The Federal Government says it will sustain the recent drop in prices of staple foods across the country through continuous interventions along agricultural value chains. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, made this known on Thursday at the 47th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS) in Kaduna. The 2025 NCAFS has “Food Sovereignty and Food Security: An Era of Renewed Hope”, as its theme. Kyari said operations at the National Strategic Grain Reserve Silos in Zamfara, Katsina, Nasarawa, Adamawa, Niger, Osun, Edo, and Kwara States were being enhanced for greater efficiency…
Author: Newsdesk
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a $300 million World Bank credit to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities across several Northern states. The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Edun said the council also approved two additional credit facilities — $50 million from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and $46 million from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) for the Sokoto Health Infrastructure Project. He added that the Sokoto…
The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Food Systems has concluded its 2025 Agrithon, with 36 finalists reaching the grand finale on Thursday. The Lagos Agrithon, launched in 2023 by the Ministry in collaboration with the Lagos Agrinnovation Club, targets young agripreneurs who are not connected to government programs or feel government support has been limited. The 2025 edition of the competition began in June with 1,000 applicants, which was later narrowed to 36 following rigorous screening, mentorship, written examinations, oral interviews, and on-site farm or business assessments. Speaking at the event, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Ms. Abisola…
The Rotary Foundation is intensifying efforts against malaria, diarrhoea, and pneumonia—Africa’s leading causes of child mortality—through its Rotary Healthy Community Challenge. Mr. Holger Knaack, Chairman of the Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees, made the disclosure on Thursday in Abuja during a medical outreach, explaining that teams would move from community to community to address these diseases. He added that the Foundation also prioritises maternal and child health through its Together for Healthy Families initiative, which ensures safe childbirth for mothers and babies. Knaack reaffirmed Rotary’s commitment to global polio eradication, noting that although Africa has been free of wild poliovirus…
Ellah Lakes Plc., Nigeria’s pioneer integrated agro-industrial company, has expressed optimism that its acquisition of 100% shareholding in Agro-Allied Resources & Processing Nigeria Ltd. (ARPN) will strengthen its presence in the agro-industrial sector. The Deputy Managing Director of Ellah Lakes, Mr. Paul Farrer, made the disclosure at a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos. Farrer said the company plans to acquire and install a 20-tonne-per-hour mill at an ARPN facility in Edo State. The new mill will complement an existing six-tonne-per-hour mill already operating at Ellah Lakes’ oil palm plantation in the state. Describing the acquisition as a pivotal moment,…
The Pan-African Psychological Association (PASU) has urged a shift from Euro-American models in psychology education to an African-centred approach that better reflects the continent’s unique realities. The call was made on Thursday at the first PASU Higher Education Conference, themed “Psychology Education in Africa: Challenges for Cohesion and Development,” organised in collaboration with the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) in Abuja. Prof. Andrew Zamani, PASU President, said the initiative aims to equip young Africans with the skills to address trauma in ways that align with African culture and linguistic diversity. He stressed that African psychologists must take ownership of their development…
Vice President Kashim Shettima has emphasized that investing in nutrition offers one of the highest returns on investment for any development intervention, with each dollar yielding an estimated return of $23. Shettima made the remark on Thursday in Abuja at the Mobilising Against Malnutrition in Northwest Nigeria conference, organised by the Katsina State Government, Northwest Governors Forum, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). He was represented by Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President. According to Shettima, investing in nutrition is equivalent to investing…
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and traditional leaders have pledged to strengthen prevention structures and enhance support systems for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The commitment was made during a high-level sensitization workshop on GBV prevention with the FCT Traditional Rulers’ Council, organised by UN Women and the FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat in Abuja on Thursday. The workshop is part of the Advancing Advocacy, Policy, and Social Norms Change in Nigeria and West Africa (LEAP) project, implemented by UN Women with financial support from the Ford Foundation. Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, FCTA Mandate Secretary…
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called on Nigeria to fully harness the potential of its youth to achieve food sovereignty. The call was made by IFAD’s Country Director, Mrs. Dede Ekoue, on Thursday in Benin during the 5th Supervision Mission of the Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and IFAD-Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises — Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project. Mrs. Ekoue explained that the LIFE-ND project is designed to empower youths and women with practical skills in agricultural business across the Niger Delta region. To ensure effectiveness, the program uses a business incubation model, where all trainees…
The Nikki Udezue Foundation (NUF) has empowered students on menstrual hygiene through its “Pad a Girl” project, aiming to combat period poverty among underprivileged girls. The Founder and President of the Foundation, Mrs. Nkeiruka Udezue, disclosed this during an outreach program tagged “Pad a Girl Niger State” held at the Government Technical College, Kwamba, on Thursday. Mrs. Udezue said the initiative seeks to provide sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene education to girls, while also sensitizing boys on cleanliness and health-related practices. “Presently, we have carried out this program in about two to three schools, reaching between 1,000 and 2,000 students.…