The Sokoto State Government, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), is targeting no fewer than 250,000 additional households in the expansion of the National Social Register (NSR) in the state. The State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abubakar Zayyana, disclosed this on Saturday at the close of an orientation exercise tagged “Multidimensional Model” for seven pilot local government teams and stakeholders in Sokoto. Zayyana described the exercise as crucial, saying it would produce a credible and transparent data system to support social protection programmes. He explained that social protection interventions were designed to reduce social…
Author: Newsdesk
The African Health Budget Network (AHBN), in collaboration with the Zero Dose Learning Hub Community of Practice (ZDLH CoP), has called for the speedy delivery of immunization consumables in Bauchi State. The state AHBN Coordinator, Dr. Hassan Shuaibu, made the call at the end of a two-day caregivers’ exit interview conducted in selected Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) facilities in Bauchi and Ganjuwa Local Government Areas. Shuaibu said the exercise was aimed at assessing caregivers’ satisfaction, evaluating service delivery, identifying gaps affecting zero-dose communities, and generating evidence to improve immunization outcomes. He noted that despite the state government’s commitment…
The UN special rapporteur has said that the decades-long US embargo on Cuba is now having a severe impact on the humanitarian situation in the island nation. The ongoing sanctions have caused immense hardships for the Cuban population, particularly impacting education, food security, and health care, she said. Alena Douhan, Special Rapporteur of the United Nations Human Rights Council, voiced her observations on Friday while on a visit to the Caribbean nation. She said there had been deterioration in all sectors in Cuba due to the trade and financial restrictions imposed by Washington since the Cold War era. “The embargos…
The World Health Organisation (WHO) officially declared Indonesia polio-free. The global health organisation announced on November 19 the end of the poliovirus type-2 outbreak in the country, marking a major milestone for Indonesia following years of low vaccination. The announcement was made after no children was detected of poliovirus were detected since 2024. According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Health, nearly 60 million additional doses of polio vaccine were administered nationwide as part of the emergency response, as per the WHO. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has given the credit for the same to the healthcare workers, the cooperation of parents,…
Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture Nonceba Kontsiwe has officially launched a spring water project in Lower Tsitsana Village in Nqanqarhu (formerly Maclear) under the Ilima/Letsema Lokulima Programme, which aims to promote sustainable agriculture and improve livelihoods in rural communities. Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Kontsiwe explained that the water project provides clean water for domestic use and irrigation through 26 new water points serving 205 households. Production inputs were also provided to 120 beneficiaries to boost local vegetable production, food security, and the aggregation of produce for potential markets. Ntombizanele Sonkwenye, who farms in Sigoga in Lower Tsitsana Village, described the relief the…
Opening her remarks with the challenge: “Are we acting boldly enough and fast enough to confront Africa’s food challenge by 2030?”, Mallowah reminded delegates that the deadline is frighteningly close. “It is only four harvests away,” she said, emphasising that the continent must use these four growing seasons to strengthen systems capable of feeding an additional 200 million Africans by the end of the decade. If decisive action is not taken now, she warned, Africa faces increasing food price volatility, heightened dependence on imports, climate-driven production shocks, and worsening rural poverty. “[However], if we act with urgency, 2030 can be a turning point:…
Stakeholders on Friday urged government hospitals to prioritize strategic planning, innovation, and technology to improve healthcare delivery in Lagos State and beyond. QNET, a global direct selling and wellness company, has raised concerns over the potential health effects of radio waves, technology devices, and 5G networks, saying they may impact human wellbeing. Speaking at a product workshop on Friday in Abuja, QNET’s Regional Strategy and Marketing Manager, Mr. Bernieg Gaksch, said the increasing number of internet-connected devices — estimated at more than 15 billion globally — had heightened exposure to radiation from mobile networks, Wi-Fi devices, microwaves and other sources.…
Plan International Nigeria, has condemned attacks on schools, describing as a threat to Nigeria’s learning environments and increasing vulnerability of school children. The organisation, in a statement by its Brand and Communications Manager, Ms Munachi Okoro, in Abuja on Saturday, expressed concern over the Friday abduction of some school children at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger. It called for urgent action by relevant authorities to protect children’s right to education in the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an unconfirmed number of students and staff members St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government…
Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo bas received a “Climate Change Champion” award from the United Nations of Youth Network at the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 30) in Belem, Brazil. Mr Tony Velasco, the Global Coordinator,of the network, said the award recognizes his efforts of Uzodinma in promoting climate action and sustainable development, which include the launch of the “Hope Green Revolution” initiative in Imo. Receiving the award on behalf of the governor, Dr Emeke Mandella, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Talent Hunt in Imo, described the Uzodinma`s perspective to scientifically introduce carbon capturing plants as excellent.…
The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has urged FCT residents to engage actively in its safety programmes to reduce disasters. The acting Director-General, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, made the call on Friday in Abuja while highlighting the department’s partnership with RCL Industrial Safety Centre for the FEMD-RCL Emergency Management Forum 2025. Mohammed appealed to residents to heed FEMD’s guidance and join community safety efforts, especially during the dry season. He reminded residents that emergencies should be reported through the 112 toll-free line or by calling the Fire Service directly. Speaking on the forthcoming Forum with the theme ‘Preparing for…