The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that global immunization efforts have reduced measles-related deaths by 88 per cent between 2000 and 2024, saving nearly 59 million lives worldwide. However, WHO noted on Friday that an estimated 95,000 people, mostly children under five, died from measles in 2024, stressing that every death from a preventable disease remains unacceptable. The organization highlighted that measles infections are surging globally, with an estimated 11 million cases in 2024—almost 800,000 higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019—reflecting persistent gaps in vaccination coverage. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus described measles as the world’s most contagious virus,…
Author: Newsdesk
Young Nigerians have been urged to leverage digital platforms to intensify advocacy for the passage of the Women’s Reserved Seats Bill, aimed at increasing gender inclusion and representation in governance structures. The call was made during a public dialogue on the Nigerian Reserved Seats for Women Bill, themed “Her Voice, Her Vote, Her Seat,” held on Friday in Abuja to engage youth leaders. The event was organized by Open Minds Young Voices (OMYV), a community of young advocates for social justice and good governance, in collaboration with TOS Foundation and with support from Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Ms. Esther Raji, a…
Stakeholders have committed to accelerating actions to conserve nature through the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) to sustain livelihoods in Nigeria. The commitment was made on Friday in Abuja during the official launch of the Nigeria Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), aligned with the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). The event was held under the theme: “Unlocking Private Sector Engagement for the Implementation of the NBSAP.” Mrs. Halima Bawa-Bwari, Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Environment, said the initiative marked a decisive step toward securing the future of forests, ecosystems, and the invaluable biodiversity that sustains life and livelihoods…
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking Persons (NAPTIP) has called for digital safety education in schools and communities to protect women and girls from online abuse and harassment. The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu-Bello, made the appeal on Friday in Abuja during a road walk marking the 2025 16-day activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). She highlighted the urgent need for awareness and preventive measures across society. Adamu-Bello stressed that capacity building for law enforcement, stronger legislation, safe reporting channels, survivor protection, and secure technology platforms are essential to ensure digital safety for women and girls nationwide. She noted…
Mr. Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, says the organizations 25-year journey has been driven by a commitment to challenge injustice, empower marginalized groups, and promote inclusive, community-led development across the country. Mamedu made the remarks on Thursday during ActionAid’s 25th anniversary celebration in Abuja, which brought together partners, board members, and community representatives to reflect on the organizations national impact, achievements, and growth since its establishment. “We began with a clear conviction that poverty is not natural and that exclusion must be dismantled,” he said, emphasizing that the organization remains firmly focused on addressing systemic barriers affecting vulnerable…
The World Health Organization (WHO) has urged countries to make fertility care safer, fairer and more affordable as it released its first-ever global guideline for preventing, diagnosing and treating infertility. The organization announced this on Friday, describing infertility as a major but often overlooked public health challenge that affects one in six people of reproductive age globally at some point in their lives. WHO noted that while demand for fertility services is rising, access remains severely limited in many countries, with infertility tests and treatments largely funded out-of-pocket, often resulting in catastrophic health expenditures. “In some settings, even a single…
The Director of Social Services at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Ms. Titilayo Tade, has urged parents to fulfill their responsibility by giving equal treatment to both male and female children. Tade, who is also a suicide prevention advocate, made the call on the sidelines of a lecture organized by Inner Wheel District 911, Nigeria, to mark the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) on Friday in Lagos. The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign held from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10 to promote the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.…
The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the Federal University Teaching Hospital, Lafia (FUTHL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen collaboration in vaccine and drug research, development and clinical trials. The agreement, signed on Friday in Abuja in the presence of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, aims to address longstanding gaps in Nigeria’s local production of vaccines, medicines and diagnostics. FUTHL Chief Medical Director, Dr. Ikrama Hassan, described the partnership as timely, noting that Africa still produces “less than 10 per cent of the vaccines and drugs that…
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), in partnership with Nature Eco Capital, Business for Nature and other stakeholders, on Friday in Abuja inaugurated the Nigeria Business Advisory Group on Biodiversity (BAG). Speaking at the event, Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director-General of the NCF, said the launch of BAG and the Nigeria Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) marked a significant milestone in ongoing collaborations with partners. He said the partnership aims to mobilize private sector action to support Nigeria’s biodiversity goals under the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), adding that the effort is focused on unlocking private sector engagement for NBSAP implementation.…
Innov8 Hub, a non-profit and non-governmental innovation centre, has called for increased investment in research-driven solutions to address emerging global challenges. The organizations Deputy General Manager, Dr. Deji Ige, made the appeal while speaking with journalists on the sidelines of a one-day demonstration for the Academic Solutions Incubation Programme (ASIP) on Friday in Abuja. The event, titled “TETFAIR 5, 6, 7 and ASIP: Demo Day,” was organized by Innov8 Hub in collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Alliance for Innovative Research (TETFAIR). It featured the unveiling of 15 fully functional prototypes developed by academics and researchers from tertiary…