economic growth and poverty reduction in Nigeria. The professor described biotechnology as a revolutionary branch of science that is reshaping industries and improving the quality of…
The Sokoto State Government has approved N1.8 billion for HIV/AIDS kits, drugs, and the renovation of six additional hospitals. The Commissioner for Health, Dr. Faruk Wurno, disclosed this following the State Executive Council (SEC) meeting, noting that N100.6 million has been allocated for HIV testing equipment and treatment as part of ongoing efforts to eliminate the disease. The newly approved hospital projects include facilities in Yabo, Shagari, Sabon-Birni, Tangaza, Goronyo, and the Women and Children Hospital, Sokoto. Each project is valued at several hundred million naira, with a six-month execution period and 30 per cent mobilization fees already released. ALSO…